Heritage, heart — and a good offer — lead folks back to family homesteads
Editor’s note: This is the second in an occasional series on real estate market trends in Western Pennsylvania. Across Western Pennsylvania, families are finding their way back to houses that once belonged to parents and grandparents, drawn by a mix of nostalgia, practicality and economics. Whether it’s the comfort of...
Tarentum church eyeing former Rite Aid for community center
A former Rite Aid building in Tarentum will find new life as a community center/food hall. Gifted by the now-bankrupt pharmacy chain in 2019 to Abundant Joy Fellowship, the building at Fifth Avenue and Corbet Street will be a place for people to connect, Pastor Cathy Blythe said. Construction crews...
Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities escape the pinch of state budget impasse
Unlike school districts and county governments, Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities aren’t sounding the alarm on how the state’s budget impasse is affecting their coffers or future projects. In fact, unless the impasse continues well into next year, local governments won’t be feeling it at all. “It’s really not hurting us at...
The Stroller, Oct. 3, 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. A-K Hope Center event...
Morning Roundup: Police say man set fire in Waterworks Giant Eagle; pedestrian hit by car succumbs to injuries
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Oct. 3: Man faces arson charges over Giant Eagle fire A man was arrested Thursday after allegedly sparking a fire in the Giant Eagle Market District at the Waterworks in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood. Police said Russell Weleski, 33,...
Norwin student to run long distance trail race alongside uncle, grandfather
There aren’t many middle school students who can say they’ve completed a marathon. But by the end of this weekend, that is precisely what Norwin eighth grader Isabella Verdin hopes to accomplish. Verdin, 13, of Irwin will toe the start line of a six-hour trail race in Lykens, Dauphin County,...
Latrobe woman, 2 dogs staying with family after fire ravaged her home
A woman and her two German Shepherds are staying with relatives after a fire nearly destroyed her Latrobe home Thursday evening. Firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 7 p.m. at 315 Chambers St. Fire Chief John Brasile said initial investigation indicates it started from a grill on a porch...
Man dies after being found shot in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
A man was shot and killed Thursday night in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood. Public Safety officials said officers were dispatched at 6:53 p.m. to the 600 block of Perry Street. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner on Friday identified the victim as Gerald L. Bogan III, 23, of East Liberty. Responders...
Celine tribute show to honor late founder of Act One Theatre School, support breast cancer foundation
Two good causes will be part of the Celebrating Celine concert on Oct. 19, including supporting Glimmer of Hope, a local breast cancer foundation, and honoring the late Karen Cordaro, the beloved founder of Act One Theatre School in Bellevue. Jenene Caramielo, a Celine Dion tribute artist and North Allegheny...
War, apartment fire punctuate Ukrainian woman’s unexpectedly long stay in Western Pa.
Nadiia Koshykova packed light on Dec. 12, 2021, when she traveled by rail, then by plane, from her native Ukraine to visit her son’s family in their Ohio Township home. “I have one suitcase — winter clothes,” Koshykova, 66, said. “I wanted to see America and then return back to...
Experts say ‘partisan’ government agency messages on shutdown could violate federal law
The bright red box on the U.S. Housing and Urban Development website minces no words. “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government,” it reads. A message in the rust-colored box at the top of the U.S. Department of Agriculture website is much the same. “Due to the Radical...
Jurors shown video of assault of autistic teen in New Kensington, allegedly because of grudge against mom
Logan Bashioum testified Thursday that he didn’t remember much from an alleged attack in New Kensington two years ago. A video played for jurors during the second day of trial against a brother and sister accused in the beating showed two men standing over Bashioum, who was 17, kicking him...
North Allegheny snags top spot in 2026 Niche ratings as best school district in Pittsburgh area
North Allegheny School District achieved the No. 1 spot as the best school district in the Pittsburgh area, and second out of 494 other districts in the state, according to the 2026 K-12 School and District Niche ratings. It also scored third in the state as the best place to...
Late Trafford Elementary teacher prioritized connection with students
Shannon Dornauer recalls how Trafford Elementary School teacher Mike Martinelli knew how to make all of his students feel welcome in his classroom. “I just remember him being very friendly and outgoing. He always made everybody feel very included and comfortable,” said Dornauer, 37, of Latrobe. “Back in elementary school,...
Scottdale man sought in alleged kidnapping
Police are looking for a Scottdale man who they said kidnapped a woman and kept her in a wooded area for about two days, according to court papers. An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Shawn Prince, 29. He is charged with kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment. Borough...
Pa. attorney general charges Pine woman for alleged forged signatures for school board election
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a Pine woman on Thursday for allegedly forging at least four signatures on primary nomination paperwork for a Pine-Richland School Board candidate. Kayla Van Blargan, 36, is charged with forgery, perjury and several other related offenses. According to the Attorney General’s Office,...
McCandless manager notes ‘majestic’-looking crew in ‘The Office’-like prank to mark work anniversary
The Town of McCandless recently had a workday that looked a little like an episode of “The Office.” Modeling prank-like humor from the popular television comedy from the 2000s, the crew in McCandless had their fun to celebrate town Manager John Schwend’s one-year work anniversary. “I was suspicious when I...
Unity fire departments to host safety event at plaza
Visitors to the Latrobe 30 Shoppes plaza in Unity will have an opportunity Saturday to learn about fire prevention while meeting local first responders and checking out their emergency vehicles. The Unity Township Bureau of Fire is hosting a Safety Saturday event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the...
2025 Halloween events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Trick-or-Treat Residents participating in trick-or-treat should turn on their porch lights. To have information included in the Stroller’s big Halloween listings online at TribLive.com and in the Valley News Dispatch, email information to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Allegheny Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Apollo: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Arnold:...
Upper Burrell data center to be live by end of year
The TECfusions data center in Upper Burrell will be live by the end of this year, according to founder Simon Tusha. Part of the 1,395-acre site, located at the former Alcoa Research Center, already has been built out to accommodate some tenants, Tusha said. The Florida-based company is working through...
Norwin Art League exhibits 100 pieces of artwork
The Norwin Art League has more than 100 pieces of artwork on display at its its 49th Annual Art Exhibition from noon to 5 p.m. Fridayat the social hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Irwin, 617 Main St., Irwin. The art exhibit features oils, watercolor, acrylic, drawings, mixed media,...
Missing pilot found dead with crashed ultralight aircraft after search in Indiana County
A Blair County man was found dead Thursday morning after an ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed in an Indiana County corn field. The body of David Edward Wittmer, 75, of Logan Township and his aircraft were found after 10:30 a.m. Indiana County Coroner Jerry L. Overman Jr. said the...
Three Rivers Heritage Trail gap named as state priority
A critical missing link on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is getting some love from the state. The Millvale/Shaler/Etna gap has been designated as one of the state’s priorities by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said Kate Angell of nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront. Her group manages the...
Meijer eyes Cranberry for superstore, gas station
Midwestern grocery chain Meijer is eyeing Cranberry as it pushes into Western Pennsylvania. A proposed development would give Meijer a 159,000-square-foot supercenter in the township, according to Ron Henshaw, Cranberry’s director of planning and development services. The store would offer groceries, apparel, garden supplies, drive-through pharmacy service and curbside pickup,...
West View man charged with igniting Ross ATM as anti-government act
A West View man turned himself in connection with the firebombing of an ATM in Ross early Wednesday, telling police he wanted to make a “statement” against the federal government. Keith J. Coyne, Jr., 46, is charged with arson and criminal mischief. Police say Coyne confessed to lighting a Chase...
