January 18, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo by David Reber via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons)
Now through April 11, Mon Valley residents may be eligible to get their federal, state and local tax returns filed for free under a program being offered again this year by the Human Services Center Corp. and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Stephanie Eson, a spokeswoman for the Turtle Creek-based HSCC, said the preparers are certified by the IRS, and there are no hidden fees or charges, and taxpayers who are eligible for refunds will get to keep those refunds.
Participants may qualify if their total income in 2018 was up to $30,000 for an individual or $50,000 for a household, Eson said. Appointments are required and can be made calling 2-1-1.
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January 18, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo by Classroom Camera via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0.)
Five local school districts will each receive $35,000 grants to integrate computer science education into classroom lessons at all grade levels.
In addition, a $35,000 grant under the Pennsylvania Department of Education's PASmart initiative also has been awarded to the Mon Valley School in Jefferson Hills to provide targeted computer science education to students with special needs.
Duquesne City, East Allegheny, Norwin, South Allegheny and Steel Valley are among 221 school districts receiving the PASmart grants.
“As computer technology continues to evolve, it is important that students can experience and learn new computer skills first hand,” state Sen. Jim Brewster said in a prepared statement. “I am pleased that students in our area will benefit from Pennsylvania’s grants dedicated to improving computer science programs in local schools.”
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January 17, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Duquesne News
Following January's city council meeting when tensions ran high between residents and officials, Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby issued this statement:
"It’s important for everyone to be on the same page because residents get confused. The city values community organizations such as the Duquesne Youth Football Association. Sports play a role in bringing communities together, increasing social and cultural impact, developing social capital, reducing crime and anti-social behavior.
"It is my hope that more people participate as volunteers, increase the culture of respect and tolerance among young people, reduce fear of crime, create a more sustainable community with local pride, provide people with a greater voice and influence over decision-making, and increase the capacity to own community assets."
January 17, 2019 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne residents voice their frustrations during January's city council meeting. (Cami DiBattista photo, special to Tube City Almanac)
Read More: Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby had additional thoughts following this meeting
The first Duquesne City Council meeting of the year was emotionally charged, as a roomful of residents vented their frustrations with Mayor Nickole Nesby and other officials.
Several representatives of the Duquesne Youth Football Association questioned city officials about allegations that the organization is being dissolved.
They alleged that the Duquesne Police Department had “spread rumors of drug money being funneled through the organization.”
One spokesperson for the youth football association said the organization is unhappy with Police Chief Tom Dunlevy and the department, and said he feels the city’s black population is being unfairly targeted.
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January 17, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
An East Pittsburgh man is being held without bail on charges that he kidnapped a 16-year-old girl from her home in Penn Hills.
The victim, Marjani Aquil, was found Wednesday night by McKeesport police at a residence in Christy Park, a county police spokeswoman said. Aquil had suffered facial injuries during her abduction and was treated at a local hospital, county police said.
Jermaine Laquay Rodgers, 19, was arrested by McKeesport police and the Allegheny County Police SWAT team following a three-hour standoff.
He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond pending a preliminary hearing Jan. 28 before Magisteral District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca, court documents indicate.
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January 16, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Roy Luck photo via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0.)
Correction appended, Jan. 17:
Three elected state officials are demanding more accountability from U.S. Steel and the Allegheny County Health Department in the wake of the announcement that sulfur dioxide emissions from the Clairton Plant have exceeded safe levels six times since Dec. 24.
State Sens. Jim Brewster and Jay Costa and state Rep. Austin Davis are calling on the state House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees to hold a joint hearing in the Mon-Yough area, which has been under an "air quality alert" since Jan. 8.
Last week, local residents criticized the health department for waiting 16 days before issuing the alert, which warned children, the elderly and people with heart and lung conditions to avoid strenuous outdoor activities until further notice.
"The public needs to know sooner and get better information on how to react," Brewster, Costa and Davis said in a joint release Wednesday.
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January 16, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Dravosburg man faces charges after McKeesport police accused him of deliberately striking a car being driven by an off-duty police officer, and then fleeing the scene.
Edward M. Gibson, 31, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, leaving the scene of an accident involving an attended vehicle and reckless driving.
He remains free on his own recognizance pending a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. March 28 before Magisterial District Judge Richard D. Olasz Jr.
McKeesport police said the off-duty officer, whose name was not released, was on Maple Avenue just before 11 p.m. Jan. 5 when another driver in a Jeep started to tailgate him.
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January 11, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy Carnegie Library of McKeesport via Facebook.)
Book discussions and craft programs are on the schedule this month at the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, 1507 Library Ave.
For more information or to register for any program, call (412) 672-0625 or visit the library's website.
Postcard History of McKeesport: Local author and historian Michelle Wardle-Eggers will discuss the 2011 book "McKeesport: Postcard History" at 3 p.m. Jan. 19. Wardle-Eggers is the former executive director of the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center and received her master's degree in history from Kent State University. She wrote the book along with local historian and photographer John W. Barna.
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January 11, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
DJs Candy and Mike will spin the tunes on Saturday (Jan. 12) and Jan. 19 when American Legion Gen. Smedley D. Butler Post 701 in White Oak holds its next oldies dances.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and music continues until 11 p.m., a spokesman said. Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit veterans' programs.
The legion is located at 2813 Capital St. For more information, call (724) 984-6611.
January 11, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Brett Ciccotelli photo via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 2.0).
Mon-Yough residents reacted angrily after the Allegheny County Health Department warned people with heart and lung conditions to avoid strenuous outdoor activities due to equipment problems at U.S. Steel's Clairton Plant.
On social media, they questioned why the department waited 16 days before issuing the warning.
The health department's alert, issued Wednesday, cautioned Mon-Yough area residents --- especially children, the elderly and those suffering from conditions such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis --- to avoid strenuous outdoor activities until further notice.
According to the health department, sulfur dioxide emissions at the Clairton Plant have gone above acceptable levels six times since a fire on Dec. 24 that knocked out two pieces of emissions equipment known as "gas dispatcher" stations.
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