Soaring gold prices spell payday for some, but economic uncertainty for all
Now might be a golden opportunity to empty out the jewelry box. A palmful of gold necklaces, rings or other jewelry could fetch about $10,000 at precious metals dealers as gold’s price-per-ounce continues its record-breaking rise. “People cry, like shaking — they can’t believe the amount they’re getting,” said Jenn...
Wounded Monroeville police sergeant faces accused shooter at trial
When Monroeville police Sgt. James MacDonald responded to an armed robbery last year at the Crumbl cookie shop on William Penn Highway, he was familiar with the area surrounding the Miracle Mile Shopping Center. MacDonald headed to a road nearby, hoping he might catch the suspect trying to flee. As...
Simulated bedroom fire to mark Fire Prevention Week highlights importance of installing smoke alarms
Members of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania teamed with Allegheny County Emergency Services for a live burn demonstration Oct. 6 in observation of Fire Prevention Week. The purpose of the media-only news conference was to share the importance of smoke alarms. Jorge Martinez, CEO of the Red Cross...
Horseman lassoes loose cow on I-79; heifer’s origin remains unknown
A wrangler on horseback lassoed a roving cow on Interstate 79 early Wednesday morning when the animal backed up traffic for about two miles in Cranberry. State police told TribLive news partner WTAE that callers first reported the loose livestock in the grassy median around 7 a.m. Police and an...
Anti-bullying talk hosted by swim club teaches kids importance of being ‘careful with words’
A worn, crumpled-up dollar bill is worth the same as a clean, newly printed one. This is one example award-winning motivational speaker Rob Oliver used to show that one’s worth can’t change, no matter how much someone may try to discredit or ruin it. Oliver was the guest speaker for...
Westmoreland jury acquits suspended trooper of girlfriend’s assault
Suspended state police Trooper Nicholas Hood was found not guilty Wednesday in connection to an alleged domestic violence incident two years in his Derry Township home. A Westmoreland County jury deliberated two hours before finding Hood not guilty of one misdemeanor count of simple assault. Common Pleas Judge Michael Stewart...
Delmont officials will host Q&A on Shields Farm master plan
Delmont officials will host a meeting from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 15 with a question-and-answer session about a draft of the master plan for the borough-owned Shields Farm property. The draft will be presented, having incorporated comments received during the last public meeting and through completed surveys. The plan’s purpose is...
Snow problem: Plan flops for Munhall to plow some Pittsburgh streets
Pittsburgh City Council members on Wednesday opposed a plan to provide street cleaning services to neighboring Munhall in exchange for snowplowing. Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, had pitched the idea of the swap. Her proposal called for Munhall to plow roads in Pittsburgh’s adjacent Lincoln Place neighborhood. That solution, she said,...
Group of 5 sworn-in to launch new Bridgeville Shade Tree Commission
Five women were sworn-in to Bridgeville’s inaugural shade tree commission on Oct. 6. Jen Brilmyer was named chairperson; Courtney Tolmer was appointed as vice chairperson and Alison Thomas was named secretary. Other commission members include Virginia Schneider and Kayla Lawrence. The borough established the commission this year. Shade tree commissions...
Gnat infestation, other violations prompt consumer alert for Richland restaurant
A gnat infestation was among high-risk violations that prompted the Allegheny County Health Department to issue a consumer alert for a Richland restaurantthis week. During an inspection Monday, Oct. 6, at Scoreboard Lounge on William Flinn Highway, the health department said it found a dozen food safety violations, four considered...
Ingomar Elementary students raise $587 for charities with 2nd Mystery Inflatable Teacher Race
An enormous baby recently dominated an important race at Ingomar Elementary School. Teacher Savanna Barton, in an air-filled costume, sprinted to first place in the second annual Mystery Inflatable Teacher Race, a fundraiser held Sept. 10 by the school’s Parent Teacher Organization. Barton shared her unique racing experience. “I could...
Rally tries to reverse pending closure of United Physicians office in New Kensington
Ed Freeman has been going to the United Physicians clinic in New Kensington “for what seems like forever.” “My father came here, and he lived to be 85,” said Freeman, who lives in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of New Kensington. “And that’s how I ended up going here.” But come...
Chartiers Valley kindergarteners learn more about policing
Kindergarteners in the Chartiers Valley School District gave a special thank you to area police officers while also learning more about the profession. On Oct. 1, three kindergarten classrooms at Chartiers Valley Primary School participated in a “Coffee with Cops” event as part of the district’s “World of Work” career...
Dayton Freight shipping company to build depot off I-70 near Smithton
An Ohio-based freight company is moving into Westmoreland County and bringing at least 50 jobs with it. Dayton Freight finalized the purchase of 31.5 acres at the Interstate 70 Industrial Park in South Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. officials. The company, through Stream’s Edge Properties, paid $1.7...
Rivals O’Connor, Moreno find common ground bashing Gainey during mayoral debate
Pittsburgh mayoral hopefuls Corey O’Connor and Tony Moreno on Tuesday described starkly different approaches to immigration enforcement and other major challenges facing the city. In a televised debate on KDKA, Moreno suggested he would reverse the city’s current policy of not working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE....
Graphic video of Robinson motel manager’s killing spurs DA to seek gag order
Graphic video posted on social media of the fatal shooting last week of a Robinson motel manager has prompted the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office to seek a broad gag order in the case against the accused killer. Police charged Stanley Eugene West with killing Rakesh “Rocky” Bhagavan and wounding...
CMU cuts 75 employees in its Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday cut 75 staff positions at its Software Engineering Institute. The cut represents 10% of the institute’s overall workforce, according to Cassia Crogan, CMU spokeswoman. Crogan told TribLive the cuts were a “variety of roles and titles across the institute.” She didn’t say how it would...
AI ‘Grandparent Scams’ are on the rise in Pennsylvania
Grandparent scams are on the rise once again, but this time, AI technology is involved, officials say. AARP Pennsylvania warned residents about the resurgence and offered ways for older adults and their families to stay safe. A “Grandparent Scam” usually begins with an urgent phone call from an imposter claiming...
1st stars to be unveiled during Pittsburgh Walk of Fame induction ceremony
Hollywood is officially coming to the 412. The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame will induct its first class of 10 honorees this month, each receiving their own star. The ceremony is open to the public, and it will take place Oct. 20 at the Strip District Terminal. The installation will feature...
Mayor defends New Kensington water authority board appointment
A divided New Kensington Council appointed a retired Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County employee to the New Kensington Water Authority board. Council voted 3-2 to appoint Tom Ceraso to the water authority board, for a term that expires at the end of 2027. One resident, Melvyn Smith, believed Ceraso’s appointment...
Judge slashes bond amount needed to block Strip District bike lane work
A judge on Wednesday dramatically reduced the bond the Strip District Business Association must pay to force Pittsburgh to temporarily halt efforts to change a portion of Penn Avenue to a one-lane street with a bike lane. Despite the move, the business group continued to object to paying any amount....
Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School’s lobby renovations to wrap by end of November
The monthslong lobby improvement project at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School will be nearly complete by the end of next month, according to district Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Jay Zangrille. Construction of larger restrooms in the lobby, as well as a separate one for use by one person at a time,...
Section of Pillow Avenue in Springdale Township to remain closed through October
A small stretch of Pillow Avenue in Springdale Township will remain closed through late October for drainage improvements, according to PennDOT. Traffic will be detoured between Hite and Low Grade roads. Motorists will have to divert their routes through Harmar via Route 28. Crews from A. Liberoni, Inc. will conduct...
Retention, community college transfers highlight Pa. state system’s enrollment increase
Fall enrollment at the 10 universities that make up the state system of higher education increased for the first time in more than a decade, with the biggest gains coming from retention and community college transfers, according to data released Tuesday. Enrollment in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
Fire departments spread awareness with annual prevention night at Westmoreland Mall
Fire trucks from area departments descended on a Westmoreland Mall parking lot Tuesday to spread awareness about fire prevention. The 29th annual Hempfield-Greensburg Fire Prevention Night drew families who, despite rainy weather, got to check out the rigs and demonstrations from firefighters. It was a regional opportunity for fire departments...
