TribLive stories, Page 263

The day Kenzie Houk was killed, her ex-boyfriend, who, her family said, had once thrown her down a set of stairs and repeatedly threatened to kill her, offered to take a polygraph exam. But the state police investigating the shotgun murder didn’t take him up on it. “That determination is...

No one could truly be surprised by the actions of President Joe Biden as he announced the granting of a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden. What father in a similar position would not do the same? But Biden is more than a father. He is president of the United...

LOS ANGELES — Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss is taking an extended leave from his role as an analyst on “NFL Sunday Countdown” as he deals with “a personal health challenge,” ESPN said in a statement Friday. In a video recorded and posted on Instagram before he appeared on...

Since 2002, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has mounted annual holiday performances of “The Nutcracker” with a Pittsburgh-centered twist. This year, they’re adding an even bigger dose of the ’Burgh with guest appearances by 14 local celebrities throughout 12 shows. “I think ‘The Nutcracker’ is a tradition on which people and families...

Pittsburgh was truly the Steel City. Coke plants, tar plants, steel mills, glass manufacturers and other ancillary heavy industry lined the banks of the rivers, producing the raw products of the country’s industrial revolution. A remnant of these days are the current U.S. Steel facilities still occupying their locations in...

Christmas party planned A senior Christmas party is planned for 1 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Leetsdale Manor Highrise community room, 27 Spencer St. It will be hosted by Mayor Sandra Ford and several borough officials and volunteers including entertainment underwriter Maria Napolitano. Live entertainment includes jazz singer Kate Boyko....

It came as a surprise that President Joe Biden unconditionally pardoned his son Hunter, a convicted felon, after repeatedly vowing that he would not. For the past few months, each time Biden or his press secretary was asked whether a pardon was in the cards, they both emphatically said no....

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spends roughly $171 million preparing major roads for winter weather each season, and plows play a large role in keeping the commonwealth’s bridges and highways clear of snow and ice. According to agency estimates, PennDOT used 2,238 plow trucks, 396 rental trucks and 235 anti-icing...

Pre-professional soccer continues its growth spurt in the Pittsburgh region. Steel City FC will join the USL W League (women) and USL League Two (men) in 2025, the United Soccer League announced Friday morning. Steel City FC trains more than 1,500 players in and around Pittsburgh, with primary training sites...

Christmas event • Level Green Presbyterian Church, 105 Olive Drive, Trafford, will host a free live Nativity Dec. 13 on the church front lawn. Visiting with the animals will be at 6:45 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. Carol singing will be afterward. Hot chocolate, hot cider,...

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President-elect Trump and Trump Republicans sit in Moses’ seat ready to put the unjust like Kash Patel, a proponent of the QAnon cult’s bizarre and dangerous conspiracy theories, in charge of the FBI and other departments. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but...

Hopefully, the weather outside won’t be quite as frightful this weekend — the city should be thawing a little after a frigid week. Enjoy it while it lasts! Dance, shop, eat and even parade with these events in Pittsburgh this weekend. Saturday in Mellon Square Featuring the awe-inspiring Aurora light...

Antioch Baptist Church 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley. 412-741-7688. antioch fwbaptistsewickley.org. Morning worship and praise service is at 10:45 a.m. First Sunday Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. First Friday virtual Bible study is at 7 p.m. A link is available via Pastor Dean’s Facebook page. Beth Samuel Jewish Center 810 Kennedy...

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 seminar to discuss...

Laurel: To looking ahead. The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce announced Monday the launch of a $25,000 study to explore construction of a convention center. “We feel the time is right to move forward with this next step,” Chamber President Dan DeBone said. The preferred location would be somewhere along...

Like the covid jab, progressives will soon be a note in history. Like magic, world leaders are changing their policies. Think tanks and TV news are changing co-hosts or canceling their shows or liberal views. “The View” and MSNBC suddenly flipped to moderate. Walmart has scaled back DEI. Even Sen....

Two organizations and three people were honored recently by the Westmoreland County Historical Society’s 2024 Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Awards. The awards are presented annually to people, organizations, businesses or educational institutions that have contributed to the preservation of Westmoreland County’s historic places, documents, records or stories. The awards...

Eat, drink and be merry at some great events around the county this weekend. Get away from the cold with delicious treats, fun performances and lots of good cheer. Irwin Christmas cookie tour Businesses throughout downtown Irwin will be spreading a little Christmas magic with the Irwin Christmas cookie tour...

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is scheduled to visit Greensburg on Monday afternoon to remind Pennsylvania residents to sign up for medical coverage through Pennie, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Davis is slated to make an appearance at Adagio Health with Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner...

High schools Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Nonsection Bentworth 52, Charleroi 50 Bishop Canevin 48, Lincoln Park 38 Wilmington 47, Environmental Charter 43 New Brighton 72, South Side 60 West Allegheny 62, Steel Valley 36 Friday’s schedule Aquinas Academy tournament Propel Montour at South Park, 7 p.m. Cheswick Christian at Aquinas...

In a matchup of reigning state champions, Aubree Hupp scored 17 points and Andrea Kinger hit a pair of free throws with five seconds left to lead Blackhawk to a 49-46 victory over Kennedy Catholic in nonsection girls basketball Thursday. Bella Magestro scored 16 points, Tori Harvey added 14 and...

A foreign adversary of the United States is likely behind some of the reported Havana syndrome incidents, a House congressional inquiry has concluded, adding a scathing critique of the U.S. intelligence community for “attempting to thwart” the investigation and producing an earlier “dubious or misleading” assessment dismissing the incidents. U.S....

When state trooper Harry Gustafson arrived at the Lawrence County farmhouse early Feb. 20, 2009, he spotted a 4-year-old girl standing in the front doorway, crying. “I bent down to her, and she said, ‘My mommy’s dead. My mommy’s dead.’” Gustafson picked her up, put her on the couch in...