TribLive stories, Page 313
Last defendant in torture death of Oakmont girl is found guilty of 1st-degree murder
In hundreds of text messages between them, the sisters who helped kill the 3-year-old girl referred to her in any number of ways. Ugly. Animal. Crackhead. Ebola. But never once, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Beemer noted, did they call her by her name: Bella. “The malice, the wickedness,...
Killer of Uber driver seeks new trial over claims of racial, political bias
The man convicted last month in the high-profile murder of an Uber driver in Monroeville wants a new trial because of what his lawyer called “political and racial bias” by the Allegheny County district attorney and the lead detective on the case. In a court motion, the attorney for Calvin...
Dr. Susan Kressly: Why pediatricians are worried
Early in my career as a pediatrician, it would not be unusual to get a phone call in the middle of the night from the worried parent of a child with a high fever. I got out of bed, met the family in the emergency room and sat with them...
Anti-Israel referendum bid in Pittsburgh fails again
An effort to use a referendum to ban Pittsburgh from doing business with companies linked to Israel has again failed after the parties agreed Friday morning that the petitioners did not gather the required number of signatures. Following a short hearing before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay,...
Photos: Daily gallery for March 7, 2025
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Friday, March 7, 2025....
Letter to the editor: A personal look back on eight years of Biden, Trump
After reading the letter “A rundown of the last 8 years” (Feb. 5, TribLive) while Presidents Trump and Biden were in office, I decided to check out my last eight years. While Trump was in office, my insurance company canceled my $15,000 life insurance policy, resulting in a future loss...
Hempfield woman driving school bus van dies after tractor-trailer strikes 2 vehicles; Greensburg Salem student driver injured
Rene Davis was remembered Friday for the dedication and care she demonstrated as a school bus driver serving the Greensburg Salem School District. Davis, 60, of Hempfield was killed Friday morning when her school bus van was struck by a tractor-trailer that ran through a red light on Route 22...
Letter to the editor: The obvious about Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
I turned on the news early Friday afternoon to witness exploding talking heads as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was driven from the White House. Surprisingly, none mentioned the obvious: Zelenskyy’s childlike petulance to advance the cause of peace by: • Formalizing the minerals agreement, already been signed by his legislature,...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: March 7
The following is a regular feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz:...
Annie Abbott: Multilingualism not a threat. It belongs in our country.
When Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde spoke to President Donald Trump and the congregation on the day after his inauguration, she asked him “to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” For many of those people, that fear is pronounced miedo, and speaking Spanish (or any...
Letter to the editor: Looking at Trump’s ‘smart’ moves so far
Just over a month into his second term, let’s just see how President Trump is making America great again. The especially smart moves so far include cutting the: • FAA air traffic controllers just before the start of the air travel season. • IRS just as tax filing season gets...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: March 7-9
Time to spring forward! It’s tough to lose that hour just for the sake of daylight savings, but you can have just as much fun this weekend as any other with what’s happening around town. The Thaw This new three-weekend festival from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will (hopefully) take us...
Letter to the editor: Medicaid cuts would devastate many
The recent House budget resolution almost certainly requires action from the committee that oversees Medicaid. This level of savings can only be achieved through devastating changes to the Medicaid program. There is no other way. I urge the public to contact their elected officials, particularly senators, to oppose the budget...
The Stroller, March 7, 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. Bowling fundraiser to aid...
Laurels & lances: Lent, rent, money spent
Laurel: To the start of the season. Lent is upon us. Ash Wednesday was this week, and now Fridays in the coming weeks — and the practice for many Christians of abstaining from eating meat — are a chance for churches, fire companies and other nonprofits to fundraise with fish...
Letter to the editor: New vehicles in Hempfield a smart move
Regarding the article “Hempfield supervisors spend $222K on vehicles after debate” (Feb. 27, TribLive): I applaud Chairman Douglas Weimer and Supervisors William Bretz and Jay Anderson for voting to invest in the local economy. Purchasing new vehicles is an investment in the improvement of township services, not simply replacing equipment....
Belle Vernon boys ready to get back to business against Farrell
Going back a number of years, there have been plenty of battles between Joe Salvino and Farrell’s boys basketball team. The two old foes will meet again Friday night at Belle Vernon as Salvino leads the WPIAL champion Leopards against the Steelers, the fifth-place team out of District 10. It’s...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: March 7-9
Ready to spring forward? Even if this weekend is an hour shorter than last weekend, you can still have just as much fun with these events. ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Fall down the rabbit hole and join Keystone Contemporary Ballet on the adventure of a lifetime with “Alice in Wonderland” this...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 6, 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...
Veterans weigh in on the Trump administration’s plan to cut 80K jobs at VA
Jill Smallwood predicted Thursday that the Trump administration’s plan to cut more than 80,000 employees from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs will result in diminished health care and other services for those who served in the military. “It is shameful,” said Smallwood, 62, an Army Reserve veteran from Pittsburgh’s...
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of ordering killings added to FBI’s Most Wanted list
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who allegedly became the head of a transnational drug organization and ordered numerous killings was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list Thursday. Federal investigators announced at a news conference in Los Angeles that Ryan Wedding, who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics...
Kiski Area title hopeful Ava Golding leads WPIAL contingent at PIAA girls wrestling
HERSHEY — A year ago, Ava Golding came home from Hershey’s Giant Center with a bronze medal from the inaugural PIAA girls wrestling championships. It’s no surprise the Kiski Area junior’s expectations are high this weekend during her second visit to the states. “My goal is to make it to...
Yearly cost of Trump’s border missions could exceed $1 billion
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s use of thousands of U.S. troops to aid in immigration enforcement is set to cost the Defense Department from $1 billion to $2 billion this year, Pentagon officials recently told lawmakers. The money will support a bolstered U.S. military force along the U.S.-Mexico border and...
Disciplinary board tosses complaint against Allegheny County District Judge Xander Orenstein
The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board has dismissed a complaint by a state legislator against controversial Allegheny County District Judge Xander Orenstein about how they handled bail for defendants. In a letter dated Feb. 14, Melissa Norton, chief counsel for the board, said its review, requested by state Rep. Valerie S....
Jason W. Park: Battle Royale in Pittsburgh — the case of United States Steel
U.S. Steel has been in the news quite a bit within the last couple of years. It is enough to confuse the savviest of strategists. To make sense of it all, I list the two sides, their belligerents and their identities: Free trade — trade conducted freely with no tariffs,...
