TribLive stories, Page 217

Trevor Wingard was serving as the superintendent at SCI Somerset in January 2017 when he learned his prison had been chosen by the state secretary for a two-day meeting of corrections leaders from across Pennsylvania. Although the training schedule was aggressive, Wingard was given a one-hour window to show off...

Among the big losers of the 2024 election were politicians and activist groups who claim so-called “dark money” is the secret force driving American politics. Groups that do not disclose their donors once again made up a small share of overall campaign spending and notched few notable victories. The results...

Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....

A multitude of insults have been thrown at Mike Tomlin disagreeing with his tactics while coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a good thing Tomlin seems to be thick-skinned and can blow all the criticisms off. I’m not a Pennsylvanian, although I live here due to circumstances beyond my control. To...

There are worse ways to start off a new year than revisiting old friends, especially when those old friends are funnier, fresher and better than ever. So it makes a lot of sense to enjoy “Funny Girl” while the national tour is in town, thanks to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s...

The writer of the letter “System is rigged for Trump and Musk” (Dec. 31, TribLive) seems to have a problem with wealthy people. I don’t. Many wealthy people make things possible in the lives of everyday people that would not be possible otherwise. Sure, they make a lot of money,...

It is important to acknowledge progress when it occurs. Just because it isn’t the Tour de France doesn’t mean you don’t give a kid a high five for staying on his bike all the way down the block without training wheels. Passing a test isn’t getting into Harvard, but it’s...

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 advice available for...

Regarding Chip Minemyer’s op-ed “Tired Sandusky taunts further insult victims of abuse” (Dec. 31, TribLive): Chants and chirps by opposing fans about the Penn State child sex abuse scandal are aimed at calling out the Penn State community for continuing to worship people, i.e. Joe Paterno, who played a prominent...

High schools Basketball Boys Tuesday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Seneca Valley 58, Butler 52 New Castle 65, Pine-Richland 52 Woodland Hills 43, North Allegheny 39 Fox Chapel 54, North Hills 52 Section 2 Hempfield 66, Canon-McMillan 47 Mt. Lebanon 77, Connellsville 42 Upper St. Clair 74, Imani Christian 32...

Carter Tumulty scored 16 points and Michael Santicola had 15 for Moon en route to a 51-43 victory over rival Mars in a Section 4-5A boys basketball game Tuesday night. Austen Wroblewski scored 15 points and Austin Campbell had 11 for Mars (6-4, 2-1). Moon (10-2, 3-1) used a 15-5...

The Girl Scouts have gone cookie cutter. In a bittersweet statement issued Tuesday, the Girl Scouts of the USA revealed two fan-favorite treats, the S’mores and Toast-Yay!, will be discontinued at the end of 2025. That means cookie-lovers have just one year left to stock up before the sweet snacks...

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is the first Senate Democrat to sign onto a Republican-led bill that would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes. The bill, passed Tuesday in the House, is slated to come up for a Senate vote on Friday. In addition to...

BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho House committee will consider a formal statement asking the U.S. Supreme Court to end same-sex marriage nationwide and allow the state to restore its ban on such unions. State Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, proposed the measure that calls the 2015 decision from the nation’s highest...

Americans have been appalled by thousands of illegal immigrants — those granted temporary legal status or who crossed the border undetected — exacerbating homelessness and straining shelters, schools and social services budgets. President-elect Donald Trump promised aggressive deportations during his campaign, but he hardly has a mandate. He won the...

For those waiting and hoping to see the economy return to pre-covid levels of activity, recent employment data, while showing considerable strength, must be discouraging. The data are reminiscent of American novelist and playwright Gertrude Stein’s comment following a disappointing visit to her childhood hometown, where she had hoped to...

After bringing the romance of Peter Parker and Mary Jane to the big screen, “Spider-Man” co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya are engaged after three years of dating. TMZ first reported the couple’s engagement on Monday. The media outlet stated that a source shared that Holland proposed to the “Euphoria” and...

Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025....

I am really tired of Republican letter-writers harping about President Biden’s “humiliating Afghanistan surrender to the Taliban” (“Biden a flawed president, flawed man,” Dec. 21, TribLive). Another wrote of “A bungled, shameful Afghanistan pullout.” (“Hope for a better tomorrow with Trump,” TribLive, Dec. 27). Where were these writers while we...

Think of a desert, and a specific image comes to mind. It’s sandy and hot and seems endless and empty. But that’s not every desert. There are frozen deserts that still qualify for the definition because of the lack of rainfall. There are deserts landscaped with mountains or those dotted...

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 Food Bank...

To me and all the Americans who voted to oust the radical Democrats from offices across the country, every day is now Christmas Day as we read or see the deconstruction of their DEI/woke/ESG identity politics that have turned the American dream of success through merit into a nightmare of...

High schools Basketball Boys Monday’s results Class 5A Section 1 Penn-Trafford at McKeesport, ppd. Class 2A Section 2 Brentwood at Leechburg, ppd. Nonsection Beaver at Lincoln Park, ppd. Tuesday’s schedule Class 6A Section 1 Butler at Seneca Valley, 7:30 p.m. New Castle at Pine-Richland, 7:30 p.m. North Allegheny at Woodland...

Karis Thomas hit six 3-pointers and finished with 24 points to lead Shady Side Academy to a 54-26 victory over Deer Lakes in Section 2-3A girls basketball Monday night. Cassie Sauer added nine points and Cameron Capel had eight for the Bulldogs (12-0, 5-0). Rowan Kelly led the Lancers (8-3,...