Emily Balser stories, Page 2
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh contracts with outside firms for handling misconduct
The Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Tuesday plans to expand how it handles reports of suspected wrongdoing within the diocese including allegations of child sexual abuse. The diocese has chosen Ethics Point as a third-party reporting system to receive questions related to suspected wrongdoing in parishes, schools or diocesan offices, Bishop...
School lunches get upgrade, pleasing palates and boosting nutrition
Americans of a certain age remember the famous school pizza meal: the little square bits of pepperoni, the likely imitation cheese, the slight taste of the freezer still lingering with every bite. Even though kids probably knew it wasn’t exactly healthy, they ate it — and might have grown to...
Doctors fear vaping to blame for spike in lung illnesses
Doctors in Western Pennsylvania are concerned and frustrated with an uptick in vaping-related lung illnesses diagnosed over the past few weeks. Pittsburgh joins a growing list of places that have identified people with breathing problems related to vaping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 215 possible cases...
Pet of the Week: Corkie the possible Persian catVideo
Everyone, meet Corkie! This fluffy guy is up for adoption through Humane Animal Rescue and is being fostered in Churchill. Age: 5-years-old Breed: Domestic medium-haired cat. He is suspected to be a Persian mix. What he likes: He loves to play with his toys most of the time. He does...
Winning $650K Cash 5 ticket sold in O’Hara
A jackpot-winning Cash 5 ticket for Tuesday’s drawing was sold in O’Hara. The ticket matched all five balls drawn, 01-03-18-24-29 to win $650,000. It was sold at the Rite Aid on Freeport Road. The store will earn a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Cash 5 prizes expire one...
Cheswick church rallies behind pastor who needs heart transplantVideo
Clinton Blazevich was told he could live with his heart condition for maybe three to five years before needing a heart transplant. That was nearly 20 years ago. Blazevich, 42, suffers from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, and cardiomyopathy, a condition that makes it harder for the heart to...
Former Pitt dean Jere Gallagher remembered as ‘beautiful inside and out’
Jere Gallagher devoted her life to caring for others, whether it was her family, her friends or her many students. As an associate dean at University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, she spearheaded multiple initiatives to improve the lives of children and future teachers while also making sure those closest...
1 lane of Downtown’s Fort Pitt Boulevard reopens
One lane of the inbound portion of Fort Pitt Boulevard in downtown Pittsburgh reopened Sunday after being closed for crews to repair a water main break, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced. Crews began repairing the 10-inch water main on Friday that closed a portion of Fort Pitt Boulevard...
Buffalo Township Family Day brings community, first responders together
From turning on the sirens to climbing on the trucks, kids of all ages got to interact with local first responders up close and personal Sunday at the inaugural Buffalo Township Family Day. The free event was hosted by the Buffalo Township parks and recreation committee and the Friends of...
What you need to know about start of school year in the Alle-Kiski Valley
While several school districts in the Alle-Kiski Valley have already started classes, this marks the first full week of school for many of the districts. Here’s what you need to know about the year ahead. Allegheny Valley First day: Monday for first-12th grade; Tuesday for kindergarten Last day: Friday, June...
Pittsburgh begins hunt for this year’s Christmas tree
If you’re already starting to think about what you’ll get everyone for Christmas this year, you might want to consider adding the city of Pittsburgh to your list. The Forestry Division of the Pittsburgh Public Works Department is looking for a resident who is willing to donate a giant evergreen...
Pet of the Week: tuxedo cat Eve FrenchVideo
Everyone, meet Eve French! This pretty girl is up for adoption through Paws Across Pittsburgh and is being fostered by a family in Ross. Age: Between 6 and 8 years old Breed: Short-haired domestic tuxedo cat What she likes: She loves to cuddle and relax with you, and play with...
Route 51 in West Mifflin remains closed because of water main break
Both northbound lanes of Route 51 in West Mifflin and a southbound lane remained closed Thursday night as crews fixed a water main break. Gary Lobaugh, spokesman with Pennsylvania American Water, said crews are repairing a break on a more than 50-year-old water main between Mall Drive and the Denny’s...
Petland moving out of Pittsburgh Mills mall
A lack of foot traffic and business is driving Petland out of the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. Store owner Alan Caplan said they will be leaving the mall by the end of August. The last day for business will be Monday. “Unfortunately, we’d love to stay with the mall,...
Cheswick, Harmar, Springdale Township team up for Low Grade Road improvements
Officials from Harmar, Cheswick and Springdale Township are teaming up to apply for grant money to improve a road that goes through the three municipalities. Officials are applying for a nearly $550,000 Gaming and Economic Development Fund grant to pave the entire length of Low Grade Road. Harmar Engineer Matt...
Harmar property rezoning looks to boost access to Twelve-Mile Island
Harmar supervisors approved the rezoning of three undeveloped properties along the Allegheny River from industrial to residential to pave the way for a private group to build a parking lot so they can access Twelve-Mile Island. Supervisors unanimously approved the change as the first step for Maple Island Campers Association,...
Owner of Pennsylvania Coach Lines responds to Elizabeth Forward lawsuit
The owner of a transportation company the Elizabeth Forward School District recently filed a lawsuit against for breach of contract said the district isn’t telling the whole story. The district filed an injunction on Thursday against Pennsylvania Coach Lines after, the district claims, the bus company breached their contract and...
Band Blast celebrates, benefits parks in New Kensington, Arnold
Hundreds of people turned out Sunday to hear all types of music from country to doo-wop at New Kensington Memorial Park as a way to support improvements at the park. The New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park group has hosted the “Band Blast” for six years as a way to...
Developer showcases former Alcoa research center that he spent years, millions to redo
Patti and Dominic Giordano have lived in New Kensington their whole lives, and they’re glad to see someone restoring one of the city’s most notable landmarks — the former Alcoa property. “This is a piece of New Kensington and Pennsylvania history,” Dominic Giordano said. “It’s nice he’s keeping it alive.”...
Elizabeth Forward officials: Bus provider breached contract; student transportation in jeopardy
Officials with the Elizabeth Forward School District have filed an injunction against Pennsylvania Coach Lines after, the district claims, the bus company breached their contract and are jeopardizing the transportation for thousands of students when school starts next week. The district said in a press release that it filed a...
Police: Armed standoff in Brookline ends peacefully
A SWAT standoff Thursday morning involving a man who was being served a warrant in Brookeline ended peacefully, authorities said. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. when Allegheny County Police Department detectives said they tried to serve an arrest warrant to Scott Michael Kundar, 44, of the 1000 block of...
Pet of the Week: Regal, a boxer Labrador mix
Everyone, meet Regal! This sweet guy is TribLive’s Pet of the Week and he’s available for adoption at the West Deer Dog Shelter. Age: 7 years old Breed: He’s a boxer and Labrador mix who has been at the shelter for about two months. What he likes: Regal enjoys taking...
Case dropped against woman accused of threatening to kill Butler County DA
A former Butler County woman no longer is charged with threatening to kill Butler County District Attorney Rich Goldinger. The state Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday dropped the case against Brittany Hartos, 27, formerly of Butler. One charge of terroristic threats remained in the case. Two other charges of aggravated...
Springdale officials say tap water should clear soon
Springdale officials say residents who have been experiencing discolored water during the borough’s water improvement project can expect things to clear up after new filters are installed this week. “We are in the process of installing new filters,” said Springdale Councilman David Spirk, chairman of the water committee. “The filters...
Our Lady of Grace Parish cancels festival after receiving ‘disturbing’ letter
Our Lady of Grace Parish has canceled its annual festival planned for this week after officials said they received a “disturbing” letter in the mail. The festival and annual fundraiser for the Scott church was scheduled to begin Wednesday and run through Saturday. An office in the Diocese of Pittsburgh...
