Western PA Local News category, Page 2101
Route 28 traffic stoppages scheduled in O’Hara this weekend
PennDOT announced traffic stoppages on Route 28 in O’Hara scheduled for Sunday, weather permitting. Drivers on Route 28 can expect stoppages of 15 minutes or less in both directions between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. between the Route 910 off-ramp in Harmar and the Gamma Drive (RIDC Park) on-ramp. Crews...
East Pittsburgh woman said man threatened to shoot her before taking baby that prompted Amber Alert, police say
A 20-year-old man who sparked an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl Thursday twice pointed a gun at the girl’s mother and threatened to kill the woman before taking their child, according to state police. The girl, taken from her mother’s East Pittsburgh home, was recovered safely by a SWAT...
Report: Pennsylvania casino revenues down slightly in FebruaryVideo
Following a strong start to the year, Pennsylvania casinos last month saw a slight drop in gambling revenue as they work to recoup from the economic impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. In February, revenues posted by casinos across the state came in at $301.9 million, a decrease of $2.36 million,...
PennDOT announces upcoming traffic restrictions on Tarentum Bridge
Traffic will be restricted on the Tarentum Bridge next week, PennDOT announced. The right lane carrying westbound traffic from the bridge to Freeport Road on the northern end of the span over East 4th Avenue in Tarentum will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. One...
The Stroller, March 19, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Lane to be restricted on Tarentum Bridge beginning Monday As part of a bridge rehabilitation project, PennDOT will close the right lane on the...
Petition to rename Route 981 after late state Rep. Mike Reese gains traction
An online petition to rename a state highway after the late state Rep. Mike Reese has rocketed towards it goal of 2,500 signatures in short order. Mt. Pleasant resident Nick Molitor created the petition on Change.org, where more than 2,200 people have already shown their support. He never met Reese,...
Tree of Life hosts virtual interfaith covid-19 memorial service
Local religious leaders remembered the victims of the covid-19 pandemic with a virtual memorial service one year after the first coronavirus-related death in Pennsylvania. The Tree of Life congregation on Thursday evening hosted the online event, which they called “Covid-19 One Year Later: A Service of Remembrance, Healing and Renewal.”...
Western Pa. community leaders fear mounting intensity of anti-Asian hate, xenophobia
Asian community leaders in Western Pennsylvania are reeling with emotion and striving to quell fears days after a gunman stormed three Asian-run spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people. “We’re anxious, we’re heartbroken, we’re raging,” said Marian Lien, president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Organization for Chinese Americans....
Harrison man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of child porn
A Harrison man who already was a registered sex offender has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for child porn possession. U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Hornan imposed the sentence Thursday against Jack Ulrich Jr. Ulrich, 43, had pleaded guilty last June to one count of possession of...
SWAT team recovers 1-year-old girl said to have been abducted, 3 arrested
A 1-year-old girl abducted Thursday afternoon in East Pittsburgh was recovered safely by a SWAT team hours later, according to police. State police announced they had found Diore Thomas after an Amber Alert was issued for her Thursday afternoon. Diore was last at 12:30 p.m. in East Pittsburgh. Police had...
Another Dollar General coming to Washington Township
Washington Township is getting another Dollar General discount store. Construction is nearing completion at Hancock Avenue and Route 66. In an email, Dollar General spokeswoman Angela Petkovic said the store is tentatively scheduled to open within the next two weeks but didn’t provide a date. Supervisor Rich Gardner said exterior...
Free trees to be offered to Tarentum residents to combat canopy loss
Free trees will be available to Tarentum residents at a distribution in April. Borough residents can begin signing up at 10 a.m. Monday for the trees offered by Tree Pittsburgh and the borough’s recreation board. Advance registration is required. The trees are scheduled to be distributed between 10 a.m. and...
PennDOT announces drilling work in Aspinwall set to begin Monday
Two roads in Aspinwall near the Highland Park Bridge will be reduced to single-lane alternating traffic starting Monday and continuing most weekdays through late August. The effected roads are: • Delafield Avenue, between Fourth Street and Rutledge Drive; • Lexington Avenue, between Fourth Street and Virginia Avenue Extension. Construction is...
Voice of Westmoreland demands better covid vaccine plan in countyVideo
Members of the Voice of Westmoreland delivered a petition to county commissioners Thursday demanding a coronavirus vaccine registry and distribution sites in rural areas and for minority communities, among other concerns. The 375 signatures had been gathered since Saturday, said Bob Mason, a Trafford resident and member of the grassroots...
Female jogger in Murrysville claims man solicited her twice for sex
A Murrysville man was charged by police with stalking this week after a female jogger reported he twice approached her in recent months and solicited her for sex. Mark A. Loesch, 49, was charged via mailed summons with two counts each of stalking and criminal attempt to solicit prostitution by...
Searchers in rural Indiana County rescue elderly man suffering from hypothermia
An 88-year-old Indiana County man who became disoriented and wandered away from his parked vehicle early Thursday was located by a team of searchers, according to state police. Trooper Clifford Greenfield said the man was found laying on the ground after two hours and was taken to an area medical...
In hard-hit restaurant industry, hiring more staff is tall order in Western Pa.
A sign seeking job applicants hangs in the window of Anchor Inn in Harrison. It’s been there for about six months. That sign has garnered only two applicants, owner Joe Kolek said Thursday. “Everybody’s got ‘help wanted’ signs,” Kolek said. “I think everybody is in the same boat trying to...
Westmoreland commissioners select in-state company to handle mail-in ballots
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday selected a Blair County company to handle printing and sending its mail-in ballots for the spring primary. Elections director JoAnn Sebastiani said she checked with officials in six regional counties that used NPC, Inc. during the general election and got a good response about the...
5,000 covid-19 vaccine appointments to open at 2 pharmacies in Penn Township and Indiana Co.
More than 5,000 appointments for the covid-19 vaccine will be available next week through two area Mainline Pharmacy Group locations. Bushy Run Pharmacy, in Penn Township, and Blairsville Pharmacy, in Indiana County, have appointments available for those who qualify in phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan. This phase includes...
Ross woman charged with involvement in Capitol riot
When the FBI was investigating a Bridgeville man for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, they spoke to an acquaintance of his, Jennifer Heinl. During that Jan. 28 conversation, Heinl, of Ross, said she had gone to Washington, D.C., the day before the attack, but that she hadn’t...
Penn State announces in-person commencement plans
Penn State officials say the university will host in-person commencement ceremonies at University Park and at its other campuses across the state. The state’s largest university cited increasing vaccination rates and a relaxation in state guidelines in its decision to move forward with a more traditional graduation for the class...
Pitt plans a return to normal operations at Oakland for fall 2021
In yet another indication of growing optimism surrounding the covid-19 vaccine, officials at the University of Pittsburgh are planning a return to full in-person operations at the university’s Oakland campus as well its campuses in Greensburg, Johnstown, Bradford and Titusville. Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher on Thursday announced that the school,...
Irwin scraps plans to seek grant for fire hall project
Irwin officials have scrapped plans to apply for a grant for a new fire hall and possible municipal complex that was estimated to cost $1.2 million. Borough council decided last week not to apply for the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant, which has a March 31 deadline for applications. The...
Murrysville-area events for the week of March 15, 2021
Here are news briefs and event listings for the Murrysville Star’s coverage area. Submit items to pvarine@triblive.com. Auditions scheduled for inclusive play Auditions for “Just Keep Swimming,” an adaptation of the Disney/Pixar story “Finding Nemo,” will take place March 26-28 through Acting Up, an inclusive theater troupe for actors of...
One of Pittsburgh area’s first Chick-fil-A stores set to close
One of the first Chick-fil-A locations in the Pittsburgh area is closing at the end of the month. March 31 will be the last day of operations for the Chick-fil-A at Ross Park Mall, according to a sign at the business. The mall’s food court eatery first opened in August...
