TribLive stories, Page 852

State prosecutors have sized up Jerry Sandusky’s latest appeal of his conviction on a battery child sex abuse charges, and they say it amounts to little more than a variation on a theme “that has already been thoroughly explored, litigated, reviewed and rejected.” For that reason, the prosecutors said, Judge...

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. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town. STATE COLLEGE — A Penn State administrator directed university leaders representing nearly all departments to...

Laurel: To staying connected. On Jan. 2, the people of Harrison, Tarentum and Brackenridge were trying to follow what was happening with the manhunt for a wanted fugitive. Social media was lighting up with information — not all of it accurate. The day ended with the death of Brackenridge police...

When Alabama hits the hardwood Thursday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the NCAA tournament it could mark the start of a run to a national title for the Crimson Tide. The team is 29-5, and with star Brandon Miller leading the way, they are a favorite to win it all....

Motorists on northbound Route 28 will encounter overnight traffic interruptions Thursday night into Friday morning at the Highland Park Bridge interchange in Sharpsburg. According to PennDOT District 11 spokesperson Steve Cowan, traffic will be stopped in 15-minute intervals, weather permitting, from 9 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday. The rolling...

There has been an undeniable nursing home workforce crisis in recent years. While many have moved on from the pandemic, the stress and anxiety continue in nursing homes as employees work hard to protect those most vulnerable to covid-19. Though well-intentioned, a proposed federal staffing requirement by the Centers for...

There are certainly exceptions. But one constant among College Football Playoff teams in recent years has been game-changing wide receivers. Alabama is the best example, climbing to the mountaintop with Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy and Calvin Ridley. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson helped...

Why is Oakmont willing to pay a different ambulance service $50,000 plus another $50,000 for a new ambulance (“Oakmont officials select Parkview EMS as borough’s new ambulance service,” March 7, TribLIVE)? How much did they pay Lower Valley Ambulance Service? Borough Manager Scot Fodi stated council had concerns following a...

Grooming: You may have heard the term as it applies to children, but adults also can groom adults. By definition, grooming is when someone builds a relationship, builds trust, an emotional connection with someone or a group of people, with the explicit intention to manipulate, exploit or use them in...

Tower Health might be the canary in the nonprofit coal mine. The Reading-area health system has four hospitals. It has joint ventures with Drexel University. It has about 11,500 employees and was ranked No. 8 in Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report in 2022. In 2020, it had total...

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. St. Patrick’s Day parade planned Saturday in Lower Burrell The third...

President Biden’s attempt to buy votes in the 2022 midterms and beyond by abusing his authority under the Heroes Act of 2003, and offering up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness, is hopefully going to be struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional. The Heroes Act was put in...

High schools Basketball Boys PIAA playoffs Class 6A Wednesday’s results Second round Archbishop Wood 72, Chambersburg 45 Coatesville 61, North Penn 55 Parkland 74, Garnet Valley 58 Roman Catholic 60, Lower Merion 56 Reading 83, Upper Darby 58 New Castle 65, Downingtown West 56 Spring-Ford 43, Landisville Hempfield 39 State...

Alexa Washington stole an inbounds pass and made a buzzer-beating layup to lead Oakland Catholic to a 48-47 win over previously undefeated Hollidaysburg in a PIAA Class 5A second-round girls basketball game Wednesday night. London Creach led Oakland Catholic (24-4) with 15 points. Washington added 14. Sydney Lear led Hollidaysburg...

Mercyhurst University college hockey player apologized Wednesday after video surfaced of him pushing a woman’s empty wheelchair down a set of stairs as she was away from it using the restroom. Carson Briere, 23, who competes in Division 1 with Mercyhurst in Erie, said he was “deeply sorry” for the...

LAS VEGAS — Caesars Palace is bidding farewell to its rotunda along the Strip, a move that will clear space ahead of this fall’s Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Clark County Building Department issued a demolition permit last week for the domed, Roman-themed structure along Las Vegas Boulevard,...

Before his scheduled April 3 retirement, Rick Farino addressed Hampton School Board for a final time as the district’s supervisor of buildings and grounds. “My 263rd board meeting,” he said on March 13, prior to giving a presentation about the five-year facilities improvement budget for the district. The budget covers...

BY ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports The West Region in the 2023 NCAA men’s basketball tournament gives us an important lesson about draws, especially when it comes to top-seed Kansas. A year ago, KU followed a painless path to the Final Four, then emerged victorious in New Orleans for...

The question was benign: How did you know the defendant? But the answer from a witness — that she met Christian Bey when he moved in across the street after his release from prison — was enough to cause a mistrial. Bey, 34, was on trial in connection with the...

As NFL teams look to reshape their roster, the Pittsburgh Steelers are no exception. Here’s a look at their comings and goings in free agency: Signings ● Miles Boykin, who signed a one-year contract to return for a second season with the Steelers, caught only two passes last season but...

Church news • First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon, 501 Fayette Ave., will have a program, “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” to discuss the church, its mission and goals at 9 a.m. Sunday at the church. A coffee hour will be provided. The church will offer free food and fellowship...

As the debate around the timing of the opening day of the Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season continues, a Lehigh Valley legislator has joined the ranks of those considering moving the opener back to its traditional Monday after Thanksgiving. Last week, state Sen. Lisa Bosola posted a legislative memo looking for...

After reading the many letters to the editor in favor of more laws that could lead to confiscation of guns from legal gun owners, I have but a short note for them: Cain killed Abel without a gun. What we have is not a gun problem but a heart problem....

Railroads aren’t the only purveyors of pollution. Power plants bring us electricity, but they send us smog and soot, too. For anyone who breathes, this is bad news. The good news is the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed stronger power plant pollution rules. For the last month, I have battled...