Monroeville Catholic school alum visits students, fundraises for cystic fibrosis
Michael DeSabato isn’t new to fundraising. Monroeville’s Bella Capelli Academy cosmetology school, owned by his parents, actively supports Jeremiah’s Place – Pittsburgh’s only free, crisis nursery providing emergency childcare for families in need. And DeSabato is a franchise owner of the Strip District day spa Clean Your Dirty Face, which...
Ligonier Valley School Board taps McKeesport Area administrator as new superintendent
Matthew Mols, assistant superintendent at McKeesport Area School District, is set to take on the role of superintendent at Ligonier Valley School District. Ligonier Valley School Board at a special Wednesday meeting voted unanimously to hire Mols under a five-year contract, with a starting base salary of $160,000. Mols was...
Trial testimony: McKeesport man accused of shooting his mother had violent past
Prosecutors on Wednesday set out to show John Malcolm Smith V had a history of violence before he allegedly shot his mother. On the second day of the trial, Danita Jones and Sonya Peoples of the neighborhood “happy hour crew,” testified on behalf of their dead friend, Antoinette Porterfield. “She...
Ex-Pittsburgher charged in $2M investment scam sent to federal prison
An ex-Pittsburgher and former investment broker who admitted his role in stealing more than $2 million through a sham energy company is going to federal prison. Jonathan Freeze, 66, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud last year, was sentenced in Pittsburgh on...
Beaver County DA: ATF agent justified in fatal shooting of Aliquippa teen
A teen killed in Aliquippa by a federal agent last month was the first to pull the trigger, shooting twice with a semiautomatic handgun before the officer returned fire, Beaver County District Attorney Nathan Bible announced Wednesday. Kendrick Curtis Jr., 18, was shot around 6:20 p.m. Sept. 18 on steps...
Golf simulator business, comedy club opening soon in Ross
A golf simulation business and a stand-up comedy club are opening this Friday in Ross. At The Block Northway, 9 Yards Golf will have a soft opening Friday morning for its new location on the upper level of the south corridor. At Remo’s Event Center on Babcock Boulevard, The Comedy...
Brother, sister on trial for teen’s assault during New Kensington Easter egg hunt
Westmoreland County prosecutors contend a New Kensington brother and sister conspired to assault an autistic teenager two years ago during a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Jurors will begin hearing evidence Thursday in the trial of Stacey Oneal Jr., 36, and his younger sister, Krystae Oneal, 33, who are charged in...
Veteran charged with ramming Pittsburgh FBI gate has troubled past
A man accused of ramming his car into a security gate at the FBI’s Pittsburgh headquarters had a long history of mental illness, according to testimony Wednesday at a detention hearing in federal court. Donald Henson had previously been involuntarily committed, spent six months in an intensive-inpatient treatment program through...
Team Friends announces new chapter, its first out of state, during annual fundraiser
A local nonprofit with four Western Pennsylvania chapters is following the yellow brick road to a new frontier — West Virginia. Supporters of Team Friends gathered Sept. 23 at Narcisi Winery in West Deer for its annual fundraiser. They spent the evening enjoying live music by Acoustic Union, wine tastings,...
Defense attorney says video could exonerate Scottdale day care worker
The defense attorney for a former Scottdale day care worker accused of assaulting a child said he believes there is surveillance video from the center that will exonerate the defendant. “My client has been working in this field for years, has never had any problems. … She had no intention...
Community rallies to support Plum family after move-in fire
When Jamin and Bethany Gardner parked a box truck in the driveway of their new Plum home, the couple never imagined they would lose nearly all their possessions before they could even move in. The Gardners, who were preparing to settle into a modest brick house on Garlow Boulevard on...
Experts see huge appetite for new supermarket chains in Western Pa. as Meijer, Wegmans move in
Western Pennsylvania shoppers will have their appetites for new grocery stores put to the test once supermarket chains Wegmans and Meijer arrive in the region. Experts believe customers have room to spare. “You still have one of the most acute shortages of supermarket chains anywhere in the continental United States...
Buffalo Township man accused of sexually assaulting girl turns himself in
Derrian Alcorn, the Buffalo Township man accused of raping an intoxicated 15-year-old girl last year, turned himself in Wednesday for his preliminary arraignment. Alcorn’s defense attorney, Duke George Jr., said his client is in the process of posting the $100,000 bond set by District Judge Jack D. Ripper. Alcorn is...
7th annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival draws record crowd while supporting breast cancer survivors
Dragons were spotted recently on North Park Lake, but they weren’t the fire-breathing kind. And the misty morning provided the perfect backdrop for the seventh annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on Sept. 27, hosted by Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, a nonprofit breast cancer awareness organization. Dragon boat racing is a...
Swastikas found on signs in Mt. Pleasant borough, surrounding communities
Mt. Pleasant Borough Police are investigating numerous swastikas spray painted on signs around town over the last few days, said Mayor Diane Bailey. Authorities are asking that residents and business owners leave the symbols associated with antisemitism or of Nazism alone while they try to figure out who is behind...
Chase Bank ATM firebombed along McKnight Road in Ross
Within hours of a shootout late Tuesday night at Ross Park Mall, an ATM was firebombed along McKnight Road, according to township police. A nearby witness reported the firebombing shortly after midnight, Ross Deputy Chief Brian Kohlhelpp said. The drive-thru ATM is located under a canopy in the parking lot...
Ferris wheel returns to Pittsburgh for Oktoberfest
The Ferris wheel that lit up Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente Bridge last year has returned. Running from Thursday through Oct. 12, the Ferris wheel will be featured for Oktoberfest’s Karneval. The wheel will be open daily from noon to 8 p.m., with Fridays and Saturdays extended to 10 p.m. As of...
Pitt’s Oakland enrollment increases 4%; numbers stable elsewhere
Enrollment at the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus has increased by roughly 4%, according to data released Wednesday. Pitt reports more than 31,200 students attending the campus this fall, an increase from 29,927 last fall. Of those, about 21,380 are undergraduates, about 1,000 more than last fall; and 9,849 are...
What federal services are affected by the government shutdown?
With Congress and the White House remaining deadlocked over the 2026 federal budget, the U.S. government shut down much of its operations as of midnight Wednesday. The partial shutdown could be a long standoff, Reuters reported, which could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs. Agencies are warning...
‘Not an honest document’: Critics slam Gainey’s 2026 budget plan
Pittsburgh’s controller and several City Council members on Wednesday skewered parts of Mayor Ed Gainey’s budget proposal for next year, with one councilman calling it “unprofessional” and “sloppy.” The $680 million operating budget — released Tuesday evening after a last-minute rush to make final adjustments — avoids tax hikes and...
Former Rite Aid building in Lower Burrell could be enticing location for retailers
The location of a former Rite Aid in Lower Burrell, near the Route 56 and Leechburg Road intersection, could make it attractive to a potential retailer, city officials say. “What we’ve found is large retail establishments, they insist on having a four-lane highway,” said Councilman David Stoltz. “With that building,...
Oakmont fire chief warns residents about second round of brush fire season
With the second round of brush fire season upon us, Oakmont Fire Chief Joseph Flanick is being proactive in stopping fires before they start. Factors such as dry weather, windy days and fallen autumn leaves creating a thick layer of dry fuel all contribute to the quick spread of brush...
Shoppers return to Ross Park Mall as police continue to investigate shootout in parking lot
People were shopping, eating and walking at Ross Park Mall on Wednesday, a sunny morning after a shootout Tuesday night in the mall’s parking lot left at least one person hurt. Gene Pancheri and his wife, Antoinette, of Pittsburgh were among the mall walkers getting in their steps, as they...
Trash or treasure: Appraisal fair coming to Tarentum history museum
For people who love a treasure hunt, the Tarentum history museum is the place to be Saturday. Four appraisers affiliated with the Sen. John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh will be on-site to assess the value of old jewelry, art, side tables, lamps and more. “People seem to love this...
Jeannette considers work at entry to improve access to city hall
Jeannette is trying to make an accessible entrance to city hall easier to navigate for those who use it. But cost is a factor. Solicitor Tim Witt said officials are looking into grant funding to enhance a back entryway and navigation throughout the 100-year-old structure for people who have physical...
