Western PA Local News category, Page 60
Harrison native keeps Super Bowl streak alive, plans to attend his 60th matchup in Calif.
At 84, Harrison native Tom Henschel won’t let a stroke — or disappointment in his beloved Steelers — keep him from celebrating at the Super Bowl this weekend in Santa Clara, Calif. After all, why break a 59-year streak? The football enthusiast will be in the stands at Levi’s Stadium...
Shelter from the storm: Pittsburgh-area homeless community finds relief from brutal weather
A Greyhound bus dropped Drezon “Dre” Pankey in Downtown Pittsburgh two weeks before a winter storm shut down the city with 14 inches of snow. Born in Ohio and raised in Florida, the former high school football running back knew no one here. He carried everything he owned, including a...
Oakmont Council to vote on non-cooperation resolution with ICE
Tensions ran high and anger boiled to the surface during Oakmont’s council meeting Tuesday in the wake of a borough resident being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Jose Flores, 47, was taken by ICE agents Thursday morning after being approached in front of his Oakmont home while preparing...
ICE agents take Brentwood man, leaving family seeking answers
Maklim Gomez Escalante texted his wife at 12:50 p.m. Jan. 20, letting her know he had arrived at the Magisterial District Court in Baldwin to testify as scheduled at 1 p.m. The text was followed by one more: “ICE agents are here.” She didn’t hear from him again that day....
Naked, knife-wielding man charged with assault at optician’s office in North Belle Vernon
A North Belle Vernon man is behind bars after, police say, he took two knives into an optician’s office Monday, knocked over several display cases and stabbed a couch and the walls, according to court papers. Borough police said Darnell Wesley Howell Sr., 54, was not wearing any clothes at...
Judge approves Millvale’s emergency request to borrow $1.9M
A judge on Feb. 3 approved Millvale’s emergency request to borrow $1.9 million so the borough can pay off its overdue debts as it works to right its financial ship. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay Jr. said he would draft his order granting Millvale’s petition after hearing...
Trial set for daughter, shooting suspect in St. Clair murder-for-hire case
Opening statements and testimony in the trial of a New Florence woman charged with ordering the murder of her mother, along with one of the two men alleged to have fired the fatal shots, are set to begin Monday, Feb. 9. The 12-person jury and four alternates who will hear...
Jurors in Thomas Stanko trial can hear evidence that Cassandra Gross was declared dead in 2019
In a key ruling Tuesday, a Westmoreland County judge decided that jurors in the Thomas G. Stanko criminal homicide trial may hear limited evidence that his former girlfriend, Cassandra Gross, was legally declared dead in 2019. Following a hearing, Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Stewart II ruled details of the...
Pitt to lease Wellington Apartments for overflow student housing
The University of Pittsburgh will lease the Wellington Apartment building in case there’s a need for student overflow housing this fall. University trustees on the property and finance committee Tuesday approved a five-year housing lease at the Wellington Apartments, 245 Melwood Ave. Pitt Spokesman Jared Stonesifer said the university is...
Greensburg considering $1M fire truck purchase
Greensburg Fire Department is looking to turn two fire trucks into one while city council mulls a possible $1 million price tag. Councilman Randy Finfrock proposed buying a new rescue pumper for Hose Company No. 1 from Pierce Manufacturing at the fire department’s request. The price, around $1 million, is...
Work underway to make Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle shine under lights of NFL draft
Downtown Pittsburgh is undergoing a facelift before the 2026 NFL Draft shines a massive spotlight on the city in April. Efforts include modernizing Market Square, opening pop-up retail options, filling empty storefronts with art installations and fixing cracked sidewalks, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership President Jeremy Waldrup said in a virtual quarterly...
Volunteers step up for community snow shoveling effort in Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg residents and visitors are navigating sidewalks and bus stops a little easier after an effort coordinated by a community nonprofit. About 25 people responded to Roots of Faith’s call for volunteers Jan. 31. They included residents, elected leaders, a few Kerr Elementary teachers and people from a church group...
Herminie man faces charges in multiple cases in Westmoreland, Fayette counties
A Herminie man is back in jail after, police said, he broke into a Mt. Pleasant Borough home and threatened a woman with a knife. Police were called to a home on the first block of Frick Avenue about 4:30 p.m. Feb. 1 after a man called 911 and said...
Fire guts Springdale Township home
A Springdale Township home is likely a total loss after a fire early Tuesday morning, according to Allegheny Valley VFC Chief Jay Zangrille. Crews were dispatched to the scene along the 700 block of Maple Street just after 2 a.m. When they arrived, firefighters discovered a fully involved house fire...
Plum Council expected to vote on new Taco Bell
Plum’s new Taco Bell is on the horizon. Borough council is expected to vote to approve the project along Golden Mile Highway at its meeting Monday, Feb. 9. So far, developers have progressed through Plum’s planning commission and zoning hearing board, which granted them minor changes to the drive-thru and...
Pedestrian hit by bus in Oakland ‘up and walking’
A 21-year-old pedestrian who was struck by a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus in Oakland Monday night is “up and walking” and expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday, a transit agency spokesman said. First responders took the woman, who authorities have not named, to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in critical...
Tarentum mayor says ‘standard is the same’ for consolidated police force
When Tarentum and Brackenridge police consolidated in 2023, there were concerns from Brackenridge residents that the community would lose its daily patrols and coverage would lean toward the larger of the two boroughs. A newly published report, presenting data from the first full year of combined policing, might help put...
Fishing tournament honors legacy of late Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire
A fishing tournament this summer will honor the legacy of slain Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire and create a scholarship in his name. The Chief’s Challenge, scheduled for June 27, was founded as a way for the family to give back to the community, said McIntire’s mother, Lori. She posted...
Renderings show how NFL Draft will take over Downtown Pittsburgh and North Shore
The NFL, VisitPittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday offered the first glimpse of the official 2026 NFL Draft site renderings. The images offer a preview of how the city’s largest tourism event will unfold, revealing a two-site draft campus stretching across Pittsburgh’s North Shore and Downtown for the April...
Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg to accept Hometown Hero banner applications
The Greensburg Community Development Corporation is accepting applications for its annual Hometown Hero banner program. The installation, launched in 2020, honors Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg residents who have left an impact on the community — including military veterans, first responders and local officials. Nearly 70 people were honored in May...
Guilty plea appealed again in Jeannette football stadium shooting
A Jeannette man serving a 25-year prison sentence for the shooting death of a romantic rival has appealed his conviction. The incident occurred outside of Jeannette’s high school football stadium in 2019. Greg A. Harper, 46, unsuccessfully attempted last year to withdraw a guilty plea to third-degree murder. He entered...
Morning Roundup: 2 flown from high-rise fire in Washington County; North Versailles businesses reportedly damaged by gunfire
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 3: 2 flown from Washington County fire Two people were transported by medical helicopter following a fire Monday evening at a high-rise apartment in Washington County, according to county 911 officials. More than half-dozen fire crews were...
Western Pa. casinos report mixed results despite 5th year of statewide gambling revenue growth
For the fifth consecutive year, gambling revenue statewide reached a record high in 2025, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Gambling revenue hit nearly $6.8 billion last year, the board said, which is a 10.7% increase from 2024 and more than double the state’s 2016 figure of $3.2 billion....
The Stroller, Feb. 3, 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. Bowl-A-Thon to raise funds...
Fox Chapel Area School District sets property tax hike limit
Fox Chapel Area School District officials voted to cap any property tax increase for next school year at 3.5%, which is the maximum allowed by the state without seeking voter approval through a referendum. School directors unanimously voted to pass a resolution confirming that pledge Jan. 20. The current tax...
