A former Greensburg Salem Teacher's Aide is looking to block a $27,000 bill for an expert witness that never testified at trial. The Trib reports that Teri Kepchia pleaded guilty last week to endangerment of autistic elementary students. She said that she should not have to foot the bill for an expert witness who nev...

A preliminary hearing for a Pittsburgh man charged with attempted homicide and arson in connection with a fire in New Kensington back in March has been delayed for the fifth time. The Trib reports that yesterday, 37-year-old Anthony Mohamed's hearing was continued once again. That came after District Judge Frank Pall...

An oversized load crashed in North Versailles on Wednesday, taking out a pole and a traffic light. WTAE-TV reports that the crash was on Route 30 between Luehm Avenue and Route 48. Traffic was reduced to one lane as crews worked to replace the pole and the traffic signal.

No injuries were reported in a fire at Pace Industries in Derry Township last night. The Trib reports that the call went out around 9:00 PM, and crews needed a half-hour to contain it. The fire did break through the roof of the building. Crews were on-scene for about an hour.

A part-time bus driver from Latrobe now faces over 100 counts of child sexual abuse after authorities discovered he had child pornography on his phone. The Trib reports that State police filed charges against 62-year-old Edward Smith of Latrobe in connection with an investigation that started in the fall of 2025. Smi...

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is suing TikTok. The recently-filed lawsuit claims TikTok misrepresented itself on app stores to achieve a lower age rating, which exposes children to content "beyond their years." Sunday also accused TikTok of purposefully encouraging excessive, compulsive and addi...

It has been just over a year since an explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works took the lives of two workers and left nearly a dozen others hurt. Company officials and leaders with the United Steelworkers held a moment of silence at the plant yesterday in memory of Timothy Quinn and Steven Menefee. The men were ...

A Westmoreland County man is looking to run as a Libertarian for the Pennsylvania House 60th District seat. Allegheny Township resident Brian Peltier has submitted signatures from over 650 voters in his bid to appear on the November ballot. A registered Republican and a registered Democrat in the district have filed ...

Officials in Irwin have awarded a contract to build a temporary road through a vacant lot to bypass a closed bridge along Route 30. The Trib reports that the temporary road connecting Caruthers Lane with Colony Drive, giving better access to Norwin Townhomes and Core Event Center.. El Grande Industries of Donora was ...

An employee with the Latrobe police department is now on administrative leave with pay. The Trib reports that neither mayor Eric Bartels nor solicitor Lee Demosky would comment further on the change of employment status for Beth Straka, citing personnel reasons. Straka is the department's deputy director of community...

Latrobe City Council has approved a three-year agreement to keep the Ligonier Country Market on Ligonier Street. The Trib reports that the agreement keeps the market in place until 2029. Latrobe Mayor Eric Bartels said that the weekly event has brought thousands of people to the downtown area. Market Director Kelly ...

State police have identified a teen who was struck and killed by a train on Monday night in Hempfield. Westermoreland County coroner John Ackerman announced that 14-year-old Connor T. Braden of Latrobe was struck and killed by a train as he was walking near the Norfolk Southern Railroad Tracks in Hempfield Township. ...

Officials are asking the public to help them identify a man killed in a collision between a pedestrian and a train last night. Westmoreland County Coroner John Ackerman said that the unknown victim was walking on the railroad tracks near milepost 320.8 in Hempfield Township. A Norfolk Southern train going East on Tra...

A new study says Pennsylvania is one of the best states to live in. The Keystone State is ranked ninth on the list released yesterday by WalletHub. The outlet compared dozens of key indicators of livability including housing affordability, income growth and the quality of hospitals. Idaho was named the best state to...

Tourism officials are sharing economic impact numbers related to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. VisitPittsburgh has released a report on the event, saying the draft generated over 175-million dollars in spending activity through the region. Over 800-thousand people were in Steel City for the three-day gathering, a...

The Jeannette Public Library is buying 30 new laptops to help guests sharpen their computer skills. A 50-thousand-dollar grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County is funding the purchase. The laptops will be set up with software that will guide users through various tasks that can be done on computer...

Concerned residents have prompted Jeannette council members to rethink a zoning change request for property near the former Monsour Medical Center. The Trib reports that the change would allow proposed townhomes to be built on the surrounding property. Several residents shared worries Monday that if a section of a re...

A Hempfield man pleaded no contest to reduced charges and was ordered to serve four years of probation. The Trib reports that Dennis Hertzog disputed sexual assault allegations during his trial in March claiming he was framed and that the accusations were part of a scheme by relatives of his accuser to steal Social Se...

A Hempfield woman pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges connected with an incident last Christmas. The Trib reports that 27-year-old Mia Riser was charged with multiple offenses as police said she stabbed a 28-year-old man after an incident in the family's apartment. She also allegedly wielded a knife and thre...

Three men are charged with animal cruelty in connection with the 2024 beating death of a dog. The Trib reports that Joe Malone, Jr. and Connor Repovz, both of South Huntingdon and Brian Johnston of Belle Vernon went to the dog owner's home in South Huntingdon in September of 2024 to "settle scores" over sexu...

The New Kensington Elks Lodge will remain closed until July of 2027 in connection with a shooting last year at the establishment in late 2025. KDKA-TV reports that DA Nicole Ziccarelli and the State Police Liquor Enforcement filed an emergency injunction last year for the shooting and several other incidents that they...

The Westmoreland County Housing Authority has been hit with a lawsuit for more than $2.4 million over water main breaks that forced two businesses to close for months last year. The Trib reports that the lawsuit was filed by the owners of the former Troutman's building and owners of In The City laundromat that saw som...

Two people from Chicago are charged in connection with a gift card scheme that targeted Dick's Sporting Goods stores across Western PA. The Trib reports that the State Attorney General's office filed the charges on Friday against 33-year-old Derek Bussell and 28-year-old Kayla Munoz. The company is investigating a na...

A Crabtree man faces home improvement fraud charges in two different cases in Mt. Pleasant Township. The Trib reports that 41-year-old Larry Wing, who owns L.W. Contracting, was to complete remodeling projects at residences on Kecksburg Road and on Lilac Lane near Norvelt last November. He reportedly accepted money f...

Murrysville will switch trash haulers for the first time in decades. Council voted unanimously to award a five-year contract to County Hauling, with service beginning October first. The new contract will maintain unlimited curbside collection, add curbside glass recycling and gradually increase rates from 67 dollars an...

Black lung disease is reaching its highest rate among veteran Appalachian coal miners in nearly 50 years. New federal research found 91 of 280 veteran underground miners screened in the past five years tested positive for black lung. Researchers say increased exposure to silica dust is a major factor, with the disease ...

Jeannette police are switching from .45-caliber handguns to 9 mm weapons. The new guns will be lighter and have optics to help officers aim, while cheaper ammunition could free up money for additional training. The department is seeking to buy 15 new handguns for about 17-thousand dollars.

A New Stanton man is jailed after police say he threw a lit improvised incendiary device at a Mt. Pleasant Borough home early Thursday. Twenty-two-year-old Jeffrey William May is charged with arson and reckless endangerment. Police say the device failed to start a fire, but left gasoline and char marks near the home. M...

A woman from Youngwood was killed in a crash on Monday in Fayette County. State police say that 65-year-old Rejeanne Menard was driving her SUV when another car driven by a 17-year-old crashed into her at 9:00 PM on Mill Run Road after crossing the center line. The other car was speeding at the time. State police ar...

Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators are teaming up to work on bipartisan legislation aimed at slowing the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly. The bill sponsored by Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dave McCormick would expand federal research efforts to help contain and eliminate the pest by making spotted lanter...

Amazon is considering putting an AI Data Center in Indiana County. The Trib reports that A company spokesperson said that Amazon is in discussion with Homer City Redevelopment, who owns the property where the new natural gas-fueled power plant is currently under construction. A definitive agreement is not yet in plac...

Greensburg's mayor is calling for regulations concerning E-bikes and E-scooters. The Trib reports that Mayor Robb Bell has received many complaints about the vehicles on the sidewalk, saying it's starting to get out of control. Greensburg Police Chief Charles Irvin confirmed the complaints saying that legislation fro...

More testimony was heard yesterday in the trial of a Lower Burrell man accused of killing someone in an Upper Burrell bar in 2021. The Trib reports that at the trial of Daniel Moles yesterday, forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers said that while Moles' blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, he would...

Pennsylvania is joining a multi-state lawsuit over the Trump administration's access to information on state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs. Changes to federal oversight announced in June give the administration the ability to access data belonging to TANF recipients and share that information with o...

The trial of a Lower Burrell man charged with first degree murder at a pub in Upper Burrell in 2021 got underway yesterday. The Trib reports that 66-year-old Daniel Moles allegedly shot and killed Randy Jeneraux. Testimony was heard yesterday from Jeneraux's twin brother and investigators who worked the case. The ju...

A Westmoeland County man is suing his bank, claiming they are wrongfully withholding nearly $12,000 of his money. WTAE-TV reports that the federal lawsuit was filed by Jim Serena of Lower Burrell against JPMorgan Chase bank. Serena said that he had been helping a friend after their significant other had died, and sen...

A Westmoreland County Judge has upheld the forfeiture of the pension of a retired Greensburg police officer who was convicted of federal drug crimes. The Trib reports that Regina McAtee' was ordered to repay $75,400 in pension benefits Her pension benefits were suspended last year by the commission after she was sente...

A Greensburg Salem teacher and two aides pleaded guilty and sentenced to probation for mistreating autistic elementary students at Nicely Elementary. The Trib reports that 37-year-old Brooke Stanko, 61-year-old Teri Kepchia and 76-year-old Lorraine Robertson were accused of mistreating the special needs students by sp...

An Acme man was killed in a car crash in Bullskin on Monday. The Trib reports that 35-year-old Theodore Boles died in the two vehicle crash at 4:45 PM on Pleasant Valley Road. Fayette County Coroner Bob Baker said multiple fire departments responded. Details on the crash have not been released.

A man was flown to an area hospital after crashing an ATV into a patch of boulders in Sewickley Township yesterday morning. The Trib reports that this was in the area of Lowber, Slaughter Hollow and Carnegie Roads just after 8 AM, according to officials, A man driving an ATV lost control while driving along a bend in...

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is filing another lawsuit against the Trump Administration. Shapiro announced yesterday he is suing the Trump Administration "to prevent them from misusing the private, personal information of Pennsylvanians who receive temporary assistance benefits from the Commonwealth." ...

A six-year-old girl has written a three-page letter to Ligonier Township officials to urge them to add a splash pad to Ligonier Beach Park. The Trib reports the letter came from 6-year-old Vanessa Zelczak-Waryas, who said the splash pad would make things more fun for first-graders like her. A splash pad is included i...

Pennsylvania State Police are asking for help from the public as they search for a missing teen. Authorities say 17-year-old Samantha Miscik was picked up by an unknown man in a Subaru Outback in the Donegal area early in the morning on Friday, July 24th. Investigators believe Miscik was then dropped off in Lancaster...

Two people are charged with bilking an elderly man out of $40,000. The Trib reports 35-year-old Jordan Johnson was arrested Monday on charges of financial exploitation of an older adult, criminal mischief and other crimes, while a warrant is out for the arrest of his co-conspirator 32-year-old Emma Walker. The two re...

The sentencing hearing for a Delmont woman charged with the torture-muder of her adopted son is being delayed. The Trib reports that 36-year-old Lauren Maloberti was scheduled to be sentenced today but a Westmoreland County Judge delayed the hearing to give defense attorneys time to prepare arguments against a potenti...

A Westmoreland County judge will decide today if an expert witness can testify in the trial of a Greensburg Salem teacher and aides accused of abusing autistic students. The Trib reports that the expert would describe the standard of care autistic children should receive. Teacher Brooke Stanko and aides Teri Kepchia ...

Pennsylvania has one of the better early education systems in the U.S. That's according to WalletHub, which has Pennsylvania 17th on its list of the best and worst education systems in the country. The study looked at 12 key metrics including the share of school districts offering state pre-K programs and total spend...

Ligonier Valley Police have introduced a new K-9 officer. KDKA-TV reports that the new officer is a 17-year-old Dutch shepherd named Mytus. He is still in training but will be available for National Night Out activities Once training is complete, Mytus will join Sgt. James Friscarella as a patrol and narcotics K-9.

A woman found by Penn Township police unresponsive and intoxicated in the middle of the road on July 24th now faces charges of leaving two children home alone. KDKA-TV reports that that officers 40-year-old Melissa Davis admitted to police at the time that she had consumed whiskey along with hydrocodone and xanax pil...

A member of the Steelers helped a young fan get out of harm's way at Training Camp on Saturday after a brawl broke out between some adults. The Trib reports that Pat Freiermuth lifted a young fan over the barricade separating fans from the players as adults were fighting over position for autographs.