James Engel stories, Page 11
Riding for Corey: Memorial cruise, concert celebrate fallen firefighter’s legacy
Corey’s Cruise, an all-day memorial event for Buffalo Township firefighter Corey Comperatore, is set to hit the road Saturday ahead of a concert in West Deer. The event marks a year since Comperatore was shot and killed during the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a political rally in...
Buffalo Township supervisors hold off on solar farms vote amid residents’ concerns
The Buffalo Township supervisors are holding off voting on controversial solar farms again as residents continue to voice opposition. Board President Ron Zampogna said the move was at the request of the project’s developer, Atlanta-based SolAmerica, whose representatives could not attend this week’s supervisors’ meeting. It’s the second voting delay...
Buffalo Township solicitor recommends changes to proposed public comment limit
Buffalo Township’s solicitor has recommended substantial changes to its current draft of an ordinance that would place limits on public comment. The resolution, which was tabled at an unusual morning meeting late last month and again at Wednesday’s township supervisors meeting, came after a public hearing for two proposed solar...
Shapiro signs bill lifting ban on Sunday hunting
Hunters across the state soon could find themselves afield — legally — on almost any Sunday. Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday signed a bill that lifts the state’s age-old ban on Sunday hunting, opening the door for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to build hunting seasons that include Sundays. “The Pennsylvania...
Plum mayor pushing for borough deer cull; council president skeptical
Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel says the borough needs to kill more deer. Allegheny County’s seventh-largest municipality, he said, is suffering from whitetail “overpopulation” that is causing public safety concerns and proving to be a nuisance to residents. Schlegel said this week he would like to see borough council move forward...
Former Penn Hills police officer charged in alleged road rage incident
A former Penn Hills police officer has been accused of intentionally spinning out another driver and later resisting arrest in Plum. Dennis Pape, 49, faces misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, obstructing administration of law or other government and resisting arrest in addition to some summary charges. According to...
Police investigating deadly shooting in Penn Hills
Allegheny County Police are investigating a deadly shooting in Penn Hills that left one man dead just after 6 p.m. Monday. At the 11000 block of Frankstown Road, police said they found one adult male shot, who was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. Preliminary investigations indicate that the...
As Buffalo Township considers limits to public comment, many neighbors already have rules in place
At a recent special meeting, Buffalo Township Supervisors began consideration of a resolution that would place limits on public comment at meetings. But as the officials mull the potential new rules, many neighboring governments already abide by similar regulations. The resolution, which was tabled at an unusual morning meeting late...
‘Pittsburgh’s hidden gem’: Allegheny Islands provide escape in the river
For Jack Lachendro, you don’t have to go far from Downtown Pittsburgh to feel like you’re “truly in nature.” In fact, you need to head only 14 miles up the Allegheny River, said Lachendro, the environmental education specialist at Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). There, visitors will...
Television crew to scout South Buffalo site for new Apple TV+ series
A film crew for the Apple TV+ series “Parallax” is set to scout an area of South Buffalo along the Allegheny River on Monday for the new crime thriller. Some residents in the small Clinton neighborhood of South Buffalo received flyers from the crew informing them a technical scouting group...
Plum, Oakmont to use $100K USGA investment for outdoor projects
Three weeks after the U.S. Open, Plum and Oakmont officials say they’re preparing to invest donations from the USGA into borough green spaces. As part of a million-dollar investment in the region, the two boroughs each received $100,000 to “support green spaces and promote outdoor recreation,” according to USGA Director...
New Kensington constable accused of impersonating a police officer, hiding guns
New Kensington-based constable Herman Staple II is charged with several misdemeanors after being accused of impersonating a police officer and later concealing guns from police in violation of a protection from abuse order. Officers in New Kensington pulled over Staple in mid-May for driving what appeared to be a police...
Fades for Freeport: 2nd Willy T’s Cuts barbershop set to open in borough’s downtown
After a decade spent building a loyal customer base in Tarentum, William Tavarez said he’s planning to open a second location of his Willy T’s Cuts barbershop in downtown Freeport. The shop, at 512 High St., will cater to some of Tavarez’s existing customers, many of whom come from the...
Freeport begins search for new borough manager
Down a manager, Freeport has begun the search for a new head administrator for the borough. According to Councilwoman Kimberly Barr, Freeport already has received several applications to fill the role, but the borough has not finalized a hiring timeline. The post was left vacant on June 20, when Zachary...
Campbells Run Road in Robinson will remain closed after flooding
Campbells Run Road in Robinson will remain closed until a freshly paved portion that was damaged by Thursday’s heavy storms can be replaced. The afternoon storms were so heavy that some motorists were stranded in the roadway, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. The road was forced to close between...
2 teens killed in Pitcairn shootings
Two 16-year-old boys were killed Thursday in shootings in Pitcairn. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Isiah McCarthy of Pitcairn and Tyrant Sutton of Clairton both died at AHN Forbes Hospital on Thursday afternoon following the shootings. The shootings took place at about 3 p.m. on Shaw Alley near...
Hearing for Plum’s O’Block addition sees little comment; district still accepting suggestions
A public hearing to discuss improvements to Plum’s O’Block Elementary School drew only one resident to the podium as the multimillion-dollar project inches forward. The building, which a study commissioned by the district claimed to have “extensive deficiencies,” is set to receive a 15,000-square-foot addition and extensive interior renovations. According...
Freeport sports card shop headed to Buffalo Township
After three years in Freeport, G&T Sports Cards Plus will soon have a new home a few miles north. Specializing in sports trading cards and collectibles, the shop is set to relocate to 309 South Pike Road (Route 356) in Buffalo Township, according to owner Tyler Huth. The reason for...
Buffalo Supervisors mull limits to public comment at meetings
At an early morning special meeting on Wednesday, Buffalo Township Supervisors tabled a resolution that would place limits on public comment at meetings amid recent community objections to proposed solar farms. A public hearing for the farms earlier this month took several hours as around 35 residents voiced opposition to...
Despite rain and heat, Springdale turf field set to be complete by fall
The path toward high school football games being played at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School continues to move forward. Crews are stripping layers of topsoil at the site, near the school, that’s set to become the new home of Dynamos football this fall. That soil is being cleared to make way...
Springdale’s Veterans Field to host Lower Valley Little League
After sitting vacant since 2023, Springdale’s Veterans Memorial Field will have a new occupant next spring. Springdale Council approved use of the field by Lower Valley Little League’s 120 youth athletes for its games and practices starting next season. The organization currently plays at neighboring Lampus Field but recently experienced...
Allegheny Valley approves $1.2M bids for lobby amid price concerns
Allegheny Valley School Board members unanimously awarded $1.2 million in higher-than-expected bids for lobby renovations at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School. Between the four bids, the price was about $180,000 more than the board had initially anticipated, board President Nino Pollino said. Terry Thompson, vice president of Foreman Architects Engineers, said...
Allegheny Valley approves budget with small tax increase
Opting for a slight tax bump, Allegheny Valley School Board members passed the district’s 2025-26 budget Tuesday. Revenue generated from the 1.48% increase will go toward a projected $3.2 million budget deficit, though the majority of that deficit will be made up using the district’s fund balance. The new budget...
Plum officials happy with injection well decision, preparing for appeals
After Plum’s Zoning Hearing Board rejected the application for a second injection well in the borough last week, officials say they’re happy with the decision but preparing for the legal “long haul.” For years, Delmont-based gas company Penneco sought a zoning variance to convert a natural gas well into an...
Man dies after jumping from Tarentum Bridge
A man who jumped from the Tarentum Bridge into the Allegheny River on Tuesday morning died before he could be taken to a hospital, according to paramedics at the scene. River rescue units were launched after the man apparently jumped from the bridge shortly after 11:30 a.m. Motorists had reported...
