TribLive stories, Page 1908

CHICAGO — McDonald’s coffee bean remnants are getting a second purpose in life in the form of car parts. Researchers from Ford, the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker, are using McDonald’s coffee chaff — the waste left over after the roasting process — to make headlamp housings and other auto components. Ford...

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee notified Rep. Duncan Hunter that his recent guilty plea means he should no longer cast votes in the House. The instruction is not mandatory, but the panel threatened action against him if he continues to vote. Hunter last voted on Wednesday, in favor of...

RALEIGH, N.C. — Wake Forest is canceling its Dec. 14 Christmas parade because of concerns of public safety after the planned participation of a local Confederate group, according to a news release. The Wake Forest Downtown Inc. board of directors, a nonprofit organizing the parade, voted Wednesday to cancel the...

A new decade of WPIAL boys basketball tips off next weekend. Preparing to defend their district championships from a year ago are Mt. Lebanon (6A), Mars (5A), New Castle (4A), Lincoln Park (3A), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (2A) and Nazareth Prep (A). New Castle is looking for a...

Early Thursday morning the Shaler Township Police Department took a report of a stolen vehicle and thefts from other unlocked vehicles. The reports were on Sunnyfield, Vilsack, Andrew, Northaven and Forliview Dr. Police urge people to keep vehicles locked and not to leave keys or visible valuables inside vehicles. If...

Miscalculated sewage project costs and a perceived lack of service have spurred Freeport Council to shop for a new engineering firm. Councilman Clinton Warnick said at a council meeting last week that he wants to hire Latrobe-based Gibson-Thomas Engineering to replace KLH Engineers for Phase II of its sewage treatment...

Congress now has several options on the table when it comes to ending surprise medical billing, an issue that has for too long hit vulnerable patients and their families with high, unexpected costs. However, not all of these solutions are made equally. In fact, some could make things substantially worse,...

West Jefferson Hills School District leaders hope to have a new multipurpose turf field complete behind the new Thomas Jefferson High School by the end of the summer. The demolition of the old Thomas Jefferson High School, however, could take longer than initially thought, as utilities on the site will...

Laurel: To a new spin on an old tradition. If you don’t see “It’s a Wonderful Life,” can you even say that Christmas has happened? Let’s not find out. Luckily, the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media’s recent closing of Regent Square Theater, where the Frank Capra classic was annually...

Just weeks after the elections that saw a GOP majority retake the Westmoreland County leadership, county row offices and most of the open judge seats where Democratic candidates were not listed on both tickets, the county Democratic Party is posting about the impeachment trial and Donald Trump Jr.’s book tour...

Who will represent the Democrats/socialists in 2020? It appears that as soon as a candidate drops out, three others jump in. Even Hillary said several friends want her to run again. Other than her daughter and husband, I wonder who those people are? Hillary just can’t accept the fact that...

Last month marked 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Does anyone know what exactly led to that occasion? In a recent speech at Hillsdale College, Roger W. Robinson Jr. reminded those in attendance how in 1982, during the Cold War, “the Soviets had an empire stretching from...

Maximum security measures will be taken at Carnegie Elementary School during the next few days in the wake of a threat. Principal Lauren Baughman notified parents Wednesday that she received an emailed threat Wednesday morning indicating something would take place Friday. The school was placed on lockdown and police departments...

A 5.24-acre property in Crafton is worth $3.5 million to a developer that recently reached a deal with Carlynton School District. The sales agreement with Armstrong Development, which is affiliated with Giant Eagle, more specifically GetGo, is contingent upon the school district acquiring nearly 1.25 acres owned by the borough....

Antioch Baptist Church The church is at 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley. Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. followed by worship and praise service at 10:45 a.m. A Bible study and prayer service is at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, call 412-741-7688 or visit antiochfw baptistsewickley.org. Beth Samuel Jewish Center...

Bowling Boys Wednesday’s results WPIBL Carlynton 5, Bishop Canevin 2 Freeport 7, Apollo-Ridge 0 Norwin 7, East Allegheny 0 Penn-Trafford 5, Greensburg Salem 2 Quaker Valley 5, North Hills 2 St. Joseph 7, Armstrong 0 Girls Wednesday’s results WPIBL Armstrong 7, St. Joseph 0 Freeport 7, Apollo-Ridge 0 North Hills...

The Pine-Richland school board held its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 2 and officially opened the period for community members interested in claiming the open seat to send in applications. The opening is in Region 3, where a total of three seats were open in the November election but only...

Garbage service pick-up will be increased to five days a week for Hampton residents, thanks to a recent proposal by Waste Management. Currently, the company, which is contracted with the township, collects garbage and recyclables only on Mondays. The company’s request to modify the collection schedule was approved by Hampton...

Pearl Harbor service planned Saturday Brackenridge American Legion will host a Pearl Harbor remembrance service at noon Saturday at the post, 845 E. First Ave. The public is welcome. New Kensington to celebrate the season on Saturday Several holiday activities are planned Saturday in New Kensington: • Santa will be...

Alexzia Seng, a junior at Shaler Area High School won first place in the National Chemistry Week Illustrated Poetry Contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Entries were judged based upon relevance to and incorporation of this year’s theme, “Marvelous Metals,” word choice and imagery,...

The cold months are just beginning, but Township of Pine personnel are already thinking ahead to warm weather and sunshine. They’re targeting mid-summer for the opening of a new splash pad in Pine Community Park where children of all ages will be able to cool off and have fun outdoors...

Pine board of supervisors unanimously passed the 2020 budget at its Dec. 2 meeting. Highlights of the $20 million budget include proposed expansion at the Pine Community Center, construction of a handicapped accessible trail and wetland interpretive area in Pine Community Park, municipal building updates, the extension of the Rachel...

One of the world’s leading conductors returns to Heinz Hall this week to do double duty. Osmo Vanska will lead a particularly interesting program for a pair of BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts, and also conduct a masterpiece for the holiday season, “Messiah.” Vanska will conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra...

A teen who went missing briefly in Pittsburgh’s North Side has been found safe, officials said Thursday. On Wednesday night, police asked the public for help searching for a 17-year-old girl from the Manchester section of the North Side who was reported missing. She returned safely to her home before...

While the WPIAL champions looking for double gold this fall were cut in half from six to three in the state semifinals last weekend, they are still the most represented district in the PIAA championship party coming up in Hershey. The WPIAL has Thomas Jefferson, Central Valley and Avonworth in...