Patrick Varine stories, Page 25
Driest summer since 2002 leads to increase in brush fires
Southwestern Pennsylvania set an April record for rainfall this year, racking up nearly 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service. But over the past six months, the region has experienced drought-like conditions that have left Western Pennsylvania at a 3-inch rainfall deficit. This has created ideal conditions for brush...
2 injured in Upper Burrell crash
Two people were injured in a crash Saturday along Route 780 in Upper Burrell. Police and EMS were called to the intersection of Route 780 and Stoney Hill Road shortly before 5 p.m. for the two-vehicle crash. According to a Pennsylvania State Police report, the driver of a Chevy Silverado...
Casino worker charged with dealing fake blackjack hands
A Rivers Casino employee has been charged with dealing nearly 200 fraudulent hands of blackjack between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Jamie L. Smith, 33, of Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood, was seen on video surveillance by police and gaming enforcement agents overpaying patrons on winning...
Murrysville proposes ’25 budget with no tax hike
Murrysville council will consider a 2025 budget that does not call for a tax increase. The municipality’s $17.28 million budget includes $3.8 million in capital spending. Capital projects for next year will include grant-supported bridge work along with $100,000 for new police equipment and vehicles and the replacement of HVAC...
Morning Roundup: Teen shot in leg in East Hills; Sheraden man arrested following high-speed chase
Here are some overnight new items for Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Teen shot in leg in East Hills Pittsburgh police are investigating after a 16-year-old was shot early Sunday morning in East Hills. Police were called to the 2300 block of Wilner Drive around 2:45 a.m. after receiving a ShotSpotter...
Access to Great Crossings Bridge restricted due to safety concerns
A 206-year-old bridge that has been a treat for curiosity seekers since it emerged because of unusually low water levels at Youghiogheny River Lake is being closed to the public because of safety concerns. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is restricting access to the Great Crossings Bridge,...
Here are Veterans Day activities, promotions happening throughout Westmoreland County
Veterans Day events are being held throughout the region. To submit an event, email gbgnewsroom@triblive.com. Events • White Valley AMVETS and Murrysville American Legion Post 711 will host Veterans Day activities throughout Murrysville, Export and Delmont on Nov. 9. They are: 9 a.m. at Eastview Union Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Delmont;...
Murrysville war monument relocated to community park just in time for Veterans Day
Jerry Deible wanted more people to see Murrysville’s honor roll monument for local World War I and II soldiers. Having been originally installed in 1967 on a small piece of property near the intersection of Old William Penn Highway and Sardis Road, it didn’t have much visibility. So Deible began...
Murrysville area: Yingling receives state citation, used book sale and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Yingling recognized by local, state officials Longtime Franklin Regional school board member Herb Yingling was recently recognized with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as well as a proclamation from Murrysville Mayor Regis Synan declaring Sept. 27, 2024, “Herb Yingling...
Monroeville happenings: Toy drive, women’s self-defense course, live music, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Toy drive AY Beauty in Monroeville is collecting toys for its first community toy drive in partnership with Lean On Me, which organizes support groups for single mothers. Donations are due by Nov. 30 and can be dropped off at...
Monroeville area: Art gallery opening, free Thanksgiving dinners, Rotary scholarships, more
Artist repurposes used panels, canvases The public is invited to a free opening reception of “Leonid Shower,” an exhibit by Monroeville resident Jay Winter, from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Monroeville Public Library Gallery Space. A retired geologist, Winter’s artwork is inspired by the Earth and sky...
Markosek wins reelection in 25th District House race
With 100% of precincts reporting, Democrat incumbent Brandon Markosek will retain his seat in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives. Markosek, with just under 60% of the vote, beat Republican challenger John Ritter with 40% of the vote in the 25th District. More than 34,000 votes were cast in the race. Markosek...
Incumbent Jill Cooper retains seat in Westmoreland state House race
With 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent Republican Jill Cooper will retain her seat in the state House. With more than 38,000 votes cast, Cooper beat out Democratic challenger Davon Magwood, 67% to 32%, in the 55th District race in northern Westmoreland County. “I’m grateful for the trust that people have...
Here’s your Election Day playlist, from the ‘Animaniacs’ to WilcoVideo
It’s Election Day, and if there’s one thing we can all agree on — an increasingly difficult concept these days — it’s a collective sense of relief that, no matter the result, it’s going to be over soon. But not yet — which is why we’ve compiled this list of...
Consent order updates eliminate 4M gallons of water flow during Franklin rainstorms
Just under three years ago, the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority delivered a model to state environmental officials mapping out the flow of sewage through its 330-mile system. It was among the mandatory goals in a 2019 consent order entered into by FTMSA as well as its client communities, with...
Franklin Regional opens Panther’s Den, consolidates merchandise under 1 vendor
Franklin Regional officials and Unity Printing held a grand opening Friday for The Panther’s Den, a brick-and-mortar store inside Unity’s Fancy Fox Embroidery & Silkscreen in Murrysville. The shop and its attendant website will be the exclusive home to merchandise using logos the school district created and trademarked. The school...
Franklin Regional Athletic Association competitive cheer team off to a hot start
The Franklin Regional Athletic Association isn’t wasting time in building on its first successful year with a cheerleading squad. This year they added a competitive cheer team, and its members just brought home a first-place finish in the 12U division at the HACC Cheer Fest, held Oct. 27 in Hempfield....
Game commission releases 500 antlerless tags for new chronic wasting management area in Armstrong
In response to the detection of new deer populations hosting chronic wasting disease, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has issued 500 additional antlerless tags for a newly established hunting area in Armstrong County. Hunters can purchase additional tags for Deer Management Assistance Program unit 7305, roughly 25,000 acres including part or...
Western Pennsylvania’s importance in presidential election evident in both Harris, Trump coming Monday
Pittsburgh will be the center of the American political universe the night before Election Day, when both candidates for president hold Downtown rallies less than 2 miles from one another. And you thought Steelers traffic was bad. Former President Donald Trump will be at PPG Paints Arena. But just a...
Allegheny Township car fire snarls rush hour traffic
A car fire backed up rush hour traffic Friday night in Allegheny Township. Westmoreland County 911 officials said it was reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of Leechburg Road, between White Cloud and Shearsburg roads. Markle Volunteer Fire Department crews responded and extinguished the fire. Traffic was...
$1M in gambling revenue will help Southwest Greensburg build new public works complex
Southwest Greensburg will spend about $1 million in state gambling money to build a new public works garage. The borough was awarded $1 million from the state program that distributed the revenue generated from Live Casino Pittsburgh to communities in the region. “It’s huge,” said Mayor Carol Palcic of the...
Murrysville area: Used book sale, 5K fundraiser, cantata concert and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Used book sale The American Association of University Women will host their annual fall used book sale at the Murrysville Community Library. It will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14-16 at the library, 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville. A...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Nov. 1-3
Spooky season has ended, but there’s plenty autumn left to enjoy the crisp weather and beautiful scenery before it starts to turn cold for the winter. Here are some events taking place across Westmoreland County this weekend. Pumpkin pitchin’ Devout Brewing in Penn Township will host its second annual “pumpkin...
Mt. Pleasant councilman earns independent music awards 4 years in a rowVideo
Andy Davis may want to consider a standing airline reservation for Nashville each fall. For each of the past four years, the Mt. Pleasant resident has headed south to accept one — or more — Josie Independent Music Awards. The Josies are the country’s largest independent music awards ceremony, given...
Franklin Regional won’t use Boston education tech company to survey students, staff and parents
Franklin Regional school board members decided not to move forward with a grant-funded, multi-year survey of students, staff and parents aimed at improving communication among all parties. The board voted 4-3 to reject a proposal that would make use of a “school climate survey” with questions developed by Boston-based Panorama...
