PitCare Meals on Wheels delivers comfort, conversation, a few surprises ahead of holidays
Dec. 18 was a special day for PitCare Meals on Wheels recipients. In addition to the standard hot meal and bagged lunch, everyone received a cozy blanket, courtesy of St. Regis Parish in Trafford, and a “blizzard bag,” which was donated by the Monroeville Rotary. As the name suggests, the...
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Dream on
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas in Western Pennsylvania this year … keep dreaming. No snow is in the forecast for Thursday, according to Andrew Kienzle, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. Highs in Western Pennsylvania are expected to be in the upper 40s — which will...
Stove sparks house fire in Harrison
Crews battled a house fire Tuesday at 54 Chestnut St. in the Natrona section of Harrison. The call came in at around 11:30 a.m. Bob Bolt of Garfield Street said his sister, Shari Bair, was inside the house cleaning her oven when it caught fire. “She came to my house...
Penn Hills man accused of fighting Plum police after being revived from drug overdose
A man repeatedly attempted to fight Plum police officers after being revived from an apparent drug overdosed Monday, police say. Frank Russo, 39, of Penn Hills is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault, obstructing administration of the law and resisting arrest, among other misdemeanors. Officers were dispatched to...
Northland Public Library’s $4 million renovation complete; open house set sometime in January
Just in time for the new year, the much-anticipated “New Northland” has opened its updated and expanded space, according to an announcement from the library Dec. 19. Northland Public Library’s two-story building extension, new accessible lower-level entrance, expanded and dedicated teen space, coffee shop and more were set to open...
Recycle your Christmas trees here in Allegheny County
The Allegheny County Parks Department will again offer its Christmas Tree Recycling Program this holiday season. Residents can drop off natural Christmas trees from Friday through Jan. 18, at any of the county’s nine parks. Drop-off is available daily from 8 a.m. until dusk. All lights, decorations, tinsel and stands...
First competition year for Deer Lakes esports team ends with state title
Dominic Huggins wasn’t sure what to expect when his mom signed him up for the Deer Lakes Middle School esports team. An eighth grader, he certainly never expected to be a part of a state championship-winning team. “I didn’t know I could compete,” said Huggins, 14. “I got into it...
South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan takes steps toward completion
Gilpin, Leechburg, Parks Township and Bethel Township are one step closer to completing a South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan. A little over a year ago, a pre-planning committee was formed that includes Charles Stull, a Gilpin supervisor; Chuck Pascal, a Leechburg councilman; Mary Beth Girardi, of the Leechburg Planning...
Cranberry approves next step for Meijer superstore development
Cranberry supervisors have moved forward with plans for Henderson Crossing, a mixed-use development anchored by a Meijer grocery store and a Meijer Express gas station. A proposed development would give Meijer a 159,000-square-foot supercenter in the township, officials previously told TribLive. After a public hearing, supervisors on Dec. 11 granted...
Hempfield looks to address concerns about speeding motorists on Westland Drive
Hempfield will work with a Pittsburgh engineering firm to determine if improvements to Westland Drive can remedy residents’ concerns about speeding in the neighborhood. Supervisors on Monday approved an agreement for $51,080 with Wooster and Associates to study the road that spans the Wendover and West Point neighborhoods. Township public...
North Allegheny fourth grader’s holiday vision wins Downtown hotel’s annual card contest
A vision of snowy woods and candy canes came to mind for a North Allegheny student, whose design won Omni William Penn Hotel’s annual holiday card contest this year. Charlotte Neumann, a fourth grader at Bradford Woods Elementary School, was one of the 56 students from the school who submitted...
August Wilson Center raising funds with seat-naming opportunity
Theater-goers have a chance to make a visible investment in the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Downtown Pittsburgh through new seat-naming opportunities. The initiative is a legacy-giving chance to support the center, which is among the nation’s largest Black multidisciplinary arts facilities. “A seat dedication is both deeply...
Hempfield Township doubles property taxes; supervisors approve pay increase
Hempfield supervisors on Monday gave final approval to double property taxes in 2026. The property tax millage rate will go from 3 to 6 mills to create a 3-mill fire tax to fund the fire department. It’s the first time property taxes have increased in Hempfield in more than three...
Collier-area fire departments to get new turnout gear
New turnout gear for volunteer firefighters will be coming to five Collier-area departments. The Presto Volunteer Fire Department was awarded just more than $330,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters grant funding. “The award is for a regional (assistance to firefighters) grant to five departments, that our department is the host...
Retired electrician finds beauty in profession with art inspired by Tesla, Edison, ‘Star Trek’
Although he didn’t get started until his early 30s, Bruce Senchesen has made more than 100 sculptures using circuit boards, plastics, wires and various electronics. Sometimes the parts are new, but mostly Senchesen uses old pieces from thrift shops or the hardware store. “I look for oddball components,” the Monroeville...
Morning Roundup: Missing teen in Derry; stabbing in Carrick; break-in in Apollo
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Dec. 23: _______________________________________ Teen missing in Derry Pennsylvania State Police are seeking help to find a missing teen from Westmoreland County. Officers were called at about 9:30 p.m. to Derry Township after Kia Schuler was reported missing. An...
The Stroller, Dec. 23, 2025: 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. Toys, treats being collected...
Hempfield Area joins Chartiers Valley in piloting AI weapon detector created with Carnegie Mellon research
Hempfield Area will join a group of 15 school districts nationwide expected to pilot an AI-driven weapon detection system designed with the help of a Carnegie Mellon University scientist. CurvePoint, based in Pittsburgh’s North Shore, was launched about a year ago by CEO Skip Smith and Chief Scientist Dong Huang,...
Experts worry federal nursing designation could stifle professional pipeline
A move by the Trump administration to exclude nursing from a list of professional degrees for student loan purposes could have far-reaching impacts on the future of the profession, medical experts say. “Nursing is a serious profession that is about lifelong learning,” UPMC Chief Nurse Executive Maribeth McLaughlin said. “The...
Supreme Court Justice Alito grants Post-Gazette time to fight 3rd Circuit panel decision
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Monday granted an emergency application by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s owners to delay a ruling from a federal appeals court panel that would send them back to the bargaining table with union employees. Alito granted a stay on the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of...
Search continues for missing Avonmore man
On the fourth day of searching, emergency officials continue to search for the body of Cory Dominic Cook. Darrick Gerano, executive director of Murrysville Medic One, said Tuesday morning that the search is ongoing. Manor Township police had reported Monday evening that Cook had been found. Crews are searching for...
Kiski School sued for racial discrimination alleged by Black ex-employees
A Black couple who spent more than two decades working at The Kiski School have sued the 137-year-old private school and its headmaster, claiming racial discrimination. The civil rights lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Pittsburgh, alleges “racial discrimination and retaliation for opposing racial discrimination,” as well as violations...
Study of water contamination from road salt flags problems in Washington County
Rock salt, or sodium chloride, is widely used to prevent ice and reduce winter driving accidents, but scientists warn that its excessive application is causing environmental damage and contaminating drinking water in parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania. A study conducted by the Stroud Water Research Center, a Chester County nonprofit, revealed...
Judge orders New Kensington Elks Lodge to remain closed after fatal shooting
The New Kensington Elks Lodge will remain closed until at least February, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Monday. The club was temporarily shuttered last week in accordance with a preliminary injunction issued by Common Pleas Judge Chris Scherer. The injunction stems from nuisance-bar claims raised in a court filing by...
Holiday house tour in Penn Hills raises $4,500 to resurface neighborhood park’s sports court
Wreaths, bows, stars, snowflakes, glowing lights, sparkly ornaments, nutcrackers, angels, snowmen and, of course, Christmas trees were all on display as Crescent Hills residents decked their halls for the Crescent Hills Civic Association’s 2025 Holiday House Tour on Dec. 13. Guests basked in the warm holiday spirit reflected in six...
