Western PA Local News category, Page 2123
Pitt gets $2.5 million contract to study health effects of fracking
The Department of Health on Tuesday announced a $2.5 million contract with the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health to study possible health effects of fracking – particularly in Western Pennsylvania. “My administration is committed to ensuring that Pennsylvania is a healthy, vibrant place for all who call...
Oregon man charged with ransacking Greensburg church
An Oregon man is accused of breaking into a Greensburg church and dismantling and disconnecting electronic equipment hours before Sunday worship was set to be broadcast live, according to police. Timothy Lansdale, 55, was arraigned Monday on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and failing...
Man accused of stealing donation jar from Greensburg pizza shop
Greensburg police said a submarine sandwich helped lead them to a suspect accused of stealing a donation jar from a local pizza shop. Gabriel A. Smith, 41, of Jeannette is charged with theft and receiving stolen property in connection with the theft of approximately $100 in donations collected in a...
O’Hara appoints 3rd Ward rep to serve vacancy
A consultant who worked previously as the assistant athletic director for Fox Chapel Area High School was appointed to fill a vacancy on O’Hara council. Republican Greg Caprara will represent the township’s 3rd Ward through 2021. He is serving the remainder of a term vacated last month by Scott Frankowski....
Man acquitted in Wilkinsburg mass shooting pleads to gun charge
Darnell Mahone logged in to the federal court hearing Tuesday to watch the man he believes killed his daughter in a mass shooting plead guilty to a gun charge. It isn’t as much as he’d hoped for — the plea agreement Cheron Shelton reached with the U.S. Attorney’s office calls...
New Kensington man charged with hitting woman with hammer, threatening to kill her
A New Kensington man has been charged with aggravated assault after city police say he chased and hit a woman with a hammer and threatened to kill her last week, according to a criminal complaint. Ryan Christopher Grabigel, 40, is free on $10,000 bond while awaiting a preliminary hearing before...
Pennsylvania to freelance workers: Checks will be in the mail, but don’t know when
State officials want to assure about 500,000 jobless Pennsylvanians who are independent contractors, freelancers and tech workers that they will continue to get their unemployment benefits under the new $900 billion covid relief package, but they don’t when the checks will be in the mail. Labor and Industry Acting Secretary...
Westmoreland County covid numbers continue to make December worst month of pandemic
As the month winds down, covid cases and deaths in Westmoreland County continue to make December the county’s worst month of the pandemic. There were 302 new covid-19 cases and nine deaths reported Tuesday. Those figures bring total cases to 17,079 and 358 total deaths in the county. This month,...
Police find body wrapped in plastic in Brighton Heights, woman detained
Police following up on a tip in a missing persons case found a body wrapped in plastic at a home in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood, authorities said. Police discovered the body about 8:15 a.m. at a home on California Avenue, said Maurice Matthews, a spokesman for the Department of Public...
Arrest made in January homicide of Arnold man in New Kensington
An Arnold man who was shot and killed at a New Kensington housing complex in January died because of a robbery gone bad, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities said Letresse Tareke Williams, 30, of New Kensington, planned to rob Anthone Williams, 31, in a section of the East Ken...
Winners announced in Tarentum holiday window contest
Santa Claus sits in a chair, reading a magazine. Nearby is a Christmas tree adorned with bright bulbs and ornaments, along with colorfully wrapped presents underneath. A string of lights frame the space, and snowflakes decorate the scene. Santa has a couch decorated with fluffy pillows to lounge on. It’s...
Allegheny County reports 10 new covid deaths, 797 new cases
The Allegheny County Health Department reported 10 new covid-19 deaths Tuesday. There were 797 new covid cases reported, as well. After the new figures, there are 47,908 total cases and 790 total deaths in Allegheny County. There have been 19,504 cases and 281 deaths reported in December thus far, about...
Assault, harassment, trespassing among charges handled recently by Bridgeville, Carnegie, Scott judges
District court judges in Bridgeville, Scott and Carnegie handled these criminal cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in appropriate district courts or the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet, Bridgeville • Michael Waite, 31, of Carnegie on charges of simple trespassing, theft from a vehicle,...
Covid cases rise in Concordia at Cabot
The number of covid-19 infections has risen significantly at Concordia at Cabot, a nursing and personal care facility in Butler County. As of Monday, 25 nursing home residents and 16 skilled nursing employees have tested positive for the virus at Cabot. On the same campus, 55 residents in Lund personal...
Peduto: ‘$600 is not enough’ to help families struggling during pandemic
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said he is “profoundly disappointed” that funding for cities and states was left out of the $900 billion pandemic relief package Congress passed Monday night. “With the exclusion of cities from this stimulus package, our first responders and front-line essential workers who have worked tirelessly during...
Aquinas’ John Griffith builds Marian grotto to earn Eagle Scout
A wooden Marian grotto now graces the hillside overlooking Dolan Field at Aquinas Academy in Gibsonia. The simple shrine to the Virgin Mary was built by junior John Griffith, 17, who worked for six weeks on the project to earn his rank as Eagle Scout – the highest achievement in...
Will Western Pa. get a white Christmas? Meteorologist weighs in
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas this year, your dreams will likely come true. Western Pennsylvania residents should expect to wake to new fallen snow on Christmas morning, said Myranda Fullerton, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Moon. She said this Christmas will be cold, windy and...
Affordable housing project planned in Polish Hill to help battle gentrification
A plan to build eight new affordable homes in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood received a $750,000 boost in a grant from a government-sponsored bank. The City of Bridges Community Land Trust was awarded the money from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s affordable housing program. Each federal home loan...
Penn Hills council approves 2021 spending plan with no tax hike
Penn Hills Council adopted a spending plan for the upcoming year without raising property taxes and, officials were quick to emphasize, with a surplus in leftover funds. The $34 million budget, a 6% increase from the previous year, was balanced by using $3 million in carryover funds – an identical...
2 North Hills school directors reappointed to leadership positions; meeting schedule set
The president and vice president of the North Hill school board have been reappointed for a second term. President Allison Mathis and vice president Helen “Dee” Spade will serve in the leadership positions for a one-year term that runs until December 2021. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to...
Police seek tips in search for missing Brighton Heights man
Pittsburgh police are asking for the public’s help locating a Brighton Heights man who has not been in contact with his family since Dec. 14. Deric Bryan Davis, 53, is bald and has brown eyes, stands 6-feet, 3-inches tall, weighs 200 pounds. Police add “he walks with a gait motion...
The Stroller, Dec. 22, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Santa schedules visits to New Kensington The New Kensington volunteer fire companies got a call from Santa over the weekend to see...
Lower Burrell caregiver, client spread cheer to Alle-Kiski Valley children with letters from SantaVideo
It’s Christmas week, which means Santa Claus is busy making final preparations to deliver presents to all good little girls and boys around the world on Christmas Eve. Most children know of Santa’s elves and reindeer, who help him out in the North Pole. But many might not know about...
Oakmont council holds line on real estate taxes, borough fees in 2021 budget
Oakmont officials held the line on real estate taxes and borough fees in their 2021 budget. Next year’s spending plan was approved via a 6-0 vote Monday night. Councilwoman Sophia Facaros was absent. Several council members participated virtually to help with social distancing and covid safety protocols. It’s been about...
Police: Hill District shooting suspect captured
A Mt. Oliver man wanted on attempted homicide and other charges in connection with a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Hill District has been captured. Renato Shealey, 40, was apprehended Monday evening and taken to the Allegheny County Jail. Pittsburgh police charged him with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery and firearms violations...
