TribLive stories, Page 337
Letter to the editor: Hope for a better tomorrow with Trump
Although I am cautiously hopeful for our country during this holiday season, it’s hard to fully embrace an optimistic outlook when I consider the possibly irreversible damage done during our current presidential administration. A bungled, shameful Afghanistan pullout. A Chinese spy balloon permitted to fly the entire breadth of our...
Scrutiny, secrecy defined Pa. debates over how to spend opioid settlement billions in 2024
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — This was a crucial year for opioid settlement money in Pennsylvania. For the first time, counties across the state faced serious accountability from...
Marc Fogel receives ‘wrongfully detained’ status from U.S. government
For Marc Fogel’s family, the excitement over the U.S. government finally declaring the Oakmont history teacher wrongfully detained by Russia is tempered by the reality that he’s still not home. In mid-October, President Joe Biden called Fogel’s wife to tell her his administration was still working to obtain Fogel’s release...
Massachusetts police officer saves Christmas after finding 80 Amazon packages in woodsVideo
BOSTON — A local Massachusetts police officer “likely saved a Christmas headache” after he discovered roughly 80 Amazon packages left behind in the woods, days before the holiday. Early Sunday morning, Lakeville Police Sgt. Shawn Robert stumbled upon “three large totes full of Amazon packages” that a driver for the...
Body discovered in wooded area in Shaler
Shaler and Allegheny County police are investigating after a body was found in the woods there Thursday afternoon. Shaler Police Chief Sean Frank said officers were called to Hahn Road around 2:30 p.m. The body was discovered by a passerby, according to police....
Bill creating Chesapeake National Recreation Area dies in Congress
After passing the U.S. Senate, a bill that would have established the Chesapeake National Recreation Area fell short in the 118th Congress, but advocates are hoping to ride the momentum into next year. The bill would have linked natural and historical sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed under the banner...
Pine-Richland welcomes back grads, retirees
More than 70 recent Pine-Richland High School graduates and retirees returned Dec. 20 for the school’s annual Past Graduates and Staff Day. Organized by Jean Whalen, director of college and services, and Frank Hernandez, principal, the day is aimed at facilitating dialogue between graduates and current students to provide insight...
Backpacks filled with $1.1M worth of cocaine found in woods
Snow was found in a wooded area the other day. And as you could probably ascertain from this headline, it wasn’t the kind of snow predicted by any weather report. CBS News reports how two backpacks filled with more than $1.1 million worth of cocaine was discovered in Washington state...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Dec. 27-29
We’re in that weird inter-holiday period where time has no meaning and everything is snacks. So maybe it’s a good idea to get out of the house for a few hours. Try out some of these events to brighten up your weekend. Eaglemania Dedicated Eagles fans will appreciate this dedicated...
Jennifer Selin: What does the U.S. attorney general actually do?
Shortly after former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration to serve as U.S. attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Pam Bondi for the position. A former Florida attorney general, Bondi also worked for Trump as a defense lawyer during the first of his two impeachment trials....
Georgia farmers have mixed feelings about Trump’s immigration proposals
ATLANTA — Georgia farmers have had a rough go for the past few years. They were just recovering from 2018’s Hurricane Michael when Hurricane Helene hit in September, damaging thousands of acres of crops throughout the state. That’s on top of financial devastation left in the storm’s path, which can...
Westmoreland happenings: AARP tax services, meeting, more
Meeting • Westmoreland Garden Council, formerly known as the Greensburg Garden Center, will meet at 11 a.m. Jan. 7 at the center, 951 Old Salem Road, Greensburg. A light lunch will be served. Public welcome. Bring a friend. Officers will be installed and a drawing for a week in Williamsburg...
Gallery: Photos from Dec. 26, 2024
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....
Letter to the editor: Freedom of speech, women and guns
Regarding the letter “Sheriff’s divisive letter tarnishes office” (Dec. 20, TribLive), about Sheriff James Albert’s opinion on women getting guns for their safety: Albert is a citizen of Westmoreland County and the USA and is entitled to his opinion, just as other public office-holders have written letters to the Trib....
Comedian Brian Regan bringing his observational humor to Pittsburgh for return engagement
Brian Regan was just in Pittsburgh a couple of months ago, but he’s back by popular demand for a “second show” this Sunday. “Well, I’m excited. … Usually a second show is the same night. They weren’t able to do that. So I was there on Oct. 16,” Regan said...
Letter to the editor: The horror of NFL Christmas games
After reading Paul Kengor’s column “The NFL disses Christmas” you would think a Christmas NFL game is the worst thing to happen since someone walked on the grass at Grove City College! He proffers that Christmas NFL games on Sundays are OK, even though it causes him to fret about...
Editorial: The hope and light of Hanukkah
The symbol of Hanukkah is not what you might think it is. For many, the Jewish festival of lights is most identified with a menorah — a branch of flames atop candles or cups of oil. But what the uninitiated might mistake for a menorah is really a hanukkiah. A...
The Stroller, Dec. 26, 2024: 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. Free milkweed seeds available...
Letter to the editor: Thankful for Biden’s accomplishments
Throughout this Christmas season, when you attend church, be sure to say a special prayer for all the wonderful things that the great President Joe Biden has done for the American people. His humanitarian legacy will live forever in history. In my lifetime, only the legendary Franklin Delano Roosevelt and...
Pa. lawmakers passed fewer laws than in recent sessions, but leaders say quality is better than quantity
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — The divided Pennsylvania legislature passed fewer laws and held fewer voting days over the past two years than in most sessions in recent...
‘Squid Game’ was a surprise global smash. Will Season 2 be even bigger for Netflix?
LOS ANGELES — It’s been more than three years since college student Justin Lin binge-watched the first season of Netflix’s “Squid Game” in two days. Now, he can’t wait until Season 2 launches on Netflix on Thursday. Lin was so excited that he drove from the San Gabriel Valley to...
Michael J. Zoosman: Will Biden become another Pontius Pilate this holiday season?
This year, the Jewish and Christian winter holidays are in cosmic synchrony. The evening of Dec. 25 — Christmas Day on the Gregorian calendar — falls on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev — the first night of Hanukkah on the lunar calendar. These popular festivals in...
The Stroller, Dec. 25, 2024: 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. Merry Christmas to our...
Bucks County hospital employee stole more than $130K from patient convicted of killing 2 sons, DA says
A former Pennsylvania psychiatric hospital employee stole more than $130,000 from a woman convicted of killing her two sons in Bucks County in 2022, prosecutors said. Trinh Nguyen, 41, was being held at Norristown State Hospital for a mental health evaluation and awaiting sentencing for her sons’ fatal shootings when...
Despite shaky debut vs. SMU, Penn State freshman QB Ethan Grunkemeyer ‘handled it well’
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State’s 38-10 blowout of SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff was valuable for plenty of reasons, but one that may be overlooked is the fact that freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer made his collegiate debut as Drew Allar’s newly minted backup. Grunkemeyer, assuming...
