Western PA Local News category, Page 35
Beyond churches, Western Pa. restaurants are reeling in diners with fish frenzy
The Lenten season ushers in a dining fish sandwich frenzy at many restaurants in Western Pennsylvania. Whether it’s fried, broiled or baked, fish Lenten specials are popping up on most menus, offering an tasty and easy way to enjoy fish — and keep your kitchen clean. Turn Fridays into Fry-days...
Jeannette’s Buster Clarkson Field to receive $19K in repairs, but coaches say more is neededVideo
Improvements are on the way at West Jeannette’s Buster Clarkson Field, but the high school baseball coach and youth league president agree more are needed. Lou Altieri, president of Jeannette Baseball Association, said he hopes the new pitcher’s mound and infield grading will be complete before the high school season...
3rd annual barbecue benefiting North Hills Community Outreach returns April 12
Friendship and food are the key ingredients to the third annual North Hills Community Outreach neighborly barbecue set from noon to 2 p.m. April 12 at Memorial Park Church in McCandless. The Community BBQ fundraiser benefits the nonprofit outreach, which addresses the needs of people in crisis, hardship and poverty...
Holy fish fries: Fish consumption skyrockets during Lent
Lent becomes a feeding frenzy when it comes to fish fries. Tons of breaded or beer-battered cod and haddock are consumed in Southwestern Pennsylvania during the 40-day holiday period in which Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays leading to Easter. Imperial-based wholesaler Nappies Food Service exports to churches and restaurants...
‘Buyers of last resort’: Experts weigh in on Namdar’s Macy’s purchase
Despite owing Frazer and Allegheny County millions of dollars in fines, the owner of the Pittsburgh Mills mall campus is purchasing real estate there. It’s a practice that experts say is uncommon but not prohibited. “In general, I mean, if real estate’s for sale, and you have a buyer and...
From shop class to 3D printing: transforming tech education at Valley High School
It was winter 2002 when Rick Shaner graduated from then-California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in technical education and was out job hunting. “I was thinking, nobody’s going to be hiring now,” Shaner said. “I stopped at Kiski, Burrell and Valley just to get substitute teaching packets.” When he...
Mt. Pleasant man charged in connection with monkey torture videos
A Mt. Pleasant man has been charged in federal court with paying people overseas to torture monkeys and video record the acts. Joseph Garrett Buckland is charged with conspiracy to create and distribute “animal crush” videos. Animal crushing involves intentional crushing, burning or other torture. It is illegal for anyone...
Fox Chapel Rotary member Tom Benic remembered for charisma and compassion
Friends are recalling longtime Fox Chapel Rotary member Tom Benic as a kind and consummate professional. But by all accounts, the history buff and avid photographer was — above all else — a pure fun-loving guy. “Intelligence, wit and charm are rare commodities,” said friend Richard Wolf. “Tom had all...
Surging natural gas prices in Pa. could mean higher utility bills
Wholesale natural gas prices in Pennsylvania surged 71% last year, according to a new report, likely leading to higher residential utility bills. The Independent Fiscal Office, a state agency that supplies lawmakers in Harrisburg with revenue projections and economic analysis, released its quarterly natural gas report Wednesday. It found the...
3 men face homicide charges in Penn Hills shooting death
Police have arrested three men in the 2024 fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Penn Hills man. Allegheny County Police on Thursday afternoon said they charged Trevor Twyman, 23, of Turtle Creek; Kelshon Lovelace, 24, of Wilkinsburg; and Lemoyne Williams, 18, of Monroeville, in the Dec. 5, 2024, shooting death of...
Cutting-edge BioInterphase moves into Troy Hill’s historic firehouse
When Noah Snyder walks into his new office and laboratory space at a historic firehouse in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood, he’s met with a “whimsical” mix of old and new. A fireman’s pole descends from a circular hole — now patched over with plywood — in the engraved black ceiling,...
Valley and Deer Lakes high schools host suicide prevention speaker
Months after PJ Shell lost his stepson Maverick to suicide, he helped a distraught mother pay for her child’s equipment at a sporting goods store. The moment, Shell said in a speech at Valley High School, caused the first shared smile between him and his wife in months because it...
School zone stop sparks foot chase, immigration arrest in Washington County
A traffic stop at an elementary school in Washington County led to a foot chase and a federal immigration arrest. On Tuesday, Greene Washington Regional police were patrolling the streets in an unmarked vehicle near Joe Walker Elementary School in South Franklin Township, when an officer saw a white Chevrolet...
2 killed in Route 22 Indiana County crash; coroner says IDs might take weeks
Two people were killed Thursday morning in a three-vehicle crash along Route 22 in Indiana County that closed the highway for hours, state police at Indiana said. It might take days or weeks to confirm the victims’ identities, according to a release from Coroner Jerry Overman’s office. They were in...
Pleasant Hills police probe bar brawl involving 4 off-duty Pittsburgh cops
Pleasant Hills police are investigating a brawl at the Pleasant Bar earlier this month involving four off-duty Pittsburgh police officers and an alleged victim who said he was smashed in the head with a beer bottle. Three of the four city officers, who have not been publicly named and were...
‘I probably won’t survive’: Pittsburgh firefighters train for deadly flashoversVideo
Pittsburgh fire Capt. Brian Tarbuck watched smoke billow from a rust-red shipping container as he described how the first responders training inside could spot the telltale signs of an impending “flashover” — the deadly near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible materials in an enclosed space. When room temperatures top 1,000 degrees,...
New Kensington-Arnold implements security camera system that dispatchers can view in real time
Westmoreland County dispatchers will now have the ability to instantly view live campus security footage when a 911 call comes in from the New Kensington-Arnold School District. The district is implementing 911 camera sharing across district buildings in an effort to strengthen campus safety and speed emergency response. “We want...
Lower Burrell man charged with attempted stabbing and robbery at Tarentum gas station
A Lower Burrell man is in Allegheny County Jail after Tarentum police charged him with felony aggravated assault and robbery of a vehicle in connection with a Christmastime attack at the borough’s Marathon station. Robert Harmon, 35, also faces charges of theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats and simple assault....
Community rallies behind Buffalo Township family after house fire
After a fire gutted a Buffalo Township home earlier this month, neighbors and strangers alike have come together to support a local family. The Haberman family watched as firefighters battled a smoky blaze at their Edgewood Drive home for more than five hours on Feb. 19. Husband and wife Rob...
Parents arrested after child falsely reports dad as dead to 911
Two Charleroi parents were arrested over the weekend after one of their children called 911 to falsely report their father had died. Instead, police said, they discovered a filthy home without running water. Jackson Alexis, 40, and Roldy Noel, 27, of Charleroi were arrested this weekend and are being charged...
Alcoa plans to sell off 10 former facilities for use as data centers
Alcoa, the Pittsburgh-based aluminum giant, intends to sell 10 of its closed or curtailed sites for use as data centers. Alcoa CEO Bill Oplinger announced the sell-off Tuesday at the BMO Global Metals, Mining and Critical Minerals Conference in Florida. Of the 10 facilities going on the market, “we think...
New Kensington man accused of assaulting, fathering baby with teen waives criminal charges
A New Kensington man already in jail waived his preliminary hearing on charges stemming from an incident where, authorities say, he assaulted and fathered a child with a teenager. Burnell Johnson, 27, waived to court charges of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person younger...
Aspinwall Presbyterian Church members, friends say farewell to retired pastor
Members of Aspinwall Presbyterian Church celebrated the end of an era with the retirement of the Rev. Scott Hill. Hill, 65, has led the flock at the Center Avenue church for about 10 years; he was in his 36th year of ministry. His final service was Feb. 15. Hill plans...
14th Quartermaster members killed in 1991 Scud attack honoredVideo
Barbara Keough of North Huntingdon still keeps her son’s uniform, his medals and his Purple Heart — tangible reminders of a life cut short 35 years ago. Her son, 22-year-old Frank Keough, was one of 13 members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment killed during the Feb. 25, 1991, Scud missile...
Carlow, Promise Center launch literacy tutoring initiative in Homewood
Carlow University and the Promise Center of Homewood have launched a joint literacy tutoring initiative for children in Homewood. The after-school program was developed over several months by Carlow’s College of Education and Social Work in partnership with The Promise Center, Carlow officials said. It will focus on reading skills,...
