Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 77
Pittsburgh’s Ukrainian community keeps nervous watch as Russia threatens invasion of homeland
The Rev. Timothy Tomson, whose grandparents are from Ukraine, is among those in the Pittsburgh area with Ukrainian roots watching warily as fears of a Russian invasion continue. Tomson is vice president of the Ukrainian Community of Western Pennsylvania, which he helped found in 2009, and pastor of St. Mary...
Short-term solution announced to New Kensington’s downtown ‘food desert’Video
A short-term solution to the food desert in downtown New Kensington is on the way, Mayor Tom Guzzo said. The city is partnering with Oasis Grocery Direct to launch a system in which residents can order groceries online and get them two days later at a pickup point. Volunteers would...
Tragedy impacts, but does not define, New Kensington native Brian Jacob’s life
The first time Brian Jacob tries to answer the question raised by his memoir, “Is Life Fair,” he is remembering an unpleasant experience attending a play with his wife. Brian and Jamie Jacob were at a Pittsburgh Public Theater performance when an employee approached Brian, who is quadriplegic and uses...
Valley High sophomore competing in statewide Veterans of Foreign Wars spoken essay contest
A sophomore from Valley High School in New Kensington is representing Westmoreland County in a statewide audio essay contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. If 15-year-old K’Ahna Witcher is the winner of the state “Voice of Democracy” contest, she’ll go on to the national program and a chance...
Northern Westmoreland communities would get new state senator through redistricting
Several northern Westmoreland County municipalities in the Alle-Kiski Valley would get a new state senator if a proposed redistricting map is approved. The affected municipalities are the cities of Arnold, Lower Burrell and New Kensington; the boroughs of East Vandergrift, Hyde Park, Vandergrift and West Leechburg; and Allegheny Township. State...
How Highmark and other insurers will cover at-home covid tests
Highmark will begin reimbursing its customers for at-home covid-19 tests this weekend and is looking to eliminate the need for customers to pay first, a vice president of the insurance company said Thursday. Under federal rules, Highmark and other private health insurers are required to cover up to eight over-the...
New Kensington car wash celebrates opening with free washes, fundraising for Knead Cafe
A new car wash in New Kensington is celebrating its opening with free car washes for 10 days and benefits for Knead Community Cafe. Clean Express Auto Wash began operating off Tarentum Bridge Road in front of Busy Beaver in late December, said Beth Martin, a spokeswoman for parent company...
New Kensington-Arnold includes 5% tax increase in proposed 2022-23 preliminary spending plan
A maximum 5% property tax increase is included in New Kensington-Arnold School District’s $40.9 million proposed preliminary budget for next school year. School board President Tim Beckes hopes that increase can be reduced before a final budget for 2022-23 is passed in June. “We hope to not have to do...
Pittsburgh nonprofit to expand free internet in New Kensington, Wilkinsburg via foundation grants
A Pittsburgh nonprofit has received more than $1.4 million from foundations as it plans to expand its free internet access to communities in need across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Meta Mesh Wireless Communities announced it received $1.13 million from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation for its wireless internet service, Every1online. Meta Mesh...
Pittsburgh gas prices remain steady as national average moves higher
The national average price of gasoline increased in the last week, but is unchanged in the Pittsburgh area, according to price tracking service GasBuddy. According to GasBuddy, the national average rose 2.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.29 on Monday. That’s 5.5 cents per gallon less than...
Arrest made in case of woman’s body found in Knoxville shed
An arrest has been made in a case where a woman’s body was found in a shed in the city’s Knoxville neighborhood Saturday, Pittsburgh police announced. Police charged Montel Reed, 26, of Pittsburgh with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. Reed was taken to the Allegheny...
Staffing shortage closing 20 Pittsburgh Public schools, programs Monday
A staffing shortage caused by positive cases of covid, covid-related quarantines and other staff absences is causing 20 Pittsburgh Public schools and programs to go to remote instruction on Monday, the district announced. Facilities that will be closed on Monday are Arlington PreK-8; Arsenal 6-8; Carmalt PreK-8; Carrick High School;...
Primanti Bros. celebrates Steelers win with free sandwiches to anyone named ‘Chris’ or ‘Boswell’
Chris Boswell kept the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoffs hopes alive Sunday with an overtime-winning field goal against the Baltimore Ravens. To celebrate that, Steel City sandwich slinger Primanti Bros. announced it will give free classic sandwiches to anyone named Chris or Boswell on Monday. The offer is good at all Primanti...
Kiski theft suspect lands back in jail after police say he harassed them with phone calls
A man Kiski police arrested in December landed back in the Armstrong County Jail on Saturday after township police say he began harassing them with phone calls days after getting out of jail. Michael W. Hungerford Jr., 36, of Coraopolis was the subject of a theft investigation and jailed Dec....
Medical examiner IDs body found in shed behind Knoxville home
A body was found Saturday behind a home in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood, Pittsburgh police said. Officers responded to a report of a possible body in the 300 block of Reifert Street around 4:30 p.m. There, police said officers found a dead person in a shed. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner...
PennDOT, Turnpike Commission announce road restrictions ahead of approaching winter storm
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are advising drivers to avoid unnecessary travel during a storm expected to bring frozen precipitation and potentially icy road conditions in most of the state Saturday night. The agencies said they anticipate implementing various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the storm. Restrictions are scheduled...
Family, friends pray for healing, call for justice for mom, daughter hurt in Tarentum hit-and-run
Prayers for healing, calls for justice and balloons rose from near the Tarentum Bridge on Saturday afternoon, not far from where a Brackenridge woman and her 9-year-old daughter were struck by a car in a hit-and-run just over a week ago. Family and friends of Lyric Manley Jackson, 26, and...
Documentary aims to bring attention, solution to ‘Food Desert’ in downtown New Kensington
To feed his 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, Joel Gabelli relies on what he can find at Family Dollar, Dollar General and — sometimes, when he feels like walking farther — Sheetz. With rare access to a vehicle, Gabelli isn’t able to get from his Kensington Manor home in downtown...
Arnold Council reorganizes, continues with interim solicitor in place
Arnold will keep its interim solicitor through 2022, and two council members have swapped committee assignments. City council reorganized Tuesday following November’s municipal election. Two members — Democrat Deborah Vernon and Republican Adam Zweig — ran unopposed for reelection. Mayor Joe Bia swore them back into office. Vernon, who previously...
Corey Pistininzi takes seat as New Kensington Council reorganizes
New Kensington Council welcomed a new member as it reorganized Monday following last November’s municipal election. Corey Pistininzi took the seat previously held by Doug Aftanas. Both Democrats, Aftanas did not seek reelection in 2021. A resident of New Kensington for eight years, Pistininzi owns Modfinish in downtown New Kensington,...
New Kensington Council gives final approval for new Popeyes restaurant
A new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is expected to be up and running in New Kensington by the end of this year. City council has unanimously approved a conditional use for the development in front of Giant Eagle on Tarentum Bridge Road. That approval was needed because of the project’s expected...
Burrell grad helps develop game at Duquesne University teaching about vaccines
Brinley Kantorski remembers playing “The Oregon Trail” educational video game when she was a student in the Burrell School District. While many of the game’s players will remember the line, “You have died of dysentery,” Kantorski said her games always ended in drowning as she tried to get her wagon...
Gas prices stabilize on rising oil prices, easing omicron fears
After a run of declines, gasoline prices are largely unchanged in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation, according to price tracking service GasBuddy. In Pittsburgh, prices are down less than 1 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.51 on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations....
Biohazard cleaning business proposes new office, warehouse building in Arnold
The owner of an Arnold business specializing in cleaning biohazards wants to put up a new building in the city for his company. JCS Biohazard Services cleans biologically hazardous materials, including blood, sewage, animal waste, animal carcasses and drug and medical waste, according to the company’s website. It provides cleanup...
Harrison water authority customers to see 5% rate hike in 2022
Customers of the Harrison Township Water Authority will see a 5% increase in their rates beginning Jan. 1, the authority announced. The authority said in a recent press release that it is increasing the cost of water because of inflation; increased costs for chemicals, health care, fuel and employee pay;...
