Western PA Local News category, Page 101
Kettle bell ringers in short supply as Salvation Army struggles to meet area donation goals
Salvation Army leaders in Latrobe, Greensburg and the Allegheny Valley are looking to make up ground in their annual Red Kettle Campaigns, as donations to date are far short of the amounts they’re hoping to raise by Christmas. As of Dec. 17, the Salvation Army service center in Latrobe had...
Annual Christmas Bird Count channels ‘addictive’ activity for scientific good
As Annie Lindsay drove her black Honda CR-V Saturday morning on a road splitting a Cook Township meadow, she had a premonition, earned by roughly two decades of studying birds. “There should be hawks in here,” she said. A few seconds later, the car was in park. Lindsay, 44, of...
Wilkinsburg educator tapped for Penn-Trafford High School assistant principal role
Penn-Trafford’s newest administrator is in for more than a career change. Megan Flaherty, a former administrator and special education teacher from Wilkinsburg School District, was hired last month as Penn-Trafford High School’s next assistant principal. She will replace Jim Simpson — who has been a transitionary principal at the high...
Pine passes 2026 budget, which keeps township at lowest millage rate in Allegheny County
Pine Township’s property tax millage rate remains unchanged at 0.998 mills in the 2026 budget, the lowest in Allegheny County. In addition, the budget has been designed to accommodate the maximum allowable Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion in 2026 — 50% of the median assessed value of residential property in the township. Combined,...
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh spreads joy, toys across Allegheny County
Members of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh took over a section of Petra International Ministries in Penn Hills a week before Christmas to sort through gifts for 500 children across Allegheny County. Mattie Woods of Penn Hills serves as developer of the Urban League’s Opportunity Broker Program. Her job...
Holy Family Parish offering free brunch on Christmas
Holy Family Parish is trying to make sure nobody in the community is alone on Christmas this year. The parish churches in Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona will be offering a free Christmas Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Day at two parish locations: • St....
Pittsburgh Public Schools student dies after being hit by sliding vehicle in Carrick
A Pittsburgh Public Schools student has died after being struck by a vehicle in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. District officials said the deceased girl is Ishara Kami, 17, a senior at Carrick High School. Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian accident at about 2:50 p.m. Friday at the intersection of...
Westmoreland inmate charged with assault in courthouse holding cell
An Arnold man was charged Friday for an assault of another inmate in a Westmoreland County Courthouse holding cell, according to the county sheriff’s department. Officials said Brian Rebold, 39, was taken to a hospital after what officials described as an unprovoked attack in which Rebold was struck at least...
Shapiro designates $5M to state-funded research to tackle neuro diseases
Gov. Josh Shapiro chose the University of Pittsburgh as the backdrop Friday to unveil a new $5 million research grant in the state’s 2025-26 budget — a nod to Pitt’s prominent role in neurodegenerative disease research. Scientists based in Pitt’s Biomedical Science Tower in Oakland walked Shapiro and state Health...
DA objects to sentence imposed for Easter egg hunt assault of teen in New Kensington
Westmoreland County prosecutors said Friday they will appeal what they contend is a too lenient sentence imposed on a New Kensington man convicted in October for the assault of an autistic teen during a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Stacey Oneal Jr., 36, was ordered to serve two to five years...
No tax hike, but slight bump to sewage bills in Freeport’s proposed budget
Freeport residents can mostly expect business as usual in 2026 if the borough opts to pass its proposed budget on Monday. The budget doesn’t opt for any tax hikes, though residents’ sewage surcharge would go up just under $2. The surcharge would be bumped to $48.71 from its current $47,...
Coffee and music collide at new Squirrel Hill spot
Lattes streamed and tunes spun on vinyl at Squirrel Hill’s new music themed coffee shop this week. Pre Amp Coffee Studio opened on Nov. 11 – just before Thanksgiving. Since then, co-owner Danny Ryan said the space has been busy. “Squirrel Hill, particularly, you get a lot of people that...
District attorney seeks temporary closure of New Kensington Elks Lodge
Thirty-two incidents at the New Kensington Elks Lodge over the past three years — including a fatal shooting this month — have led the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office to ask a judge to temporarily shut down the club for at least one year. The district attorney’s office Friday filed...
Amazon launches Western Pa. same-day delivery facility
The first-ever Amazon same-day delivery facility in Western Pennsylvania has launched in Imperial — aligning with last-minute holiday shopping. The fulfillment center is 191,000 square feet, and it will bring over 100 full- and part-time jobs across Allegheny County, according to Amazon. “The opening of this new facility in Imperial...
Strip District scaffolding collapse damages vehicles
A section of scaffolding collapsed Friday morning at a Strip District construction site, damaging multiple vehicles. The developer of the six-story, mixed-use building told TribLive it’s “too soon to say” whether gusty winds triggered it. No injuries were reported after the scaffolding fell around 10 a.m., according to the developer...
Scouts bring a game changer to Leechburg Youth Baseball Association
John Cook and Nicholas Spiering have known each other for almost a decade. Having met as Boy Scouts, the teens have watched each other complete different badges, earning their way up the Scouting ranks. Hoping to cross the finish line together, the now Life Scouts decided to complete a project...
Pitt’s new AI hub aims to make artificial intelligence practical for students and their careers
The University of Pittsburgh’s strategy surrounding artificial intelligence will be practical, supporting students and the workforce, said Michael Colaresi, newly named director of the academic Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership. “We’re going to be a welcoming and visible front door for AI in the academic mission,” Colaresi said...
Hempfield supervisors to vote on pay raise for future office holders
An ordinance increasing pay for Hempfield supervisors will be up for a vote Monday. State legislators in December 2024 raised the allowable compensation levels for Second Class Township supervisors to a maximum of $8,385 per year. Hempfield’s five supervisors currently each get $5,000. Solicitor Scott Avolio said, if the measure...
Delivery delayed on parts to fix Delmont sewage pump station
Delmont officials continue to wait for a part to repair the Cramer pump station, which was damaged by a power surge in June. The station in Salem is used to manage sewage flow. Metiri Group, the Kittanning firm that operates the station, contacted borough engineering firm Lennon Smith Souleret on...
Bon Air’s Toys for Tots drive teaches life lessons
Pam White wasn’t sure how many Toys for Tots donation boxes would be needed this year at Bon Air Elementary School. “I contacted the Toys for Tots representative for our area,” said White, a personalized learning coach at Bon Air who took over as faculty adviser for Student Council this...
Murrysville approves $7 monthly stormwater fee despite equity concerns
Murrysville property owners will see a new $7 monthly stormwater fee starting next year, after council members approved a measure aimed at fixing the municipality’s aging infrastructure and meeting state environmental mandates. Prior to the 5-1 vote this week, council members debated whether the fee — which the Pennsylvania Commonwealth...
Students say arts programs at PennWest California are in jeopardy
Students at Pennsylvania Western University’s California campus fear that planned academic program changes could result in the loss of its art programs. Koa Knopsnider, 19, is petitioning the university to not sunset the arts programs at the California campus. The online petition has purportedly reached more than 1,100 signatures within...
Pittsburgh media personality Guy Junker turned love of sports into a winning career
Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School. Pittsburgh sports have changed a lot over the past 45 years, but one thing has managed to stay the same: Guy Junker....
Harrison residents must use new recycling bins
Harrison residents will receive new recycling containers when the township’s new hauler, Noble Environmental, takes over recycling services in January. The company will distribute green carts with lids to all properties beginning the week of Jan. 5. Anyone with a pickup prior to that date can use their round red...
‘Sunnymede’ estate boasts European-style architectural roots, for sale in Sewickley Heights
An Old World estate with authentic European details and an impressive architectural pedigree is on the market in Sewickley Heights. Sunnymede is a French-inspired luxury estate designed by the late, renowned architect William Boyd Jr., boasting historic formal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the man behind the design of...
