Allegheny County News category, Page 8
From gas wells to goals: How Tuffy Shallenberger saved the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
A Connellsville entrepreneur who has built a business empire of 19 companies, ranging from construction and capital to catering and concessions, has been a core player in sustaining professional soccer in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Riverhounds owner Terrance C. “Tuffy” Shallenberger Jr., 58, of Connellsville in Fayette County, became involved in soccer...
Big dreams: Pittsburgh Riverhounds owner remains committed to $175M Highmark Stadium expansion
As the Pittsburgh Riverhounds seek to repeat as champions of the United Soccer League Championship, the team is seeking a $7 million state grant as part of its effort to triple seating capacity at Highmark Stadium on Pittsburgh’s South Shore. Seating for 15,000 people at the facility would meet the...
McKeesport, Allegheny County to pay McKeesport trio who sued over civil rights violations
McKeesport will pay $127,500, and its police department will undergo training, as part of a settlement of a federal lawsuit by three residents alleging civil rights violations by police during a 2020 incident. Plaintiffs Courtney Thompkins, Ezra Dixon and Kim Neal will each receive $25,000 from McKeesport, while the American...
State studying future of Duquesne City School District
The state’s Department of Education is studying the future of the Duquesne City School District, which could include a consolidation with a nearby district. Duquesne schools spokesman Jeremy Tepper said the district is “actively cooperating” in the study. “The district remains committed to providing a high-quality educational experience for its...
Fatal pedestrian crash shuts down William Penn Highway in Wilkins
A man was killed early Friday morning following a hit-and-run along William Penn Highway in Wilkins, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. At 4:43 a.m., dispatchers were notified of a body laying in the road in the 3400 block of the highway, according to police. First responders found the...
Fellowship and food are pillars of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish’s fish fry
Ron Morra knows where he and dozens of his friends will be nearly every Friday during Lent. That is in the kitchen and dining hall of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish in Monroeville, serving food and fellowship to families. “You give back to the parish,” said Morra, who is in...
Jail employee under investigation for taking gun into facility
Police and jail administrators are investigating how a newly hired corrections officer at the Allegheny County Jail allegedly got through security last month with a gun and why it was not reported to supervisors. Bethany Hallam, a longtime Jail Oversight Board member, said the employee — who graduated from the...
Owner of African market in East Pittsburgh pleads guilty to food stamp fraud
A Pittsburgh woman must pay nearly $55,000 in restitution following her conviction for food stamp fraud at her African food market in East Pittsburgh. Bolaji Michael, 46, pleaded guilty in October to one count of food stamp fraud. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan ordered her to serve...
Freezin’ for a reason: Gateway Middle School mentorship group raises money for Special Olympics
As the Gateway Middle School girls mentorship group racked their brains to determine their yearly community service project, they came up with an ingenious idea: raising money for a good cause, while also getting to dump ice cold water on their teachers and principals. On Feb. 13, that idea came...
Parkway East to close for 25 days during bridge replacement project
PennDOT announced a 25-day closure of the Parkway East while crews work to complete the $95 million Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project. All Parkway traffic between the Wilkinsburg exit (78B) and the Forbes Avenue/Oakland exit (72A) will be closed July 10 through Aug. 3. “While the one-month closure will still...
Woodland Hills places superintendent on unpaid leave
Woodland Hills Superintendent Joe Maluchnik was placed on unpaid leave Wednesday following an internal district investigation, the latest in ongoing controversy in the district. The decision comes as the district has faced allegations of misuse of funds and questions surrounding Maluchnik’s leave. School board members Karen Lyons, Melanie Timbers, Laura...
Penn Hills museum on history of home video games, computers opens as construction continues
A museum dedicated to the history of home video games and computers is taking shape in Penn Hills. In mid-February, Brendan Becker opened the first rooms of his Bloop Museum in the township’s former municipal building along Frankstown Road. For now, it is open to walk-ins from 10 a.m. to...
Skilled handyman from Fox Chapel stands out for work ethic, reliability
Todd Perschke has built a successful handyman business serving the Fox Chapel area after a long career in the automotive industry. “I show up for work,” said Perschke of his commitment to providing home improvement and fix-it solutions to both commercial and residential folks in the Fox Chapel Area School...
Phone-free policy at Shady Side Academy Senior School making a difference, administrators and students say
Shady Side Academy Senior School senior John Ludden has one less thing to occupy his time during the school day. His cellphone. Ludden and his 400 fellow senior school students were met with a new cellphone policy implemented in August, exclusive to the Senior School, prohibiting students from using their...
Pittsburgh police radio breach wouldn’t take much money or skill, experts warn
It doesn’t cost much to break onto a police-scanner channel and curse, spew hateful language or threaten an elected leader as an “unauthorized user” has been doing this week in Pittsburgh, experts told TribLive Wednesday. In fact, right on Amazon.com, the popular Chinese brand Baofeng sells hundreds of two-way radios...
Chilling for charity: Fox Chapel Area students take the Polar Plunge
A group of Fox Chapel Area students for the fourth consecutive year took the plunge to help raise money for Special Olympics. High schoolers, along with students from Dorseyville Middle School, participated in the 2026 Cool Schools Polar Plunge at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The event held Feb....
Judge denies bail for McDonald man accused of shooting at police
An Allegheny County judge on Tuesday denied bail for a McDonald man accused of firing repeatedly at police officers last year during a suspected mental health crisis. Stephen Budai, 45, of McDonald is charged with four counts each of firing on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment...
Ex-Allegheny County health inspector, a Sikh man, claims he was forced to shave beard, files lawsuit
A Sikh man and former inspector with the Allegheny County Health Department is suing the agency in federal court alleging discrimination because of his beard, which he claims he was once forced to shave while at work. Navin Kohli, who served as an environmental health specialist, on Tuesday filed the...
Retired dentist shares life-changing benefits of somatics in free class at Fox Chapel library
Retired dentist Tom Capriotti discovered pain relief through somatic movements more than 20 years ago. Capriotti, 75, of Oakmont is a certified personal trainer and instructs a one-hour class for adults, Simple Movement Through Somatics, fon Mondays at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel. Somatics are movements that teach the...
New executive director of Northland Public Library to start role March 23
A new executive director has been hired to take over Northland Public Library following the retirement of Amy Steele. The Northland Public Library Authority Board voted to approve Amanda DeKnight for the position at its Feb. 24 public meeting. DeKnight is set to begin March 23. “The board is eager...
Leetsdale gets new public works truck, seeks to improve trash collection
Leetsdale trash collection is about to get a little easier with the help of a new public works garbage truck. The borough recently purchased a 2026 International L9 Cummins truck with a Heil body and a mechanical arm called a tipper to help with collection. It replaces a 2012 International...
Ross recognizes 2025 police officer of the year, leadership award recipients
A one-time school custodian who became a police officer has been recognized as the 2025 officer of the year in Ross. Officer Jason Pokorny earned the award “for modeling what the ideal Ross police officer should be,” Ross police Chief Cristyn Zett said. “Officer Pokorny’s enthusiasm and positive attitude are...
West Newton man pleads guilty to accessing intimate images on hundreds of victims through their Snapchat accounts
A West Newton man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to hacking into hundreds of individual Snapchat accounts, accessing intimate videos and images stored there and then trading them online. Michael Yackovich, 30, will be sentenced on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft by Chief...
West Deer residents appeal to Commonwealth Court in fight over fracking wells
A case argued Tuesday before Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court could test the reach of local efforts to challenge natural gas fracking. Concerned Residents of West Deer (CROWD), a local advocacy group, has raised concerns for years about the Leto fracking well, which is located near the heart of the West Deer...
Video plays key role in Wilkinsburg homicide arrest
Police have arrested a Wilkinsburg man for fatally shooting another man in the back of the neck and leaving his body in the middle of a borough intersection. Wilkinsburg police said they were dispatched around 8:40 p.m. Jan. 13 to the 700 block of South Avenue for a call about...
