Pittsburgh police probe videos of people taping mice to fireworks, then lighting them
Pittsburgh police are looking for individuals who duct-taped mice to fireworks before igniting the devices, then posted videos of the rodents’ deaths to social media. The police bureau announced Wednesday it was aware of the animal cruelty acts and an accompanying social-media post. Detectives said they have recovered a plastic...
Farina family gears up for annual car cruise, instrument drive on McCandless Community Day
The Frank J. Farina Jr. Memorial Car Cruise, a favorite stop for those attending the McCandless Community Day on Sept. 13, will be parked at the Ashton Commons Senior Living off Blazier Drive from 3 to 6 p.m. The site is just down the road from Town Hall on Grubbs...
Westmoreland launches program to assist searches for missing at-risk residents
First responders in Westmoreland County know all too well the dangers that exist for those with dementia, autism, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders who wander away from home. In the last year, nearly three dozen searches throughout the county were undertaken in response to missing person reports filed by caregivers,...
‘Evil’: Ohio man goes to prison for sex trafficking girl at Monroeville hotel
A federal judge has sentenced an Ohio man to 12½ years in prison for renting Monroeville hotel rooms and prostituting a girl and two women he brought across state lines. Donte L. Cole, 40, of Euclid, Ohio transported the girl from Cleveland to the Rodeway Inn & Suites hotel in...
Pa. high court keeps status quo on open-records access to officials’ personal social media posts
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of a Crawford County school district in finding posts made by its board members — including those about district issues — on their personal social media pages are not automatically subject to the state’s open-records laws. Had the decision gone the...
Springdale enacts new public comment policy ahead of 2nd data center meeting
Springdale Council has passed a public comment policy that sets new rules for potential speakers at borough meetings. The policy allows only residents and taxpayers of Springdale to take the podium. Each speaker also now has a three-minute time limit during comment periods at the beginning and end of meetings....
Harrison to select new commissioner from among 5 applicants
Five residents have applied to fill the vacant Harrison Commissioners position, officials said. The board is expected to narrow the field and nominate a new member during a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday. The open seat was created earlier this summer when longtime member Chuck Dizard resigned. There are about...
Verona officials name interim borough manager
Verona leaders have selected a familiar face to serve as interim borough manager until they can find a full-time replacement for Stefanie Woolford, who announced her resignation in July. Jason Dailey took over the position after Woolford’s departure Aug. 8. He said he’ll be in the borough office two to...
After 10 years of September library love, Carnegie looks to past and future
You may have noticed one in a shop window or planted in the front yard of a family home — not just in Carnegie, but around the whole county. Those bold red signs with their succinct message — “Love Your Library” — refer to a generous partnership in which the...
Green Party’s Gilliland exits Allegheny County Council race
The 2025 Allegheny County special election has one less candidate running for the County Council at-large seat, after Green Party member Theron Gilliland Jr. withdrew his candidacy following accusations of submitting papers with insufficient nomination signatures. Gilliland submitted 163 double-sided papers containing a total of 5,302 signatures supporting his running...
Plum students head back to the classroom
Students in Plum School District returned to the classroom on Wednesday for the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. Several pupils at Pivik Elementary School, which hosts kindergarteners through fourth graders, sprinted off the bus in anticipation. Over the summer, the district began planned improvements at Plum Middle School and...
Monroeville officials, residents await more details on mall redevelopment plans
Monroeville residents who want more information on the future of the Monroeville Mall property will have to wait a bit longer, municipal officials said this month. “Nothing has been submitted to the municipality whatsoever, no plans, no drafts,” said Mayor Nick Gresock of Walmart’s proposal to redevelop the 186-acre mall...
Penn Hills students return for 2025-26 school year
Penn Hills students donned their backpacks and pencil cases as they returned to the locker-lined halls on Aug. 19. Elementary, middle and high school students were greeted with open arms following a series of back-to-school welcome events leading up to the first day, including a PHamily Fun Fest on Aug....
Lifeguard recognized by Scott commissioners for response to medical incident
Carter Wells, a lifeguard at the Scott Township Swimming Pool, was recognized by the township’s board of commissioners for his care assisting a pool patron suffering from a heat-induced illness earlier this summer. Township officials awarded Wells, 16, a proclamation for his efforts during a meeting Aug. 12. Wells said...
New crisis protocols in place at Gateway School District
The first day of classes for Gateway School District students in Monroeville is Thursday, and safety was top of mind at this week’s school board meeting. Superintendent Guy Rossi discussed standard response protocol, which he described as a new language that the district is using to distinguish crisis situations, detail...
Movie producer pleads guilty to stabbing, stalking wife in South Fayette
An actor and movie producer pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to stabbing his wife nearly three years ago at her South Fayette home. John Mowod, 61, will be sentenced by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Thomas E. Flaherty on Nov. 19 on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment....
Carnegie Mellon president discusses finances ahead of town halls
Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian announced Wednesday that he will hold two town halls next month as he detailed the university’s financial status in a letter to students and faculty. “These forums will allow me and our leadership team to share more about the university’s short-term plans and long-term...
Penn Hills officials appoint acting police chief
On the heels of Ronald Como’s retirement from the Penn Hills police chief position, municipal officials have appointed an acting police chief. Officer Jason Bonace was called upon for the position. “Penn Hills has the largest municipal police force outside of the city of Pittsburgh. We have the largest municipality...
New name, new vibe on tap for Harrison’s Anchor Inn
A pair of well-known restaurateurs are setting their sights on Harrison, seeking to revive the popular Anchor Inn that closed in May. Corey Pistininzi and Sean Watson, owners of BotL in New Kensington and National Public House in Leechburg, purchased the building and are wading through details for a new...
Rosedale Beach Club prepares for 9th annual Rosedale Fall Festival
Dani Scott was raised at the Rosedale Beach Club in Penn Hills. “My parents moved to Rosedale 54 years ago. … I swear my mom picked the house because of the pool,” said Scott, 51. After being on the board for 15 years, she now serves as the Rosedale board...
South Fayette Township School District starts police force
The South Fayette Township School District has created its own police department and hired Michael Ziemianski as its first officer. Ziemianski, 41, of Canonsburg, is a major in the Army National Guard and has served for the past year as a resource officer with the Fort Cherry School District. He...
Teachers, substitutes, coaches appointed in Burrell
Burrell School Board made a bevy of personnel moves this week as it gears up for the first day of school Sept. 2. Hirings include Vanessa Bauer, a middle school math teacher who will be paid $63,979; and Kayla Farrah, a high school nurse to be paid $48,447. Nicholas Klukaszewski...
Lower Burrell Council OK’s vehicle sales, purchase
Lower Burrell Council has approved the sale of three used vehicles and the purchase of a new one. Two of the vehicles are police vehicles that brought in a total of $15,100. Both are Ford Explorer Police Interceptor models, 2017 and 2020. The winning bid of the 2020 Interceptor, submitted...
Shaler fire company suspends 3 of 5 members accused of answering call while drunk
Three members of a Shaler volunteer fire department are suspended following allegations they were part of a crew that responded to a call under the influence of alcohol earlier this month. A total of five members of the Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company were involved in the Aug. 2 incident. Of...
Murrysville church will host blood drive
Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church in Murrysville will host a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. It will be from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 4600 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. Donors can schedule an appointment by calling 800-733-2767 or visiting RedCrossBlood.org — enter...
