Latest news with #Westmoreland
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Furries, dinosaurs, and car shows
It's the 4th of July weekend, and there is plenty to do to celebrate, and if you don't have plans yet, we've got you covered. Anthrocon returns to Pittsburgh The furries are back in Pittsburgh as Anthrocon returns this weekend. Organizers estimate 19,000 will attend the convention, and it includes everything from workshops to a block party. On Saturday afternoon, there will be the annual Fur Suit Parade. Anthrocon runs through Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Full details and schedules can be found on their website right here. Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival You can head to Twin Lakes Park for the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival this weekend. It runs through Sunday, and you'll be able to check out live performances, try great ethnic foods, and shop for thousands of handmade crafts. Check out more at this link. Dinosaur Adventure in Monroeville Families can step back to prehistoric times at the Monroeville Convention Center starting on Saturday! Dinosaur Adventure will showcase exhibits with life-sized dinosaurs that even come to life. It starts on Saturday at 9 a.m. and runs through Sunday afternoon. Tickets are $25, and you can purchase them here. Head Turners' Veterans Car Show In Plum on Saturday, Head Turners Pittsburgh is hosting a veterans car show. Hundreds of cars, trucks, and bikes are expected to be parked at Plum High School, along with food trucks and other vendors. It goes from noon until 4 p.m., and you can get all the details on Facebook.
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Westmoreland Food Bank says they won't be able to fill the gap left by loss of SNAP benefits
Westmoreland Food Bank says they won't be able to fill the gap left by loss of SNAP benefits Westmoreland Food Bank says they won't be able to fill the gap left by loss of SNAP benefits Westmoreland Food Bank says they won't be able to fill the gap left by loss of SNAP benefits The passing of President Trump's spending bill is expected to have a ripple effect among families who rely upon food assistance, and among those who will feel that effect are local food banks. According to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the new spending bill will lead to nearly $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP. That would be the largest amount of funding cut in the history of the program. Westmoreland Food Bank CEO Jennifer Miller says she was paying close attention to the House of Representatives' vote Thursday to pass what Trump has dubbed his "big beautiful bill." Miller said her first response to the bill's passing was "a combination of fear, frustration and utter disbelief." Miller tells KDKA-TV removing SNAP would be devastating for families who previously received that assistance, and that strain would then be felt by the food banks. "For every meal that the food bank is able to provide, SNAP benefits provides nine meals, so that means people are going to be coming to us that have never come to the food banks before, looking for help to get a hand up so that they can make ends meet," said Miller. "We're not able to do that. We're not able to provide those nine missing meals." In total, more than 143,000 Pennsylvanians stand to lose their SNAP benefits, and Gov. Josh Shapiro says the commonwealth cannot backfill those federal cuts. "There's a real question as to whether or not we'd eve be able to operate SNAP any longer, given the change in the formula and given the people that are going to be knocked off," Shapiro said during a press conference on Monday. "[The bill] would have a devastatingly negative impact on Pennsylvania. I've been very outspoken about that, and really specific about the harm it would do to Pennsylvanians." "When it comes to having those benefits being taken away from vulnerable populations — not just families, but seniors, people with disabilities, so on — it is catastrophic," Miller said. With more families relying upon food banks to replace the meals they stand to lose, it also causes a chain reaction in communities across the state. Without SNAP assistance, that means fewer sales at local grocery stores, which could cause prices to rise. "Mom and pop shops that accept SNAP benefits, these benefits go back into the community, back into industry, back into the grocery store industry, drug stores, so on and so forth," said Miller. "It is a very scary time for everyone, and I'm just at a loss." Miller said Westmoreland Food Bank will continue to work on strategies to meet the increased demand, including fundraising and also continuing to rely on donations from the community.
CBS News
03-07-2025
- CBS News
New Kensington constable accused of impersonating police officer
A constable in Westmoreland County is accused of impersonating a police officer. In May, Herman Staple II was pulled over by a New Kensington Police Department officer near the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and Freeport Street because he was driving a black Chevy Tahoe decked out to look like a police vehicle. Officials said the vehicle was complete with blue, red and yellow lights, tinted windows, an interior laptop mount and cameras, and a logo on the rear tailgate that read "police." Staple claimed to be a retired Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officer. The problem was that Staple was not a police officer, not then or ever. Staple was a constable and a member of the New Kensington Fire Police. The fire police aid the fire department during a fire with things like traffic and crowd control. A constable is a bit more involved. According to the Pennsylvania State Constable website, a constable is an elected or appointed law enforcement officer who has the authority in Pennsylvania to arrest by warrant and serve warrants anywhere in the Commonwealth. They also have the power to conduct warrantless arrests for felonies and breaches of the peace committed in their presence. But nowhere does it say that they can act as a police officer. Staple was arrested for presenting himself as such, and police seized a loaded 9mm handgun from him at the time of the arrest. But just last month, unrelated to Staple's impersonation of a police officer, he had a protection-from-abuse order placed against him. He was required to turn over all of the firearms in his possession to the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office, but he didn't. "At the time of the PFA service, some firearms were relinquished," said Jennifer Shipley, chief deputy with the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Department. "But after the fact, our investigation indicated that additional firearms existed." What the sheriff's found when they searched Staple's house was a trove of guns and ammunition. Some guns were hidden in the house, and some were even ghost guns. "Due to him failing to comply with the protection from abuse order, he was charged with a contempt for violating that court order and then additional charges as well for the possession of the firearms," Shipley said. As of Thursday morning, Staple was released from the Westmoreland County Prison on bail. His preliminary hearing for the gun charges, as well as his formal arraignment for impersonating a police officer, will both be held later this month.
CNN
11-06-2025
- General
- CNN
Jamaica's ‘crocodile guardian' is fighting to save the island's feared predators
In the heat of the Jamaican sun, where the wetlands glisten and buzz with life, an ancient predator is vanishing. There are around 28 species of crocodiles found throughout the world's tropical and subtropical regions. But there is only one species in Jamaica, found primarily along the southern coast from St. Thomas to Westmoreland. Once revered and feared across the island, the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) has long ruled the mangroves and coastal lagoons. But in recent years, its population has been decimated, due to illegal hunting, habitat loss and plastic pollution, as well as killings prompted by a lingering fear among locals. Lawrence Henriques has made it his life's mission to change that. Known as 'The Crocodile Guardian,' Henriques has spent the past four decades fighting for their survival. He runs the Holland Bay Crocodile Sanctuary, a grassroots conservation project in the southeast of the island, perched on the edge of what he says is one of Jamaica's last viable crocodile habitats. From this remote corner of the island, he's trying to undo years of damage: nursing sick crocs back to health, raising juveniles and restoring their numbers in the wild. 'There's a real fear of crocodiles in Jamaica,' says Henriques. 'They're not tolerated by a lot of people. So if one turns up in someone's backyard, it's often killed for meat or just because people are afraid.' Although crocodiles are often seen as aggressive and dangerous, attacks are few and far between. While reliable figures are hard to come by, according to the global database CrocAttack, there have been 11 incidents reported over the past decade in Jamaica, including one fatality in 2018. That's why Henriques is working to change the narrative about the animal and help people understand that they are far less threatening than their reputation suggests. Born and raised in the Jamaican capital, Kingston, during the 1960s, Henriques always had a penchant for 'creepy crawlies,' such as spiders, scorpions and snakes. But it was crocodiles that truly captured his attention. 'We had a lot more crocodiles and a lot more habitat in those days,' he recalls. 'I always had a half a dozen or so baby crocodiles rearing in my bedroom.' That fascination eventually became a vocation. After studying overseas and learning more about reptiles when working with the Scientific Exploration Society, a UK charity, in Belize, Henriques returned to Jamaica in 1980. He was startled to find that despite crocodiles being classified as endangered in 1971 under the Wildlife Protection Act, there was little practical conservation happening. 'The laws were there, but nobody was doing anything,' he says. 'The environmental agency was very under-resourced and still is to this day. And there was nobody really with expertise or knowledge on reptiles.' Henriques volunteered to assist the Jamaican government, carrying out crocodile rescues and providing rehabilitation, all while holding down a job in the citrus industry. He continued like this for almost 20 years, before a brief relocation to London, UK. When he returned to Jamaica in 2010, he launched what would become the Holland Bay Crocodile Sanctuary — a facility dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation and public education. The sanctuary, which lies on the edge of a wetland, is home to 27 adult crocodiles along with 18 baby crocs. The juvenile crocs have been bred on site and are typically released into the wild after three years, while the adults have been rescued and rehabilitated after being hit by cars, caught in traps, or found living in squalid conditions. Over the past three years, around 90 have been successfully released back into the wild according to Henriques. One of the crocodiles living at the sanctuary currently is Xena, who was discovered guarding her eggs in an area littered with trash, her skin slimy and her teeth gray from pollution. Savannah Boan, an international ambassador from Gatorland Global, the conservation arm of the Florida-based wildlife park which helps to fund the sanctuary, says that since being relocated, Xena's skin has healed and her teeth are white again. Her babies have also been raised at the facility and released into safe areas, helping to boost wild populations of the species. 'Lawrence is doing extraordinary work with very limited resources,' she tells CNN. Despite legal protections, crocodiles in Jamaica face growing threats. Poaching is rampant, often driven by demand for meat or misguided fear, according to officers from the country's National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). 'Poaching is definitely a huge problem,' says Leighton Mamdeen, an environmental officer at NEPA. 'We try to limit it through enforcement measures such as regular monitoring and we partner with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force to do patrols.' According to media reports, there is a thriving black market for crocodile meat and eggs in Jamaica, with the meat sold for as much as 5,000 Jamaican dollars ($31) a pound (450 grams) – more than 10 times the price of chicken meat. This could stem from a widespread misconception in some rural communities that crocodile meat has aphrodisiac properties. Damany Calder, another environmental officer at NEPA, says he has noticed a troubling pattern during callouts, when crocodiles are discovered with their tails removed. 'There's a rumour about the crocodile tail… it's (used) either for sexual performance, fertility or longevity,' he says. In other cases, crocodiles have been found in backyard ponds, kept as pets, or used as props for TikTok stunts or music videos. There was even a time when a small live crocodile was found stuffed in a broken fridge, says Calder. He believes it may have been part of a ritual referred to as Obeah, a Jamaican religious tradition similar to voodoo. Social media videos have occasionally resulted in prosecutions but only if culprits are caught in the act, Calder says. Individuals found guilty of killing crocodiles may be charged a maximum fine of $100,000 or face one-year imprisonment. 'The police are heavily involved, and they're trying to improve the penalties,' says Henriques. 'But like everything else, it's catching the person and proving it in court. It's a very long, drawn-out process.' Development is another killer. Jamaica's mangroves and wetlands are currently being cleared for tourism and residential development according to The Forestry Department. This affects the country's coastal resilience, as mangroves reduce wave energy and storm surges, helping to prevent flooding, and it damages biodiversity, as they are serve as nurseries for fish and provide essential habitat for species like crocodiles. As this territory shrinks, crocodiles are forced closer to humans. 'These animals are ending up in places they've always lived,' Henriques says. 'But now those places are towns and roads … We've taken their habitat.' To Henriques, the crocodile isn't a menace — it's a keystone species that has been on the island for millions of years. It even features on the Jamaican coat of arms, which shows a crocodile perched atop a royal helmet and mantling, designed to symbolize the island's unique wildlife and natural heritage. 'They're like engineers of the ecosystem,' he says. 'They dig channels, control fish populations and keep the wetlands healthy.' He explains that the presence of these apex predators helps to regulate biodiversity within aquatic ecosystems by controlling prey populations and creating microhabitats that support various flora and fauna. But Henriques warns that because of poaching and habitat loss, the island no longer has many large male crocodiles left along the coastline: 'Most now are smaller. It's a serious shift.' 'What's happening in Jamaica reflects a global pattern — wetland species are disappearing, and with them, the health of the entire ecosystem,' he adds. Despite the challenges, there's a cautious sense of hope. Henriques and NEPA have ramped up community outreach and education programs, especially in areas near crocodile habitats. 'One of the most impactful things we've done is visit schools,' says Mamdeen. 'If you start with the kids, you'll have a greater chance of securing the animal's future.' When reports of a crocodile in a pool of water near a school caused panic among parents and children, NEPA directed its outreach efforts toward local students. 'We told them: crocodiles would rather run (from you) than rush (towards) you,' he says. 'If you're near water at night, walk with a stick. If the animal is touched, it moves.' Henriques added: 'People are beginning to understand these animals have a place … They're not pests. They're survivors.' Still, the sanctuary is one of only a few conservation efforts on the island, and without continued support, Henriques fears Jamaica's crocodiles may not survive the next few decades. 'We can't afford to lose them,' he says. 'They've been here longer than we have. They're part of this land.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local World War II veteran celebrates 104th birthday
A local World War II veteran just turned 104. Friends and family of Frank Pugliano Sr. gathered at Northmoreland Park in Westmoreland County to celebrate his birthday on Saturday. Pugliano served as a U.S. Army Technicican Sergeant in Company C with the 387th Port Batallion. He was honorably discharged in 1945. He spent time in the Philippines and New Guinea. His longevity has drawn national and local attention over the years. Last year, the New York Post asked him what his secret was. He told them it's soda and dark chocolate. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
