TribLive stories, Page 338
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...
Smitha Vishveshwara: What connects us in this polarizing moment through space and time and humanity
Reeling from a divisive and turbulent election season, many of us seek spaces of solace, light, unity and worship as we turn toward the winter holidays. The cosmos and its reflection within us harbor such spaces. By viewing and embracing scientific insights through the lens of humanity, you form a...
Gallery: Photos from Dec. 24, 2024
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....
Editorial: Share the special glow of Christmas
Christmas trees are like snowflakes. No two are alike. Some are made of aluminum and plastic. They might be put up on Black Friday — maybe even earlier in November. Some are real trees bought from parking lots outside grocery stores or fire stations. Some were cut fresh from a...
The Stroller, Dec. 24, 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 Eve to...
Mega Millions jackpot nears $1 billion for Christmas Eve drawing
LOS ANGELES — Christmas could come early this year for anyone playing Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot worth an estimated $970 million. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302 million, according to lottery organizers, and the last jackpot was won in Texas on Sept. 10 for $810 million....
Walmart, fintech partner accused of illegally opening costly bank accounts for drivers
Walmart Inc. and one of its financial technology partners allegedly opened expensive bank accounts for delivery drivers of the world’s largest retailer without their consent, a U.S. consumer protection agency said Monday. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Walmart and Branch Messenger Inc., claiming they required those in the Spark...
District soccer notebook: Pitt’s Sarah Schupansky signs with NWSL’s Gotham
Sarah Schupansky is extending her soccer career as she turns professional. The former standout at North Allegheny and Pitt signed a multi-year contract to play for the NJ/NY Gotham of the National Women’s Soccer League. The deal is through 2026 with a team option for ’27. “I could not be...
Texas Rep. Kay Granger missed majority of U.S. House votes this year
U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, missed more than half of the votes in the House of Representatives this year, exceeding the number of votes she missed in her entire first decade in Congress. Granger, 81, missed 279 of the House’s 517 votes in 2024, more than the 278 votes...
Joe Biden notches 1 more first-term federal judicial confirmation than Donald Trump
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will leave office with more lifetime judicial confirmations than his predecessor and a legacy of diversifying the federal bench, a win for Democrats in the final days of the 118th Congress. Senate Democrats on Friday notched the 235th lifetime judicial confirmation during the Biden administration,...
Egg shortage expected to ease in 2025, USDA says
As avian flu scrambles the nationwide egg supply, consumers often face limited availability of the breakfast staple, with shortages expected to persist until mid-2025, according to U.S. agriculture officials. Some supermarkets report empty shelves, and others are rationing purchases to ensure eggs remain available to all customers. Since early November,...
Elon Musk’s preschool is next step in his anti-woke education dreams
Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture,...
James Franklin praises Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty ahead of Penn State’s CFP game
Penn State will reach the College Football Playoff semifinals if it beats Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. But in order to do that, the Nittany Lions will have to stop — or at least limit — arguably the best player in college football: Ashton Jeanty....
Dan Rodricks: Luigi Mangione and where we are now
In February 1992, chicken magnate Frank Perdue received a pie in the face from a protester in a chicken costume during a meeting of the University of Maryland Board of Regents in Baltimore. Perdue was founder, president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest poultry processors. More than that,...
Norwin grad Kate Botti making more contributions for Bethany women’s basketball team
When Kate Botti was playing for Norwin’s girls basketball team, she wasn’t called upon to score a lot of points. The Knights had plenty of that with the likes of, among others, Alyssa Laukus, Brianna Zajicek, Kendall Berger, Lauren Palangio, Ava Kobus, Jayla Wehner and Olivia Gribble. All of those...
Georgia Tech defense takes big leap in 1st season under Valley grad Tyler SantucciVideo
After Georgia Tech finished with the ACC’s worst defense in 2023, coach Brent Key decided something needed to be done to improve that unit. Andrew Thacker, who had been Tech’s defensive coordinator since 2019, already had been assigned a new role midway through the 2023 season. Kevin Sherrer, the Yellowjackets’...
Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he’s picking...
Bill Deasy talks new album, final Boxing Day show at closing Club Cafe
Bill Deasy has been a fixture in Pittsburgh music for more than 30 years, but according to the title of his new album, he’s still a “Work in Progress.” Released Dec. 3, the new project had Deasy venturing out of his comfort zone and working with some new faces. “It...
Letter to the editor: What could go wrong with Trump in charge?
Donald Trump holds the record for the biggest fine ever levied against a casino for repeated and flagrant money-laundering offenses. He had his charity shut down because he misappropriated $2 million of donations that were supposed to go to veterans and sick children. He was ordered by a judge to...
Letter to the editor: Allegheny County tax hike outrageous
It’s as predictable as the sunrise. Allegheny County has enacted another outrageous tax increase of 36%, after striking down a more outrageous increase of nearly 50%. This follows the same old pattern of county government: floating out a huge number, then slightly reducing it to try and appear as if...
Letter to the editor: Voters want more choices
I agree with the writer of the letter “Ranked choice voting gives all voters a say” (Dec. 13, TribLive) that something has to change. Ranked choice voting looks attractive, provided the politicians don’t “game” it. However, it seems that most of us just want more choices. Third parties exist, and...
Editorial: Putin’s weaker than he looks. Seize the opportunity
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to project an image of economic strength while prosecuting the war in Ukraine, as if he could easily outlast the West’s efforts to counter his aggression. If President-elect Donald Trump and other Western leaders want to negotiate a prudent peace deal, they shouldn’t buy...
The Stroller, Dec. 23, 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. MyHeritage research database available...
Allegheny Township woman killed after car overturns on Route 356
An Allegheny Township woman died after a Sunday night car crash on Route 356 in the township. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said Brooklyn L. Meckley, 29, was the only occupant in the car, which was headed south shortly before 11 p.m. when the car veered into the center median...
Letter to the editor: St. Nicholas legends show point of Christmas
It’s the demise of our culture, especially today, how we’ve taken great characters in history and twisted their purpose toward fulfilling our worldly fantasies. One of these characters is St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), the saintly legend whose story has been obscured by modern society. There are two events in...
