TribLive stories, Page 317
Western Pa. braces for sticker shock as tariffs bring uncertainty for consumers, businesses
Ami Robinson said she had been pinching pennies before President Donald Trump’s new tariffs against America’s three biggest trading partners took effect Tuesday. “I think things were already more expensive than they were last year,” Robinson, 40, of Dormont said after leaving the Target store in Downtown Pittsburgh. “It’s just...
Lenten season fish fries scheduled in Westmoreland
The following Friday fish fries are scheduled through the lenten season: • St. Pius X Parish, 222 Summit St., Mt. Pleasant, from 4 to 7 p.m.. Dine in or takeout, cash only. Menu: $15 dinner includes baked or fried fish served with macaroni and cheese, green beans, coleslaw, breadstick, dessert...
Ex-Penn State safety Jaylen Reed receives high praise for NFL Combine performance
Jaylen Reed appeared to surprise himself when he ran a solid 4.49-second 40-yard dash on Friday at the NFL Combine. Well, he’s apparently not the only one who came away impressed. Around the NFL’s Nick Shook declared Reed an All-Combine Defensive Team standout from his on-field workouts at Lucas Oil...
Leadership vacuum: Ragland withdraws as Pittsburgh police chief candidate, plans to retire
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is 0 for 2. Christopher Ragland, the city’s acting chief for just over four months since his predecessor quit, announced Tuesday he is resigning, too. More than that, Ragland withdrew his name from consideration to be permanent chief, a job the 30-year veteran had once coveted....
Jon Stewart accepts Elon Musk’s interview offer, with jab or 2Video
NEW YORK — Jon Stewart on Monday officially accepted Elon Musk’s offer to appear on “The Daily Show,” though he couldn’t resist a jab at the billionaire’s characterization of him as partisan. Musk had offered to appear “if the show airs unedited.” That made it a no-brainer for Stewart. “After...
Tyler Cowen: A $5 million gold card for immigrants makes economic sense
President Donald Trump would like to offer migrants who want to work in the U.S. a “gold card,” akin to a green card, with one significant difference: the price tag. A gold card would cost $5 million, compared to government fees of $235 for a green card. It’s a good...
Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg seek applications for Hometown Hero banner installation
The Greensburg Community Development Corporation is accepting applications for its annual Hometown Hero banner installation. Launched in 2020, the installation honors Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg residents who have left a positive impact on the community — including military veterans, first responders and local officials. The municipalities added 43 new banners...
Trump points out Marc Fogel and his mother, Corey Comperatore’s family during his speech before joint session of Congress
During his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump acknowledged the former Oakmont teacher released from a Russian prison last month after three years in captivity and the widow and daughters of the Buffalo Township man killed in an assassination attempt last year at...
Gallery: Photos from March 4, 2025
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Tuesday, March 4, 2025. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....
Letter to the editor: Ashamed of our president
I am an older man, listened to the results of the Truman/Dewey election. I know that everyone makes mistakes. I know that our national debt is too big, and that our government is too big and too expensive. I know that many dictators have come to power through the process...
Are Pa. residents at risk of a measles outbreak? Here’s what the experts say
Measles, a highly contagious disease that was at one point believed to be largely eradicated in the United States, has seen an increase in cases over the past year. Among the most recently diagnosed cases of measles are several instances in New Jersey in mid-February and a confirmed case in...
Letter to the editor: All DEI programs are not the same
The article “Ending diversity push or fueling student anxiety? Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance sparks debate” (Feb. 25, TribLive) quotes Adam Kissel, currently at the Heritage Foundation: “The DEI party in education is over. As commonly practiced, DEI initiatives and offices treat people differently by identity group, stereotype by identity group,...
Letter to the editor: Free tax help is available
Death and taxes, the saying goes. But what if tax season wasn’t just a pain or a punchline and instead was the most stressful time of the year? For people in our region working multiple jobs but still not earning enough to meet their basic needs, filing taxes can be...
Editorial: How can hospitals be made safe from violence?
UPMC Memorial in York County is a hospital. A hospital is a place where life or death struggles take place every day. It is usually a cardiac arrest or a stroke or an anaphylactic allergic reaction. It can be a traumatic injury. It might be a gunshot wound. It is...
Letter to the editor: Audit of our government long overdue
The Democrats’ reaction to the Trump administration’s efforts to rein in waste, fraud and abuse across all federal agencies through DOGE is very strange. They are marching in the streets, singing and chanting like anti-war protesters in the late ’60s. Elon Musk and his cadre of young whiz kid engineers...
The Stroller, March 4, 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. Resource center offers free...
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...

