TribLive stories, Page 679
Major Republican donor in Iowa says he’s decided to back Trump
DES MOINES, Iowa — Bruce Rastetter, a major Iowa Republican donor, predicted a resounding Iowa caucus victory for Donald Trump, saying the agriculturally-heavy state maintains nostalgia for the former president’s tenure in the White House. At a Des Moines roundtable hosted by Bloomberg News on Saturday morning, Rastetter said, after...
Biden says U.S. doesn’t support Taiwan independence after vote
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said the U.S. does not support independence for Taiwan after voters there defied China and returned the governing Democratic Progressive Party — which has sought to limit Beijing’s influence — to a third consecutive term. “We do not support independence,” Biden told reporters Saturday as...
Trump turns on Ramaswamy, telling Iowans ‘don’t get duped’
Former President Donald Trump trained his sights on rival Vivek Ramaswamy, casting him as a threat to his Make America Great Again movement in what appeared to be a shift in strategy two days before the Iowa caucuses. “Vote for ‘TRUMP,’ don’t waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA,” Trump...
Massachusetts considers banning book bans in response to rise in challenges
BOSTON — A bill making its way through the Massachusetts legislature would block efforts to ban books from school and public libraries. Lawmakers of the Joint Committee on Education heard testimony from advocates and opponents of “An Act regarding free expression,” which would prevent the removal of books from school...
Steelers fans have mixed reactions to shifting playoff game to Monday but express confidence in team’s chances
For Rick Porrado of Murrysville, the Steelers playoff game shifting to Monday afternoon means a lot more than just a change in his viewing schedule. Porrado owns Rick’s Sports Bar in Murrysville — and he usually isn’t even open on Monday nights. By early Saturday afternoon, he was beginning to...
Pa.’s poorest school districts were slated for a funding boost, but aid went to construction instead
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. BELLEFONTE — Pennsylvania’s poorest districts won’t receive $100 million in new money to help fill vacancies and reduce funding deficits after lawmakers diverted those dollars...
Nickolaus Hayes: Why Dry January is good for your health
Dry January — abstaining from alcohol for the entirety of the first month of the year — has significant benefits for physical and mental health. It also prevents impaired driving and helps people reevaluate their drinking habits. Social drinking during the holiday season is widely accepted, generally seen as a...
North Allegheny notebook: 6 Tigers picked for PIHL all-star game
Six North Allegheny hockey players were selected to play in the annual PIHL all-star game, set for Jan. 28, at Robert Morris’ Island Sports Center. Forwards Marc Joyson, Ryan Jackman and Evan Kerber; defensemen Owen Logan and Travis Lamark; and goalie Andrew Long were picked to play in the Class...
Robin Abcarian: With every release of court documents, the damage Jeffrey Epstein did confronts us anew
I could live the rest of my life happily without being reminded of Jeffrey Epstein, his yearslong exploitation of young women or the many famous male moths who were drawn to the billionaire’s flame. I’m sure his emotionally scarred victims wish they could, too. Recent news developments, unfortunately, make the...
Letter to the editor: Shutdown as scare tactic
The evening news has been reporting, again, a possible federal government shutdown. By my own rude/crude math, our fair republic has been rescued from government shutdown more than once in the last short stack of years. It’s getting to be a regular thing, something possibly used as a bargaining chip...
Sounding off: Pay raises, slavery, freedoms, tax hikes among week’s topics
Pa. Legislature’s blank check There is a popular commercial dealing with the timeshare industry. Basics are this: You don’t know how much and for how long you are going to pay for a real estate mistake. You signed a blank check for life. Several times this paper has granted me...
Few power outages reported Saturday evening after heavy winds wreaked havoc earlier
With a heavy wind advisory in effect through Sunday across Southwestern Pennsylvania, plenty of residents are waking up to news of a downed tree in their area. As of 8:30 a.m., PennDOT officials in Westmoreland County were reporting several downed trees either blocking the road or laying on utility wires...
Letter to the editor: Action needed on toxic wastewater
A Dec. 21 Penn State webinar, “Natural Gas in the Appalachian Basin,” discussed the Marcellus and Utica shale gas. Nothing was said about managing wastewater produced from fracking, or other dangers of gas. It was said gas is needed to provide constant electricity. After storms damaged Hawaiian electricity, the island...
Editorial: Pennsylvania will flood with campaign cash in 2024
We knew it was coming. The 2024 election year was bound to be some rough weather for Pennsylvania. It’s a presidential year, after all, which means national campaign funds and political action committee money will fall like rain. Presidential years also mean state and federal representatives will be on the...
The Stroller, Jan. 13, 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. Who Knew? program to discuss extreme winter weather The Who Knew?...
Letter to the editor: Watching our freedoms erode
First, I am not a Trump supporter. I am a retired serviceman who has fought for our freedom. A freedom that I have been seeing erode every day. I watched with everyone as they tore down our statures and rewrote our history. I watched as the playing of our national...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 12, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Friday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Central Catholic 66, Butler 42 Pine-Richland 62, New Castle 49 Seneca Valley at North Allegheny, ppd. Section 2 Baldwin 68, Hempfield 47 Mt. Lebanon 66, Norwin 35 Upper St. Clair 65, Canon-McMillan 49 Class 5A Section 1 Connellsville 70, Ringgold...
High school roundup for Jan. 12, 2024: Pine-Richland beats New Castle in unpredictable Class 6A
Andrew Mendelovich scored 16 points as Pine-Richland evened its record with a 62-49 victory over New Castle in Section 1-6A boys basketball Friday night. Eli Wentz added 13 and Zach Kenney contributed 10 for the Rams (6-6, 2-2). Ralphie Blundo led New Castle (10-4, 1-3) with 24 points. Damian Harrison...
Police investigate fatal shooting in Arnold; victim identified
A man was found fatally shot in Arnold early Friday evening, a Westmoreland County Public Safety supervisor said. The victim was found dead by an Arnold police officer about 6 p.m. in the 1600 block of Cherry Alley, authorities said. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson identified the victim as Allen...
Spirit Airlines passenger accused of sexually assaulting attendants
The FBI is investigating a Spirit Airlines passenger who is accused of asking flight attendants to join the “mile high club” this week, the Department of Justice announced Friday. James Warren Finnister, 47, is facing criminal charges alleging he interfered with flight crew members, sexually harassing and assaulting flight attendants,...
Gary Franks: We won the Cold War. Can we win the economic war caused by the border crisis?
In the Cold War, American values won. Democracy and capitalism won. The fall of the USSR occurred without a single shot being fired or any troops being deployed. The Soviet Union had severe economic problems, and its system of government — communism — failed. Our enemies would love to see...
Court again rejects cyanide killer Ferrante’s appeal, upholds murder conviction
The Pennsylvania Superior Court on Friday again affirmed the murder conviction of a former University of Pittsburgh neuroresearcher imprisoned for fatally poisoning his wife, a renowned neurologist. Robert Ferrante, 75, is being held in the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale, where he is serving a mandatory life sentence for the...
Ex-PPG Paints Arena worker sues Aramark for racial discrimination over Afro
A Black woman is suing the company that runs concessions at PPG Paints Arena alleging that they discriminated against her because of her Afro. Asani Porch, of Spring Hill, filed the lawsuit against Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services LLC in federal court on Thursday alleging race discrimination and a violation...
Penn State special teams coordinator Stacy Collins leaving for Boise State as staff turnover continues
Penn State will enter the 2024 season with three new coordinators. Stacy Collins, the Nittany Lions’ special teams coordinator the last two years, is leaving. Collins is expected to be hired as Boise State’s special teams coordinator, linebackers coach and assistant head coach, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam...
Teen struck by SUV while washing windows at McCandless restaurant sues driver
A teenage employee at Longhorn Steakhouse who was struck by an out-of-control SUV and severely injured while she washed the McCandless restaurant’s windows last summer is suing the driver. The lawsuit, filed Thursday by the employee’s mother, Christine Maher, in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, alleges negligence against Mary E....
