All the world’s a ballet: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ closes season for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at Benedum
Shakespeare’s popular comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will conclude the season for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre this week. Performances are May 15, 16 and 17 at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. The play was originally adapted for ballet in 1962 by George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet. For...
Pennsylvania State Police will create a new unit for threats against elected officials after communication ‘breakdown’ with legislators
The Pennsylvania State Police is creating a new unit to investigate threats against elected officials after a communication failure surrounding violent threats against Pennsylvania legislators. Adam Berryhill, 42, was arrested on May 6 after making “politically violent” threats on social media, including an alleged “hit list” targeting 20 Democratic state...
Julie Platt: We must stand up to RFK’s reckless vaccine policies
Over the past year, I’ve witnessed a troubling trend as, under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has spread and fueled confusion and misinformation around vaccines and immunizations. Last month, Kennedy finally faced Congress — and his testimony before the House...
Election HQ: Voter guide for 2026 Primary Day in Western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a closed primary system in which Republicans and Democrats can only vote for candidates in their respective parties. Primary winners earn their party’s nomination to run for the office in November. The state has an online tool to let voters find their polling place by entering their address...
Westmoreland happenings: Burger bash, art exhibit, rummage sales, more
Art • Greensburg Art Center and Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will sponsor an exhibit of the works of Milissa Bruce through May 29 at the library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. Works in acrylic, watercolor and graphite will be on display. Fundraisers • Rummage sale, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m....
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland Democrats need to rebuild
The results speak for themselves. In 2025, Democrats didn’t field a single row office candidate in Westmoreland County. That shouldn’t happen, and it’s a sign something isn’t working the way it should. A healthy party recruits candidates, builds a bench and shows up in every race. If we don’t compete...
Editorial: Asphalt, oil and the high cost of smooth roads
Planning a government budget — large or small — requires a little clairvoyance. Not only does it demand looking back at the history of what was needed, but there also has to be a crystal ball to anticipate the unpredictable. One of the most prominent examples is road maintenance. Clear,...
The Stroller, May 14, 2026: 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 picnic planned by...
State Supreme Court ruling throws stormwater fees into doubt
Officials in communities across the state may have to reassess how they bill property owners for maintaining storm sewers after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled last month that separate fees for such services could be viewed as taxes. The ruling was handed down April 30 in a Chester County lawsuit...
Letter to the editor: Let Aspinwall’s mayor complete term
Having previously served as a member of Aspinwall Council, I am writing to forcefully advocate for Aspinwall Mayor Scott Zimmermann’s continuance in office. In November, Aspinwall’s voters elected Zimmermann to be their next mayor during a free and fair election. Their choice should be honored and respected. Regardless of what...
Letter to the editor: Cyber charter vs. public school funding
Regarding the article “Local school districts join statewide push for increased public school funding from the state” (May 2, TribLive): School districts across Pennsylvania are once again calling for more state funding, citing rising costs and budget shortfalls. But this familiar refrain leaves out critical information. Over the past two...
Pirates farm report for May 13, 2026: Davis Wendzel homers in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 16-25) lost 6-5 to Louisville (Reds) in walk-off fashion. CF Noelvi Marte hit the game-winning sacrifice fly off RHP Cam Sanders (0-1, 5.79) in the bottom of the ninth. 3B Davis Wendzel (.246) went 2 for 4 with a double and a two-run homer, his sixth. RF...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for May 13, 2026
High schools Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals Monday’s schedule Mt. Lebanon (12-7) vs. Butler (17-3) at North Allegheny, 7 p.m.; Central Catholic (9-11) vs. Norwin (12-8) at Gateway, 7 p.m.; Seneca Valley (10-10) vs. Canon-McMillan (15-5) at Boyce Mayview Park, 4 p.m.; Hempfield (10-10) vs. North Allegheny (12-7) at...
High school roundup for May 13, 2026: Shady Side Academy slips past Upper St. Clair in OT in boys lacrosse quarters
John Poggi scored the overtime winner as No. 3 Shady Side Academy rallied past No. 6 Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL Class 3A boys lacrosse quarterfinals Wednesday night. Noah Rosenfeld scored the tying goal with 1:28 left in regulation for the Bulldogs (9-5), who will meet No. 2 Fox...
3rd graders compete in annual Rotary Club spelling bee
The Greensburg Rotary Club’s annual spelling bee for third grade students was held at Aquinas Academy in Greensburg. Students from the Hempfield Area and Greensburg Salem school districts and Aquinas Academy participated. The Greensburg Rotary Club started the spelling bee to expand on a literary program it launched more then...
PennDOT unveils details for Parkway East Bridge replacement over Commercial Street
PennDOT announced details of its plan to replace the Commercial Street Bridge along the Parkway East in Pittsburgh after a 25-day closure this summer. PennDOT hosted a virtual public hearing Wednesday to where it gave a look at its plan to install a $95 million bridge in less than a...
Fetterman casts deciding vote against limiting Trump’s war in Iran
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, on Wednesday cast the deciding vote against the latest effort to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to attack Iran — the seventh such time he’s broken with his party since the war began but the first time that Republican deflections made his vote decisive. The...
Fallen officers honored at annual ceremony at the courthouse
The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office held its fifth annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service on Wednesday at the courthouse. The service was held inside the entrance to the courthouse under threatening skies. The district attorney’s office last year unveiled a granite memorial to 28 police officers who died in the...
Man arrested for making ‘politically violent’ threats to Pa. lawmakers online, police say
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Twenty Pennsylvania legislators were allegedly threatened online by a Lebanon County man who police say posted a...
Locked in tight GOP runoff, Texas Sen. John Cornyn offers bill to name interstate for Trump
WASHINGTON — In today’s Texas Republican politics, the road to President Donald Trump’s heart might just run down a Texas highway. Sen. John Cornyn unveiled legislation this week to rename a future interstate across Texas as “I-47,” honoring President Donald Trump as the nation’s 47th president. The move comes as...
Producer prices shot up 6%, adding pressure on companies to hike prices for struggling customers
WASHINGTON — U.S. wholesale inflation came in hot last month. Producer prices rose 6% from a year earlier, the highest point in more than three years, as the Iran war pushes up energy prices and intensifies pressure on companies to pass along their rising costs to consumers. The Labor Department...
In brief: Glen Osborne exploring livestreaming, book sale and more
Livestream meeting update Glen Osborne council on April 21 approved a committee to explore the possibility of livestreaming its workshop and voting sessions. Mayor Matt Doebler, who proposed the idea months ago, is on the committee. He said the current plan is to video record meetings and post them to...
James Weinstein: How the waste in healthcare drives the U.S. debt
Washington treats healthcare spending like a moral obligation and interest payments like an accounting nuisance. They’re linked: Federal spending that is wasted in the healthcare system forces higher taxes or more borrowing, leaving less money for Medicare, defense or anything else. To slow deficit spending and the ballooning costs of...
Gallery: Around the world or close to home, the world in focus on May 13, 2026
Scenes from around the world and close to home, frame by frame. This photo gallery highlights the people, places, and moments at the heart of it all. It’s more than a look at Western Pennsylvania. It’s a view of the wider world....
Letter to the editor: Trump should send us all $2,000
During the 2020 covid pandemic President Biden sent most Americans checks for $1,400. Now that we are in a conflict with Iran and gasoline is approaching $5 a gallon, maybe President Trump can issue most Americans, especially those folks on Social Security, checks for $2,000. Politicians like catchy names, so...
