Regional category, Page 46
Jordan Brown, arrested for murder at age 11, testifies for first time
Nearly 16 years after he was accused of killing the woman he thought of as his stepmother, Jordan Brown testified for the first time Monday, describing for a jury the events of Feb. 20, 2009. In appearance, only Brown’s clothes — a gray suit and tan, striped tie — and...
7 planets will align for viewing in early 2025
This January, the seven visible planets will align in the sky in a “planet parade.” The rare celestial event will start just before Jan. 21, with Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus lining up for several weeks, Business Today reported. People will be able to view Venus, Mars, Jupiter...
See the light to combat seasonal blues
The Rev. Levi Hartle swears by red light therapy to boost his spirit. “When I’m feeling tired, I use the machine for 10 or 15 minutes and I’m ready to go,” said Hartle, 39, who recently was transferred to the Mon Valley from his post at Holy Family Parish in...
2 killed in Washington County crash
Two people were killed in a Washington County crash Sunday. The Washington County coroner identified the driver as Brittany Therese Crile, 36, of Waynesburg, TribLive news partner WTAE reported. She was driving the car and was ejected from the vehicle. Also killed was Joseph Crile, 46, of Marianna. According to...
Businesses offer indoor and outdoor decorating services to light the way this festive season
Mary Jo Miller of Point Breeze wanted to brighten her three-story home for the holidays but knew climbing a ladder to reach the top — with a pitched roof — to install Christmas lights wasn’t safe. She found Pittsburgh-based Three Rivers Lights through a Google search. The company installed lights...
Coal, once king in Pennsylvania, leaves behind abandoned mines that pose concerns
Coal mining’s roots in the Pittsburgh area run deeper than the foundations of American democracy. Since the mid-1700s, years before the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvanians have mined 250,000 acres of land for coal, pulling more than 15 billion tons of the fossil fuel from the earth, according to the state...
First defendant in Jordan Brown civil trial takes the stand
The day Kenzie Houk was killed, her ex-boyfriend, who, her family said, had once thrown her down a set of stairs and repeatedly threatened to kill her, offered to take a polygraph exam. But the state police investigating the shotgun murder didn’t take him up on it. “That determination is...
CNX Resources to acquire Apex, gain 36K acres in Westmoreland County
Natural gas company CNX Resources Corp. will expand into Westmoreland County in a $505 million deal. CNX announced this week it will acquire Pine-based Apex Energy II LLC — a move that will add about 36,000 acres in Westmoreland County to CNX’s scope. It will also earn CNX 8,600 acres...
Allegheny County town hall to address Veterans Affairs health services
The Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System will hold a Veterans Town Hall session Monday, both online and at its campus in O’Hara. Open to the public and geared toward veterans, their families and other stakeholders, the session is meant to provide updates on Veterans Affairs services while accepting feedback on...
Have you seen a red-bellied woodpecker? In Pittsburgh region, it’s a possibility, birder says
When Brian Shema began taking part in the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count more than two decades ago, red-bellied woodpeckers were a very rare sight. The red-headed bird’s historical range was the central and southern states. They’re not suppose to be here, traditionally speaking. But these days, Shema said...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: Dec. 6
The following is a regular feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz:...
Testimony in 2nd day of Jordan Brown civil case recounts crime scene, police interviews
When state trooper Harry Gustafson arrived at the Lawrence County farmhouse early Feb. 20, 2009, he spotted a 4-year-old girl standing in the front doorway, crying. “I bent down to her, and she said, ‘My mommy’s dead. My mommy’s dead.’” Gustafson picked her up, put her on the couch in...
Thundersnow marks arrival of cold front in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvanians got a rare treat overnight — thundersnow — a winter thunderstorm. The rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning while snow was falling startled awake Tom Bell, Greensburg’s fire chief and streets superintendent. “I was like ‘What the hell was that?’” he said. Bell immediately looked at remote...
Lawyers portray Jordan Brown as either innocent boy or perpetrator of ‘perfect crime’
Pennsylvania State Police must have believed Jordan Brown committed the perfect crime in 2009, his lawyer told a jury Tuesday. In just two minutes, according to the scenario described by attorney Alec Wright that he attributed to state police, the then-11-year-old went upstairs in his Lawrence County home, retrieved his...
Here’s a look at holiday performances around the region this December
With shopping, decorating, baking and planning family events, December can feel overwhelming with the stressful aspects of the holidays. Fortunately, Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions are here to remind us about all of the magic and joy that this time of year can bring. From plays to dance performances to concerts, here...
Morning Roundup: Metal debris on Parkway East causes multiple flat tires
Here are a few news items for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024: Drivers suffer popped tires on Parkway East PennDOT officials said nearly 30 drivers ended up with flat tires after hitting a metal grate on the Parkway East near the Churchill exit. A large number of vehicles were forced to...
Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count puts the focus on our feathered friends
Susan Miller is used to spotting birds on her nature walks. That makes the Plum naturalist a perfect candidate for the annual Christmas Bird Count, a worldwide effort to document local bird populations. The survey is the largest citizen science effort held for one day, between Dec. 14 and Jan....
Jordan Brown says a murder conviction, later reversed, stole his childhood. A jury will now decide if police wronged him
Jordan Brown lost seven years of his childhood. He spent from ages 11 to 18 in the custody of the state of Pennsylvania, accused — and later convicted — of a murder he maintains he didn’t commit. Now, six years after the state Supreme Court reversed his conviction, Brown is...
Morning Roundup: Downtown Pittsburgh roads reopened after water main break; crash in Rostraver
Here are some overnight news items for Monday, Dec. 2, 2024: Water main break cleaned up The intersection of Liberty Avenue and Commonwealth Place has reopened after an overnight water main break made both roads impassable in Downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Water crews were called to the intersection around 10:30 p.m....
2nd Amtrak route to New York City included in new PennDOT rail plan
The state wants to know what people want in passenger and freight railroad service, funding, safety and economic development during the next five years. The input PennDOT receives will become part of a 2025 rail plan that will serve as a guide for state and federal investments over the next...
Ski season set to begin at Seven Springs resort
Skiers can expect to hit the slopes at Seven Springs Mountain Resort beginning Friday. The opening day of the ski season at the Somerset County resort was announced as crews began making snow the day after Thanksgiving. “Last week, we had over a foot of snow at Seven Springs,” said...
Inside ‘The Underground’: Iron Mountain in Butler County preserves audio, video, digital media for the future
When audio engineer Brett Zinn began working with the master tapes of “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, he noticed an unusual item on the track list. “I was looking at it, when I was transferring, I’m like, ‘cup?’ What on earth is ‘cup?’ Why would I...
Where can you listen to live Christmas music?
From Christmas cantata choirs to community bands to elementary and high schools, ‘tis the season for holiday music. Here are some seasonal concerts happening across southwestern Pennsylvania. Events are free except where indicated. • Scottdale Concert Band holiday concert, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Woodcrest Senior Living Community, 1 Woodcrest...
1st day of deer rifle season is busy for some deer processors, not so much for others
Mike Galup has hunted with his grandfather since he was a kid, and this year, was no exception. Galup, 29, of West Deer, and Matt Ciocca, 85, were up at 5 a.m. and in the woods an hour later on Saturday — the first day of rifle season — to...
Erie slammed with lake effect snow, Shapiro declares disaster emergency; dangerous cold forecast into next week
Some portions of Erie County were under almost 3 feet of snow Saturday in the middle of the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend, with a forecast of frigid temperatures to start off the week. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency. Shapiro said parts of Erie...
