TribLive stories, Page 165
NTSB calls for urgent action to address Pennsylvania railcar fire risks
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday urged the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to immediately move to eliminate fire risks in its fleet of Silverliner IV railcars. The safety board said the outdated design of the railcars and the agency’s maintenance and operating practices represent “an immediate and...
The kids are all right, The Birdie says, as he makes his Week 6 picks in the A-K Valley
Last week: 8-1 Season: 54-11 (83%) The Birdie has something sticking in his craw this week. “You know the kerfuffle last week about Fox Chapel and Baldwin asking their opponents to take it easy on them? “It could lead to a worthwhile discussion about solutions to the problem of competitive...
2025 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week 6
Week 6 football schedule Friday WPIAL Class 6A Hempfield at Norwin, 7 p.m. Mt. Lebanon at North Allegheny, 7:30 p.m. Seneca Valley at Canon-McMillan, 7 p.m. Class 5A Allegheny Six Baldwin at Bethel Park, 7 p.m. Moon at Peters Township, 7 p.m. South Fayette at Upper St. Clair, 7 p.m....
The truth is out there as Birdie makes his Week 6 Westmoreland County picks
Last week: 11-2 Season: 57-21 (73%) We interrupt this regularly scheduled column to bring you this special bulletin: The Birdie has been spotted in Derry. Witnesses say a large, hairy creature was seen stomping through a wooded area near Trojan Stadium. “Are we sure that wasn’t Bigfoot?” Birdie asked, looking...
Veteran charged with ramming Pittsburgh FBI gate has troubled past
A man accused of ramming his car into a security gate at the FBI’s Pittsburgh headquarters had a long history of mental illness, according to testimony Wednesday at a detention hearing in federal court. Donald Henson had previously been involuntarily committed, spent six months in an intensive-inpatient treatment program through...
White House freezes funds for Democratic states in shutdown slap
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday froze $26 billion for Democratic-leaning states, following through on a threat to use the government shutdown to target Democratic priorities. The targeted programs included $18 billion for transit projects in New York, home to Congress’s top two Democrats, and $8 billion for...
Wildlife advocate, primate expert Jane Goodall dies at 91Video
Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, died on Wednesday at the age of 91, the institute she founded said. Goodall died of natural causes, the Jane Goodall Institute said in a social media post. “Dr....
Greg Fulton: The magic of Three Rivers Stadium and Willie Stargell
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Pirates’ last game in Three Rivers Stadium — Oct. 1, 2000. It would also be the last time the fans would see Pirate great Willie Stargell. The ballpark and Stargell were intertwined, and their time together represented some of the most remarkable years...
As Peanuts turns 75, Charles Schulz’s comic is more poignant than ever
SANTA ROSA, Calif. − Jeannie Schulz has a wicked sense of humor. The 86-year-old widow of Charles Schulz, creator of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the not-so-merry Peanuts gang, has become the conservator of his legacy. Schulz is among the owners of Peanuts Worldwide, through which all partnerships...
Stunned ‘Wheel of Fortune’ winner takes biggest prize, has message for her boss
A woman from Connecticut just became the biggest winner in the history of “Wheel of Fortune.” Stamford resident Christina Derevjanik won $1,035,155 on the Ryan Seacrest-hosted game show that aired on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Derevjanik, who works in marketing for a utilities company, first won trips to Montana and Tokyo...
In brief: Coat drive, flea market and more in Aspinwall area
Coat drive Fox Families Care is hosting a new and gently used coat and Halloween costume collection through Oct. 15. Donation boxes will be located at the borough building, Lauri Ann West Community Center, Cooper-Siegel Library and local schools. People can also donate jackets, hats and gloves of all sizes...
In brief: Leaf collection, middle school carnival and more in Quaker Valley
Leaf collection Glen Osborne’s pilot leaf collection program is set to begin Oct. 6 and run through Dec. 8. Collections will be made on Mondays and Wednesdays by the borough’s new public works contractor, Brian’s Property Maintenance. Residents do not need to register or contact the borough to have their...
Gallery: Photos from Oct. 1, 2025
Take a trip through Western Pennsylvania — and beyond! Join TribLive’s Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, photo adventure, where every snapshot tells a story. From the rolling hills and rustic charm of Western Pa. to far-flung corners of the world, this collection captures the little sparks of humanity that connect us...
Sen. Kim Ward and Pat Halpin-Murphy: Ensuring no-cost diagnostic breast imaging for Pa. women
Two years ago, when Act 1 of 2023 was passed unanimously, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to require insurers to cover supplemental breast cancer screenings such as MRIs and ultrasounds, as well as BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling for high-risk individuals — all at no cost. The...
What happens to student loans when the government shuts down?
The Department of Education, alongside other agencies, is preparing for a possible government shutdown as Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over the 2026 federal budget. Democrats want to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans aim to block undocumented immigrants from receiving federal health benefits and require 80 hours of...
Will Social Security payments still go out, get delayed during the government shutdown?
With the government shutdown in effect, many federal agencies and services are shut down or are greatly restricted. Americans who rely on federal programs like Social Security could be impacted. National parks or the military are not funded the same way as Social Security. Trump’s administration warned of mass firings...
How the government shutdown could impact flights, trains and cruises
A partial government shutdown is underway after Congress failed to pass legislation extending funding for operations past Sept. 30. That means hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed and non-essential duties will be suspended until a deal is reached. Federal workers who are deemed essential must continue working...
UnitedHealth to exit Medicare Advantage plans in 16 U.S. counties
NEW YORK — UnitedHealth said it will stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in 16 U.S. counties in 2026, impacting 180,000 members, as the company balances higher costs with reimbursement pressure in the insurance program. “The combination of (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) funding cuts, rising healthcare costs and increased utilization...
Letter to the editor: Powerball and government assistance
The Powerball lottery game recently went up to $1.8 billion. Thank goodness; I felt obligated to play it, but only bought three $2 tickets. Only two lucky or maybe unlucky people got all the winning numbers. I wasn’t that surprised or unhappy that I didn’t win. I have a little...
U.S. private payrolls decline in September
WASHINGTON — U.S. private payrolls dropped in September, the ADP employment report showed on Wednesday. Private employment decreased by 32,000 jobs last month after a downwardly revised 3,000 decline in August, the ADP National Employment Report showed on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private employment increasing 50,000 following a...
Trump sets tough path for Palestinian Authority’s return to Gaza
RAMALLAH — Driven out of Gaza two decades ago by Hamas, strapped for cash and headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority’s hopes of running a future Palestinian state have long seemed bleak. Its prospects, however, appeared to brighten briefly Monday when President Donald Trump announced a plan to...
Letter to the editor: Teach kids about good and evil
Charlie Kirk was a good man. I don’t think his assassination was political. I think it was about good vs. evil. People don’t realize we’re in a war between good and evil. Evil can enter our homes through our computers. According to the FBI, the suspect spent a lot of...
Editorial: Efficient, convenient police blood draws are a good tool in fighting DUI
When a police officer pulls over a driver, it can be the start of a process that costs that driver a lot of time and money. What can be missed is how much it costs the law enforcement agency, too. A suspected drunken driving stop takes longer than a simple...
The Stroller, Oct. 1, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Free microchips available for...
Letter to the editor: Political theater is necessary
To Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew, When you call civic engagement “political theater” “Nothing to see: Westmoreland commissioners debate streaming of public meetings,” Sept. 28, TribLive), you may not realize how right you are, and how proud that should make all of us. Western theater was born as civic engagement....
