Western PA Local News category, Page 2027
West Mifflin nonprofit travels to Texas to help animals in need
When Walter Schwarz and Dave Stash received a call from the Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team for a mission to Houston, Texas, they didn’t think twice about going. By Friday, the duo had packed a suitcase within 24 hours of learning of the mission that would send them driving to...
Rain tapering off, could turn to snow flurries; flooding still poses threat in Pittsburgh region
The heavy rain showers that saturated much of the region on Sunday have tapered off and could turn into snow flurries as the temperature drops, according to the National Weather Service in Moon. Steady rain through much of Sunday dumped 1 inch of rain in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, according...
Flu season virtually ‘nonexistent’ as coronavirus mitigation efforts help curtail illnesses, doctors say
Despite fears that influenza would combine with covid-19 to create a so-called “twindemic,” this flu season has been a mild one. Allegheny County so far has reported zero flu-related deaths, three hospitalizations and 180 cases. That’s a notable drop from last year’s 12 deaths, 115 hospitalizations and over 10,000 cases....
Police: Hempfield man riding ATV killed in Mt. Pleasant Township crash
A 39-year-old man was killed Saturday night after a crash on Route 819 in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to state police. Timothy A. Strobel of Hempfield was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. According to police, Strobel was riding a Yamaha Terrapro all-terrain vehicle at about 8:45 p.m. between...
Man arrested after Pittsburgh police say he got in dispute with neighbor, shot him
One person is facing charges after police say he got into a confrontation with his neighbor and shot him. Joseph Baker was arrested by Pittsburgh police following the incident Saturday night and is charged with aggravated assault, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety Spokesman Chris Togneri. Officers and EMS were called...
Stimulus bill could bring money to expand high-speed internet in Westmoreland
Officials with the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County say the region is on track for growth in the coming year, with the expansion of high-speed internet access a top priority. Connection President and CEO Jim Smith, addressing the economic development group’s annual meeting last week via Zoom, said events...
Unity supervisor: Proposed billboard rule changes fall shortVideo
Proposed amendments to Unity’s zoning ordinance are meant to make it easier to upgrade traditional billboards into electronic versions. But Supervisor Mike O’Barto argued the changes still would present too many barriers for businesses to take advantage of the outdoor advertising space. Area billboard owners also have expressed skepticism. The...
The Stroller, Feb. 28, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Let us know about your Easter events The Valley News Dispatch will be publishing a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To...
Population rises in Upper Burrell, bucking Westmoreland County trend
Upper Burrell’s population is growing, a phenomenon likely driven by a number of factors, including a low cost of living and competent local leadership. Data show Upper Burrell’s population jumped from 2,056 in 2010 to 2,386 in 2019 — an increase of 16%. “It has a number of great factors...
Exchange student from Italy adjusts to life in A-K Valley during pandemicVideo
Beatrice Latina will take back to Rome a memorable souvenir from her experience living in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Her covid recovery story. Latina, nicknamed “Bi Bi” by her friends, is from Italy and the sole foreign exchange student at Highlands High School in Harrison. She tested positive for covid-19 about...
Life during covid: Westmoreland college professor helps students, families juggle demands
Editor’s note: This is an occasional series examining how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of members of our community. It might have been a matter of life experience or natural resiliency, but whatever it was, Cheryl Miller was positioned to thrive before the coronavirus sent the world spinning....
Police: Missing Homewood woman found
Pittsburgh police have found a missing Homewood woman. Police confirmed about 8:40 p.m. that she was located and safe. Prior to being found, she was last seen Friday in Oakland....
Harrison neighbors welcome demolition of abandoned houses
Weeds and cats are the main nuisances Alisha Laime says she has to live with because of an abandoned house next to her home in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood. Hearing that it could be torn down was welcome news. “I absolutely want it down,” she said Friday. “You don’t know what...
Volunteers gather for Seton Hill’s Take the Day On service eventVideo
For Jack Schechterly, getting his hands dirty on a farm is nothing new. So when Schechterly, 20, a sophomore at Seton Hill University, saw an opportunity to volunteer at Stoneybrook Foundation in Acme on Saturday morning, he took it. “We just wanted to give back to the community, and this...
Dollar General to open location in Parks Township
Parks Township is getting its first Dollar General discount store. Kelly Shotts, project manager with Harchuck Construction in Washington Township said the new store, located at 1014 East 2nd Street, is expected to open the first week in May. Washington Township-based Harchuck is developing the site on behalf of Dollar...
Westmoreland County records 94 covid-19 cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 94 new cases of the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, marking the fifth time in two weeks the count neared triple digits. The county last saw a triple-digit count Feb. 3 and 12 of the 24 days since then have remained below 75...
Westmoreland County photos of the week, Feb. 22-28
Here are some of the photographs Tribune-Review photographers captured around Westmoreland County this week....
Kiski Area’s musical will be streamed on YouTubeVideo
It’s still lights, camera, action for Kiski Area Musical students this spring. After sweeping cancellations of high school spring musical productions in 2020 due to covid conditions, directors had to adjust their musical productions. Kiski Musical director Robert Capanna found a creative and covid-19 friendly performance option. The cast is...
313 new coronavirus cases reported in Allegheny County, 11 deaths
Allegheny County on Saturday recorded 313 new coronavirus cases, as case counts have seen a relative bump up and hospitalizations have significantly increased. Reports haven’t reached 500 cases in nearly six weeks and the county hasn’t reported any 1,000-case days in the past eight weeks, according to data from the...
Leechburg, New Ken food distributions canceled for 2nd week in a row because truck didn’t come
For the second Saturday in a row, people who showed up to receive food from churches in Leechburg and New Kensington went home empty handed. The pastors of Kiski Valley Community Church and The River church in New Kensington were forced to cancel the drive-thru food distributions because the food...
Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie to open on Pittsburgh’s South Side
A shuttered Mexican restaurant on the South Side will soon be home to pizza and rotisserie chicken. Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie restaurant has taken over the space on East Carson Street, with a planned opening ona March 10. The menu will feature 14- and 12-inch pizzas in New York style...
Student news: Dean’s list, music awards, community service and more
Ohio University dean’s list Several students from the Lower Valley were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester 2020 at Ohio University. They include: Dom Davido in the College of Arts and Sciences, Justin Rowe in the College of Arts and Sciences, Alan Shtrahman in the College of...
Fundraising efforts aim to help fix leaky Greensburg YMCA poolVideo
A group of local triathletes who have been training at the Greensburg YMCA to prepare for upcoming competitions have taken on a new challenge: raising money to help repair the leaky pool that is so critical to their success. A Greensburg YMCA Pool GoFundMe page, created by 35-year-old Jeremy Eshleman...
Westmoreland looks for ways to stop decades-long population decline
Cora Jean Black doesn’t question why her once-white sheers are stained a “grizzly gray” that take up to six washes to restore their natural color. The reason whirs by her daily in the form of big rigs and dump trucks either traveling along the sea of highways that snake through...
The Stroller, Feb. 27, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, Easter events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual cleanup season begins Monday The annual Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful campaign will kick off its cleanup season on Monday. The annual community improvement...
