TribLive stories, Page 869

They say it’s difficult to defeat a team three times in a single season, and it sure was for Laurel Highlands on Thursday night. The Mustangs overcame a 13-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to beat Belle Vernon, 75-71, in an overtime thriller at Peters Township High School. Entering the...

Makhai Valentine won an epic scoring duel with Connor Spratt in the most dramatic of fashions, hitting the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead top-seeded Steel Valley to a 56-54 victory over No. 9 Seton LaSalle in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals Thursday night. Spratt, who scored 33 points...

A bill filed this week in the Florida House would turn many of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wide-ranging ideas on higher education into law by limiting diversity efforts, vastly expanding the powers of university boards and altering course offerings. House Bill 999, filed by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, proposes leaving all...

Third time was the charm for the St. Joseph girls basketball team against Monessen on Thursday night. The previous two times the squads met in the quarterfinals, the Greyhounds came up with lopsided wins in 2011 and 2004. The visiting Spartans had other plans and won the second half Thursday...

Attorneys for U.S. Rep. Scott Perry argued in court Thursday that federal investigators should not have unfettered access to Perry’s cellphone communications because of Constitutional protections against questioning a sitting Congressman for his or her legislative activities. Perry, a Republican from Carroll Township, York County, is one of several Republican...

Freeport senior Julia Cummings bowled perfectly well in qualifying at the WPIBL girls singles championships Thursday at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. She rolled a 584 series with a high game of 214 – nothing to sneeze at and good enough for fourth place. Once the single-elimination, step-ladder finals started, though,...

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse who have been waiting for a chance to seek justice may see positive movement in that direction Friday in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The chamber has positioned two separate pieces of legislation for a vote that would lift the statute of limitations on childhood...

Eighth-graders at Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh in Hampton earned awards at the Region 7 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition at Baldwin High School on Feb. 4. Under the guidance of science teachers Ellen Kaffenes and Dorina Manolache, the 20 participating students from Aquinas Academy earned 16 first-place awards and...

Hampton Community Library congratulates its “Soup”er Bowl contest winners: Champion Costakis Copeland for his chicken and corn chowder; runner-up John Parrish III, Nana’s Italian wedding soup; and fan favorite Max Hardman, Garlic Express. The library announces programs to help welcome spring: • It’s A Wonderful World: Drop-in Storytime, 10: 30...

Lent began on Feb. 22 with the distribution of ashes in churches throughout the North Allegheny area, including St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church on McAleer Road in Franklin Township. The church also hosted a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper the day before on Feb. 21. Shrove Tuesday is a traditional day of...

As Pennsylvania families gather around their dinner tables, I hope they’ll say a small prayer for the three Pennsylvania police officers we’ve already lost this year: Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire, McKeesport Police Officer Sean Sluganski and Temple University Officer Christopher Fitzgerald. McIntire, Sluganski and Fitzgerald made the ultimate sacrifice....

American presidential politics needs a shake-up. Enter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Democrats are nervous about President Biden’s age, but judging by the State of the Union address, he’s running for a second term. Former President Donald Trump remains viable among Republican voters, partly because DeSantis is not well known enough...

Aldi customers can now have their groceries delivered on-demand by DoorDash. DoorDash said Aldi has been one of the most requested grocer by its customers since it launched in 2020. The delivery service, DoorDash said, will be available for nearly all Aldi locations in 38 states. Customers can shop for...

Just saw a news clip of President Joe Biden talking about raising the debt ceiling. He was asking where cuts to the new budget would come from if we don’t raise it. He went on using his usual scare tactics: “Do we cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ programs?” I...

Back in the day, the Hill District’s Crawford Grill was the place to be — especially for jazz musicians trying to make their mark on Pittsburgh’s music scene. Today, one Hill District saxophonist is keeping that tradition alive, nurturing city jazz musicians one gig at a time. “I’m from the...

A Monroeville Fire Department EMT is facing charges that accuse him of marking up his time card with hundreds of fraudulent hours, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. Samuel Levy, 33, of Monroeville was paid more than $30,000 in undue wages, a criminal complaint claims. He faces charges...

My compliments to Rich Cholodofsky for his well-written article “Westmoreland DA crash racks up nearly $33,000 in SUV repairs” (Feb. 16, TribLIVE). This is what investigative journalism should be — unbiased reportage, allowing readers to form their own opinions. With that said, why is county District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli “claiming...

In Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, significant charges have been pressed against kids who can’t even drive yet. A 14-year-old already on probation is charged in a fatal shooting in Carrick. A 16-year-old is charged with providing the gun to a 15-year-old for a planned robbery; the 15-year-old was subsequently shot...

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. Indoor concert to benefit local police departments The Back the Blue...

Regarding the letter “Anxiety and medical marijuana” (Feb. 13, TribLIVE): Much like this paper’s cartoons Marmaduke and The Lockhorns, this made me laugh. I found myself questioning the motives of the letter-writer, a psychiatrist. I have never sought a medical marijuana card, and I have no reason to think he...

High schools WPIAL playoffs Boys Class 6A Quarterfinals Friday’s schedule Norwin (14-8) at New Castle (20-2), 7 p.m.; Butler (14-7) at Mt. Lebanon (15-7), 7 p.m.; Seneca Valley (9-12) at Upper St. Clair (14-8), 7 p.m.; Baldwin (12-10) vs. Central Catholic (13-9) at Gateway, 7 p.m. Class 5A Quarterfinals Wednesday’s...

Because the teams split a pair of section meetings this season, the Gateway boys basketball team knew No. 12 McKeesport was for real way before the Tigers upset No. 5 Moon in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs last week. If the Gators needed another reminder, it...

Aunesty Johnson scored a game-high 23 points and Angel Henry had 20 points, including the game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation, to lead No. 11 Aliquippa to a 60-56 overtime win over No. 3 Serra Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball quarterfinals Wednesday. The Quips (12-9) will...

Throughout the 2022-23 season, the Penn Hills Indians have flexed their muscles, athleticism and length to have a lot of success, in search of a WPIAL title, which would be the sixth in program history. The story was no different Wednesday in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals, as the Indians...

Before Wednesday’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinal showdown between fourth-seeded Geibel and fifth-seeded Neighborhood Academy, Geibel coach Don Porter instinctively pointed out that the game would be decided in the final four minutes. Actually, it came down to the final seconds. After trailing for more than three quarters, the Gators put...