Patrick Varine stories, Page 41

Three people were transported to the hospital, two in critical condition, following an apartment fire Friday afternoon that displaced about 200 residents in McKeesport. Firefighters were called to the McKeesport Towers, a housing authority high-rise on Sixth Street, shortly before 3 p.m. for a report of an apartment fire. “We...

State police are investigating the death of an Indiana County quarry worker who died after becoming trapped in a limestone hopper Friday morning. First responders were called just before 10:30 a.m. to rescue a man who had become trapped at Ridge Limestone, a quarry on Coleman Road in Young Township....

Saint Vincent professor and entomologist Michelle Duennes was walking the lots at a Steelers tailgate last year near Heinz Field. But she wasn’t looking for the perfectly grilled kielbasa. She was looking for spotted lanternflies. “We were also looking at the license plates of people who came from out-of-state,” Duennes...

Considering the disdain children seem to have for putting away their clothes, Carol Interieri isn’t sure what they love so much about colonial-era laundry demonstrations. “They just can’t enough for some reason,” she said with a laugh. Intrieri and other members of the Murrysville Historical Preservation Society will put local...

Corn maze opens The Gearhard Farms corn maze is open through Oct. 29 in Murrysville. The maze is cut into a different pattern each year, and participants are invited to try and map out the picture as they make their way through. The maze is open Fridays from 5-9 p.m.,...

Generally speaking, math class is math class. Students learn math. In English class, students read and write. But teachers at Franklin Regional School District’s intermediate school will blend elements from across the educational spectrum as they work with a group of students to stock and run a student store. “Leadership...

During his time commanding the Naval Air Force Atlantic, Export native Rear Adm. John Meier helped to ensure the highest state of readiness in the U.S. Navy. Meier graduated from the U.S. Navy Academy in 1986, and was winged as a naval aviator in 1988. According to his official biography,...

Franklin Regional ranked among top 30 in Pa. Franklin Regional Senior High School was nationally ranked among the top 40% of American high schools by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine annually ranks more than 17,000 high schools. FR was ranked 27th best in Pennsylvania, eighth in the Pittsburgh...

A Perry Township farmer is asking for help finding more than 30 cattle that left their enclosure when a gate was left open over the weekend. “The utility companies were up in our hay field repairing poles, and either West Penn Power or one of their contractors left the gate...

Despite clearly having five letters, “taxes” is a four-letter word for a lot of people. Many would prefer to have nothing whatsoever to do with them. That’s where Bob Schumacher of Penn Township comes in. He can’t make your taxes go away, but he hook you up with someone to...

A standout player on Monessen High School’s basketball team is charged with drug possession after police said he and two juveniles were found smoking marijuana in an abandoned house. Police were called to the 600 block of Reed Avenue in the city just before 1:15 p.m. Sunday. The building’s owner...

The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been issuing weather predictions since 1792, and the forecast for the 2023-24 winter is calling for plenty of snow. “Most areas of the United States that typically see snow should be prepared for crisp temperatures and oodles of fluffy white throughout the season,” almanac officials...

While Murrysville officials might revisit the ordinance they approved this month regarding injection wells, several of the concerns expressed by residents and council members appear to be addressed through existing laws and regulations. Staff and council have been working on the specifics of an ordinance to add injection wells to...

There are many sights at the annual Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival that are absolutely spot-on when it comes to medieval accuracy — the heraldry on a particular flag, the attention to detail on a splendid royal outfit or the satisfying way the pieces of a gauntlet slide effortlessly back and forth...

Typically, people perusing the Municibid website are seeking something like a used public works truck, or perhaps looking to pick up an extra snowblower without spending a ton of money on a new model. But if you’re looking to get into the food truck business, the site can get you...

Students in the Franklin Regional School District were among the first in the region to begin classes when they arrived at school Aug. 23. Start dates for other schools in the county include: Thursday — Hempfield Area elementary and high school, Jeannette City, Monessen City, Norwin, Penn-Trafford. Friday — Hempfield...

Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety will review the use of force by a group of city police during their arrest of a man Downtown on Friday night, after multiple videos posted to social media brought criticism from community groups and others. Police said the man, identified in a criminal complaint...

As residents of Hempfield recently learned, the cost associated with school building projects can easily climb above $100 million. For decades, school administrators could turn to what was known as PlanCon to pursue state funding to help ease the local burden. PlanCon — short for the Planning and Construction Workbook...

A person appears to have drowned in the Youghiogheny River early Saturday afternoon, Fayette County 911 officials said. Emergency responders were called to Yough River Park, just off North Sixth Street along the banks of the Yough, around noon. One person was recovered from the water, and the county coroner...

How early is too early to enjoy a banana split? “Anytime is a good time,” said Eva Gilbert, 8, of Latrobe as she enjoyed lunch with sisters Lily, 6 and Anna, 4, at the Great American Banana Split Celebration, which runs through Sunday in downtown Latrobe. Clearly, 11 a.m. is...

Allegheny County Police detectives are investigating the death of a man found shot in the chest Friday night in Clairton. First responders were initially called to the 600 block of Miller Avenue in Clairton just before 11 p.m. for a report of a single-vehicle crash. They arrived to find a...

Power crews continued working Saturday afternoon to restore power to more than 5,000 customers in Southwestern Pennsylvania following strong storms and a tornado that touched down in Fayette County. West Penn Power had about 3,690 customers still without power around 5 p.m. Saturday, down from 8,000 in the morning. The...