Western PA Local News category, Page 2699
Murrysville man remembered for time in Boy Scouts, love of family
When Edwin Wagner Jr. joined the Boy Scouts, he told his dad he was going to be a “lifer.” And with the help of children and grandchildren, Wagner was able to spend more than 50 years in the organization, helping troops collect badges and guiding them toward Eagle Scout awards....
Heinz pickle pin among surprises found in 113-year-old cornerstone of former Tree of Life synagogueVideo
Heinz pickles were apparently as popular in Pittsburgh 113 years ago as they are today. A Tree of Life Congregation member included a Heinz pickle pin among the mementos and documents placed in the cornerstone of the Oakland synagogue when it was built in 1906. The building, which became part...
Pickup truck hit by train in Cheswick; man taken to hospitalVideo
One person was injured when a train struck a pickup Monday afternoon near Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick, then pushed the vehicle for nearly a mile before coming to rest, police said. The male driver of the lime-green truck was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. The man was...
Low voter turnout expected across Western Pennsylvania on Election Day
Most counties in the area are predicting low voter turnout ahead of Tuesday’s election — typical for an election year with no presidential or congressional races. Only about a fourth of registered voters are expected to cast ballots in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and a little more than a third...
Daily Download: Accused cop killer Rahmael Holt, Saw Mill Run Boulevard and Steelers defenseVideo
Each day, TribLIVE reporters and editors will break down the biggest news of the day, with video highlights of the people and places making headlines. Today, reporter Maddy Lee discusses accused cop killer Rahmael Holt’s trial getting underway, Saw Mill Run Boulevard being closed as part of a bridge replacement...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $10M purchase of police body cams
Pittsburgh police will be getting new body cameras and Tasers under a $10 million purchase request approved Monday by City Council. Under the proposal, the city will buy 950 cameras and 950 Tasers from Arizona-based Axon Enterprise Inc. The equipment includes a “signal sidearm” sensor that will not only immediately...
Hempfield Walmart gets some soul (food)Video
How does a former Liberian refugee from New Jersey end up at a Walmart in Hempfield? With the help of prayer, some venture capital and a business partner who grew up eating soul food in Tifton, Ga. Adenah Bayoh and Elzadie “Zadie” Smith opened the first Cornbread restaurant in Maplewood,...
Police: Man shot multiple times in Wilkinsburg
A 36-year-old man was shot multiple times shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Marlboro Avenue in Wilkinsburg, according to Allegheny County police Inspector Andrew Schurman. The man, who wasn’t identified, was taken to a hospital where he was in critical condition, according to Schurman. Allegheny County...
Veterans Day deals for vets, active-duty military around Western Pa.
The region’s longstanding support of veterans and active-duty military personnel will be on display again this Veterans Day as businesses, restaurants and fraternal groups offer discounted meals and services. Veterans Day is Nov. 11, in recognition of the day the armistice was reached to end the fighting in World War...
Theft, drug charges among those before Penn Hills magistrate
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for court Ricardo Brisky Jr., 31, of Pittsburgh on drug charges related to manufacturing or...
Education professionals dominate Norwin school board field of 7 candidates
The next Norwin School Board could be filled mostly with education professionals because two current teachers, two retired teachers and an educational consultant are among the seven candidates seeking five positions. Voters in Irwin, North Huntingdon and North Irwin, and about 30 votes in White Oak and South Versailles, will...
Norwin grad, business owner wins Miss Pennsylvania USA titleVideo
A Norwin graduate and owner of two boutique shops in Westmoreland County was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA this weekend, giving her the chance to compete for Miss USA. Victoria Piekut, 23, of North Huntingdon — who owns Wight Elephant Boutique in Irwin and Greensburg — competed against 35 women for...
Weather expected to impact Westmoreland voter turnout on Tuesday
Beth Lechman, Westmoreland County elections director, predicted a turnout of 25% to 27% for the county, expecting voters to be deterred by the weather forecast of high winds and rain. The county has two Common Pleas judge positions up for election in addition to elections for county commissioner, sheriff and...
Indiana County teenager accused of threatening classmates on social media
A 14-year-old Indiana County youth was charged with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct Monday for allegedly posting a threatening message on social media that he planned to bring firearms to Marion Center Junior-Senior High School and target classmates, according to state police. Police said the student, who attends the...
Cops: Mt. Pleasant Township man attacked workers with baseball bat over rental TV
A 55-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man was so angry when two workers arrived to pick up an 82-inch television he had rented that he attacked them with a metal baseball bat, police said. State police say Gene R. Overly fled the scene after the Saturday afternoon incident, but eventually was...
Cops: Pair used fake IDs to buy $24K of iPhones in Westmoreland, elsewhere
A New York City man and woman are accused of using fraudulent identification cards to buy $24,000 worth of iPhones in Westmoreland and surrounding counties, according to state police. Jose Miguel Jorge, 31, and Jessica K. Cocco, 41, allegedly used identification information for people living in Utah, Missouri and Minnesota...
Parklet planned to mark Freeport’s history as canal port town
Plans to develop a small park recalling Freeport’s past as a port on the Pennsylvania Canal are moving forward. Two members of the Freeport Renaissance Association, Karen Lindbergh and Mary Bowlin, outlined plans for the Canal Park to Freeport Council last week. Lindbergh, the association’s vice president, presented a rough...
Trafford police say driver accused of 6th DUI told them he used heroin, meth, cocaine
A 34-year-old man awaiting trial for his fifth DUI told Trafford police Sunday he was under the influence of heroin when his SUV swerved into the opposing lane. Tyler E. Thimons of Gibsonia was stopped about 1:30 a.m. Sunday after patrolman Zlatan Avdic said he watched Thimons’ 2008 Ford Escape...
Small ATI locomotive leaves tracks but doesn’t block Norfolk Southern trafficVideo
A small locomotive used to pull rail cars between ATI’s two plants in Harrison left the tracks Monday. It was unclear how many people were aboard. No 0ne was injured in the mishap, according to ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie. The front end of the shifter went off on the side...
Video, audio of foot chase, shooting of New Kensington officer played during murder trial
Brian Shaw, a wounded New Kensington police officer, called out for help moments after being shot three times in an alley where he chased a man believed to have run from a sports utility vehicle following a traffic stop. “I’ve been shot. I’ve been shot,” Shaw said into his radio...
Ohio men accused of burglary after being found sleeping in Salem house
An Ohio man was arrested Sunday after he apparently broke into a Salem home and went to sleep, according to state police. Brendan Scott Szrenkanyi, 37, of Cleveland, is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and loitering at night. A Salem resident called state police at 2:41 a.m. Sunday after he...
Police: Masked men robbed Mia Pizza in Bloomfield
Pittsburgh police are investigating an armed robbery that was reported at about 12:40 a.m. Monday at Mia Pizza on Baum Boulevard in Bloomfield. Two men wearing masks and hoods entered the store, pointed guns at two employees and forced them to open a cash register, according to police spokeswoman Cara...
2 arrested in Jeannette pistol exchange
Two men were arrested last week in Jeannette after police said they exchanged a pistol that had the serial number obliterated. Timothy Joshua Bertrand, 28, of Jeannette, and Joseph Raymond Thornton, 52, of Manor, are both being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. City police and agents from...
2 injured in East Huntingdon crashVideo
Medical helicopters took two people to the hospital after a Monday morning crash in East Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County 911. The two-vehicle crash on Porter Avenue — also known as Route 819 — happened just before 7 a.m. One vehicle went over an embankment and was heavily damaged, with...
First graduating class of Westmoreland County Veterans Court set
The first graduate of Westmoreland County Veterans Court will be recognized on Nov. 19. County officials reinstated the program in May for veterans charged with certain crimes, allowing them to earn a reduced sentence. Veterans work through the six- to 12-month program that gives them opportunities to address issues such...
