Five West Hills communities will benefit from an $82 million investment for nearly 300 recreation and conservation projects across 58 counties. Local projects include pool rehabilitation in Crafton, park improvements in Ingram, planning in McKees Rocks, and land acquisitions for open space.
In Pennsylvania, over 153,000 children are uninsured, the highest rate in a decade, primarily due to rising costs and policy changes. A report highlights socioeconomic factors affecting coverage, with significant disparities among counties. Legislative changes could worsen this situation, particularly for Medicaid. Urgent public health implications arise from uninsured children's lack of preventive care.
A preliminary hearing to determine if Stanley Eugene West Jr. must stand trial for homicide in the fatal shooting of a Robinson Township motel clerk in October has been postponed to March 25, 2026. The hearing had been rescheduled twice previously and was set to take place Friday, Dec. 19.
Allegheny County police departments diverging on 287(g) agreements for ICE cooperation, with Stowe renewing, Springdale retaining, controversies over oversight, and a related Mount Washington arrest.
Boyce Park will open its winter facilities for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing on Saturday, Dec. 20, pending weather conditions. Various areas will be accessible, while the South Park Ice Rink will also open that day, with North Park delayed due to maintenance.
Three men are awaiting a court hearing on charges that they raped and sexually assaulted two teenage girls at a home in Kennedy Township over the weekend. The three were being held in the Allegheny County Jail Tuesday after bail was denied following their arrest Monday.
Stephanie Heakins, now director of Riverview Children’s Center, faced a four-month budget impasse that severely affected early childhood education funding in Pennsylvania. Providers struggled without state payments, leading to loans and budget adjustments, while advocates continue to push for better support and staff retention.