TribLive stories, Page 166
Jackie Calmes: George Washington would be spinning in his grave
George Washington, who set long-followed precedents by voluntarily giving up first military and then civilian power, and who built the foundation of the nation’s wall between its military and partisan politics, would by all historical evidence be appalled by successor Donald Trump’s escalating efforts to tear down that wall in...
Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ challenge to $1.4 billion defamation judgment
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Tuesday to hear a challenge by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to a $1.4 billion judgment awarded to families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in Connecticut over the Infowars website founder’s false statements that the 2012 incident...
Meta tightens teen safeguards on Instagram with PG-13-style content filters
Instagram will limit what users under 18 can see on the platform using filters inspired by the PG-13 movie rating system, in the latest step by its parent Meta to address criticism that it has not done enough to protect teenagers online. Modeled on the Motion Picture Association’s ratings, the...
Fed’s Powell say end of balance sheet drawdown may be nearing
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday the end of the central bank’s long-running effort to shrink the size of its holdings, widely known as quantitative tightening, or QT, may be coming into view. Given the central bank’s long-running goal of leaving enough liquidity in the financial system to...
Gallery: Photos from Oct. 14, 2025
Take a trip through Western Pennsylvania — and beyond! Join TribLive’s 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 all. Think of it...
Government shutdown is impacting Social Security. Details on payments, offices, more
As the government shutdown nears the two-week mark, several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA), remain impacted by furloughs and cannot operate as usual. Thousands of SSA employees have been furloughed, in turn limiting the agency’s available services during the shutdown. However, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income...
Education Department layoffs threaten special ed system, advocates warn
WASHINGTON — Families and educators across the country were plunged into a state of uncertainty over the weekend after the federal Education Department laid off practically every staffer in the government’s special education division. Nearly the entire Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, including the Office of Special Education...
Scientists to explore bottom of Lake Erie off eastern Erie County
Do treasure chests full of gold and jewels rest beneath the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie off eastern Erie County? Probably not. But scientists, who are using an uncrewed surface vehicle to explore and map nearly 100 square miles of lakebed along the Pennsylvania, New York and Canadian borders, are...
Government shutdown hits Day 14, White House says more layoffs to come
Day 14 of the government shutdown is upon us, and the stalemate continues, with Congress still at an impasse over spending proposals. The main bone of contention is a deadlock over healthcare funding and the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace that expires at the end of...
Trump to award Charlie Kirk top honor amid crackdown on left-wing groups
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a White House ceremony on Tuesday. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at...
David M. Drucker: Politicians need to stop being so online
As it turns out, Twitter is not the town square. Someone might want to alert American political leaders. In the era of social media, Democratic and Republican politicians have grown hyper-sensitive, and responsive, to activists who seemingly live their lives online. Whether on X, formerly Twitter, where the right ruminates...
Letter to the editor: AI, absolute ignorance
The writer of the letter “We need competence, not chaos, from our leaders” (Oct. 9, TribLive) quips in his last paragraph, “Readers, I apologize for this poorly worded letter, but you can easily tell it was not written by AI, because it would be much better.” Well, sir, I respectfully...
Trump convinced Netanyahu to take a deal. Can he keep him onboard?
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed peacemaker who has campaigned for a Nobel Prize, finally got a camera-ready diplomatic victory on Monday as world leaders flew to Egypt for the signing of the ceasefire and hostage-release deal he brokered between Israel and Hamas. But if lasting peace is to...
Voting Rights Act faces pivotal test at U.S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court is set on Wednesday to hear a Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act, giving its conservative majority a chance to deal another blow to the landmark federal law enacted 60 years ago to prevent racial discrimination in voting. The case involves electoral districts...
New covid guidelines add confusion, complications for Americans seeking shots
NEW YORK — Americans headed to pharmacies for covid-19 vaccines are running into roadblocks and confusion due to new U.S. guidance that abandoned broad support for the shots, contributing to the lowest vaccination rates since they were introduced. For the four-week period ended Oct. 3, covid immunizations were down about...
How the United States is eating Trump’s tariffs
FRANKFURT/WASHINGTON — U.S. companies and consumers are bearing the brunt of the country’s new import tariffs, early indications show, contradicting assertions by President Donald Trump and complicating the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation. Trump famously predicted that foreign countries would pay the price of his protectionist policies, wagering that exporters...
Clans and armed groups challenging Hamas in Gaza
GAZA — As the Gaza war dragged on, a diminished Hamas faced growing internal challenges to its control of Gaza from long-standing rivals, many of them affiliated with powerful local clans. Since Friday’s ceasefire took hold, Hamas has sought to reassert itself, killing dozens of opponents in a crackdown after...
Gaza ceasefire outlook darkens as Israel delays aid and Hamas tightens grip
CAIRO/JERUSALEM — Israel delayed aid into Gaza and kept the enclave’s border shut on Tuesday, while re-emergent Hamas fighters demonstrated their grip by executing men in the street, darkening the outlook for President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war. Three Israeli officials said Israel had decided to restrict aid...
Sewickley area student achievements for the week of Oct. 14, 2025
Six of Sewickley Academy seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation — an honor that recognizes exceptional academic achievement and puts these students among the top performers nationwide on the PSAT/NMSQT. This year’s semifinalists are Emma Ehan, Caroline Kain, Elijah Koziar, Raneem Wahdan, Maren...
Letter to the editor: Don’t shut down, America
As I witness another government shutdown, I contend that it is time to shut down the entire Trump regime. Remove President Trump from office and demolish both the White House and the Capitol building. Both have been forever sullied by Trump’s presence and his domestic terrorist assault of Jan. 6...
The Stroller, Oct. 14, 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. Lower Valley Community Food...
Sweetwater goes old school to celebrate 50th anniversary with That ’70s Bling Ding
It’s fitting that the Sweetwater Center for the Arts is taking inspiration from the 1970s for its 50th anniversary celebration. This year has been a big one for Sweetwater as the organization looks back at five decades of serving the Sewickley community. For this night of fun and fundraising, they’re...
Editorial: Despite threats of violence, the Supreme Court can’t let fear shape its judgments
The Red Mass, a longstanding tradition marking the start of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term, brings judges, lawyers and public officials together at Washington’s St. Matthew’s Cathedral to pray for wisdom and moral clarity in the administration of justice. Since the 1950s, this ecumenical service — welcoming for people of...
Letter to the editor: Don’t let Big Money overtake Pa. court
Big corporations and Big Money have corrupted the Supreme Court of the United States. This explains their partisan decisions that favor corporations over the American people. Their ruling on Citizens United gives companies an outsized voice in politics, drowning out the voices of average citizens. Their elimination of the Chevron...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 13
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 13....
