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Militaries’ growing use of ground robots raises ethics concerns

By Andrew Conte
If North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un ever orders troops into the demilitarized zone, an army of South Korean robots could be waiting. A Samsung subsidiary plans to deploy sentry robots to the tense South Korean border. The machines will be equipped with machine guns and cameras, thermal imaging and …

Foundations a lifeline for school districts, students

By Rick Wills
Seneca Valley High School senior Robert Kunkle wanted to make a battery fueled by bacteria — a far-fetched project more typical for a university lab or biotech company than a high school. …

$6M in Centax payouts planned

By Bill Vidonic
Nearly $6 million will be sent to municipalities and school districts beginning this week as attorneys bring to a close the saga of a now-defunct agency that collected local taxes in 10 …

Allegheny

Campaign makes push for organ donations

By Tory N. Parrish 6:07 p.m.
Ron Gooden, 56, considers his birthday to be Nov. 22, 2011. That’s the day the Hampton resident received a heart transplant. “I just thank God every day for the donor …

Westmoreland

Monessen revival boils down to money that could be difficult to secure

By Richard Gazarik  and Kate Wilcox
Monessen officials stand little chance of pulling together as much as $8.5 million to match a portion of the $30.5 million in public financing they …

Fayette

Uniontown man killed in shooting

By Tribune-Review
A 20-year-old Uniontown man died Saturday morning after being shot, city police said. The victim’s name is being withheld until next of kin can be notified, police said. The shooting occurred about 3:15 a.m. near the intersection of Searight Avenue …

Armstrong

Plenty to choose from in Kittanning mayor’s race

By Brigid Beatty
Six candidates, including Republican incumbent Mayor Kirk Atwood, have entered Kittanning’s mayoral race in the May primary and have weighed in on issues concerning the viability of adding a K9 to the police department, increased visibility of police around town …

Beaver

Air national guardsman put his life on the line

By Christina Gallagher
The gunfire was inescapable. Nearly 10 Afghan terrorists fired machine guns and launched rocket grenades designed to kill. Tech. Sgt. Mike Sears was trapped in an open, dusty field with …

Butler

Thousands bid for bargains, for hidden treasures at Butler auction house

By Rick Wills
Jim Tarbert has been a regular at the Auction Barn of Cranberry ever since he bought a dining room table, four chairs and a China closet for $200. “Where else …

Indiana

Indiana County man charged in assault on toddler

By Bob Stiles
A man has been charged with assaulting his 20-month-old stepchild, who was fighting on Saturday to remain alive in an Allegheny County hospital. Juan Campbell, 27, of 88 Susan Drive, Burrell Township, was charged Friday night with aggravated assault, recklessly …

Somerset

Somerset County couple charged with setting up ‘marijuana grow’ operation

By Mary Pickels
A Somerset County man and woman are charged with operating a “marijuana grow,” which police learned about while investigating a report of a domestic assault this week. Mary Elizabeth Beeman, 24, and Johnathan Richard Barr, 21, both of Somerset, were …

Washington

Alleged Washington County carjacker arrested at airport

By Timothy Puko 4:57 p.m.
State police are holding a Chicago-area man on charges he stole his ex-wife’s car in Washington County before trying to flee on a flight out of Pittsburgh International around dawn Sunday. Allegheny County police arrested Jason Scott Sargent, 39, of …

Education

Corbett to tap new education secretary

By The Associated Press
HARRISBURG — The superintendent of a large suburban Harrisburg school district will be Gov. Tom Corbett’s nominee for education secretary and replace Ron Tomalis, who after a busy and rocky two-year tenure will move into an advisory role in the …

Pennsylvania

Grandparents providing more care for grandkids

By (York) Daily Record/sunday News
YORK — When Heather Robinson, a single mom, was severely injured in a car crash in November 2010, her parents took care of her 13-month-old son, Christian. Without their help, …

Blog Entries

Photo Gallery

Friday - May 17, 2013

Daily images from around the region by Trib Total Media staff photographers. …

Luis Fábregas

Luis Fábregas
Pittsburgh-area woman made similar decision long before Jolie
Rachel Golden believed it would be only a matter of time before doctors found cancer in her breasts. Not only did her two grandmothers have …

More Luis Fábregas

Salena Zito

Salena Zito
Minority Leader Pelosi’s priority: Recapturing House for Democrats
WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi says she cares more about enabling Democrats to regain control of the U.S. House than becoming speaker again. “It’s not about …

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Eric Heyl

Eric Heyl
Tea Party or pizza  party: Feds watching
C ONFIDENTIAL REPORT — FOR YOUR EYES ONLY To: U.S. Attorney General Eric (redacted) From: J. Ridley (redacted), director, U.S. Department of Justice, Clandestine Division …

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Nafari Vanaski

Nafari Vanaski
Mall play gym gives children — and parents — a taste of life in the ‘jungle’
There is no better place than a suburban shopping mall to measure the grittiness of your child, or to compare your kid to others to …

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Obituaries

Munhall officer brought compassion, calm to job …

By Bill Vidonic
Retired Munhall police Officer Thomas Hilla always told his comrades …