June 02, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Allegheny County police are investigating a shooting that wounded a man early Monday morning.
Police said although the victim was found near the intersection of Coursin Street and Fifth Avenue, Downtown, a preliminary investigation indicates the incident may have happened at another location.
In a release, the county police Homicide Unit said McKeesport police were notified of a possible shooting at 5:19 a.m. and responded to find the victim, whose name was not released, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition, police said.
Anyone with information concerning the incident is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
May 30, 2025 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
The “big beautiful bill” passed by Congressional Republicans may not seem so beautiful to more than 800,000 Pennsylvania residents who rely on local community health centers for health care — including in the Mon-Yough area.
A report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates more than 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on local Community Health Centers could face new barriers to care if proposed Medicaid cuts in the bill — which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives — are signed into law.
Locally, there are Community Health Centers on Lysle Boulevard in the city, as well as Miller Avenue in Clairton, Braddock Avenue in Braddock and West Street in Homestead.
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May 30, 2025 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
Staff at Philadelphia’s New Kensington Community Development Corp. greet visitors during a gun-violence prevention event in 2024. The organization is one of many across Pennsylvania whose work is threatened by a loss of federal funding. (Photo courtesy New Kensington Community Development Corp.)
A mass shooting on Memorial Day in Philadelphia marred the solemn holiday and also was an aberration — gun-related homicides across Pennsylvania are down 38 percent this year.
But violence prevention advocates are warning that federal funding cuts threaten key programs designed to curb gun-related crimes.
In Philadelphia, the Cure Violence program run by New Kensington Community Development Corporation is one of 350 groups learning their Justice Department grants would end early.
Amy Perez, vice president of programs for the group, said the cuts affect their entire outreach effort, from a youth basketball league to housing services and nutrition programs.
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May 29, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A Dick’s Sporting Goods store. The chain moved its corporate headquarters to the Pittsburgh area in 1994 and has been heavily involved in philanthropy over its history. (Archive photo by Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA; licensed under Creastive Commons CC BY 2.0)
Nearly four years before last week’s dissolution of their partnership, Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation and McKeesport Area School District touted a future full of promise.
Speaking to school directors, parents and community members on May 26, 2021, then-Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. optimistically described the pair’s first project: a six-week long summer camp in McKeesport.
Holtzman, the son of McKeesport Area School Board President Mark Holtzman Sr., left the district in 2022. He is now the superintendent at Hempfield Area School District in Westmoreland County.
Geared for local students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the summer camp program provided “transportation, food and a wide range of activities and field trips such as visiting the zoo, museums and a pool,” according to the foundation. The intent was to give children a “safe and fun place to spend their summer.”
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May 29, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District said a decision to end its partnership with the charitable giving arm of Dick’s Sporting Goods was made by the foundation, not by school officials. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
A McKeesport Area School Board member said long-simmering structural issues between the school district and Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation led to the cessation of a nearly four-year partnership.
In an interview, School Director David Donato implored the public to wait for the facts before reaching a conclusion: “There is no doubt Dick’s stopped this arrangement.”
Following a May 27 announcement that the charitable arm of the Dick’s Sporting Goods chain had ended its partnership with McKeesport Area School District, both sides are looking back — and making accusations.
School Board President Mark Holtzman Sr., who has been singled out for much of the blame by Dick’s and some members of the public, declined comment and referred questions to District Solicitor Gary Matta.
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May 28, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as needed)
Guests at the 2022 launch event of United at Twin Rivers included Aimee Watters, executive director of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation; Tim Joyce, chief of staff for then-state Sen. Jim Brewster; Jackie Castma, associate executive director of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation; Brandy Daye, assistant principal, Twin Rivers; then-district superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr.; Tia Wanzo, then-assistant superintendent; then-state representative Austin Davis, now lieutenant governor; McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko; and then state representative, now state senator, Nick Pisciottano. (File photo/Tube City Almanac)
A more than three-year-long relationship between McKeesport Area School District and the charitable arm of Findlay Twp.-based Dick’s Sporting Goods has come to an acrimonious end.
District Superintendent Donald MacFann issued a statement Tuesday saying that Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation had made a “unilateral decision to end the partnership,” which has seen the philanthropy donate what it said was more than $13 million since 2021 to support educational programs at Twin Rivers Elementary School, fund professional and student development, and create a community center.
“Like many of you, the McKeesport Area School Board is deeply disappointed by this unexpected decision,” MacFann wrote.
“Over the course of this school year, MASD has worked diligently with DSGF to ensure our partnership benefited as many students as possible, with a particular focus on supporting their academic success,” MacFann wrote.
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May 27, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two school district employees have reportedly been suspended amidst an investigation into approximately $8,000 in deposits that were not properly made.
McKeesport Area School District confirmed Tuesday that an outside law firm, as well as McKeesport police and school district police, are investigating why nine deposits totalling $8,226 were not made during October, December and January.
It was not yet immediately clear if the money had gone missing. The situation was discovered May 15, the district said.
Last week, Pittsburgh TV station WTAE (4) reported that two district employees were suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
“While there was a delay in sharing this information, it was necessary due to ongoing legal and investigative procedures,” District Superintendent Donald MacFann said Tuesday in a prepared statement. MacFann was not immediately available for further comment.
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May 27, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
A national outreach coordinator for Mental Health America will speak next week when the McKeesport Support Group of the National Alliance on Mental Illness holds its monthly meeting.
A spokeswoman said NAMI McKeesport will host Heather McLean, an outreach coordinator for Mental Health America at 6 p.m. June 4 in Room 122, Frable Building, Penn State Greater Allegheny.
NAMI McKeesport meets the first Wednesday of every month. The meetings are open to families and friends of loved ones living with mental illness. The meetings offer understanding and support unique to those who are affected by mental health conditions of loved ones, the spokeswoman said.
For more information about the McKeesport meeting, call (412) 527-6600. For the NAMI Helpline, call (412) 366-3788 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 27, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Saniya Rivers, a student at McKeesport Area High School, reads her essay entitled “America the Beautiful: A Legacy of Sacrifice and Struggle.” Her winning essay in the American Legion essay contest will advance to council level. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Several local students were honored by the American Legion this month for writing essays on what it means to be an American.
At a dinner at Post 701 in White Oak, students whose essays are chosen to advance to the next level received a prize of $50, and in each of their names a $50 donation was presented to the Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship fund.
“The response has been great,” said Holly Gallagher, Americanism chairperson. In years past, she said, “we would average 10 to 12 essays, but this year we received a total of 37 essays.”
According to the American Legion National Headquarters, the essay contest was created to promote the value of patriotism, lifelong respect for the country and the American flag, and what it means to be an American. Thousands of students, grades 3 to 12 participate annually, and there is a category for students with special needs.
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May 23, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A graphic provided by Penn State University shows the location of all of the regional, or commonwealth, campuses, as well as those slated to close. (Courtesy Penn State University)
Local officials and Penn State students and alumni are breathing a sigh of relief over the decision by the university’s board of trustees to keep the Greater Allegheny Campus open.
Seven other campuses will close under the plan approved by the board — although not without controversy — during a live-streamed meeting on Thursday night.
Penn State University currently has 20 regional, or “commonwealth,” campuses. The proposal approved by a 25 to 8 vote would close campuses in New Kensington, Fayette County and five other locations. Penn State is promising additional investment in the remaining locations, including Greater Allegheny.
“I love it,” State Rep. Dan Goughnour of McKeesport said. “I’m saddened that some campuses are being shuttered. I was hoping that there was a solution to keeping them all open. But obviously (Greater Allegheny) is near and dear to my heart and I’m happy that the administration and the board saw the value in it.”
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