Western PA Local News category, Page 2234
Westmoreland Commissioner Gina Cerilli tests positive for covid-19
Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli has tested positive for covid-19, county officials said Tuesday. Cerilli informed the county of her positive test results Tuesday and is following isolation recommendations. Cerilli told the Tribune-Review Tuesday was the second day she experienced symptoms including a “terrible headache” and an elevated temperature. She...
Wolf administration to provide $4 million to communities struggling in pandemic
The state Department of Community and Economic Development has announced it is providing nearly $4 million in support to communities struggling during the covid-19 crisis. The money is part of federal CARES Act funding. Included in the package is funding for four projects, two of them in Western Pennsylvania. In...
Derry school board member, Excela social worker partner to host ‘Christmas on the Frontlines’ benefit
Sean Kemmerer was disappointed when he didn’t receive any committee assignments in his role as a member of the Derry Area School Board, so he decided to find another positive way to help the community, forming the Derry Area Philanthropy Committee earlier in the fall. “I’ve taken my position on...
Freeport-based nonprofit supports servers, bartenders through covid closures
Bars and restaurants may be closed to indoor dining, but a Freeport-based nonprofit is still tipping local restaurant workers. Dynamic Community Foundation, a foundation linked to local real estate firm NextHome Dynamic Realty, announced a program called Serve the Server and Tip the ‘Tender. Its goal is to help food...
More covid cases reported among Allegheny Valley School District staff, students
Five students and staff members at Allegheny Valley School District have tested positive for covid in the past week, the district said. Spokeswoman Jan Zastawniak said those infected were last in a school building more than a week ago, and the cases are unrelated and do not suggest school community...
Voice of Westmoreland to air local public health concerns in Zoom forum
A grassroots activist group will host a public Zoom forum with Westmoreland County commissioners Wednesday evening to air local concerns and urge them to take an active role in battling the region’s growing public health crisis. Although the county does not have an independent public health department, a spokesman for...
Man accused of choking woman in Latrobe, damaging police station holding cell
A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting and choking a Latrobe woman and damaging a city holding cell as he waited to be questioned by police. Donald E. Kunkle III of Donegal was arrested by police on charges of harassment, institutional vandalism, simple assault and strangulation in connection with...
New Kensington’s proposed budget includes no tax increase
New Kensington Council has approved a preliminary budget for next year that includes no increase in property taxes. Council voted 4-1 Monday to approve the first reading of next year’s $8.16 million budget, up from $8.12 million this year. The property tax rate would remain unchanged at 32.03 mills. After...
Populations continue to decline in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties
As populations across Pennsylvania increased over the past 10 years, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have seen the opposite effect. New data from the American Community Survey shows that from 2010-19, Westmoreland County lost more than 16,000 people with the population of Allegheny County dropping by about 7,500. Those numbers aren’t...
Westmoreland County preps for vaccine distribution, which could begin Friday
Westmoreland County officials said Tuesday that plans have been formulated to vaccinate nursing home patients and staff and first responders once they are notified that doses are available to distribute locally. Distribution of about 97,500 vaccine doses in Pennsylvania started this week, and the first could arrive in the county...
Leetsdale company fined for environmental crimes
A Leetsdale copper processing company will spend three years on probation and pay $550,000 in fines for multiple violations of the Clean Water Act and other counts after pleading guilty on Tuesday in federal court. Hussey Copper, which waived indictment by a grand jury, instead pleaded to the information filed...
Allegheny County announces new initiatives to combat youth homelessness
The Department of Human Services is spearheading new initiatives to support young adults ages 18 through 24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, officials announced Thursday. DHS is implementing four new projects that aim to increase housing security for unaccompanied transitioned age youth, couples and young families throughout...
McCandless OKs list of firefighters eligible for income-tax credit
McCandless council has approved a list of residents belonging to its three volunteer fire departments who are eligible to receive a $500 credit next year on the earned income tax they pay to the town. Council also is considering extending the tax credit program it established in 2017 to emergency...
Brentwood sells its sanitary sewer system for $19.2 million to PA American Water
Brentwood Borough officials wrapped up a yearlong deal Dec. 7 when they sold its sanitary sewer system for $19.2 million to a separate utility company. Brentwood’s roughly 4,500 customers will now be served by Pennsylvania America Water. The sewer authority, which only owns the pipes that carry the sewage to...
Man accused by troopers of threatening girls in Unity with sledgehammer
A 37-year-old Allegheny County man is accused of breaking into a Unity woman’s home Monday and threatening two 12-year-old girls inside with a sledgehammer, state police said. Keith D. Wilk of Scott Township was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, making terroristic threats and resisting arrest. Troopers said the...
Westmoreland’s Torrance psychiatric hospital can’t recruit enough workers, jeopardizing funding
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A state-run psychiatric hospital with a long history of struggling to employ enough workers is now so short-staffed that...
Leetsdale holds line on taxes in 2021 spending plan
Leetsdale council held the line on property taxes and reduced another tax when it ratified the borough’s spending plan for 2021. The borough projects its revenue to come in at $2.6 million, a surplus of $126,000 when compared to its $2.4 million projection in expenditures. Council president Wesley James said...
East Deer Commissioners approve 35% water rate increase for 2021
East Deer residents and businesses will pay 35% more for water next year because Tarentum increased what it charges the township for bulk water. The new rates, approved by township commissioners, will take effect Jan. 1. The average East Deer homeowner will pay $13.50 for the first 1,500 gallons, an...
Masks, social distancing can’t stop the fun of Westmoreland Shop With A CopVideo
The smiles were evident Tuesday even behind the protective masks worn by young shoppers and their chaperones — police officers — at the Westmoreland County Shop With a Cop event at the Walmart in East Huntingdon. “This is by far my favorite day of the year,” said veteran Westmoreland sheriff’s...
St. Emma Monastery celebrates Christmas with outdoor light display in Hempfield
The sisters of St. Emma Monastery will not let the trials of 2020 take away their Christmas spirit. “Christ is stronger than covid,” said Mother Mary Anne Noll, prioress of the Benedictine women’s monastery in Hempfield. “Covid does not overcome Christmas, it only makes us more creative in the ways...
Excela recognized for efforts focusing on workplace wellness
For the ninth consecutive year, Excela Health has been recognized among the Healthiest Employers in Western Pennsylvania, and for the fifth year in a row named a Healthiest 100 Workplace in America, in an awards program presented by Healthiest Employer. The Healthiest Employer awards program, powered by Springbuk, was created...
Lawsuits contend Gov. Wolf has no authority to issue new restrictions
A Butler County attorney who previously won a federal lawsuit against the Wolf administration over the spring covid-19 shutdown orders filed two new suits over the governor’s most recent orders. The lawsuits — one filed by the Butler Area School District and the other by two indoor water parks —...
More than 30% of Westmoreland County covid cases, deaths have come in December
December continues to become the worst month of the pandemic statistically in Westmoreland County. With Tuesday’s new reported covid cases and deaths, there have been 5,541 cases and 105 deaths reported so far this month. The December figures make up 37% and 34% of totals, respectively. There were 542 new...
Landmark Unity farmhouse opens as home furnishings storeVideo
A landmark of Westmoreland County’s farming tradition is entering a new chapter as a home furnishings store. Just in time for Christmas shopping and, unfortunately, new pandemic-related restrictions on retailers, Frye Farm Place had a soft opening last week on Frye Farm Road in Unity. Operated by Unity residents Dave...
Pittsburgh International Airport to offer on-site covid-19 testing
Travelers passing through Pittsburgh International Airport can soon opt to pay for a covid-19 test before or after their flight, joining airports worldwide now offering the tests to passengers, according to airport officials. Testing will be voluntary for ticketed passengers and available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to...
