TribLive stories, Page 201

There was once a Dominican-born man named Porfirio Rubirosa. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you haven’t heard of him; his is not a household name. But in the mid-20th century, he was a notorious playboy, a successful diplomat, a champion polo player, one of Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husbands, cozy...

Pennsylvania public schools still may be grappling with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, according to a national report on reading and math proficiency among fourth grade and eighth grade students. The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress — released Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics — shows...

To the three Pennsylvania congressional Democrats having the distinction of casting “nay” votes for the Laken Riley Act, but most importantly to Summer Lee and Christopher Deluzio (the former previously was my representative in District 14, the latter my current representative due to realignment). Having been born and raised in...

American Association of University Women Author Beverly Harris-Schenz will be the guest speaker at a public program in February hosted by the Fox Chapel Area affiliate of the American Association of University Women. She will speak about issues in her book, “Living while Black: My experience with everyday racism.” The...

Black history is American history. I’ve heard this refrain often, and the more I’ve grown and learned, the more obvious this truth becomes. There’s hardly an aspect of American history that doesn’t turn out to involve race in some way, once you scratch the surface. When I was younger, the...

The somewhat simplified diagrams in social studies textbooks and the catchy tunes of “Schoolhouse Rock!” have taught us a rudimentary idea of what society looks like and how government fits into that. But civics classes and cartoon shorts on Saturday mornings did not give us an appreciation of how those...

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. Musical alumni concert planned...

Colin McNickle wrote an excellent column on the shocking, to some, absenteeism in Pittsburgh Public Schools (“PPS’ continuing chronic absenteeism crisis,” Jan. 18, TribLive). I’m not shocked as much, perhaps as a retired teacher and brother of a retired PPS administrator, who saw the absenteeism firsthand. But this should shock...

High schools Basketball Boys Wednesday’s results Class 5A Section 2 Plum 46, Armstrong 37 Class 3A Section 4 Ligonier Valley 81, Brownsville 55 Class 2A Section 1 Jeannette 61, Clairton 51 Nonsection Avella 62, Beth-Center 32 Beaver 60, Lincoln Park 49 Monessen 72, Cornell 43 Nazareth Prep 76, Perry 19...

Maddox Shaw (152), Brayden White (160), Bode Marlow (172) and Zach LaBryer (189) recorded four consecutive pins and a pin by Shep Turk (285) gave Thomas Jefferson the lead for good in a 39-33 victory over Trinity in the WPIAL Class 3A team wrestling quarterfinals Wednesday. Zach Rehak (107) also...

Madi Pullen sank the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, leading No. 3 Oakland Catholic to a 39-37 victory over No. 1 North Catholic in Section 1-4A girls basketball Wednesday night, ending the Trojanettes’ 112-game section winning streak that dated to 2016. Alayla Bivins scored 12 points to lead the...

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is close to nominating the city’s acting police chief, a 30-year veteran officer, to lead the police bureau on a permanent basis, City Council President R. Daniel Lavelle said Wednesday. If Gainey presses ahead with Christopher Ragland, he will have to make the case for a...

Both sides agree Zairyre Simmons fatally shot Dorian Carver of Harrison after the two argued at Taco Bell in Scott where they worked. But the prosecution and defense disagree about why. Simmons, 26, is charged with criminal homicide, receiving stolen property and carrying a firearm without a license. His trial...

President Donald Trump loves to keep us guessing. This is exactly what we’re all doing as his second term in the White House begins. It’s one way he controls the narrative. Trump’s off the cuff, unfiltered, controversial statements infuriate opponents and delight his supporters. The rest of us are left...

President Donald Trump has begun to radically change how the U.S. government handles immigration, from challenging long-held legal concepts about who gets citizenship to using the military to transport migrants back to their countries of origin. Trump’s administration is doing more than reshaping the approach of the federal government toward...

Valentine’s Day • Senior Helpers is collecting handmade Valentine’s Day cards that will be distributed to local senior citizens. Schools, community groups and local organizations are welcome to participate. Arrangements can be made for pickup by Senior Helpers or they can be dropped off at the office, 4000 Hempfield Blvd.,...

Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....

The Republican Party has long branded itself the party of law and order. As I drove around local neighborhoods this fall, I saw scores of “Back the Blue” lawn signs at the same homes sporting “Trump 2025” signs. I wonder how many of those homeowners support Trump’s pardon of all...

Now that the new president has been sworn in and the Cabinet picks are advancing through the confirmation process, I feel a palpable sense of optimism in the nation, and in fact around the world. We are coming out of four years of national malaise, with record high inflation, high...

Here at TribLive, we value the news. We have to value it. It’s our job. We value the news we cover. We value the news other professional outlets cover. We value local news and state news and national news. But we also value student news. In particular, we value student...

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. Pet food, supplies needed...

Get ready for an unbelievable ride. In 2001, Yann Martel published the bestselling novel “Life of Pi,” and it captured the imaginations of readers worldwide. In 2012, the book was adapted to the screen by director Ang Lee, with the film version netting 11 Academy Award nominations and winning four...

Dear Art Rooney, It’s me again, I would like to welcome you to the 21st century. Your modus operandi is antiquated and paralyzed with fear and has lost its way. It’s time to give the Mike Tomlin era a Viking funeral. Or have you forsaken winning for profit? Your coach...

High schools Basketball Boys Tuesday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Butler 61, Woodland Hills 53 New Castle 70, Seneca Valley 56 Fox Chapel 52, North Allegheny 20 Pine-Richland 65, North Hills 58 (OT) Section 2 Central Catholic 74, Canon-McMillan 53 Imani Christian 63, Hempfield 61 Mt. Lebanon 84, Norwin 60...