Scottdale
CRIME & SAFETY
New report unveils cause of massive fire at Latrobe 30 Shoppes
UNITY TOWNSHIP, PA. (KDKA) -- In a report released by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal, the cause of the fire at the Latrobe 30 Shoppes in the early morning hours of April 23 was electrical in nature and overall accidental.The fire started at Roadman's Country Living store and quickly spread to nearby businesses, some of which are still closed and recovering from fire, smoke and water damage.However, some stores like Jerald Jewelers, which was just a few storefronts down from the inferno, said they were able to reopen quickly, just a day after the fire."The loyalty of our customer base...
Latrobe man called danger to community sentenced to 3-year prison term
A Westmoreland County judge said he had no choice this week but to impose a three-year maximum prison sentence for a Latrobe man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a teenage girl. Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger ordered Cristofer R. Dowden, 25, to serve at least 18...
Home health aide may have overdosed in client's bathroom, police say
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A home health aide in Fayette is facing charges after police say she may have overdosed in her client's bathroom.According to Family Choice Healthcare, Nicole Walker, 27, was hired at their company 6 weeks ago. Family Choice Healthcare provides in-home care for clients to assist with daily living activities. A spokesperson said their clients receive service under the Pennsylvania Medicaid – Community Health Choice Waiver program.They said their clients then can choose to hire or fire the aide workers.Brad and Kim Heckman said they hired Walker about three weeks ago to care for their 80-year-old mother Flay."Her shift...
Sentencing for former Greensburg police chief set for December
A sentencing date for the former Greensburg police chief on a drug case has been pushed back to December. The attorney for Shawn Denning, 43, of Delmont, requested more time to prepare for the hearing while in the midst of handling other, unrelated cases, according to court filings this week.
Jeannette officers file suit seeking overtime payments for time spent feeding, caring for police dogs
Jeannette’s two police dog handlers claim in a federal lawsuit that the city violated labor laws by not paying them an overtime rate for time spent caring for their canines. Sgt. Jim Phillips and Officer Matthew Painter said in the filing that they spend at least 30 to 60 minutes, often more, of uncompensated time daily taking care of the animals. Painter has a Dutch shepherd named Kilo and Phillips works with a Belgian malinois named Diesel.
Three deceased, one injured in tractor-trailer crash on I-76 Eastbound in Lancaster County
PENN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred on I-76 Eastbound in Penn Township this morning. Pennsylvania State Police say they were dispatched to mile marker 268.8 on I-76 at around 4:24 a.m. this morning, where they encountered a two-vehicle crash scene on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Police say the two vehicles involved were a car and a tractor-trailer.
Judge limits taxpayer funds for father's death penalty defense in New Kensington slaying
A Westmoreland County judge said she will limit defense spending of taxpayer funds for the pending trial of a Brackenridge man who faces a potential death sentence in connection with the alleged killing of his 9-year-old son. Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said Wednesday excessive costs incurred by public defenders...
'Dance Moms' star charged with DUI in Murrysville
MURRYSVILLE, Pa. — A star of the "Dance Moms" reality show is charged with driving under the influence in Westmoreland County. Christi Lukasiak's vehicle crashed into a tree on Logan Ferry Road in Murrysville on June 27, police said in the criminal complaint. Police said she told them she...
Power outage blamed for smoke in several buildings at Saint Vincent College, prompting evacuations
An electrical power outage caused several motors in Saint Vincent College buildings to start smoking, prompting an evacuation of multiple buildings Wednesday evening, fire officials said. According to Chief Brian Schultheis of the Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Department, no one was injured. Some groups of students are on the grounds for...
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.