Letter to the editor: A national celebration for Trump’s birthday?
The article “National Park Service drops free admission on MLK Day, Juneteenth, adds Trump’s birthday” (TribLive, Dec. 6) on President Trump replacing MLK Day and Juneteenth free admissions at national parks with his own birthday says soothingly, “Self-promotion is an old habit of the president’s and one he has continued...
The Stroller, Dec. 12, 2025: 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. Sunday concert moved to...
Manheim Steamroller impresses with rock-filled holiday cheer at the Benedum Center
So much of Christmas is about the blending of old and new traditions, which makes neoclassical ensemble Manheim Steamroller, founded in 1974 by composer Chip Davis, an ideal soundtrack to the holidays. It turns out that a lot of people have felt that way over the past four decades; Davis...
Allegheny County courtroom clash embroils judge, public defender
An Allegheny County judge who oversees hearings on people’s competency to stand trial has barred a public defender accused of unethical behavior from practicing before her — a controversial remedy several legal experts said is not within the judge’s authority. The clash quietly playing out in the court system has...
Laurels & lances: Selling & settling
Laurel: To opening doors. The announcements about Pittsburgh hosting the 2026 NFL Draft were filled with predictions about the opportunities for area businesses. Those predictions started to pay off this week as Pittsburgh vendors had the chance to get in on the conversation. The NFL’s Source Program brought local entrepreneurs...
Letter to the editor: Rooneys, make us proud again
I’ll bet the Chief is turning over in his grave. How can anyone be happy with a constant mediocre team? Penn State saw their football team was never going to win it all; every year, losing to Ohio State and Michigan. They were brave enough to do what was needed....
Here are 5 thing to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Dec. 12-14
Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If you have, reward yourself with a fun solo outing this weekend. If you still have presents to check off your list, take the chance to do something fun in between stops. Here are a few ideas for ways to treat yourself and...
Trump plans to push for cannabis rescheduling as less dangerous
President Donald Trump is expected to direct his administration to move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that could represent one of the biggest shifts in U.S. policy toward cannabis in decades. Trump has discussed the idea with marijuana...
Democratic senators demand details on Trump’s drugmaker deals
WASHINGTON — Democratic senators are demanding more details on the drug pricing deals that Pfizer Inc., Eli Lilly & Co. and others have struck with the Trump administration in an effort to understand whether they’re actually saving the government any money. In letters sent to chief executives of Pfizer, Lilly,...
Who wants to be a billionaire? Powerball jackpot hits $1 billion for 2nd time this year
The Powerball jackpot has swelled to an estimated $1 billion ahead of the drawing on Saturday night, marking one of the largest prizes in history. No tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Wednesday: white balls 10, 16, 29, 33, 69 and the red Powerball 22. The pot now ranks...
Record-setting Penn State star RB Nick Singleton to opt out of Pinstripe Bowl
One of the most recognizable names in Penn State’s storied history is on his way out. Senior running back Nick Singleton will not play in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, according to Rich Scarcella of the Reading Eagle. Singleton is the third Nittany Lion to opt out thus far, joining...
Penguins delay puck drop due to I-279 crash
The Pittsburgh Penguins have delayed the start of their game Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena by 30 minutes because of a crash that closed Interstate 279 southbound. Puck drop for the game against the Montreal Canadiens was scheduled at 7 p.m. That has been bumped to 7:30, the team...
League champion Riverhounds set date for next season’s home opener
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will begin defense of their USL Championship title on the road in March. The Riverhounds, who won the club’s first league championship last month, will open Saturday, March 7 on the road against the Charleston Battery. The team’s second game will also be on the road, Saturday,...
Shapiro admin subpoenaed for records detailing use of public funds to upgrade governor’s private home
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 — A Pennsylvania Senate panel has taken the rare and dramatic step of subpoenaing the Shapiro administration for...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 12-14
The temperature just keeps dropping, but the ‘Burgh shows no sign of stopping! There’s lots to do and see this weekend all around town, so don’t miss out just because of a chill. Here are a few must-dos this weekend. Holiday storytelling show The holidays can be a complicated time...
Bryan L. Kline: Religious freedom behind bars — the unfinished story of Kort Noel Eckman
The recent developments at the Westmoreland County Prison granting inmate Kort Noel Eckman limited access to kosher meals and allowing him to wear a yarmulke in court, while a welcome step forward, are but a partial remedy to a deeper, systemic failure. Eckman’s ordeal lays bare a troubling contradiction in...
Gallery: Photos from Dec. 11, 2025
From the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania to distant corners of the globe, TribLive’s Photo Adventure captures the world in motion — one frame at a time. Through the lenses of photographers near and far, these images tell stories of place, connection, and the beauty found in everyday life. It’s...
Pittsburgh police to halt moonlighting program for dozens of businesses
Pittsburgh police plan to bar dozens of local groups and businesses that owe the city money from being able to hire off-duty officers for moonlighting work, according to an internal memo obtained by TribLive. A TribLive investigation published Sunday turned up city records showing hundreds of businesses and organizations —...
Letter to the editor: Mary and Joseph traveled for census, not taxation
Regarding the letter “The real Christmas story” (Dec. 3, TribLive): First, Mary and Joseph didn’t travel to Bethlehem to be taxed; it was a “census” that the Roman government conducted every five years. This information is taken from the Office for National Statistics and also from Ask Historians. They traveled...
Letter to the editor: Thoughts on two recent letters
Regarding the letter “The real Christmas story” (Dec. 3, TribLive): I commend the author for his diligence in researching history and successfully distorting every event he cites. He can pat himself on the back for joining a select club who have “de-bunked” Catholicism, and Christianity in general. I wonder how...
The Stroller, Dec. 11, 2025: 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. Gift wrapping services available...
City Theatre, CMU School of Drama partner for return of the Momentum Festival
This weekend, City Theatre and Carnegie Mellon University will partner for a celebration of new works for the stage. The Momentum Festival: New Plays at Different Stages will run Saturday and Sunday at City Theatre on the South Side. The four included works include “East Carson Street,” a jukebox musical...
Westmoreland happenings: Pet photos with Santa, Christmas night market, cookie walk, more
Art The Latrobe Art Center is collecting original poetry works to be displayed on a poster in shop windows in Latrobe, Ligonier and Greensburg. Entries should be less than 25 lines or 300 words long and not contain explicit content or hate speech. The author must live or work in...
Letter to the editor: Will what goes around, come around, for Trump?
Have you heard the expression “what goes around, comes around”? It was one of my grandmother’s favorite pieces of wisdom. Donald Trump and his henchmen would do well to heed this. I believe Trump has trampled our Constitution and forced his personal preferences on the American people. He’s declared President...
Editorial: Penn State choices made union push inevitable
Penn State faculty are not unionized. That could change soon. If the university’s leadership doesn’t like that, it’s their own fault. The Penn State Faculty Alliance turned in thousands of union authorization cards to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. While imprecise, that’s still a considerable chunk of the university’s 7,498...