Dauphin County officials say an emergency dispatcher did not "appropriately escalate" the 911 call from the alleged suspect in the arson at the Governor's Residence. According to Chief Clerk Eric Hagarty, the dispatcher did not escalate the call "in accordance with County policy" after Cody Balmer ...

State police are investigating a case of inappropriate conduct at a school district in Indiana County. Troopers say it happened at the United School District. Details on the incident have not been released, but the district says they are cooperating with police. Police say there is no threat to students.

Two people were hurt in a motorcycle crash in Harrison on Monday. The Trib reports that the two victims were not identified, but authorities say they are in stable condition in a hospital. The crash happened near the intersection of Saxonburg Road and Esquire Drive. Fire crews were nearby chopping a tree that fell a...

A homeless man is charged with making several harassing phone calls to Ascension Catholic Church in Jeannette. The Trib reports 55-year-old William Gay is accused of threatening to kill a church secretary and setting the church on fire. He had been making the calls since October, seeking help from the Reverend Job Fo...

A Ligonier Township man pleaded guilty yesterday to lesser charges in a stabbing incident last year. The Trib reports that 27-year-old Michael Glass entered pleas to charges of misdemeanor simple assault and possession of instruments of crime, while the felony attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges were dis...

The organization Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E. of PA) is hosting a motorcycle movie night in Ligonier this week. It is happening at the Diamond Theatre on West Main Street on Thursday, starting at 6:00 p.m. Guests will get to enjoy the motorcycle-related films "On Any Sunday" and &q...

Three people, including an unborn child, were killed in a vehicle accident in Indiana County on Saturday. State Police confirmed that Daniel Ryan of Indiana and Nathan Blystone of Kent were killed along with the unborn child of Ashley Layton, also of Kent. She suffered serious injuries in the three vehicle crash on W...

A Washington County man has pleaded guilty to his 12th DUI, that according to Westmoreland County DA Nicole Ziccarelli. The Trib reports that William Strogish of Ellsworth entered the plea on Friday in connection with a crash that injured three people on Laurel Mountain in Ligonier Township back in July of 2023. The ...

A portion of Route 982 between Double Hill Road and Claypike Road/Kecksburg Road in Mt. Pleasant Township is expected to close starting today. The Trib reports that the closure will allow state maintenance crews to replace a pipe and install an inlet. The closure will be in place through June. The detour will use Ro...

State police say an illegal steroid lab at a home in Hempfield Township is now out of commission following a raid late last week. Troopers and federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a home on Muirfield Drive, an upscale development near Youngwood, this past Friday. Trooper Steve Limani says a resident was...

The Golden Apple was awarded to three outstanding teachers and one principal in Western Pa last month at a breakfast in North Huntingdon. There, 12 students were also honored for their exemplary service to the community. Westmoreland Community Connections host Jennifer Miele emceed the event, and shares a lovely show a...

State officials are warning that most of Pennsylvania is at high risk for a wildfire. The latest Forest Fire Danger map by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shows 61 of the commonwealth's 67 counties in the high risk category, including Westmoreland County. The only counties not in the high risk ca...

The suspect in the arson at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence is being relocated to a prison with a psychiatric facility. Officials said Cody Balmer was moved Thursday to SCI Waymart, a facility that provides "intensive psychiatric care and treatment" for inmates. Balmer's mother had previously said her...

The first "Fridays on Fifth" gathering of the season is happening in New Kensington later on today. It's planned downtown from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. There will be a live band and food trucks set up for the evening and the event is rain or shine. Fridays on Fifth is sponsored by the New Kensington Recreation Co...

Ligonier Township's Planning Commission is reccomending a modification to a conditional use permit to allow the Ligonier Country Market to open on May 17th as planned. The Trib reports that the board heard from several vendors and business owners in Downtown Ligonier Borough. Both said that the date is crucial for th...

A road outside of Jeannette and another east of West Newton will be closed due to an underground pipe replacement project. The Trib reports that closure of a section of Penn Adamsburg Road between Gratz Street and Julie Dean Lane will begin today. Crews will install a new pipe under the road. The work will continue ...

Demolition is now underway at the former SCI Greensburg prison. The Trib reports that township supervisors will soon start discussion on how to use the 96-acre site off Route 119 between Greensburg and Youngwood after the demolition is complete. Hempfield Township is working with Westmoreland County Industrial Develo...

A traffic stop on the PA Turnpike in Westmoreland County turned up 13 pounds of suspected cocaine. The Trib reports that a Trooper monitoring westbound traffic in Mt. Pleasant Township around 1 PM Wednesday said that he saw a Jeep with illegally tinted windows. When police pulled the car over, the driver, Ronald Anth...

A Derry man is facing charges of indecent exposure for incidents Sunday and Monday in a park in Latrobe. KDKA-TV reports that police accused 34-year-old Robert Knupp for the two events at Legion Keener park in Latrobe. On Sunday, he allegedly exposed himself to two teenage girls and on Monday, two 20-year-old girls w...

Today is the last day to submit designs for the Vandergrift Public Library's bookmark contest. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can create an original bookmark design and enter it for consideration. The winners will receive a free book and their designs will be printed on bookmarks that will be distributed...

A man who is accused of robbing a Monroeville Burger King last year is now facing federal charges. U.S. prosecutors say 31-year-old Yamin Harris has been charged under the Hobbs Act. The federal law applies to extortion or robbery that interferes with interstate or foreign commerce. Harris could be sentenced to up t...

A man pleaded guilty yesterday to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter connected with a fatal stabbing of a neighbor in Jeannette nearly three years ago. The Trib reports that 25-year-old Antwone Thurston II was originally charged with criminal homicide in the death of 62-year-old William Osselburn Prosecutors s...

Greensburg Central Catholic is facing a lawsuit after a junior-senior high school student was injured after being exposed to toxic fumes in the school's gym. The Trib reports that the lawsuit was filed by the child's father. It claims that the student was one of several who became sick while attending a Veteran's Day...

A former administrative law judge and retired attorney has been appointed to the Ligonier Township board of supervisors. The Trib reports that 69-year-old John Fraser was named to fill the vacancy of D. Scott Matson, who abruptly resigned. Fraser said that he will just be there until the end of the year, but will not...

Two people were hurt after a four-vehicle crash yesterday on Route 30 in Hempfield. The Trib reports that the eastbound side of the highway was shut down in the area of the Cedar Street exit. The crash was reported around 5:15 PM, and traffic was diverted for about four hours. The two were taken to AHN Forbes Hospit...

The Pennsylvania Governor's Residence reopened for the first time yesterday since the arson attack just over a week ago. Governor Josh Shapiro and his family hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt, telling reporters he is not going to live in fear. The Shapiro family still has yet to resume living in the home following th...

The Hempfield Area School District is reporting a budget deficit of more than five-million-dollars. Superintendent Mark Holtzman says "growing retirement payments and transportation increases," as well as the rising number of students leaving for charter schools have been factors. Expenditures for next year...

Residents in the Norwin School District are letting the school board know they're not happy about a 25-million-dollar stadium renovation project. This comes after a week after the Norwin School Board approved the project by a five-to-four vote. During the public comment portion of last night's meeting, residents said...

While improvements to the Amtrak station in Latrobe will start this year, upgrades to the Greensburg station are expected to start in 2026. The Trib reports that the station projects will include improved handicapped accessibility, two new restrooms and two newly designed parking spaces that will be compliant with the...

Egg producer Hillandale Farms was sold last month to Global Eggs of Luxembourg for $1.1 billion. The Trib reports that the company has corporate offices in Hempfield and production facilities in Gettysburg and other areas of the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast. Reuters reported that Gregory Cessna, chairman of Hilla...

A trial date has been set for a New Kensington man charged with the beating death of a toddler in 2020. The Trib reports that the capital murder trial of Keith Lilly, Jr. will begin in September, but Judge Scott Mears also conceded that the logistics of the prosecution may prevent the trial from starting on-time. Lil...

A request to dismiss charges against a Rostraver man accused of seuxally assaulting an unconscious woman was denied by a Westmoreland County Judge yesterday. The Trib reports that 34-year-old Nathaniel Johnson will be tried in county court after Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears ruled there was enough evidence for a...

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced plans to spray 38-thousand acres of State Game Lands. The Commission says the action is being taken to control the "Spongy Moth" from spreading. Officials warn that the insect could cause severe defoliation if left untreated. Spraying will begin as soon as leaf-...

A proposed bill is looking to make changes to the state's gas pumps. The legislation would require service stations to have labels detailing the rates of federal and state liquid fuels taxes. Sen. Michele Brooks, who authored the bill, says consumers have a right to know how much of their money is going to the gas tax ...

Governor Josh Shapiro has ordered flags to be lowered at half-staff to honor Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning. According to the Governor's office, the flags shall be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the date of interment, which has yet to be released. In a statement on X, Shapiro said Pope Franc...

A preliminary hearing for a man charged with arson in a fire at the governor's home is being delayed. Thirty-eight-year-old Cody Balmer is accused of setting a destructive fire in the Harrisburg residence of Governor Josh Shapiro and his family on April 13th. A preliminary hearing had been scheduled for tomorrow with...

A local Republican candidate forum is planned in Lower Burrell later on this week. It is happening on Friday evening at the VFW post on Wildlife Lodge Road. Candidates for Lower Burrell Council, Burrell School Board, New Kensington Council, Arnold Council, and Upper Burrell Board of Supervisors will be participating....

State authorities are announcing charges after the execution of a search warrant Friday in New Kensington. According to reports, bags of fentanyl were found near a child's toys inside a home on Kenneth Avenue. Sixty-four-year-old Desdrene Smith and 34-year-old Brittany Shelton were each taken into custody on charges ...

A former Vandegrift policeman accused of having sex with a minor about 100 times in the early-to-mid 1990's has waived his preliminary hearing. The Trib reports that Anthony Depanicis was 25 when the alleged first encounter took place, just months after he was hired by the city of Vandegrift. A formal arraignment hea...

Derry Township fire department #1 in Bradenville has invested in a new washing machine to better clean their gear and reduce the risk of cancer. The Trib reports that the $30,000 gear washer was installed last week. It allows the stations fire crews to clean their breathing devices without further exposing themselves...

A Westmoreland County Judge approved a request to shrink the size of the government of Donegal. The Trib reports that the request came from Borough Mayor Keith Deckinger, The move will reduce the number of council seats from five to three. Council has four active members, but he cited a lack of participation for the...

Hempfield School Board members approved changing the start and end times for the next school year. The Trib reports that for the 2025-26 school year, high school will start 10 minutes earlier, and dismissal will be 15 minutes earlier. For middle school, the start and dismissal times will match the high school times, ...

Dauphin County officials have released audio from the call the suspect in the arson attack on Governor Josh Shapiro's residence made to 911 last Sunday. In the call, the suspect -- 38-year-old Cody Balmer from Harrisburg -- is heard saying he will not take part in Shapiro's plans for what he wants to do to the Palesti...

The independent security review after the arson attack at the Governor's Residence will be conducted by a former State Police Commissioner. WGAL-TV reports Jeffrey Miller will lead the investigation into how the suspect was able to scale an about seven-foot-tall fence and set a fire inside the home while Governor Josh...

Minor damage was reported in a fire yesterday at a cat rescue facility in New Kensington. The Trib reports that the fire at Frankie and Friends in the 700 block of 5th Avenue was reported around 5:20 PM. A small planter caught fire outside the building by either spontaneous combustion or a discarded cigarette butt. ...

Street paving contracts were recently approved in Greensburg and Jeannette. The Trib reports that Donegal Construction Company will handle paving in Greensburg at a cost of $46,000 through a partnership with Peoples Gas, while Mele and Mele was awarded two contracts totalling $33,000 for milling and paving of parking ...

A meeting of the Ligonier Township Supervisors will be held tomorrow to fill a vacant seat on the board. The Trib reports that on April 8th, supervisors could not come to an agreement on who would fill the seat left open from D. Scott Matson's resignation in March. None of the eight candidates could reach a three-vot...

A Game Commission K9 officer helped police find a man after a chase involving a stolen vehicle. KDKA-TV reports that the suspects, Kru Matthews and Brandon Seybold left the vehicle and ran into a large wooded area. Latrobe Police, State Police from the Kiski Barracks, and the Southwest region of the PA Game Commissio...

A Hempfield man died Saturday after his pickup truck crashed. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said that 68-year-old Kenneth Altman was driving North on Greengate Road at 4:15 PM when his truck collided head-on with a tree. He was taken to Independence Health in Latrobe where he later died. Altman's death was ...