Western PA Local News category, Page 2751
Judge: Penn Township man cannot use drunkenness as defense for firing at police
A Penn Township man charged with firing a rifle at police will not be allowed to argue to jurors at his upcoming attempted murder trial that his actions are less serious because he was drunk. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger ruled during a hearing Friday that jurors...
$11M federal grant approved for Arnold Palmer runway widening
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved an $11.1 million grant that will allow Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to proceed with widening of its runway. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the Unity airport, learned of the anticipated funding this week. The federal grant will cover the majority of the...
Apollo Borough offices find temporary home
The Apollo Borough offices will temporarily move to the former state liquor store site at 206 Warren Ave. No date for the move has been set, but the borough will soon have to vacate the offices rented in the former Apollo Elementary School building. The lease expires at the end...
Pittsburgh’s Aviary recognized with design award
This one’s for the birds. The National Aviary’s Tropical Rainforest won the Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2019 Exhibit Design Award for innovation in creating the tropical rainforest exhibit, according to the association. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums...
Joe Biden to visit Pittsburgh in November
Former Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Pittsburgh on Election Day, Nov. 5, according to a statement from his campaign. No additional details about the visit were immediately available. Biden last brought his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to Pittsburgh in April. He visited the Teamsters Local 249...
Greensburg man appeals rape conviction, wants new trial
A Greensburg man serving a 12-year prison sentence for the rape of an unconscious woman claims he should receive a new trial. Benjamin Melvin Davis, 22, in an appeal filed Friday, argued that evidence presented at his June trial did not support the guilty verdict. “… In particular, the credibility...
Steve Blass thanks Pirates, city of Pittsburgh for ’77-year party’Video
Steve Blass considers himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. After a 60-year career with the Pirates as a pitcher and broadcaster, Blass, 77, is retiring this weekend. On Friday, Mayor Bill Peduto presented Blass with a proclamation declaring Saturday “Steve Blass Day” in the city. Peduto...
Monroeville Convention Center to host healing expo this weekend
National and regional experts on health and wellness will be in Monroeville this weekend for the third annual Mind Body Spirit Healing expo. The event is presented by Kelly Simon Management and scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Blvd....
Millions of Americans still don’t have Real ID as 1 year deadline looms
An estimated 99 million Americans do not have federally compliant identification cards to fly domestically before the Oct. 1, 2020, deadline, a study by the U.S. Tourism Association has found. “We’re a year out,” said Tori Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy for the association. “That means...
Cancellation of Penn Hills event leads to resignation
The cancellation of a second annual, adult-friendly event in one of Penn Hills’ parks has led to the resignation of a Recreation Advisory Board member and other residents angered by the decision. Penn Hills Manager Scott Andrejchak said in a news release Sept. 26 that “Autumn in the Hills,” scheduled...
Pa. American Water to begin repairs to Becks Run RoadVideo
Pennsylvania American Water will begin repairing a portion of Becks Run Road in Baldwin starting next week, the company said Friday. The company expects to finish repairs by mid-November. The work will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday on a section of the road damaged by the waterline break along East...
Pittsburgh gets nearly $1M in funding for smoke detectors for deaf residents
Deaf and hearing-impaired Pittsburgh residents will benefit from about $1 million that’s being earmarked for smoke and fire detectors that can alert those who cannot hear that there is a fire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire a $950,000 grant for the devices. The city...
Case against a McKeesport man accused in Downtown stabbing heads to court
The case against a McKeesport man accused in an Aug. 8 double stabbing Downtown that killed one woman and injured another will move to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, a Pittsburgh district judge ruled Friday. James Wyatt, 23, had a preliminary hearing Friday. He is charged with homicide,...
Microchip your pet for $25 at special clinic in Harrison
The Building Block of Natrona nonprofit is teaming up with Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley to microchip residents’ pets for $25 each from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 at Natrona Community Park on River Avenue. Registration for the microchip clinic is not required but organizers request that pet owners...
Dogs rescued from deplorable conditions in Ross adjusting to shelter lifeVideo
While some of the 117 dogs that were rescued from a Ross Township home on Sept. 11 appear to be healthy, happy and ready for a new home. Staff at the Animal Friends rescue shelter say they all will need more time to recuperate and overcome the trauma of the...
Stored scent program could help Pittsburgh bloodhound find lost peopleVideo
Pittsburgh police’s newest bloodhound, Cappy, wasted no time Friday finding a city employee hiding out in Point State Park. Public Safety Social Media Specialist Tricia Adamczyk volunteered for the demonstration intended to showcase a program dubbed “Scentsational.” The program allows the public to store the scents of people prone to...
Penn Township man gets prison time for ax attack
A Penn Township man will serve up to 10 years in prison for attacking his former girlfriend and her boyfriend with an ax last year. Benson William Perry, 37, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault and burglary in connection with a March 2018 incident in North Irwin. Police said...
AG Shapiro supports legalized marijuana as Gov. Wolf pushes support in OakmontVideo
Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official announced Friday his support to legalize pot. Attorney General Josh Shapiro took to Twitter to outline his support for “efforts to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana use for Pennsylvanians over the age of 21.” He said the decision to support the federally outlawed drug came...
Parents question Fox Chapel Area’s longtime senior photo policy
Fox Chapel Area High School’s senior yearbook photo policy has some parents frustrated. In a post this week on the private Facebook group Fox Chapel Community Lounge, which has more than 3,000 members, district parent Peri Unligil questioned the policy that gives seniors only one option to get their photo...
Annual Halloween party in New Kensington to benefit Shiners HospitalsVideo
Linda Cook’s idea of fun is celebrating with new and old friends and raising money to help others. Her fourth annual Halloween party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles along Freeport Road in New Kensington, but the beneficiary is different...
Sisters assaulted at gas station say they feared for their livesVideo
As three men pushed, hit and dragged two sisters along the pavement outside a gas station, one of the sisters thought their lives were in danger. Jamila Regan, 25, of Pittsburgh’s Central North Side neighborhood, and her sister Ashia Regan, 27, who lives in East Allegheny, spoke to the media...
Jeannette religious groups protest abortion despite national decline
Black-and-white placards with a jagged red EKG line running through the center to a red heart have cropped up in yards and roadsides across Jeannette and Greensburg. The message emblazoned on the signs: Unborn Lives Matter. In smaller print along the bottom are the names Knights of Columbus — a...
Want to live car-free? Pittsburgh is 11th-best metro area in nation
As more people in American cities are reducing their use of cars, Pittsburgh rates high as a place where one can live car-free. In the Metro Car-Free Index released this week by CityLab, Pittsburgh came in at No. 11 among large metro areas with over 1 million people. The report...
Penn Hills set to sell former administrative building for $151,000
Penn Hills plans to sell its old headquarters to a woman who has big plans for the building. Renee Dolney, owner of Dolney Properties LLC, was the property’s sole bidder when she offered to buy the vacant building for $151,000. Penn Hills opened up the property to a public bidding...
Monroeville is getting a Planet Fitness
Monroeville will be getting a Planet Fitness. According to a building permit filed with Monroeville in August, the fitness center is slated to move into vacant space at 3813 William Penn Highway, next to Value City. The permit includes plans to construct a new partial exterior wall with decorative gear,...
