Top Stories category, Page 267
Open access: Push for election transparency plays out in Pa. courts
A battle for election transparency is being waged across Pennsylvania’s court system. Against a backdrop of the “stop the steal” movement and persistent accusations of a broken electoral system, an unlikely alliance of GOP lawyers and grassroots democracy advocates is pushing to open elections to greater public scrutiny. Their goal:...
Photo gallery: 2024 Year in Review
2024 was a defining year of the 21st century and the TribLive visuals staff was there to capture unforgettable images of the most significant news, sports and cultural events. From the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump in Butler County, to the debut of rookie pitcher Paul Skenes...
Greensburg’s Nevin ice arena seeing more skaters than ever since its renovation
A record number of skaters has been hitting the ice in the 16 months since Greensburg completed a $3 million renovation of its Kirk S. Nevin ice arena. Parks and recreation superintendent Glenn Moyer said there are more teams than ever competing with the Westmoreland Hockey Association. “We’ve seen outstanding...
Airing of Grievances: Ravens exploit Russell Wilson’s mistakes, overmatched defense in sound defeat of SteelersVideo
So much for the concept that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent dominance over the Baltimore Ravens had diminished this great AFC North rivalry. So much for the idea that the Ravens had developed “little brother” syndrome when seeing black and gold on the other side of the field. If that was...
Derrick Henry, Ravens run all over Steelers in rare rivalry blowout to tie for AFC North lead
BALTIMORE — The Pittsburgh Steelers came here with a chance to clinch the AFC North championship but failed to heed the whistle of a warning from one of the Charm City’s most memorable TV characters. You come at the king, you best not miss. A depleted defense couldn’t stop the...
Biden signs bill that averts a government shutdown and brings a close to days of Washington upheaval
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bill into law Saturday that averts a government shutdown, bringing a final close to days of upheaval after Congress approved a temporary funding plan just past the deadline and refused President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demands in the package. The deal funds the...
Sports fans enjoy ‘Barbenheimer’ of football with Penn State, Steelers games back-to-back
For Western Pa. sports fans, Saturday’s lineup of back-to-back Penn State and Steelers football games offered the athletics equivalent of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon that left movie fanatics in a frenzy for the same-day release of films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” last year. Football fans filled seats and bar stools at Hempfield’s...
Snow squalls snarl Pittsburgh roads, but no major incidents reported, officials say
As snowy conditions wreaked havoc on Pittsburgh roads Saturday, Westmoreland County and other surrounding areas saw little more than a dusting. Colton Milcarek, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Pittsburgh office in Moon, said a snow band — a narrow path of snow — hit the city Saturday morning....
Penn State pummels SMU in 1st round of CFP, using pick-6s to reach quarters
UNIVERSITY PARK — For as much as James Franklin likely subscribes to the coach-talk cliche of disregarding outside noise, he had to be aware of the major reputational implications Saturday’s College Football Playoff game held for him and his Nittany Lions program. Finally, Penn State was in the CFP, but...
NLRB seeks injunction for striking Post-Gazette newsroom workers
The National Labor Relations Board on Friday requested an injunction in federal court on behalf of striking newsroom workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals fully grants the request, the Post-Gazette would be required to restore the terms of the expired contract with the...
Facing Trump threats, Al Schmidt defended Pa.’s 2020 election as free, fair and secure and believes same about 2024
This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeat’s free newsletters here. After Donald Trump lost Pennsylvania in 2020, he used Twitter to direct his fury straight at Al Schmidt, then a Philadelphia city...
Shooting in Duquesne leaves 1 dead
A Duquesne man died after being shot early Saturday morning, according to police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as James Earl Robinson II, 34. Allegheny County police were dispatched to the intersection of South 5th Street and Viola Way in Duquesne for a shooting around 5:10...
Steepest slope in Pa. draws skiers, snowboarders to Laurel Mountain Ski Resort for opening day
For Marnie Golden, having the steepest ski slope in the state just 20 minutes away from her house is a point of hometown pride. Golden, 17, of Ligonier Township was 9 when she started skiing at Laurel Mountain. Lower Wildcat, the steepest slope in Pennsylvania, is her favorite there. “I...
‘My goodness, where’s the justice?’: Latrobe fire chief asks of Biden’s move to commute Podlucky’s sentence
North Huntingdon carpentry company owner Dave Jackel can’t understand how President Joe Biden would commute the 20-year prison sentence of former Le-Nature’s Inc. CEO Gregory J. Podlucky. Prosecutors said Podlucky, a certified public accountant, masterminded a fraud and money laundering scheme which bankrupted the Latrobe soft drink bottler and left...
Senate passes Social Security benefits boost for many public service retirees
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year. The bipartisan bill, which next heads to President Joe Biden, will eliminate longtime reductions...
Western Pa. casinos see revenue spike as state Gaming Control Board reports record monthly profit
As the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reports an all-time high monthly revenue driven by increases in sports betting, profits also are on the rise at Western Pennsylvania casinos. The state Gaming Control Board reported November revenue of more than $562 million — a 26% increase from November 2023. Rivers Casino...
Inoperable elevators lead to Oakland apartment building condemnation
Residents in living in the upper floors of an apartment building in Oakland were ordered by the city to move out as 7 p.m. Friday because all four elevators in the 13-story building were inoperable, Pittsburgh officials said. All residents living on the fifth floor and above in the Skyvue...
At least 2 dead and 60 hurt after a car drives into a German Christmas market in a suspected attack
MAGDEBURG, Germany — A car plowed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, killing at least two people and injuring at least 60 others in what authorities believe was an attack. The driver was arrested shortly after the car barreled into the...
Greensburg man sentenced to 16 to 32 years in prison for attack on former girlfriend
A Westmoreland County prosecutor said prison was the only way to ensure public safety from a Greensburg man convicted of a violent attack of a former girlfriend. Brian Curry, 36, was found guilty at trial in October for the strangulation, burglary, trespassing and other offenses in what prosecutors said was...
White House starts scrapping pending regulations on transgender athletes and student debt
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is abandoning his efforts to provide some protections for transgender student athletes and cancel student loans for more than 38 million Americans, the first steps in an administration-wide plan to jettison pending regulations to prevent President-elect Donald Trump from retooling them to achieve his own...
Government funding bill clears Congress and heads to President Biden, averting a shutdown
WASHINGTON — Facing a government shutdown deadline, the Senate rushed through final passage early Saturday of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, dropping President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year. House Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would...
Shaler Area School District handles backlash after gender support plan raises social media ire
Shaler Area School District has become the target of online outrage after the district’s “Gender Support Plan” was spotlighted in a post by a right wing social media influencer. Wednesday night, Chaya Raichik, the owner and operator of the Libs of TikTok social media accounts, posted a screenshot of a...
US proposes voluntary guidelines for self-driving vehicles in waning days of Biden administration
DETROIT — In the waning days of President Joe Biden’s administration, the government’s highway safety agency is proposing voluntary safety guidelines for self-driving vehicles. But a rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration putting the plan in place won’t be approved before the end of Biden’s term in January...
State opts not to remove barrier for problem bettors entering casinos
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will not go forward with a proposed change that would have made it easier for problem bettors to return to casinos. People who ban themselves from casinos, a step known as self-excluding, must manually remove themselves from the ban list after their self-exclusion period expires....
Growing pains: Boom towns battle strain on services, streets and schools
What’s happened in other fast-growing towns across Western Pennsylvania is now playing out in Buffalo Township: Farms are becoming homes, homes are attracting businesses and residents are worried their town is becoming “the next Cranberry.” “I always ask people who say that, ‘What do you mean by that?’” said Dan...
