Megan Swift stories, Page 15
Penn State breaks THON fundraising record with over $17 million
For the first time ever, Penn State’s THON fundraising total surpassed $17 million raised in the fight against pediatric cancer. The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon’s exact total was $17,737,040.93 — beating THON 2024’s record-breaking total of $16,955,683.63 by more than $780,000, the university announced Sunday. View this post on Instagram A...
Recent spate of plane crashes has made some travelers wary to fly
Nancy Philpot lost two of her former Westinghouse co-workers in the 1994 USAir Flight 427 crash near Hopewell, Beaver County, which killed all 132 passengers on board. Though she was initially hesitant to board an airplane once again, she eventually got over her fear. But after the past few weeks,...
Penn State will report incidents of hazing in alignment with Clery Act amendments
Penn State University is now notifying students in its messaging system about hazing incidents. The change was made in accordance with federal requirements — the newly enacted amendments to the Clery Act, the university said. The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data. Penn State said...
Western Pa. picked baby names Oliver, Olivia most in 2024
When it comes to baby names, the O’s have it. Across Allegheny Health Network in Western Pennsylvania, O names rose to the top of people’s lists in 2024 — specifically Oliver for boys and Olivia for girls. Across AHN’s maternity care units, those were the two most popular names given...
Probability of asteroid striking Earth highest ever recorded
The probability of an asteroid striking Earth on Dec. 22, 2032, has risen to the highest level ever recorded — 3.1%, the New York Times reported. Known as 2024 YR4, the space rock was first detected in December, and it’s between 130 to 300 feet long, according to the Times....
Trader Joe’s popular mini cooler bags are back
Forget the Trader Joe’s mini tote bags — the viral mini cooler bags are back in stock. Available in a two-toned pink and a lilac and black combo for $3.99, the 1.5-gallon mini cooler bags previously have come in red, green, orange, yellow and blue, according to Taste of Home....
Elderberry remedy: Is there any true homeopathic flu antidote?
Sick with the cold or flu and symptoms seem everlasting? With flu cases running rampant, it’s no surprise that Americans turn to alternative remedies to try and feel better in a pinch. However, not all methods work, according to experts. Lately, people have been drinking herbal supplements like elderberry as...
Penn State football ticket, parking prices set to increase
The cost of Penn State football season tickets and parking passes are rising next season — the result of a new fee. Fees will be added to sports tickets, parking and concessions as part of the new Legacy Fund campaign to raise money for scholarships and facilities, the team announced,...
Elon Musk’s son X causes stir in Oval Office with Trump
After Elon Musk’s 4-year-old son — X Æ A-Xii, known as X — made an appearance in the Oval Office Tuesday with his dad and President Donald Trump, videos of the child’s antics have gone viral online. X stole the show from Trump and Musk’s first public comments in front...
Duolingo reveals owl mascot killed by cybertruck
After killing off its star mascot — Duo the owl — Duolingo provided answers Wednesday behind the sudden death. On Wednesday morning, Duolingo posted on social media that officials have identified Duo’s cause of death after singer Dua Lipa posted about the devastating news. UPDATE: Officials have identified cause of...
‘Unbelievable’: Marc Fogel’s mother celebrates son’s release from Russian prisonVideo
When Malphine Fogel heard the words, she felt dizzy. She took a seat and tried to collect herself. Her son, Marc Fogel, was on the other end of a phone line in Moscow. He was coming home from a Russian prison after more than three years. “He said, ‘I’m waiting...
Duolingo’s owl mascot dead, company says
Duolingo has announced that its mascot — the iconic owl Duo — is dead. The Pittsburgh-based language learning app told the public the news via an “important message” on its social media pages. an important message from Duolingo pic.twitter.com/jTTT680yVs— Duolingo (@duolingo) February 11, 2025 “Authorities are currently investigating his cause...
Some canned tuna recalled in Pennsylvania due to risk of foodborne illness
Do you eat canned tuna? It might be a good idea to check your stash of products at home. Tri-Union Seafoods issued a recall of select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s tuna cans due to potential foodborne illness — and products in Pennsylvania at Trader Joe’s, Walmart and...
Ye’s website sold swastika T-shirts before being taken down
After rapper and designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, bought a local TV ad during the Super Bowl, people realized it promoted his website that was selling just one product — T-shirts with swastikas. The symbol of Nazi Germany, which is still used by modern-day far-right extremists, appeared in...
Last Downtown homeless encampment closed; city and county officials cite success at resettlement
The last Downtown Pittsburgh homeless encampment — on the Eliza Furnace Trail — has been closed as of Monday, city and county officials said. People experiencing homelessness who used to reside there have been transitioned into more stable housing as recently as this past weekend. They were part of the...
Altius, Monterey Bay among top 100 most romantic restaurants in country
If you’re looking for a romantic spot to take your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, look no further than Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington. Both Altius and Monterey Bay Fish Grotto made the latest OpenTable ranking of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in the United States. Altius, which is rated 4.9 stars...
Crayola hits rewind with classic crayon colors, including dandelion
Crayola is bringing a collection of eight “nostalgic fan-favorite crayon colors” — including Dandelion — out of retirement. The decision marks the first time in Crayola’s 122-year history that retired colors are set to return, USA Today reported. Crayola said it “received an outpouring of fan requests to bring back...
Layne’s Chicken Fingers to expand Pittsburgh locations
Layne’s Chicken Fingers is poised to open three more Pittsburgh-area locations by the end of 2025 — in addition to its new Bloomfield location hosting a grand opening on Saturday. The Bloomfield Layne’s is located at 5200 Baum Blvd., the site of a former Boston Market. It joins the two...
Here are some Taylor Swift-themed prop bets for Super Bowl
Taylor Swift will make her second Super Bowl appearance this weekend to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce — and numerous prop bets are available for the big game. The Taylor Swift prop bets deserve their own separate section of Super Bowl-related action the gamblers can partake in on Sunday ????...
Lawsuit filed against activists fighting to save Donny’s Place in Pittsburgh
A developer and the estate of the late Donald Thinnes are suing two Polish Hill residents pushing for the historic designation of former Pittsburgh gay bar Donny’s Place. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, Anderson and Matthew Cotter, the defendants named in the lawsuit, have been advocating since early 2024 to thwart the...
Gaza joins list of Trump proposals backed by Fetterman
After President Donald Trump suggested a plan to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said he was open to the idea. Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, called the plan “provocative,” but it’s “part of the conversation,” The Hill reported. “The Palestinians have refused, or they’ve been...
‘Height of the season’: Flu cases surge in Western Pa.
Flu cases are spiking in Western Pennsylvania as the region’s doctors treat high numbers of patients stricken with the seasonal respiratory illness. Dr. Amy Crawford-Faucher, a family physician and chair of the Allegheny Health Network Primary Care Institute, said Wednesday she’s seen a “significant increase” in the number of people...
Flip Phone February trend offers alternative to smartphone use
Forget the Phone Free February challenge — an alternative trend has emerged called “Flip Phone February.” Instead of using smartphones, some people have been purchasing the once-popular flip phones to allow them to unplug from apps that have left them addicted to screen time, such as social media platforms Instagram,...
‘Dancing with the Stars: Live!’ brings high energy theatrics to Pittsburgh
As audience members found their seats at the Benedum Center for Tuesday night’s “Dancing with the Stars: Live!,” they were treated to upbeat pop tunes like “Move Ya Body” and “Let’s Get It Started.” The two-hour show — broken into two 50-minute acts with a 20-minute intermission — opened up...
‘No-buy 2025’ trend challenges shoppers to cut or eliminate spending
How long could you go without purchasing anything? A day? A week? A month? What about a whole year? The trend “no-buy 2025” has taken the internet by storm since the start of the new year — the latest no-spending challenge. In the spirit of decreasing consumerism, clutter and credit...
