Western PA Local News category, Page 2106
East Deer passes 2021 budget, no tax increase
East Deer residents won’t be paying more in real estate taxes next year despite an increase in spending. Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said commissioners approved a $1.5 million budget for 2021 that keeps the property tax rate at 4.9 mills. The final budget, adopted Dec. 31, was roughly the same...
Memorial yard sign fundraiser benefits family of state Rep. Mike Reese
A steady stream of cars passed through the Westmoreland Fairgrounds on Wednesday evening to buy memorial yard signs honoring the late state Rep. Mike Reese. Reese of Mt. Pleasant Township died Saturday following an apparent brain aneurysm. He was 42. He had represented the 59th District in the Pennsylvania House...
Officers accuse former Ambridge chief of sexual harassment
Two part-time police officers in Ambridge filed a federal lawsuit against the borough and its former police chief on Wednesday alleging that he repeatedly sexually harassed them and that officials there did nothing to stop it. Alexis Korol, who began working as a part-time police officer in November 2016, and...
Ex-GOP state Rep. Rick Saccone joins chaos in Washington, praises TrumpVideo
Former Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone was in Washington on Wednesday, and bragged on his Facebook page about storming the Capitol. The post was removed by early evening, but was captured by various media members and constituents. Saccone wrote: “We are storming the capitol. Our vanguard has broken through the...
Allegheny County officials worried about large New Year’s parties leading to covid spread
Allegheny County officials remain concerned about a post-holiday surge in covid-19 cases, as case investigators have already begun receiving reports of cases stemming from parties and travel. Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the county health department, said cases and hospitalizations hit a peak in late November and early December and...
Allegheny County, Pittsburgh officials monitor D.C. unrestVideo
Allegheny County and Pittsburgh law enforcement are on alert in the event the unrest in Washington, D.C. becomes an issue locally, officials said late Wednesday afternoon. “I can tell you that, locally, we have no reports of anything,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said prior to the start of the...
Relief, satisfaction from first covid-19 vaccine recipients in Monroeville
Medical workers who received the covid-19 vaccine in Monroeville expressed relief and satisfaction with the process Jan. 6. “I’ve been waiting for this all year,” said Ben Haddis, 23, of Oakland moments after receiving the shot at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville. Haddis was one...
Steelers fan among finalists for Hall of Fame superfan recognition
Alan Faneca isn’t the only person associated with the Steelers who is a Hall of Fame finalist this year. Justin Laveing, a 25-year-old Beaver Falls native, has been named one of six nominees for the Ford Hall of Fans, a program that recognizes some of the most passionate NFL fans...
‘An absolute disgrace’: Pa. delegation reacts to violent storming of U.S. Capitol
Mike Doyle has served in Congress since 1995. The Democrat from Forest Hills said he has never seen a day like Wednesday when protesters stormed the Capitol and created a violent scene that caused House and Senate members to flee. “This looks like something that would happen in a Third...
Few covid infections in Allegheny County linked to classroom, health officials say
Few covid-19 infections among K-12 students in Allegheny County have been linked to the classroom, Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said Wednesday. Students learning from home have had just as many cases as those learning in-person or through hybrid models, Bogen said during a county Board of Health meeting. “I...
$1 million scratch-off ticket sold in Monessen
A lucky gas station customer in Monessen bought a scratch-off ticket worth $1 million, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. Eastgate Exxon & Convenience Store on Eastgate Avenue sold the winning Magnificent Millions ticket, which cost $20. The odds of winning the $1 million to prize in Magnificent Millions are 1...
Carnegie Museum of Natural History names new director
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh has named Gretchen Baker the new Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Baker takes over for Stephen Tonsor, who had been serving as interim director. She is currently the managing director for museum experience at the Lucas Museum...
Pittsburgh man accused of robbing friend with friend’s gun in Upper Burrell
Upper Burrell police charged a Pittsburgh man with robbery, saying he used a friend’s gun to rob the man in his own home, according to a criminal complaint. Tezhon Delvon Thompson, 23, faces felony charges of robbery, burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and illegally possessing firearms. He was released from...
Atria’s, Juniper Grill remain closed despite lift on state restrictions
Two local restaurant chains have chosen to remain temporarily closed despite the state lifting its most recent covid-19 restrictions. Management at Atria’s and Juniper Grill said they cannot be profitable at half-capacity, as mandated by Gov. Tom Wolf’s virus-related guidelines. “We cannot and will not make it as a business...
Pittsburgh man charged in Lawrenceville explosion
A Pittsburgh man, who investigators said blew up a Porta-John in the city in November, is charged in federal court with throwing an explosive device from a moving vehicle in a separate incident Sunday night in Lawrenceville. Charles Baker, 33, is charged with illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device...
Suspect in Southwest Greensburg hit-and-run arrested in Armstrong County
A former Greensburg man was taken into custody Wednesday in Armstrong County on charges he was driving during a hit-and-run in Southwest Greensburg 13 months ago. North Buffalo Police Chief Jason Hufhand said Justin Lamont Hudspath, 38, was arrested with help of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force at a home...
Family objections delay guilty plea in North Huntingdon vehicular homicide case
A Westmoreland County prosecutor told a judge Wednesday he could not recommend withdrawing a felony vehicular homicide charge against a Penn Township man. Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda said he learned minutes before Chad Gregorini was to plead guilty to lesser charges that the victim’s three adult children objected to...
Irwin reverts to in-person meeting on Jan. 13; councilman calls state orders ‘crap’
After debating the merits of the state’s controversial orders on restricting indoor gatherings, Irwin Borough council members decided to meet in-person when they gather on Jan. 13, a reversal of the public advertisement last month that the meeting would be held in a virtual manner. Council on Tuesday decided in...
Irwin fire department proposes $1 million building
The Irwin fire department want to build a $1 million hall to house trucks, ambulances, a meeting room and possibly borough offices and police department at the site of the former Sixth Street School. Leaders of the volunteer group told borough officials this week that they hope to build a...
Winter lantern festival to launch Fox Chapel’s new parks conservancy
A winter lantern festival in Fox Chapel first delayed by rain is rescheduled for sundown Friday. The event will launch the borough’s new parks conservancy by installing a sea of flickering lanterns across the field at McCahill Park along Squaw Run Road. From 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., people can enjoy...
Monroeville passes 2021 budget without raising taxes, uses $4.2 million from savings
Monroeville Council held the line on property taxes going into 2021. Council approved the $35.7 million budget during a special meeting Dec. 22. When first presented to the public in October, Manager Tim Little recommended council use $5.9 million of the municipality’s fund balance to fill a gap caused by...
State, local NAACP chapters reiterate need for Gateway School Board member to resign
The leader of the local and state NAACP chapters further denounced an alleged racist text from a Gateway School Board member and again called for him to resign during a virtual press conference Wednesday. Kenneth Huston, the Pennsylvania NAACP president, said Gateway school board member Paul Caliari’s text sent in...
Westmoreland County adds 16 covid deaths, 331 new cases
Westmoreland County saw its highest single-day coronavirus death report Wednesday, adding 16 to its total. Those newly reported deaths bring the county’s total to 459, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Deaths have been climbing rapidly in the county after a slow climb to 100 at the end of...
Aspinwall holds tax rate steady despite increase in spending plan
Aspinwall officials are crediting a strong housing market for helping to maintain the property tax rate in 2021, despite increased spending and pandemic impacts. Aspinwall Council approved the borough’s $2.8 million budget, which holds the real estate tax rate at 6.86 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000...
Latrobe police hand out more gift cards after 2nd holiday donation
Latrobe officials were able to double up on the city’s holiday season gift-giving, thanks to a corporate donation. During the week of Christmas, city police surprised community members in need, as well as some motorists who were pulled over for minor vehicle violations. Officers handed out $2,500 in Shop ‘n...
