Regional News category, Page 52
Point State Park tops the list of most-visited in the region in 2024
It’s probably no surprise that Point State Park was the most visited state park in the region in 2024, according to statistics released by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. With sweeping city, river and bridge views, the park provides 36 acres of green space while preserving its place...
Morning Roundup: Subzero windchills cause school delays; shots fired in Shadyside
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025: Subzero windchills prompt school delays Windchills below zero prompted school districts across the Pittsburgh region to delay the start of classes Tuesday. While no snow is expected and sunshine is in the forecast, it’s forecast...
Proposed Pa. minimum wage hike is bitter pill for many business owners
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by more than 100% — from $7.25 to $15 an hour — is being panned by area business owners. Most say they already pay workers more than the minimum wage, and the rate should be set by the market, not by...
Dangerous cold in the forecast, blizzard warning for parts of region
Bundle up, Pittsburgh. A blizzard warning, subzero wind chills and dangerously frigid weather is forecast all week for much of the greater Pittsburgh region. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning Monday for areas of Westmoreland and Fayette counties until 3 p.m., with expected wind gusts up to 35...
Heavy rain brings flood warnings for region; snow expected in afternoon
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for parts of Western Pennsylvania. Rain is expected to increase Sunday morning and early afternoon, creating conditions for potential flooding in parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland counties. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen over the last...
Inside Western Pennsylvania’s thriving sword-fighting community
A sword is the draw. Each participant carries a 48- to 52-inch saber into the former Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in East Deer for Friday Night Fights where, two by two, they enter a ring wearing gear representative of medieval times. They are prepared to attack their opponent —...
Art show in Butler honors Marc Fogel’s return from Russian prison
Throughout Marc Fogel’s 3½ years of imprisonment in Russia, members of Pittsburgh’s arts community rallied together to bring attention to the cause of the Butler native. They hosted the “Make a Marc” event in spring 2023, which included 90 artists and 1,000 visitors. In September, they participated in an event...
Saturday morning snow disrupts travel across Western Pa.
Roads throughout Western Pennsylvania were closed or saw traffic restrictions as a result of early morning storm that dumped an inch or two of snow throughout the region. Emergency dispatchers in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties reported numerous crashes. Route 30 near Greengate Center in Hempfield was among the roadways where...
Pennsylvania man honored for more than 5 decades of refereeing basketball
No matter what call a referee makes, someone is going to be unhappy. So, when a basketball game was stopped Feb. 3 to cheer for an official, it was a rare occurrence. “It was a touching moment and brought tears to my eyes,” said Bernie Mackowski, 76, of Erie, who...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: Feb. 14
The following is a regular feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz:...
Under cover: Game commission releases bonus stock of pheasants in Pa.Video
Pheasant hunters aren’t just good at flushing out the birds they’re hunting. They’re pretty adept at figuring out where the Pennsylvania Game Commission is likely to stock them. As Warden Zebulun Campbell and his crew pulled into a small parking lot near Loyalhanna Lake on Thursday morning, a half-dozen hunters...
FBI tries new tack to thwart crypto crimes
The thousands of investors had different goals for growing their money last year, from paying for cancer treatments to helping loved ones, to just making a good return. But all had one thing in common: they were victims of cryptocurrency scams that totaled an estimated $5 billion in potential losses....
Expert, business opinions split over Trump tariffs on steel, aluminum
If the stock market is any indication, domestic steel and aluminum manufacturers can expect a boost from the 25% import tax on these materials imposed by President Donald Trump. U.S. Steel, Alcoa and a slew of other companies that stand to benefit from Monday’s executive order have seen their stock...
Special Olympics Winter Games returns to Seven Springs
Snowshoeing and alpine skiing were among the events Wednesday at the 46th annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County. Athletes, coaches and volunteers were at the the resort for three days of activities and competition, which also includes snowboarding. Opening ceremonies were held...
Joann Fabrics and Crafts closing most Western Pa. stores
Fabric and crafts retailer Joann will close at least 30 stores in Pennsylvania, including most in the region. The embattled retailer, which declared bankruptcy in March 2024 and then again in January, said it would be closing around 500 stores nationwide. “This was a very difficult decision to make, given...
UPMC walks back mask requirements
Two days after issuing a mask mandate for its facilities, UPMC has softened its language, stating that masks are recommended, not required. On Monday, UPMC issued a statement that masks would be required for people at all its facilities in an attempt to curb the spread of respiratory viruses. On...
Butler County storage facility in spotlight after Elon Musk mention
A private storage facility in Butler County found itself in the spotlight after being indirectly mentioned by Elon Musk on Tuesday. The billionaire owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk is serving as an adviser to President Donald Trump, spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to...
Photos: Marc Fogel returns to U.S., greeted by Trump
Marc Fogel, an history teacher from Oakmont who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia, was released and returned to the U.S. on Tuesday. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, left Russia with Fogel and brought him to the White House, where Trump greeted him. “I feel like...
Goodbye, Lincoln? Few lament possible loss of penny as Trump orders Mint to halt production
Ending production of the penny makes sense, a cross-section of area coin collectors and business owners told TribLive after a directive to do so was ordered this week by President Donald Trump. But Trump doesn’t appear to have the authority to make the decision. The U.S. Mint is part of...
‘Unbelievable’: Marc Fogel’s mother celebrates son’s release from Russian prisonVideo
When Malphine Fogel heard the words, she felt dizzy. She took a seat and tried to collect herself. Her son, Marc Fogel, was on the other end of a phone line in Moscow. He was coming home from a Russian prison after more than three years. “He said, ‘I’m waiting...
‘Very excited’: Oakmont residents and visitors react to Marc Fogel’s release
Residents and visitors in Oakmont were all smiles Tuesday when they heard fellow resident Marc Fogel was headed home. According to a statement released by the White House, U.S. officials negotiated a deal with Russian authorities that led to the release of Fogel, an American teacher. Fogel was sentenced to...
Western Pa. politicians laud release of Oakmont’s Marc Fogel
Elected Pennsylvania leaders from both parties lauded Tuesday’s release of Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel after nearly four years in Russian captivity — a rare instance of solidarity in an increasingly divided political environment. “Today is a day of celebration, thankfulness and gratitude knowing our fellow Pennsylvanian will soon be back...
‘Our prayers have been answered’: Marc Fogel freed from Russian prisonVideo
Clutching a can of Iron City beer with an American flag draped around his neck, Marc Fogel met President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday night, telling him he will forever be indebted to him. “President Trump is a hero,” the teacher from Oakmont said during his first...
Device debate: Gov. Shapiro’s proposed tax rate gets pushback from skill game operators
Operators and manufacturers of electronic skill games say they’ve been anticipating Pennsylvania might soon take a tax bite from their revenue, but they protest that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 52% tax is excessive. “It would kill all of us,” Jordan Scanlan said. “We would never be able to stay open....
Steelers fans pick sides for the Super Bowl
Steelers fan Joe Seneca of South Greensburg wants to see NFL history made Sunday, even if it overshadows those Super Steelers teams of the 1970s. “I like Kansas City. I want to see history made in my lifetime. I did not get to see it in the 1970s,” when the...
