Allegheny category, Page 7
Allegheny County Council unanimously OKs budget without tax hike
Allegheny County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $3 billion budget for next year that does not raise taxes or lay off workers. The budget is balanced — neither dipping into the county’s reserve fund, which will have about $84 million at the end of this year, nor growing it...
Crash that killed pedestrian in Aspinwall spurs lawsuit against driver
The daughters of a woman fatally struck by an SUV earlier this year in Aspinwall are suing the driver. Patricia A. Doane, of McDonald and Priscilla Pasikowski, of Shaler, filed the lawsuit as co-executors of their mother’s estate. Judith A. Mierzwa, 83, of Aspinwall, was struck Feb. 5 around 7:08...
Identification of WWII airman Sidney Burke’s remains was ‘82 years in the making,’ nephew says
For almost all of Paul Hankin’s life, the circumstances surrounding the death of his uncle, Sidney Burke, who was killed while serving in World War II, were a mystery. “We thought we would never find out what had happened,” said Hankin, 83, of Bethel Park. “I had his picture hanging...
Gateway School Board welcomes new directors; president, vice president maintain positions
During the Gateway School Board’s reorganization meeting Dec. 1, Janette Beighel, Rick McIntyre and Anthony Mock officially stepped into their posts. The new directors, along with inductee Leslie McBride, will each serve a four-year term. McBride was the only board member up for reelection. Judge Jeffrey Herbst read the Certificates...
Morning Roundup: 1 injured in Penn Hills house fire; police continue search for 2022 Swissvale shooter
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Dec. 2: 1 injured in Penn Hills house fire One person was taken to the hospital Monday evening following a duplex fire in Penn Hills. TribLive news partner WTAE said the fire was reported shortly before 11:30 p.m....
West View mourning death of council vice president
West View Councilwoman M. Kimberly Steele died on Wednesday, Nov. 26, following a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 72. During her tenure on borough council, Steele had been president and was most recently vice president. She also had served on the West View Water Authority’s board of directors....
‘Archiving history’: Aural-style jam sessions of NA Fiddlers offer unique experience for student musicians
Sporting their signature look of a simple red polo shirt and a fiddle in hand, the North Allegheny Fiddlers took to the Maywood Recording studio in McCandless recently to lay down some new, and old, tracks. This is the third time that Dennis Morton, who started the NA Fiddlers in...
Westmoreland and Allegheny men among 1,000-plus killed in WWII ‘Little Pearl Harbor’
Five Western Pennsylvania men were among the more than 1,000 killed in a surprise World War II German attack on an Allied port in Italy that has become known as “The Little Pearl Harbor.” The Dec. 2, 1943, air raid on the Adriatic Sea port of Bari, Italy, came nearly...
Ross budget cuts fail to make dent in projected 8% property tax increase
Ross officials have continued to work on the township’s 2026 budget but have not found enough cuts to make a dent in a proposed 8% property tax increase. At a commissioners meeting Nov. 17, finance director Dan Berty told commissioners that while they found spending that could be cut, they...
Shapiro visits Verona to tout $25M in funding for child care workers
Gov. Josh Shapiro visited a Verona day care Monday to tout $25 million in new state-funded bonuses for industry workers, which he says will help attract and retain staff. The initiative, part of the state budget passed last month after a lengthy legislative impasse, gives about $450 annually per employee...
Penn Hills eyes amending code to enable acting police chief to apply for permanent post
Three months into his service as acting police chief of Penn Hills, Jason Bonace has never felt more satisfied with his life. “About one month after I started this role was the first time in my 48 years of life that I felt content, and it’s a really good feeling,”...
Long-time coach provides ‘GPS’ for youths in book detailing challenges from childhood
A McCandless resident, known to many in the North Hills as Coach Dave Gray, is celebrating the release of his debut book, “Next Point Wins: A Playbook for Future Champions.” The book details what it was like growing up as a foster child, finally being adopted, his challenges as a...
Consultant’s report finds no evidence of Penneco liability in Plum house explosion
A private consulting firm’s report for a Delmont energy company being sued over a 2023 fatal house explosion in Plum has determined Penneco Oil Co. was not responsible — a conclusion sure to be challenged in court. Penneco and Peoples Gas were among those sued for negligence and wrongful death...
Allegheny County homicide detectives investigate fatal Ben Avon fire
One person died in a housefire in Ben Avon late Friday night. The identity of the victim has not been released yet. Allegheny County homicide detectives are assisting the county’s Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation. Emsworth VFC, which serves the small borough on the Ohio River, was dispatched to...
Police chase ends in officer-involved shooting on I-279; 1 dead, 3 injured
One person is dead and three are injured after a lengthy police chase ended in a crash on I-279 and an officer-involved shooting, according to police. The chase of a white SUV began on Route 8 in Penn Township, Butler County, just before 8 p.m. Saturday, according to state police...
Pine celebrates SilverSneakers instructor for being named a finalist for national award
Pine Township’s SilverSneakers instructor Leslie Basilone was honored for being named a finalist for the SilverSneakers Member of the Year Inspiration Award in a ceremony Nov. 7 at the Pine Community Center. SilverSneakers, a leading fitness program for older adults, established the Inspiration Award to celebrate individuals who demonstrate perseverance,...
More than 2,000 turn out for Pine’s annual Holiday Dazzle festivities
The Pine Community Center was packed on Nov. 15 forthe township’s annual Holiday Dazzle celebration. The family-friendly event kicked off the holiday season with festive lights, live entertainment and activities for all ages. More than 2,000 attendees joined the festivities. Families enjoyed everything from train rides and horse-drawn carriage rides...
Richland taxes remain unchanged in proposed 2026 budget
Richland residents will see their property taxes hold steady for another year, according to the proposed 2026 budget. The township’s supervisors are scheduled to vote on it at their Dec. 17 meeting. For 2026, a millage rate of 2.696 mills is levied on all commercial, residential and nonexempt real property....
Elizabeth Twp. fire chief: ‘We need to know the hydrants are going to work.’ Firefighters battle house fire despite hydrant failure
Firefighters in Elizabeth Township say they spent more than four hours at the scene of a house fire in the township after a nearby hydrant experienced a “catastrophic failure.” Crews were dispatched to the fire at the 900 block of Dillon Road just before 4 p.m. Friday, according to a...
Brick & Barrel serves up hearty fare with a side of history in Indiana Township
Brick & Barrel co-owner Jeff Brungo wants customers to enjoy more than just a meal when they visit his eatery and bar in the historic Cross Keys Inn in Indiana Township. “There’s history here. We have original bricks from 1850,” Brungo said of the former hotel and stagecoach stop. The...
Allegheny County rules infant’s death by drugs a homicide
Police are investigating how a toxic mix of antidepressants and a pill used to treat high blood pressure killed a nine-month-old infant this spring, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Friday. Lena Bedri died early on April 27 at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh due to the combination of...
Restoration labor of love for Aspinwall couple residing in Sauer Buildings Historic District
Newlyweds Chris and Heather Smith are in love with something besides each other — their new “old” house in Aspinwall. The couple bought a historic stone home in the Sauer Buildings Historic District on Center Avenue in the borough. The Smiths were so enthralled with their residence, they chose the...
A.W. Beattie students turn Thanksgiving parade into schoolwide event benefiting North Hills Community Outreach
Giving thanks and giving back to those in need were the themes of a student-led Thanksgiving parade at A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless. It also was a special treat for the preschoolers of Beattie’s Kiddie Tech program, who got to march in the parade around the school. While the...
Monroeville Historical Society keeps holiday tradition alive at Old Stone Church
A 54-year-old tradition continues in Monroeville. The annual tree-lighting celebration and holiday concert, hosted by the Monroeville Historical Society at the Old Stone Church, officially ushered in the season Nov. 25. “The first event was held in 1969, but years 2020 and 2021 were unfortunately missed due to the covid...
Hampton students take the reins for successful fall production of ‘Death by Chocolate’
On a stage drenched in blue light, a figure sits at a desk, struggling against their binds. A bookcase slides silently aside to reveal a hand holding a gun, protruding from the darkness of a secret room. A shot rings out and the struggling figure slumps over. Michael Petrucci, a...
