Western PA Local News category, Page 59
Pittsburgh man accused of smuggling synthetic cannabinoids to Allegheny County Jail inmates
A Pittsburgh man was arrested and accused Tuesday of smuggling synthetic cannabinoids to Allegheny County jail inmates, according to court documents. Tyrique Craighead, 33, of Pittsburgh’s Perry North neighborhood, placed the drugs — concealed in an open bag of nacho cheese Doritos — in a trash can inside the bathroom...
Environmentalists urge DEP to make Tenaska power plant meet air pollution requirements to get permit
Environmental regulators should revise a draft permit for a natural gas-fired power plant to operate in South Huntingdon to make the plant comply with air pollution regulations or reject the permit. That’s what a group of residents and environmentalists told state officials Wednesday. The 90-minute hearing attracted about 60 people...
Clairton Coke Works to resume work at battery that saw fatal explosions in August
Almost exactly six months after two workers were killed and 11 injured in a series of explosions at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, the nation’s largest coke manufacturing facility will resume operation at one of its batteries Thursday. The first of three explosions occurred at the facility around 10:45 a.m....
Plum police: ICE detains Scott Township man at court hearing after he tried to run
A Scott Township man arrested last year in connection with a series of road rage incidents was detained by ICE agents following an altercation at the district court office in Plum, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Vishavdeep Singh, 22, of Scott was charged in November with multiple felonies after...
‘She had a presence’: Fashionistas recall model Jacinta Stevens, who died in Monongahela River crash
The Pittsburgh fashion industry is mourning Jacinta Stevens, a promising model who was killed last week when her car crashed into the icy Monongahela River. North Hills fashion designer Eva Dixon will always remember the 31-year-old mother of two in a single outfit: the striking, emerald halter-top gown Dixon designed...
Pitt researcher studies lingering health impacts from East Palestine train derailment
University of Pittsburgh researcher Juliane Beier is a leading authority on how colorless, sweet-smelling vinyl chloride can cause cancer and worsen liver disease. Her expertise meant she feared the worst when vinyl chloride vapors — the result of a controversial vent-and-burn operation by first responders — began billowing from derailed...
Pittsburgh property owners could see later deadline for early-filing discount
Pittsburgh property owners are set to get a bit more time to take advantage of the tax discount offered to early filers. Mayor Corey O’Connor and City Council members want to extend the deadline for the 2% property tax discount by one week, to February 17 from February 10. Officials...
Former Heinz Endowments IT manager pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $1M
The former IT manager for the Heinz Endowments pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to embezzling nearly $1 million from his former employer. Charles A. Richardson, of Pittsburgh, will be sentenced on June 4 before U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. A message left for Richardson’s attorney on Wednesday was...
‘You’re killing me’: Victim testifies in preliminary hearing for Crossroads Plaza shooting suspect
Joshua Logan had just finished a workout at Planet Fitness in East Huntingdon and was getting into his pickup truck to leave when the estranged husband of his girlfriend pulled up. Within seconds, Logan testified Wednesday, Steven Heald was shooting at him. A bullet hit him in the shoulder, spinning...
Former Allegheny County public defender Matt Dugan to help lead Pennsylvania Prison Society
The Pennsylvania Prison Society has named Matt Dugan, a former chief public defender for Allegheny County, as its first Western Pennsylvania region director. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Prison Society is a nonprofit advocacy group for incarcerated people. The only organization in the state with legal authority to visit any prison...
5 charged in connection with Lower Burrell vape shop raids
Lower Burrell police filed drug-related charges against five people following a yearslong, undercover investigation into three vape shops in the city. Those charged are: Hussain M. Almerdaie, 33, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Maulik H. Thakkar, 43, of Mars; Qasem A. Almardeai, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Baldwiner Singh, 54, of Monroeville; and...
Speers man accused of ethnic intimidation in connection with racist video made at Rostraver Walmart
Ethnic intimidation charges were filed Wednesday against a man accused of recording a video that includes racist language at the Rostraver Walmart store, according to state police. They say the video was recorded by Michael Todora, 36, of Speers, Washington County. Troopers have been investigating the video, which was posted...
Thomas Stanko trial: Cassandra Gross’ mother testifies about possessive relationship
Kathe Gross took an immediate dislike to the man her daughter, Cassandra Gross, was dating in 2017 and 2018. During the first day of testimony in the trial of the man charged with her daughter’s murder, Kathe Gross told a Westmoreland County jury Wednesday that she found Thomas G. Stanko...
Mysterious metal shards causing flat tires around Harrison
Low tire pressure lights are coming on throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley — and it’s not because of the cold. Dozens of drivers are reporting flat tires caused by small metal fragments of unknown origin, mostly around the Harrison area. Beverly Lydic of Springdale Township heard a hissing noise coming from...
TV Q&A: Will ‘The Pitt’ get released on DVD?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Saturday Tribune-Review. Q: Will “The Pitt” season one be available on DVD anytime soon?? -Jack via email Rob: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the entity that would release “The...
Attorney claims jury erred in conviction of roommate in Penn Township shooting
A North Versailles woman claims a Westmoreland County jury reached the wrong verdict when it convicted her last year of the attempted murder of her Penn Township roommate. In an appeal filed this week, the lawyer for Leah Gillis said jurors failed to adequately consider testimony that suggested the gun...
Pittsburgh council confirms O’Connor’s picks for police chief, public safety director
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved Jason Lando as police chief and Sheldon Williams as public safety director. The pair have been serving in their roles in an acting capacity since Mayor Corey O’Connor took office last month. A Squirrel Hill native and veteran of Pittsburgh’s police force, Lando...
Valley High School to offer girls flag football
Girls at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School will have a new sport to play this spring. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved adding a flag football program. “We’ve had so many girls that have wanted it for so long,” board President Jane Graham said. “It is definitely something...
Lawsuit claims Allegheny County Jail failed to care for man who died of pneumonia
A lawsuit filed in federal court last week accuses Allegheny County Jail staff and the contractor that runs the medical unit there of failing to properly care for a man who had pneumonia and later died at a hospital. Joseph King Jr., who had been incarcerated starting in 2023, died...
Penn-Trafford School Board renews superintendent contract for 5 more years
Superintendent Matthew Harris will lead the Penn-Trafford School District for another five years following a vote by the school board this week. Harris came to the district in 2007. He worked in various administrative roles — including assistant principal of Level Green and Harrison Park Elementary schools, director of student...
Porter Street revamp ahead for Tarentum
A large swath of Porter Street in Tarentum might soon be open for new development. Three homes that sit in a row will be demolished this year. One was destroyed by fire in September, one of the others is condemned and another is abandoned. Council held a property hearing in...
Westmoreland County Community College to launch 2-year engineering program shortly after opening makerspace
Matthew Reed, vice president for academic affairs at Westmoreland County Community College, didn’t plan for the launch of the school’s new engineering program to coincide with the opening of its makerspace. “It’s kind of a happy accident,” he said with a laugh. The college’s board of trustees approved the two-year...
Morning Roundup: Washington County barn lost in overnight fire; South Park police warn of scam
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Feb. 4: Washington County barn and livestock lost in fire A barn in New Bethlehem was destroyed by fire late Monday night, “All of our heritage and rare breed sheep were in the barn. They were due to...
French classes cut at Valley High School; district will add in-house English as a Second Language programming
Say adieu to the French program at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board on Tuesday voted to phase out its French programming and create an in-house English as a Second Language program, following enrollment declines in French and the rapid growth of students needing ESL services. Board...
The Stroller, Feb. 4, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Musical alumni concert set...
