TribLive stories, Page 283
As new season dawns, Riverhounds looking for championship to punctuate golden era
Bob Lilley has seen his share of season openers in a career that now spans five decades as a player and head coach across multiple versions of indoor and outdoor soccer in the U.S. Lilley is beginning his eighth season as manager of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. It’s no secret the...
Letter to the editor: Elections have consequences
With alarm, we bear witness to President Donald Trump’s sledgehammering cuts to the federal government with agency closings, layoffs and indiscriminate and unlawful firings of civil servants, all occurring while Congress ineptly stands by. Unelected but Trump-appointed Elon Musk enters and closes numerous agencies with dangerous, uncertain firings of nuclear...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 3, 2025
High schools Basketball PIAA playoffs Boys Class 6A First round Saturday’s schedule Mechanicsburg (20-3) at Conestoga (21-5), 3 p.m.; Hazleton (12-12) at Northampton (19-9), 1 p.m.; Spring-Ford (20-7) at Central Dauphin (20-5), 7 p.m.; Garnet Valley (19-7) at Father Judge (19-7), 2:30 p.m.; Imhotep (23-5) vs. CB East (15-11) at...
High school roundup for March 3, 2025: Mars, Moon win thrillers in Penguins Cup playoffs
Grant Weaver scored the game-winning goal with five seconds left in regulation, sending No. 2B Mars to a 5-4 victory over No. 3A Shaler in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A quarterfinals Monday night. Gavin Stevenson and Jack Tirch each had a goal and an assist and Garrett Myers and...
Driver pleads guilty to killing motorcyclist in Dormont crash, faces deportation
Christian Sluka played multiple instruments in his band, adored his cats and spent much of his time caring for and mentoring his three younger brothers. When he was killed last year while riding his motorcycle in Dormont, it left an emotional and physical void for his loved ones. “I feel...
Lawyers argue whether woman who pleaded guilty in Oakmont child death meant to kill
Alexis Herrera clearly thought of the 3-year-old girl as less than human, the prosecutor said. Herrera withheld food and water. She tied the girl up. She made her sit on the potty for hours. She struck her. She let the other children in the house hurt the girl, too. All...
Tennessee man pleads guilty to indecent assault of 3 North Huntingdon children
A Tennessee man will serve 10 years on probation for the indecent assault of three young children more than four years ago in North Huntingdon. Joseph Aaron Smith, 40, pleaded guilty Monday to three misdemeanor counts of indecent assault based on allegations that he had improper sexual contact with the...
Vaccine critic RFK Jr. backs measles shot amid deadly Texas outbreak
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly backed the measles vaccine amid an outbreak of the disease in Texas that has already killed one child. The 71-year-old vaccine skeptic had previously criticized the immunization and called the outbreak “not unusual” last week, even though the child was the first person...
Matthew Espenshade: IRA’s unfair drug pricing must be stopped
How many of us know what goes into the development of the medications we take? We take a medicine and hope it will work, that we’ll feel better shortly or we’ll be able to keep certain diseases in check. Very few of us have any concept of the years of...
United flight diverted to Texas after severe turbulence injures 5
Five people were injured on a United Airlines flight Sunday amid turbulence so severe that multiple flights were diverted to Waco Regional Airport in central Texas. United 5690 had departed Springfield, Missouri, en route to Houston at 4:48 p.m. and made an emergency landing an hour and 40 minutes later...
Export native Luciana Perry continues to rise in women’s college tennis ranks at Ohio State
Luciana Perry was encouraged to try different sports while growing up in Export. But she always came back to tennis. There was a natural pull to the sport. Her father, Craig, grew up in Florida and played tennis at Rollins College before moving to Pittsburgh to teach the sport at...
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Maddie Barrick
The high school swimming season is coming to a close, and it has been another successful one for Mt. Pleasant. On the girls side, Lily King and Kiersten O’Connor continue to lead the way alongside longtime coach Sandy Felice. But they’re not alone. Maddie Barrick has been a key contributor,...
Highlands grad Brooke Signorella showing promise in volleyball, track at DeSales despite late introduction to both sports
There are those who would debate the notion that competitive cheer is a “sport” on par with the likes of football, wrestling, tennis, etc. Regardless of the answer, Brooke Signorella knows without a doubt where she gets her athleticism. From 13 years in competitive cheer. “I was flipping my body....
Comedians Steven Martin and Martin Short coming to Pittsburgh
Legendary comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short will bring their “The Dukes of Funnytown!” tour to Pittsburgh this year. Shows are scheduled for Nov. 21 and 22 at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. The show will also feature jazz pianist Steve Babko and bluegrass band The Steep Canyon Rangers....
Allegheny Health Department lifts violations at Walnut Grill in the Waterworks
The Allegheny County Health Department has lifted its health alert against Walnut Grill in the Waterworks near Aspinwall after addressing a rodent issue and multiple health code violations. The restaurant, part of a regional chain, quickly took corrective action following an inspection that found evidence of mice and other infractions....
Gallery: Photos from March 3, 2025
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Monday, March 3, 2025. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....
Letter to the editor: Christians did indeed vote for Trump
I disagree with the letter “Christians and Trump” (Feb. 27, TribLive), in which the writer claims that no real Christian voted for President Trump. Many of us who are Bible believers and follow Christ voted for Trump. It was our understanding that our nation was becoming weak and being filled...
Letter to the editor: International aid boosts economic prosperity, security
Not only is global poverty a humanitarian problem, but it also has an impact on national security and economic stability. Foreign aid, which accounts for less than 1% of the federal budget yet has a significant influence, is one way that the United States helps combat extreme poverty around the...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of March 3, 2025
Plum fire department fish fries The Holiday Park, Logans Ferry and Renton volunteer fire departments will have fish fries on Fridays during Lent, from March 7 to Good Friday, April 18. Holiday Park will have lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., dinner from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will...
Sewickley Valley YMCA club changes name to SMC
SMC, formerly known as The Senior Men’s Club, has rebranded itself to reflect its evolving identity. No longer limited to men, the organization now welcomes women and younger members, creating a more inclusive community. Started in 1989 and affiliated with the Sewickley Valley YMCA, SMC continues to meet Friday mornings...
Letter to the editor: Let’s look at who’s paying their ‘fair share’
Democrats and their minions in the legacy media and various cable new outlets have “waged war” against the wealthy, saying that they have not paid “their fair share of taxes.” Most have never stated what “their fair share” should be. President Trump’s proposed $5,000 DOGE rebate essentially defines what a...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of March 3, 2025
Blood drive set at high school Vitalant is hosting a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 27 at Penn Hills High School, one of dozens of blood drives the group is holding in the Pittsburgh area this month. Donors who participate at any of these sites will...
Editorial: Never forget the WTC sick — Congress must finally fully fund their health care
We were relieved when House Republicans successfully pushed President Donald Trump to reverse the Elon Musk-imposed 20% cut to the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides medical monitoring and treatment to 137,000 responders and survivors sickened from the toxic plume from 9/11. Never forget, indeed. But having protected the...
Letter to the editor: Musk’s havoc
I’d like to add some additional data to the letter “Speak up to stop Musk’s coup” (Feb. 15, TribLive). Elon Musk is the wealthiest person in the world, worth $442 billion, yet in 2022 and 2024 Tesla paid $0 in federal tax. It’s obscene that any one man should have...
The Stroller, March 3, 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. Burrell Bucs Hockey raising...

