TribLive stories, Page 501
Coroner: Crooks, Comperatore each hit by 1 bullet
Autopsy reports for firefighter Corey Comperatore and would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks showed both died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Butler County Coroner William F. Young III said Wednesday that the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office completed the reports for both men who died at the July...
Cocaine kingpin busted in Monroeville gets life for East Coast drug trafficking
A drug lord operating in Pittsburgh who initially turned down a proposed plea deal calling for him to serve 15 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking instead will serve life. Racoco Williams, 43, was sentenced Tuesday at the federal courthouse Downtown. He was found guilty at trial before U.S....
Georgia Election Board approves new ‘inquiry’ for certifying elections
ATLANTA — A new Georgia election rule approved this week requires an undefined “reasonable inquiry” before certifying results, potentially giving partisan county election board members more discretion to reject the outcome. The Georgia Election Board voted 3-2 on Tuesday to finalize the rule, which was supported by the same three...
Penn State coaches, teammates continue to praise Zakee Wheatley, who has been the talk of the offseason
Penn State’s coaching staff identified Zakee Wheatley as a potential playmaker prior to the 2022 season. The reserve safety intercepted a pair of passes and forced a fumble that year, but his opportunities were minimal last season. This year is different. The breakout opportunity is real for the fourth-year Nittany...
Mt. Lebanon man to spend at least 20 years in prison for sexual abuse of teen
A Mt. Lebanon man will serve at least 20 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor after he was sentenced in state and federal court this week. Andrew Foxx, 43, pleaded guilty in May to charges in both courts stemming from the same set of facts. According to...
Tyler Cowen: Want more moderate candidates? Demand ranked choice voting
Ranked choice voting is on many state and local ballots this year, so it’s worth considering how it works in practice. Or, as we economists like to say: It’s time for some game theory. There are many ways to run a ranked choice system, but they all basically allow voters...
Rock legend Rod Stewart extends his Las Vegas Strip run
LAS VEGAS — Thirteen years and 200 shows are not enough for Rod Stewart at the Colosseum. The knighted, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will be back with a dozen dates in 2025. Dubbed “The Encore Shows,” the series runs March 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22; May 29...
Ex-Centre County journalist accused of sex crimes to plead guilty, faces decade in prison
A former Centre County journalist accused of soliciting sex with underage girls intends to plead guilty to a federal charge that carries a lengthy prison sentence. Christopher Z. Morelli, 54, of Spring Township, is expected to formally plead guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor, according to...
Chris Hunter: Amid growing mental health crisis, why are a third of Western Psych beds closed?
There’s an ongoing national conversation about the spiraling mental health crisis — which was aggravated by the pandemic — and the urgent need to put more resources toward our faltering behavioral health system. Here in Pennsylvania, this health care emergency is in many ways more dire than the U.S. overall....
James P. Pinkerton: Hanwha and Nippon deals are good for Pa.
There’s so much bad news that it’s sometimes hard to spot the good news. But here’s some: An economic and strategic win-win between the United States and South Korea, injecting capital, jobs, and tech knowhow into eastern Pennsylvania. Yes, that’s good news. And we can have more win-wins, if we...
Westmoreland happenings: Art exhibit, car cruise, harvest festival, motorcycle show, more
Art • Latrobe Art Center will display the works of artist Kathy Sobota through Aug. 24 at the center, 819 Ligonier St., Latrobe. More than 50 watercolor paintings will be on display. Details: 724-537-7011 or visit latrobeartcenter.org. Church News • Greensburg Church of the Brethren will host a night of...
Cause of death revealed for ex-Ravens Super Bowl star Jacoby Jones who played for Steelers
Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl star Jacoby Jones died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease caused by high blood pressure, according to a New Orleans medical examiner. Jones was just 40 years old when he died on July 14. The listed cause of death was natural. Jones helped power the Baltimore Ravens to...
Letter to the editor: Trump a threat to democracy?
First they tried to keep him off the ballot. Then they tried to bankrupt him. When that didn’t work, they tried to throw him in jail. After all that, an underfunded, underprotective Secret Service almost got him killed. And they say that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. Go...
Letter to the editor: Comparing Trump, Biden-Harris
Let’s compare the Trump term in office to the Biden-Harris team’s term in office. Donald Trump failed to solve the migrant crisis at the border, his top campaign issue, even when Republicans controlled Congress. President Biden and Vice President Harris supported a bipartisan solution led by Republican Sen. James Lankford...
Editorial: Shapiro won’t be VP. What now for Pennsylvania?
Gov. Josh Shapiro will not be the vice president of the United States. At least, he won’t be on the ticket this year. The Democratic nominee and current VP Kamala Harris unveiled her running mate pick after two weeks of speculation. The honor went to Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota...
Fueled by large senior class, North Hills eyes return to playoffs
There’s a little bit of Mike Tomlin in North Hills coach Pat Carey’s mentality. Tomlin’s motto, “The standard is the standard,” is certainly one that Carey has adopted for the Indians football program. In 2023, he felt as if the program didn’t live up to that mantra. “We only had...
The Stroller, Aug. 7, 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. Free rides available to medical appointments Wesley Family Services offers free...
Letter to the editor: Olympics’ mocking of Christianity blatant
I’m a nonreligious Joe Schmo. What I saw at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony was the blatant disrespect of Christianity on a world stage. Even with my backwoods education, I clearly saw 13 central figures in colors and poses reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper (which inspired the...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 6, 2024: Omar Alfonzo goes 4 for 4 with homer in Greensboro debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-56) lost 8-4 to Nashville (Brewers). RHP Aaron Shortridge (1-1, 5.06) started and was touched up for seven runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (8.21) pitched two scoreless innings. 1B Malcom Nunez (.267) went 1 for 3 with his 11th homer....
Stock market’s wild ride becomes political football in race for White House
It took little time for this week’s wild stock market gyrations to turn political. With share prices tumbling Monday, former President Donald Trump seized on the free fall to bludgeon Vice President Kamala Harris, his rival for the White House, by calling the market woes a “Kamala Crash.” “Stock markets...
Pittsburgh man charged with defacing woman’s Israeli flag could enter probationary program
A man charged with vandalizing an Israeli flag outside a Jewish woman’s Pittsburgh home is hammering out a deal with prosecutors that would clear his record if he completes the terms of a probationary program. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Monday offered Mario Ashkar, 36, of Pittsburgh’s North...
Most area voters preferred Shapiro as Harris VP pick, but focused on winning in November
“Who’s that?” was the reaction of many in the Pittsburgh region after news broke that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had won the Democratic veepstakes over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. But voters told TribLive they were more focused on winning the November election than having a Pennsylvanian as second in line...
JD Vance attacks Democrats for treatment of Shapiro in 1st visit to Pa. as Trump’s running mate
PHILADELPHIA — In his first visit to Pennsylvania since becoming former President Donald Trump’s running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance argued that Vice President Kamala Harris had bowed to her party’s left wing in choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. “When given the opportunity she will...
Pine-Richland hires psychologist, assistant principal
Pine-Richland School District has hired two new administrators: Alysha Kaparakos, who joined the district in July as a K-6 school psychologist, and Michael Rose, who will join Eden Hall Upper Elementary School this fall as assistant principal. Kaparakos, who began her new role on July 1, has extensive experience working...
Mere-Exposure Effect shooting video, hosting fundraiser for PAAR
This Sunday, local band Mere-Exposure Effect will be offering the public an opportunity to appear in a music video — and raising money for a good cause. The group will be shooting scenes for a video to support their powerful song “Survive” at Linden Grove Nightclub and Restaurant in Castle...
