July 26, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News, White Oak News
Five people, including members of a White Oak family connected with several local real estate developments, have been accused by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro of running an illegal video gambling operation for more than 30 years.
Robert Biros, 83, of White Oak; his sons, John M. Biros, 56, of McKeesport and Andrew R. Biros, 52, of Greensburg; and his daughter, Christine A. Biros, 55, of White Oak are charged with multiple counts, including violating state gambling laws and criminal conspiracy.
Also facing charges is Alfred J. McCauley Jr., 63, of Plum.
“These defendants raked in millions of dollars in illegal profits, draining money from Pennsylvanians --- and from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Thursday afternoon in a prepared statement. “These video poker machines --- with the lure of the cash payout --- are illegal gambling devices. Working with our partners in the Pennsylvania State Police, we’ve shut it down.”
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July 25, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Two members of Duquesne city council have resigned.
Council members John Gyure and June Wilson submitted their resignations, effective with this month's meeting. Wilson said her resignation was for health and family reasons. Gyure did not respond to a request for comment about his resignation.
Council voted 3-0 to appoint Elaine Washington to one of the vacant seats. Washington is expected to be sworn into office at the next council meeting.
Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby said council will accept applications to fill the other vacancy.
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July 25, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News
(Submitted photo: City of McKeesport)
The long-awaited reconstruction of Bowman Avenue in the city's Highland Grove neighborhood began this week. Above, McKeesport city Administrator Tom Maglicco and Mayor Michael Cherepko visit the construction site.
A spokeswoman said no through traffic is allowed on Bowman Avenue while the work is being done. The posted detour takes motorists inbound to McKeesport from North Versailles Twp. from East Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard down Westinghouse Avenue to Fifth Avenue.
Drivers heading toward North Versailles from McKeesport should use Fifth Avenue to Route 30 or Westinghouse Avenue, the spokeswoman said.
Residents of the neighborhood may use Elm Street to access Cronemeyer, Highland and Bowman avenues.
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July 25, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, McKeesport and Region News
Work continues on the rehabilitation of five pavilions at Renziehausen Park in McKeesport.
The general contractor for four of the pavilions is Plavchak Construction Co. of Jefferson Hills. The work includes new roofs, signage, benches and other updates to pavilions 1, 2, 3 and 7 at a cost of $184,750.
Funding is being provided through a special allocation from the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which is supported by Allegheny County's 1 percent sales tax.
A fifth pavilion is scheduled to be renovated with the help of the McKeesport Lions Club.
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July 25, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News
The North Versailles Twp. Idlewild Picnic will be held on Aug. 17, a spokesperson said. Tickets are $30 per person, with children ages 2 and under free.
A bus will be available to transport residents to the picnic. The bus departs the Walmart park and ride lot at 10 a.m. Tickets must be purchased no later than Aug. 10 at the township's Parks and Recreation office, 1401 Greensburg Pike, or residents can call (412) 823-6602 ext. 104 for information.
July 24, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Letters to the Editor
Abandoned house awaiting demolition in Maryland. (Amy McGovern photo via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons --- Attribution 2.0 Generic.)
Reader Ray Firth writes:
Regarding your July 13 story, "172 Houses Head to Demolition; At Least 50 More to Be Added."
The demolition of blighted properties in McKeesport --- part of the "McKeesport Rising" project --- is important for McKeesport and the families who live near them. The homes being demolished are in terrible shape and old.
These homes also probably have lead paint on the windows, doors and walls.
The 200-plus demolitions will cause a lot of dust when the crews push the houses to the ground, and load the debris into dump trucks. That dust will have lead in it from the old lead paint.
In similar projects in other cities, that dust spread to nearby neighborhoods. They found that more children in those nearby neighborhoods had lead in their blood than before the demolitions.
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July 22, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Commentary-Editorial, Letters to the Editor
(Above: A.M. Rosenthal began his career at The New York Times in 1943 and retired from the paper as a columnist in 1999. He discussed his career in a 1993 interview with C-SPAN.)
Reader Tim Martin writes:
Regarding our July 10 story about city council's decision to hire the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh to evaluate the reuse of the Penn-McKee Hotel ---
I really don't understand why Mr. Togyer is covering the Penn-McKee story, and the editor's notes on top and at the end of July 10's story don't take the curse off the circumstance. You're either in or out, sir.
Tim is absolutely right. Reporters should not be involved with the stories they're covering. Period.
The late A.M. Rosenthal (above), city editor, managing editor and executive editor of The New York Times, supposedly had a colorful rule for his reporters:
"If you want to cover the circus, you can't (make love to) the elephants."
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July 22, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Borough will seek $2.3 million from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for improvements to Lincoln Way.
At July's meeting, council authorized borough officials to apply for the grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Multimodal Transportation Fund.
Officials said the borough is pursuing the money to improve the streetscape along Lincoln Way. The improvements would include new lighting and crosswalks as well as solar-powered trash compactors, Borough Engineer Shane Michael said.
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July 22, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Recent heavy rainstorms are causing concern for residents in the Larimer Street section of North Versailles Twp.
During the public comment portion of Thursday's meeting, resident Mary Henning told township commissioners that water "is shooting out of the sewer system" and that she wasn't satisfied with the results of an earlier discussion she had with the township engineer.
“That’s why I showed up today," she said.
Henning's brother, Donald Rush, said he's helping his sister clear land nearby for possible development. “I’ve been studying this for a year, standing out in the rain just to gather information,” Rush said. “Only when it rains extremely hard and for a long period of time does the basin across the street not handle the water.”
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July 18, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
An electronic and household hazardous waste recycling collection drop off program will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (July 21) at the White Oak Municipal Building, 2280 Lincoln Way.
Residents must register online or by calling 1-866-815-0016. It is a pay as you go program; information is available on the White Oak website and at the borough office.
Bridge City Church is hosting a car cruise from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at their 3001 Jacks Run Road location. The event is a benefit for the White Oak Police Department.
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