TribLive stories, Page 561

ALBANY, N.Y. — A man who fired a shotgun into the air outside a synagogue in New York’s capital city is an Iraq-born U.S. citizen who told investigators he felt affected by events in the Middle East, a federal agent said in a court filing. No one was injured by...

LAS VEGAS — The Clark County coroner’s office has identified the third professor killed at UNLV on Wednesday as the school’s head of the Japanese Studies Program. UNLV associate professor Naoko Takemaru, 69, of Las Vegas died of multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner’s office said Friday. Takemaru oversaw UNLV’s Japanese...

Penn State captain and tight end Theo Johnson is off to the NFL — after the Peach Bowl. Johnson declared for the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday. He also announced that he will remain with Penn State through the Peach Bowl. “After a lot of thought and prayer, I will...

Years ago, I had the good fortune to be in Washington, when the National Portrait Gallery had a show starring portraits of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who died Dec. 1 in Phoenix at 93. In October 2006, nine or so months after she’d stepped down from the high...

I would like to offer several corrections to former representative Lou Barletta’s op-ed “Say no to Kooth in Pa. schools” (Dec. 4, TribLive). First and foremost, I’d like to reintroduce readers to Kooth. We are a mental health support and pre-clinical care provider with a web-based application available to public...

After lawmakers leave Harrisburg for winter recess next week, the state House chamber will close for three months as a costly repair is made to its ornate and historic ceiling. While the House will convene on Jan. 2, as required by the state Constitution, and on Feb. 6, for Gov....

Regulators on Friday approved two new gene therapies for sickle cell disease that doctors hope can cure the painful, inherited blood disorder that afflicts mostly Black people in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration said the one-time treatments can be used for patients 12 and older with severe forms...

The Eat’n Park on Route 8 in Hampton is celebrating its grand reopening with a new look and pickup window following the restaurant’s most extensive remodeling since it opened in 1981. In addition to the new window, guests can experience added seating with more options for larger parties; a more...

The National Merit Scholarship Competition presented three seniors at Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh in Hampton with letters of commendation for their performance in the 2024 competition. Anne Marie Austin, Benjamin Everson and Chase Harrison rank among approximately 34,000 commended students nationwide who are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise....

Penn State’s trip to the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 to face off against Ole Miss brings an opportunity for the Nittany Lions to make college football history. The Nittany Lions have recorded a win in five of the “New Year’s Six” bowl games — the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl,...

Since the weather has not really been conducive to highway repair projects and there has not yet been a snowfall that requires PennDot intervention, why aren’t there litter crews out picking up the massive amounts of litter on the highways? Monica Yuhas Smock...

Antioch Baptist Church 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley. 12-741-7688. antiochfwbaptistsewickley.org. Sunday school is every first Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Morning worship and praise service is weekly at 10:45 a.m. Virtual Bible study is every first Wednesday at 7 p.m. The link is on the church’s website. Beth Samuel...

The op-ed “Opening the door to people-based economic development in Western Pennsylvania” (Nov 20, TribLive) hit the nail on the head. We should focus on the well-being of our communities rather than the false promise of new jobs from big business. Let’s not court big corporations like Amazon, with a...

Laurel: To rebuilding. On Dec. 4, 2021, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Arnold was gutted by a massive fire that seemed like the end of the 74-year-old house of worship. Two years later, a $2.2 million sanctuary is rising from those ashes. “We rebuild our church, but we are...

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. Concordia plans annual live Nativity event Concordia Lutheran Ministries will host...

The natural gas industry is pushing Pennsylvania’s economy forward. While the energy sector has always represented a core segment of the commonwealth’s economic pie, in recent years, natural gas has expanded the national and international influence of the state’s role in the global energy market. A new report found that...

After a judge’s ruling Thursday, Shady Side Academy girls basketball coach Jonna Burke is no longer facing a one-year suspension for contacting a junior high player’s parents via social media. U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Reed Eddy issued a permanent injuction Thursday that said Burke “is restored to her full coaching...

High schools Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Nonsection Albert Gallatin 66, Ringgold 56 Aquinas Academy 76, Leechburg 47 Armstrong 49, Obama Academy 39 Beaver County Christian 46, Propel Andrew Street 44 Butler 74, Kiski Area 65 Cheswick Christian Academy 54, Geibel 39 Cornell 51, Perry Traditional Academy 38 Derry 66, Connellsville...

Payton Newman and Sophia Bonner scored 14 points apiece to lead Neshannock to a 54-47 victory over Freedom in nonsection girls basketball Thursday night. Kaitlyn Fries added 11 for the Lancers (3-1), who rallied from a three-point deficit by outscoring the Bulldogs 20-10 in the fourth quarter. Shaye Bailey led...

The video of the alleged sexual assault no longer exists. But audio of the defendant discussing it with the woman accusing him does. The question before the jury is: Will it be enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred? James Taric Byrd, 45, formerly of Pittsburgh,...

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry is on an exhaustive list of potential witnesses that prosecutors in Fulton County, Ga., have prepared for a potential 2024 criminal trial against former president Donald J. Trump and 14 co-conspirators for alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential vote in that state. The list, first...

Third and fourth grade students from Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy helped spread holiday cheer to patients of UPMC St. Margaret hospital near Aspinwall. The students decorated the Christmas tree in the hospital’s lobby with handmade ornaments and sang holiday carols. “Many of our patients aren’t sure if they...

MECHANICSBURG — Fort Cherry’s record-setting football season reached its final act Thursday, but Steelton-Highspire got to write the final scenes. The Rangers, who won their first WPIAL title two weeks ago, were defeated in their first PIAA Class A championship game 42-8 by the Rollers at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field....

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee opened a satellite office at Jeannette city hall in November and plans to have regular office hours there to provide support to constituents. Staff members will be available in council chambers on the first and third Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m....

The westbound lane of Crawford Run Road, between Duffer Lane and Clarks Pike Road, in East Deer will close next week as crews begin work on a bridge. The single-lane closure will start at 9 a.m. Monday, according to the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. Officials anticipate the lane...