Western PA Local News category, Page 2651
Derry Township man to serve at least 8 years in jail for drug overdose death
A Derry Township man will serve at least eight years in prison for his role in the overdose death of a friend in early 2017. Eric B. Vogel Jr., 31, pleaded guilty in September to a charge of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the overdose of 29-year-old...
Pittsburgh Penguins players make annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s HospitalVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins made the holidays a little brighter for patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Monday. Donning Santa hats, the players stopped by several rooms at the hospital to drop off gifts including stuffed penguins, hats and calendars and to spend a little bit of time talking,...
Pittsburgh City Council wants to eliminate pension provision
Pittsburgh City Council is moving to eliminate a provision in the city’s pension ordinance that would reduce payments to some elected officials. As it stands, the provision would cost Councilwoman Darlene Harris about $700 per month in her monthly payout after she retires in January. Councilman Ricky Burgess of North...
Jeannette man gets 10 years probation for his brother’s overdose death
A Jeannette man will serve 10 years on probation for selling the drugs his younger brother used before he died of an overdose nearly three years ago. Markus McGowan, 32, was facing a potential 10-year prison term but, following testimony from his mother and a family friend, a Westmoreland County...
Salem tattoo shop plans coat, shoe giveawayVideo
Dante Wiley Jr. knows how tough it can get for needy children during the holidays. “I didn’t have much growing up,” said Wiley, a Jeannette resident and general manager/part-owner at BullyInk tattoo parlor in Salem Plaza along Route 22. “I know how it feels. I know what it’s like to...
North Hills Middle School teacher named Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year
A North Hills School District teacher has been named the 2020 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, state Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera announced Monday. Joseph Welch, who teaches American history at North Hills Middle School, was one of 12 finalists nominated for the honor. “Thank you for making every day...
Pittsburgh Penguins players make annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital
The Pittsburgh Penguins made the holidays a little brighter for patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Monday. Donning Santa caps, the players stopped by several rooms at the hospital to drop off gifts such as stuffed penguins, hats and calendars. They spent time talking, posing for photos and...
South Greensburg’s former secretary admits to stealing from elderly father to repay borough
In an attempt to avoid going to jail and repay money he embezzled from South Greensburg accounts, a former borough secretary stole more than $60,000 from his elderly father and then lied about it in court. On Monday, a contrite Dennis Lee Kunkle Jr. stood in a downtown courtroom and...
Former Leechburg police chief jailed again, accused of accessing porn website
A former Leechburg police chief — who was fired and prosecuted for seeking sex from what he thought was an underage girl — used his cellphone while meeting with a probation officer to access a website devoted to fetishes, bondage and sadomasochism, state investigators said in court. In doing so,...
Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins open combination store in BloomfieldVideo
Coffee, doughnuts and ice cream? All in one place? The new Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins store opened Monday on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield. Customers lined up at 5 a.m. to grab a free coffee mug and continued to walk in throughout the day to pick up drinks, sandwiches and sweet treats....
Tarentum hires firm to update zoning ordinance, map
Tarentum could pay nearly $35,000 to update its zoning ordinance and map. The review comes as a billboard company arguing to place a sign at the Tarentum Bridge has pointed to errors and omissions in the borough’s zoning ordinance, which the company said unlawfully excludes billboards from any location in...
Pittsburgh ranked as 6th-best large college city, report says
Pittsburgh is ranked sixth among the top 10 large college cities in America by the personal-finance website WalletHub. The website says it compared more than 400 U.S. cities based on “31 key indicators of academic, social and economic growth potential” for its report on the best college towns and cities....
Westmoreland County inmate, girlfriend accused in jailhouse drug smuggling scheme
Fearful that guards would find drugs hidden in his mail, a Westmoreland County Prison inmate asked someone in another jail cell to stash a pile of stamped envelopes — only to have that inmate share his secret with authorities, according to new criminal charges against a Greensburg man and his...
Wilkinsburg man could serve 87 years in prison after exchanging shots with police in 2018
A Wilkinsburg man who was shot by police after exchanging gunfire with officers responding to a 2018 burglary call was sentenced to between 43½ and 87 years in prison on aggravated assault charges. Allegheny County Judge Kevin Sasinoski sentenced Randall Hockett, 34, on Monday. Following the sentence, the Allegheny County...
Man arrested in connection with Derry Township woman’s overdose death
An Indiana County man was arrested Monday in connection with a 2017 drug overdose death in Westmoreland County, according to court papers. Shawn Ray Jodon, 30, of Burrell Township, is accused of providing a fatal dose of fentanyl to his cousin Brittany Nicole Adamson, 22. State police said Adamson overdosed...
Frazer votes to allow horses on certain residential properties
A couple who wants to put horses on a 24-acre property in Frazer is now one step closer to getting their wish. Supervisors last week unanimously voted to pass an ordinance that allows agricultural operations on properties larger than 15 acres as a conditional use in residential moderate density, or...
Pittsburgh activists call for budget transparency during hearingVideo
Pittsburgh activists turned out in force Monday for a public hearing on the city’s 2020 budgets, calling for more transparency and community participation in the budgeting process and additional funding for such things as affordable housing. About 40 representatives of the Economic Justice Circle, a coalition of at least 14...
Deputies say they found pound of pot in Liberty Bridge traffic stop
A North Side man is facing felony drug charges after Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies said they found a pound of suspected marijuana in his vehicle after a traffic stop Sunday afternoon on the Liberty Bridge. Craig Nash, 31, of Pittsburgh’s Central North Side, was stopped on suspicion of reckless driving...
New Kensington police say runaway girl returned home
A girl missing since Friday has returned home, New Kensington police said Tuesday. Police said Monae Matthews is safe and was not injured when she returned home. In a post on the department’s Facebook page, police said Monae was a runaway who was last seen on Friday....
Consumer alert issued for South Hills Village bakery kiosk
The Allegheny County Health Department has issued a consumer alert for a South Hills Village bakery kiosk. The consumer alert stems from where the food sold at the Breaking Eggs Bakery Kiosk was made, according to the inspection report. The inspector wrote that the food is being prepared and finished...
Gas prices fall in Pittsburgh area, most states, analyst says
Gasoline prices fell in most states over the past week as a large increase in gasoline inventories may have offset a surprise oil production cut announced by OPEC, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for price-tracking service GasBuddy. “While OPEC’s announcement was certainly not expected, it lasts just three...
Unattended suitcase prompts bomb squad call to St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh
A suitcase that was left unattended Monday morning near the sacristy of St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland prompted a call to police and a bomb squad investigation. The bag was removed by robots to an outside courtyard for X-rays. Nothing harmful was found inside, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman...
Wildwood Highlands in Hampton abruptly closes
A long-standing sports complex in the North Hills has closed, according to an announcement published on its website and Facebook page. Wildwood Highlands Entertainment Complex, after more than 30 years of “Great Food. Fast Karts. Wild Times,” shuttered its doors Dec. 9. “We did not make this decision lightly and...
Cops: 71-year-old Hempfield man admitted sexually assaulting girl
A 71-year-old Hempfield man was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 bond after his arrest by state police for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl on multiple occasions over two years. Frank J. Celesnik was charged with aggravated indecent assault, aggravated assault on a child under 13 years...
The Stroller, Dec. 9, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Festival of Trees raffle supports hospital projects Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary is hosting its annual Festival of Trees raffle to benefit projects supporting the hospital. Each hospital department decorates a tree to be raffled off and they are on display in the lobby. Tickets are 10 for $5 or 25...
