TribLive stories, Page 299
Federal freeze hits major Pa. food bank, halts fresh milk, eggs and meat program
One of Pennsylvania’s largest food banks relies on a little-known federal program that allows it to help more people by purchasing milk, eggs and meat directly from farmers at reduced prices. That program is now in jeopardy amid the widespread rollout of funding cuts and program stoppages directed by President...
A-K Valley WPIAL basketball playoff capsules: Games for Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
WPIAL basketball playoffs Friday’s games Boys Class 4A First round 9-Highlands (6-13) at 8-Elizabeth Forward (17-5) 7 p.m. Friday Winner plays: At No. 1 Belle Vernon (18-4), Wednesday in quarterfinals (time TBD) Players to watch: Troy Bielak, Highlands; Tyler Basic, Elizabeth Forward Layup lines: Highlands is in the playoffs for...
Girls complete Plum sweep of WPIBL team championships
Plum completed a sweep at the WPIBL girls team bowling championships Thursday at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. A day after the Mustangs won the boys team title, the girls team defeated Hempfield in a three-game final to repeat as WPIBL champions. Plum was the top team all day, dominating qualifying...
Texas cancels immunization conference, while CDC under federal gag order
The state of Texas is canceling its biennial immunization conference, planned for May, amid uncertainty over how much the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could participate while under a federal gag order. The Texas Department of State Health Services wrote in an email announcement on Wednesday that the...
Butler’s Jackson Jungling wins WPIAL rifle title with perfect score
Butler’s Jackson Jungling shot a perfect score of 200-20x to win the WPIAL rifle championship Thursday at Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club in Canonsburg. Jungling is Butler’s third champion, the first since Kayla Fry shared the title in 2007. He is the first champion with a perfect score since West Greene’s...
Linda McMahon says Trump’s plan to close Education Department would need Congress’ approval
WASHINGTON — Linda McMahon, the former CEO of a professional wrestling and entertainment juggernaut and Donald Trump’s pick as Education secretary, told senators Thursday that the president’s plan to dismantle the Education Department would need congressional approval. “We’d like to do this right,” she said. “We’d like to make sure...
Woman dies after being found shot in crashed car in Sheraden
A 26-year-old woman has died after being shot Thursday morning in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. The victim, Taylor Hall, was pronounced dead at an area hospital Thursday morning after the shooting in the 3100 block of Kelvin Street, the medical examiner said. Pittsburgh police...
Allegheny County property tax bills lack new payment deadlines
Allegheny County residents will begin receiving 2025 real estate tax bills this week, but deadline information in the enclosed bulletins is wrong because of last-minute changes, according to County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars. On Tuesday night, Allegheny County Council voted to extend property tax deadlines by about a month, including...
Child welfare agencies are buckling under staffing shortages as Pa. debates using opioid money to help
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania counties are tapping into opioid settlement money to support child welfare programs as they face staff shortages, increased risks for children, and other challenges. Most of these initiatives have received approval from a powerful state oversight board — including efforts to train staff, support parents in treatment,...
Bird flu cases on the rise in Pa. as the state expands testing, containment efforts
BELLEFONTE — Pennsylvania has given $13.5 million to hundreds of farmers over the past three years to help them pay for bird flu testing, recover lost revenue, and implement biosecurity measures. These are the tentpoles of the state’s special grant program helping farmers respond to the aggressive virus, which is...
FBI tries new tack to thwart crypto crimes
The thousands of investors had different goals for growing their money last year, from paying for cancer treatments to helping loved ones, to just making a good return. But all had one thing in common: they were victims of cryptocurrency scams that totaled an estimated $5 billion in potential losses....
Patrick J. Schena: U.S. sovereign wealth fund — idea to invest strategically, or giant opportunity for waste?
Could the United States soon be joining the likes of Norway, Kuwait and Mongolia in having a national reserve to invest on projects of strategic interest? If President Donald Trump gets his way, then perhaps so. On Feb. 3, Trump issued an executive order calling for the creation of a...
Letter to the editor: Trump’s Musk madness has to stop
While Elon Musk, who I think zero people voted for, is taking our largest humanitarian program “to the woodchopper,” thousands and thousands of people around the world are being deprived of much-needed food, medicine, information and guidance. Goods are sitting on docks because Musk has said “stop!” And King Donald...
Letter to the editor: Democrats, find the loopholes
I love Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show.” He is not only outrageously funny, he is brilliant. President Trump and the Republican Party are saying a big “whatever” to what used to be taking pride in their jobs and believing the Constitution was more than a piece of paper. Currently,...
Editorial: Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences
Norwin School Board voted Monday to censure one of its members. Alex Detschelt has been a regular point of controversy on the board for years. There was his use of a slur regarding people with intellectual disabilities that he shared on social media. There was his subsequent opposition to a...
The Stroller, Feb. 13, 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. Night at the Races...
Letter to the editor: Allegheny County Jail needs a restraint chair
The Allegheny County Jail is the only jail in Pennsylvania where a restraint chair is not being used because of a 2021 referendum. The restraint chair allows officers to transport residents without injury to the resident or to the officers. Currently, for residents needing to be transported, officers have to...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Feb. 12, 2025
High schools Basketball WPIAL playoffs Boys Class 6A First round Monday’s schedule Woodland Hills (11-11) at Seneca Valley (11-11), 7 p.m.; North Hills (7-15) at Butler (15-6), 7 p.m.; Norwin (10-11) at Mt. Lebanon (15-7), 7 p.m. Quarterfinals Feb. 20 schedule Woodland Hills/Seneca Valley winner at Upper. St. Clair (20-2),...
High school roundup for Feb. 12, 2025: Allderdice boys, girls reach City League finals
Lukas Stead and Asher Schwartz scored 12 points apiece as Allderdice defeated Westinghouse, 81-23, in the City League semifinals Wednesday. Matt Kassis added 11 points and Keith Taylor and Trey Schachter had 10 points each for the Dragons (14-9). Jaymeer Wilson and Souljah Cook scored six points each for Westinghouse...
Plum heats up, wins WPIBL boys team championship
Once the Plum boys bowling team hit its stride Wednesday, nothing was getting in its way. After losing their first game of the semifinals, the Mustangs reeled off wins in the next four games to claim the WPIBL boys team championship at AMF Mt. Lebanon. Plum, which finished second in...
Pa. Turnpike officials warn about new smishing scam involving ‘unpaid tolls’
If you received a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls, The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission wants you to know that it’s probably a scam. Officials are warning customers to be vigilant, as scammers are pretending to be toll agencies and are sending texts demanding money immediately, the Pennsylvania Turnpike...
Special Olympics Winter Games returns to Seven Springs
Snowshoeing and alpine skiing were among the events Wednesday at the 46th annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County. Athletes, coaches and volunteers were at the the resort for three days of activities and competition, which also includes snowboarding. Opening ceremonies were held...
John Dorfman: 5 Balance Sheet Powerhouses I recommend
“Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing,” said football coach Vince Lombardi years ago. Many investors feel the same way about earnings. Excuse me, Lombardi disciples, but earnings aren’t the only thing. To withstand unexpected hardships or to seize timely opportunities, a company’s financial strength is also key. Once a...
UPMC walks back mask requirements
Two days after issuing a mask mandate for its facilities, UPMC has softened its language, stating that masks are recommended, not required. On Monday, UPMC issued a statement that masks would be required for people at all its facilities in an attempt to curb the spread of respiratory viruses. On...
‘I’d like to know why’: Family seeks answers as Clairton killer is sent to prison
A day after the start of trial for a Clairton man accused of killing his friend’s father, Sabr Ellis decided to change his not guilty plea. The 25-year-old instead admitted Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter for the Jan. 21, 2021, stabbing death of Anthony Koontz. As part of the negotiated agreement,...
