Western PA Local News category, Page 300
Youngwood gun shop owner faces additional theft charges
More theft charges were filed Tuesday against a Hempfield woman who owned a Youngwood gun shop. Westmoreland County detectives said Tracey G. McMahan, 67, took $3,600 from two customers who made down payments for gun purchases and kept two guns that were to be sold on consignment at Hi-Grade Shooters...
Police say man sexually assaulted child in Arnold
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Thursday, March 6, 2025. A manfaces trial after being accused by Arnold police of sexually assaulting a child. James Benitto, 40, was held for court on March 6 on felony charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault of a person...
Solar power project on course at Hempfield municipal complex
Hempfield is moving forward with a solar power project at its municipal complex. Township supervisors on Monday approved an agreement with Envinity, Inc. of State College for the construction of a solar array on the roof of a multipurpose building that has been erected at the site under development at...
Residents invited to complete parks survey to help shape future of recreation in McCandless
McCandless residents are encouraged to help shape the future of the town’s parks and recreational programming by completing a Parks Master Plan Questionnaire. The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to March 31. The survey is available online at townofmccandless.org. Paper copies are available by request at Town...
Heated debate surrounds Pine-Richland School Board’s library policy; final vote next
A final vote on Pine-Richland’s controversial library policy is in sight after another contentious meeting Feb. 24 set the stage for a third and final read of the proposed rule changes. The three-hour meeting was the latest in a series of often embittered discussions during which community members have lashed...
Plum Creek watershed project aims to address flooding, pollution concerns
Conservation officials hope a project to manage stormwater in the uppermost area of the Plum Creek watershed will help reduce downstream flooding and pollution into the creek. The nearly 21-square-mile Plum Creek watershed covers parts of Plum, Penn Hills, Oakmont and Verona, according to the Allegheny County Conservation District. A...
Police: Man dies in Route 28 crash after appearing to jump from moving vehicle
A man who police believe jumped from a moving vehicle was struck and killed along Route 28 in a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Connell Nihei, 50, of Pittsburgh. The crash near Etna was reported shortly before 7 a.m., according to...
New homeless shelter in Youngwood funded by $2.1M in federal cash
A homeless shelter planned in the Youngwood area would fill a need in Westmoreland County, the director of a Greensburg nonprofit said. A planned family shelter with 10 separate living units could make it easier for those living south of Greensburg, said Kristin Zaccaria, executive director of Homes Build Hope...
Morning roundup: McKeesport shooting victim identified; crews battle Murrysville fire
Here are a few news items for the morning of Feb. 25, 2025: McKeesport cemetery shooting victim ID’d Police have identified the body of a man found shot to death last week in a McKeesport cemetery. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Daniel Anthony Smith, 21, of Duquesne as...
The Stroller, Feb. 25, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Cash bash to benefit...
Finalized schedule for Burrell’s Huston Middle School prioritizes academics, aligns time for cocurriculars
A focus group charged with recommending proposals to a reconfigured Charles A. Huston Middle School next year landed on a schedule administrators say prioritizes academic time and maintains integrity for each grade level. The middle school task force — a group of parents and teachers that have met over the...
Ending diversity push or fueling student anxiety? Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance sparks debate
The Trump administration’s plan to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives on college campuses has sent universities scrambling to determine how to follow the guidelines or risk losing federal funding. Local colleges said they still are considering how to respond to U.S. Department of Education demands issued Feb....
Giant Eagle on Rodi Road could see remodel after Penn Hills Council approves liquor license transfer
Giant Eagle could be gearing up for a remodel of its Rodi Road store after getting permission to sell alcohol there. The Cranberry-based grocery chain is exploring whether to use a liquor license secured at auction last year to sell beer and wine at its location along Penn Hills’ primary...
Ex-school van driver denies sexually assaulting student, pleads no contest to showing porn
A former school van driver originally accused of sexual assaulting one of his intellectually disabled passengers in Pittsburgh pleaded no contest on Monday to a reduced charge of corruption of minors. As part of the plea deal, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office withdrew more serious felony counts of institutional...
Greensburg man found dead after going through ice at Deep Creek Lake
A Greensburg man died over the weekend after the side-by-side vehicle he was riding on went through the ice at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland. Maryland Natural Resources Police public information officer Vincent Dortenzo said David T. Linsenbigler, 58, of Greensburg, was found submerged Saturday with the side-by-side vehicle. Linsenbigler...
Republican challenger sets sights on Lavelle’s Pittsburgh council seat
Republican Jacob Dumont on Monday announced he’s running for Pittsburgh City Council, aiming to unseat council’s president, Democrat R. Daniel Lavelle, in November’s general election. Dumont, 33, of Marshall-Shadeland, operates Northside Action Media, an online platform covering news from around Council District 6, which he now hopes to represent. The...
Former Vandergrift cop had sex with teenage girl about 100 times after starting job in 1990s, state police say
A former Vandergrift police officer is accused of having sex with a minor about 100 times in the early to mid-1990s, when he worked as a part-time patrolman for the borough. A criminal complaint filed by state police alleges former Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Depanicis invited a 14-year-old girl to his...
Westmoreland juvenile detention center could double its capacity
Plans remain on course for the potential doubling of the number of teens confined at the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield, Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention board members said Monday. The facility closed in June 2023 following a series of state inspections that were critical of its operation. It reopened...
On release from Westmoreland jail, ex-inmates often have to hoof it
John Boettger says his automobile shop in South Greensburg has seen a number of unwanted visitors over the past year. Boettger on Monday told members of Westmoreland County’s prison board that released inmates have become a common sight walking along the roadways near his store. He asked officials to find...
Penn State breaks THON fundraising record with over $17 million
For the first time ever, Penn State’s THON fundraising total surpassed $17 million raised in the fight against pediatric cancer. The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon’s exact total was $17,737,040.93 — beating THON 2024’s record-breaking total of $16,955,683.63 by more than $780,000, the university announced Sunday. View this post on Instagram A...
Burrell Unified Bocce team receives playoff-worthy departure
Burrell’s Unified Bocce team got a fine sendoff from first responders and Bon Air Elementary youngsters while en route to a playoff match Monday at North Allegheny High School. Their bus was escorted between Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell fire departments, and Lower Burrell police, as it made its way...
Oakmont restaurant owners speak up against food truck ordinance
A proposed ordinance meant to regulate food trucks in Oakmont, while not encouraging their use, could have a negative impact on borough restaurants. The operation of food trucks not affiliated with borough restaurants is what brought about the proposed ordinance. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Oakmont officials have been contacted...
University of Pittsburgh reviews doctoral admissions amid federal funding cuts
After ceasing new doctoral offers of admission on Friday, the University of Pittsburgh has since confirmed it is in the early stages of developing new advanced degree admission offers within fiscal constraints caused by federal funding cuts. “The university is in the early stages of extending Ph.D. offers of admission...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Feb. 24, 2025
Plum launches 2025 military banner program Plum is launching its 2025 military banner program to honor those who have served in the military or who are currently serving. Orders include a single-sided, 2-foot by 3-foot, 18-ounce vinyl banner to be displayed along Mike Thomas Way from Memorial Day through Veterans...
In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of Feb. 24, 2025 and beyond
Park grants awarded in Carnegie Carnegie was awarded $200,000 from state grant funding to make the Irishtown Tot Park and Carnegie Municipal Park more accessible to children with disabilities. It’s part of funding authorized by the Commonwealth Financing Authority in January to improve local parks and economic development projects. The...
