TribLive stories, Page 371
Letter to the editor: Trump’s chaos
Donald Trump isn’t even in the White House yet but is already sowing the chaos he does so well. He and Elon Musk (who I believe should have no say in anything) tanked the bipartisan stopgap spending bill. Musk asked why “we” should give the Democrats everything they want. How...
Letter to the editor: State leaders should follow Innamorato’s lead
From her first day in office, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato has prioritized engaging directly with her constituents to identify and address their concerns and priorities. Innamorato’s 2025 budget proposal demonstrated the leadership we need to put the county in a stronger fiscal position while remaining focused on creating an...
Editorial: Marc Fogel’s wrongful detention designation is just the start
It took more than three years, but it finally happened: The State Department has deemed Marc Fogel wrongfully detained. In August 2021, the teacher from Oakmont was returning to Russia to teach at the Anglo-American School of Moscow. He was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport when he was found in possession...
A look at Western Pennsylvania’s changing restaurant scene in 2024
As another year comes to a close, so do some restaurants in the Western Pennsylvania region. But not all is lost — while several well-known establishments either shut their doors for good or announced end-of-year closures, others opened. Here’s a look back. Openings Barcelona Wine Bar Visitors to Pittsburgh’s Cultural...
The Stroller, Dec. 28, 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 rides available to...
Letter to the editor: Does hard work work pay off?
Does our hard work pay off? I ask because I’ve worked several full-time and part-time jobs. Some employers were fair, while others toxic. All employees have had the same experience at some level. Nevertheless, many of us work hard to make ends meet. Others work hard to be promoted or...
Elon Musk causes stir with post insulting American tech workers, supporting H-1B visas
Trump administration adviser Elon Musk angered MAGA supporters with his approval of a social media post sarcastically explaining that immigrants are needed for tech jobs because U.S. workers aren’t qualified enough. Using the X social media platform owned by Musk, an account called Autism Capital summed up the debate over...
Trump asks Supreme Court to pause law threatening TikTok ban
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump thrust himself into the high-stakes fight over the fate of TikTok in the U.S. by urging the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban the social media platform if it isn’t sold by its Chinese parent company. Trump said the court should give...
CDC: Bird flu virus likely mutated within Louisiana patient
A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the nation’s first severe case of the illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week. Scientists believe the mutations might allow the virus to better bind to receptors in the upper...
U.S. homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people
The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country, federal officials said Friday. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban...
Breakthrough technology sees how cholesterol causes heart attacks
ATLANTA — The U.S. government’s premier research body has made an important discovery that could help create new drugs to lower “bad” cholesterol and hopefully prevent heart attacks and stroke. But the interesting part of that story isn’t just the discovery itself but the technology responsible for it: a relatively...
Georgia Republicans can subpoena Fulton DA Fani Willis, judge rules
ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis about her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the outside attorney she hired to lead her 2020 election interference case against former and future President Donald Trump and his allies, a judge has ruled. The decision by Fulton County...
New York state government to monitor its use of AI under a new law
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state government agencies will have to conduct reviews and publish reports that detail how they’re using artificial intelligence software under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers this year....
Gary Franks: Those we lost in 2024 — a governor, senator and congresswoman
As we close out 2024, there will be some folks who we will deeply miss. For me there is a special governor, senator and congresswoman who quickly come to mind — Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and my classmate at Yale, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. Jodi, was placed...
John Wozniak: Seniors deserve alternatives to opioids for pain relief
In recent years, I have watched people I know try to navigate our health care system while seeking treatment for pain or recovering from surgery, and it has opened my eyes to the complexities and frustrations patients face when trying to access appropriate pain management. And it’s why I strongly...
Rachel Locke: Climate of fear is driving local officials to quit
Threats and harassment are pushing some politicians out of office, scaring off some would-be candidates and even compelling some elected officials to change their vote. Those are some of the conclusions of a new two-year study I led on political violence in Southern California. Rising threats against public officials is...
Bethel Park welcomes assistant manager
After an extensive search, Jahd Burns was hired as Bethel Park’s assistant municipal manager, starting his job in November. “Jahd brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and program evaluation that will be of great help to enhance the services that we provide to our residents,” municipal manager Kristen...
Rotary club passes million mark with annual fundraiser
After five months of planning, the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Breakfast Club conducted its Chicken BBQ fundraiser in October. The annual event, held at Bethel Park High School, marked its 35th year and continues to be the largest fundraiser the club hosts. “This year, we are poised to raise...
Behind improved offensive line, Penn State running game peaking at right time
Andy Kotelnicki made clear Thursday afternoon that Penn State will lean on one position group to continue marching through the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions’ offensive coordinator shined a light on the offensive line Thursday, specifically for the consistency and physicality it has shown of late. Against SMU, the...
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland sheriff spreading hatred
Sheriff James Albert’s letter “Keeping Westmoreland County safe” (Dec. 10, TribLive), regarding “society becoming more dangerous” and women purchasing guns for protection, in which he repeatedly mentions “illegal aliens,” is fearmongering under the auspices of law enforcement. Most women who are victims of violence are abused by known partners, not...
Letter to the editor: Let Trump’s destruction play out
Democrats need to stay out of Donald Trump’s way this time and let him do what he does well, which is destroy the country, so his low-info voters feel it in the only place they seem to have any nerve endings left, i.e., their pocketbooks. These folks, mired as they...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 27-29
It’s that weird time between Christmas and New Year’s when we all subsist on cheese and chocolate and anything past the front door seems like it’s a hundred miles away. But while all of your friends are still in town and you have some downtime, why not get up, put...
10 Western Pa. ways to ring in 2025
Are you ready for 2025? This year flew by and somehow, Dec. 31 is upon us again. If you don’t want to stay home and First Night in Downtown Pittsburgh doesn’t seem appealing, there are lots of other events to attend. Here’s a sampling from around the region. City Works...
The Stroller, Dec. 27, 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. Annual sport show and...
Laurels & lances: Getting things done
Laurel: To a meaningful name. Congress is not known to get much done — especially not in the last few years when lawmakers have been paralyzed by partisanship. But this month something crawled across the finish line for Southwestern Pennsylvania. In July 2023, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, introduced a...
