Western PA Local News category, Page 2029
Greensburg man found not guilty of rape; no verdict on sexual assault charge
A Westmoreland County jury acquitted a Greensburg man accused of raping an unconscious woman but couldn’t reach a verdict on another charge of sexual assault. The jury deliberated more than three hours and returned a mixed verdict against Emmanuel Lebbie, 25, who prosecutors said assaulted a woman as she slept...
John DeFazio, former Allegheny County Council president and pro wrestler, diesVideo
Former professional wrestler Johnny DeFazio, who parlayed his athletic prowess into a seat on the Allegheny County Council, died Friday morning. He was 80 and lived in Shaler. A cause of death was not yet known. DeFazio first made a name for himself as “Jumping Johnny DeFazio” on the popular...
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady to step down from post
Scott Brady, U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania’s Western District, will resign from his post on Sunday, his office announced Friday. Brady’s announcement comes several weeks after the Biden administration asked for all Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys to resign, a traditional move with a new president. “Leading this office has been the greatest...
Hempfield man facing illegal gun charges now charged with sexual assault
Sexual assault charges were filed Friday against a Hempfield man arrested last week after state police said they confiscated 36 guns from his home. Dale Edward Kuhn, 73, is accused by troopers of inappropriately touching two girls and exposing himself to them, according to court papers. He is charged in...
South Buffalo VFD seeks nominations for family to benefit from truck and tractor pull
The South Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department is seeking nominations for a family in need to be the beneficiary of their annual benefit truck and tractor pull. There are no specific qualifications to be nominated. The VFD asks that people do not nominate themselves, said Erin Pflueger, a member of...
Sen. Robinson’s bill to boost veterans donations when renewing driver license passed unanimously by Pa. Senate
A measure introduced by a South Hills lawmaker to increase the amount of money that can be donated to help military veterans when a resident renews their vehicle documents was approved unanimously by the Pennsylvania Senate. Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, was the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 96, which increases...
Westmoreland County covid hospitalizations hold steady over past week
Over the past eight days, the number of covid hospitalizations in Westmoreland County appear to have stabilized, according to data from the state Department of Health. Current covid-19 hospitalizations in the county were 115 on Friday. Since Feb. 19, the number of hospitalizations has not surpassed its current level, dropping...
Allegheny County sees most reported covid cases in a month — 1 from March 2020
Allegheny County reported the most additonal covid cases in over a month Friday, with at least one positive test coming from last March, according to the county Health Department. There were 412 additional covid-19 cases reported, the most since Jan. 23 (464 cases). Cases were mostly confirmed via PCR tests,...
TSA catches 2 guns in a day at Pittsburgh International, 7 so far this year
Twelve hours after security officers stopped a Texas woman with a loaded handgun at Pittsburgh International Airport, officers caught another handgun Thursday on a Monroeville woman who said she forgot the gun was in her purse. “This traveler’s forgetfulness was a careless mistake that will hit her wallet because, like...
Some Pa. school district leaders frustrated with return of standardized tests during pandemic
Gennaro Piraino Jr. said his distaste for state standardized tests has only grown in the past year, despite their absence. “Given the pandemic, what we know our students need to know and be able to do has become even more evident,” said Piraino, superintendent of Franklin Regional School District. “And...
New Kensington-Arnold reports covid cases at 2 elementary schools, closes 1
New Kensington-Arnold School District has announced positive covid-19 cases at two elementary schools, forcing one to close. According to a notice from acting Superintendent Jon Banko, the district was notified of three cases at Roy A. Hunt Elementary and one at H.D. Berkey Elementary. Both schools are in Arnold. Berkey...
Westmoreland transit to offer free rides for covid vaccines
Westmoreland County Transit will provide free rides on its buses and paratransit vehicles to local covid-19 vaccine clinics. Anyone with a scheduled appointment to receive the vaccine is eligible for the service Mondays through Saturdays in the service area, including Westmoreland County and Downtown Pittsburgh. “We wanted to eliminate a...
1 hurt after pickup rear ends school bus in Hempfield
A pickup truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital Friday morning after apparently rear-ending a school bus in Hempfield. Township Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said firefighters from Grapeville, North Hempfield and Jeannette worked together for about 25 minutes to free the driver. Nine students aboard the Hempfield...
Bridgeville, Collier area fish fries for the week of Feb. 26, 2021
Bridgeville VFD Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department will host a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 19, March 5, 19 and April 2. The food will only be available for take out at the fire department’s location at 370 Commercial St. There are a la carte options and...
How to buy a wedding dress during a pandemicVideo
In the showroom at MB Bride & Special Occasion, Tracey Hess holds two essential devices for bridal-wear shopping these days: An iPhone is in her right hand and an iPad in her left. She positions the electronics with precision, so the people she’s connecting with virtually can see the dress...
Pittsburgh police seek help finding missing Carrick teen
Pittsburgh police are seeking help to find a teen last seen more than a week ago. Niya Peterson, 16, of Carrick was seen at about 3:30 p.m. Feb. 18 wearing a black coat and Ugg boots. Police said Peterson, who is 5 foot 1 inch tall and has long yellow...
The Stroller, Feb. 26, 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. Leechburg Rotary Club accepting scholarship applications The Rotary Club of Leechburg will award community service scholarships to students living within the Leechburg and...
No injuries reported when truck overturns on I-70 near Madison exit
Eastbound traffic on Interstate 70 was reduced to one lane early Friday after firefighters responded to an overturned truck near the Madison exit in Hempfield. No injuries were reported and those inside the truck needed no assistance to get out, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. Firefighters responded...
Man critically wounded in Wilkinsburg shooting
A man was critically wounded in a shooting Thursday night in Wilkinsburg, according to Allegheny County police. The shooting was reported shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Montier Street, an Allegheny County 911 dispatch supervisor said. First responders found a man with a gunshot wound to the...
Drug bust nets federal cocaine charge for Pittsburgh woman
A Pittsburgh woman was jailed on federal drug charges after a drug bust by city police Thursday in Homewood North. Monique Mathews, 25, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to court documents. City detectives arrested Matthews and seized more than 800 grams of cocaine, as well...
Giant Eagle fills online appointments for Heinz Field covid vaccination clinic
All online appointments have been booked for a multi-day mass covid vaccination clinic at Heinz Field in March. Giant Eagle announced the clinic late Thursday afternoon, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Appointments could be made starting Friday morning for the clinic days: March 2-5, with a “significant number of...
Westmoreland hospitality grants capped at $20,000
Westmoreland County will cap grants awarded this spring to local restaurants, taverns and hotels at $20,000. Grants were authorized as part of a $145 million state program approved last month to assist the hospitality industry. County commissioners said Thursday the grant application process is expected to begin within two weeks...
Food Podcast: Adagio Health resumes speaker series; 1st part features food bank CEO Lisa Scales
Adagio Health, a nonprofit organization focused on providing health care services in underserved communities, will host the Adagio Health: Better Health Outcomes Speaker Series, beginning Thursday. The first part of the series will feature Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank President & CEO Lisa Scales alongside Feeding Pennsylvania Executive Director Jane...
Survivors of 14th Quartermaster missile attack keep promise to remember fallenVideo
Thursday’s memorial service for Hempfield’s 14th Quartermaster Detachment was both somber and joyful, a time for mourning those lost while catching up with old friends. “It’s nice to see everyone,” said Sgt. Mary Rhoads of California, Pa. “We made a promise that we would never forget them.” The ceremony at...
Scottdale man not guilty of Hempfield armed robbery
A Scottdale man who confessed to an armed robbery of a woman in a Hempfield parking lot more than four years ago was found not guilty by a jury on Thursday. After about 90 minutes of deliberations, jurors acquitted Norman Jack, 30, of robbery, theft and three other related offenses...
