Editor's Picks category, Page 268
Genes link bipolar, schizophrenia, once thought unrelated
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — When Chastity Murry had her first psychotic break, she went into her bathroom and downed a whole bottle of pills, hoping to die. Her teenage daughter had to perform CPR to save her life. Around that same time more than a decade ago, the man who would...
Scarecrows vie for votes as decades-long fall tradition continues in Ligonier
“Halloweena the Ballerina“ strikes a demi-seconde pose in her purple-and-black tutu, with arms stretched out and downward as she greets people walking near Ligonier’s central Diamond intersection. Creating her as a figure to enter in the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual scarecrow contest was a natural for the staff...
Gross or great? Fancy butter boards soar as shortage looms
NEW YORK — Legit gross or crazy delicious? Butter boards, the polarizing stepchild of charcuterie, have taken TikTok to new food-craze heights as some horrified safety and nutrition experts look on. And now, heading into the holidays, the boards are landing on tables as quick, inexpensive alternatives to the meat-...
Review: Taylor Swift gets dark, electric on ‘Midnights’
Taylor Swift “Midnights,” (Republic Records) “All of me changed like midnight,” Taylor Swift confesses halfway through her latest album, the aptly named and moody “Midnights.” It’s a moment on the electric “Midnight Rain” that finds lyricist Swift at her best, reminding you of her unparalleled ability to make any emotion...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Oct. 21-23
Spooky happy hour Art After Dark is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Friday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. The 21-and-over happy hour will feature seasonal beers from local breweries, craft cocktails, hot dog bar and Oktoberfest-themed light bites, pumpkin carver Brendan Conaway, a gallery...
Lori Falce: Is it fair to criticize a candidate for a health problem?
Ableism refers to attitudes or actions that make assumptions about or throw roadblocks in front of people dealing with a handicap or medical issue. Sometimes it is intentional. Sometimes it is uncaring. Sometimes it is simply unaware. But ableism also is frequently correctable — just like the medical issues in...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Oct. 21-23
There’s more spooky season fun this weekend in the Pittsburgh area — and that’s not all there is to do. Not-so-scary ZooBoo ZooBoo, the annual kid-friendly Halloween celebration, is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and Oct. 29-30, at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in...
Actor brings Lenny Bruce to life in 1-man play
Before comedians like George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle came along, there was Lenny Bruce. Many considered Lenny Bruce to be ahead of his time. When he first hit stages in the late 1940s, stand-up comedians mostly played it safe. Politics and religion were considered controversial topics. In those...
Trailer released for Pittsburgh-area filmed Tom Hanks movie ‘A Man Called Otto’Video
A trailer for the filmed-in-Pittsburgh Tom Hanks movie “A Man Called Otto” was released Thursday. The movie, filmed at numerous locations across the Pittsburgh region, will be released in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas and will go into wide release, including Pittsburgh, on Jan. 13, said Joe Fucci...
Long-awaited Sobel’s Obscure Brewery opening in Jeannette
The anticipation has been building for the past three years as Sobel’s Obscure Brewery chipped away at transforming an old Jeannette department store into a taproom. It’s finally here — the Clay Avenue space is opening Friday. Jackie Sobel, who co-owns the craft brewery with her father, David Sobel, said...
Here’s how Taylor Swift’s prolific run of albums stacks up against the all-time greats
Taylor Swift is on a tear. On Friday, the pop superstar is set to release her new album, “Midnights,” which she’s described as “a journey through terrors and sweet dreams” that features 13 tracks including a duet with Lana Del Rey. The LP will be the fourth set of new...
Noise complaints prompt regulations at Hartwood Acres
Hartwood Acres is one of the most sought-after wedding destinations in Allegheny County, but, starting next year, revelers will need to comply with scaled-back noise and time guidelines. “The township has received complaints of excessive noise from events at the mansion,” Indiana Township Manager Dan Anderson said. The 629-acre park...
Genetic twist: Medieval plague may have molded our immunity
Our Medieval ancestors left us with a biological legacy: Genes that may have helped them survive the Black Death make us more susceptible to certain diseases today. It’s a prime example of the way germs shape us over time, scientists say in a new study published Wednesday in the journal...
Marijuana coming to select Circle K gas stations in U.S. next year
Circle K, the global convenience-store chain, signed a deal with Green Thumb Industries Inc., one of the largest U.S. cannabis producers, to sell licensed marijuana at its Florida gasoline retailers. The partnership will begin next year with 10 of the company’s 600 locations in the state, Green Thumb said. The...
TV Q&A: Will there be new episodes of WQED-TV’s ‘QED Cooks’?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: Are Chris Fennimore and Nancy Polinsky still making local cooking shows on WQED? — Margo, via email Rob: Production on new “QED Cooks” episodes stopped...
Fox Chapel amends ordinance to make it easier to use solar panels
Fox Chapel Council has made it easier for property owners to have solar panels. Council unanimously amended its ordinance on Oct. 17 to make roof-mounted panels at the front of the house a permitted use instead of a conditional one. A conditional use meant property owners had to go before...
Review: Paul Newman memoir stuns with brutal honesty
“The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir” by Paul Newman (Knopf): Paul Newman may have been a better actor than many moviegoers realized. Self-assured in his talents the Oscar winner was not. A sexual ace with the ladies? Hardly. Nor was he the devoted husband and family man...
Are you a mosquito magnet? It could be your smell
NEW YORK — A new study finds that some people really are “mosquito magnets” and it probably has to do with the way they smell. The researchers found that people who are most attractive to mosquitoes produce a lot of certain chemicals on their skin that are tied to smell....
Charlie Brown holiday specials to air exclusively on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ will allow fans of the Charlie Brown holiday specials to watch them for free on the platform after the company bought the exclusive rights to the specials two years ago. Apple’s subscription-based TV platform bought the rights to exclusively stream classic “Peanuts” specials in 2020, but the platform...
Impractical Jokers to kick off tour with Pittsburgh showVideo
The Impractical Jokers are returning to Pittsburgh. The stars of TruTV’s hidden-camera practical joke/reality show will launch their tour on Feb. 2, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena. Sal Vulcano, James Murray and Brian Quinn — otherwise known as Sal, Murr and Q — have been working as a trio since...
The next invasive garden threat? A slithering, jumping worm
Just when you think you’ve become accustomed to the spotted lanternfly invasion, along comes another menace to the ecosystem: the Asian jumping worm. Allow me to introduce you to Amynthas agrestis, also known as “Alabama jumper,” “Jersey wriggler” and the rude-but-accurate “crazy worm.” Unlike garden-variety earthworms, these flipping, thrashing, invasive...
Comcast will boost internet speeds in Northeast states
For the second time this year, Comcast will boost internet speeds on its most popular Xfinity customer plans, the cable giant announced Monday. Comcast is facing continued competitive pressure from rivals, such as AT&T, Verizon, and Google Fiber, to increase speeds. This summer, Comcast announced that it had lost residential...
Can the Rock steady the DC universe with ‘Black Adam’?Video
NEW YORK — In Hollywood’s superhero era thus far, there has been one particularly conspicuous absence: While a parade of big-name actors have taken their turns donning various spandex suits, Dwayne Johnson — arguably the biggest movie star in the world — has, until now, sat out the trend. The...
A ‘wow’ moment is also a weird narrative choice on ‘House of the Dragon’
In the early trailers for “House of the Dragon,” Ser Otto Hightower says to his daughter, “We play an ugly game.” That game kicked into high gear with this week’s...
Greensburg beef jerky business aiding troops, veterans
A Salem man who started a beef jerky business in California six years ago is competing for a slice of the $1.2 billion annual domestic meat jerky market. Part of the mission of Air Force veteran Christopher Prascus’ Soldier Boy Beef Jerky is to give back to those who serve...
