Top Stories category, Page 43
How one Southwestern Pa. school district is trying to improve test scores — while on a budget
Monessen City School Superintendent Robert Motte is faced with a dilemma. Motte admits the district’s state test scores could use some improvement. On the 2024 Keystone Exams, 3% of the district’s students achieved a proficient or higher score in algebra 1. Students hitting that proficient or higher mark in biology...
Increased school funding could lead to higher test scores — but it’s often more complicated
When it comes to education spending, more isn’t always better. At least that’s what the numbers — standardized test scores and per-student spending — suggest about Southwestern Pennsylvania’s school districts. School districts that spend the most per student do not always have the highest test scores, according to data from...
Holiday cheer shines bright at Pittsburgh’s annual Light Up NightVideo
Pittsburgh ushered in the holiday season Saturday as crowds packed Downtown for Light Up Night, taking in tree lightings, street performances and celebratory fireworks. The event drew steady crowds eager to welcome the season, helped along by the mild, comfortable weather. Thousands of people, young and old, turned out wearing...
Despite vast difference in ages, Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph forming bond as Steelers QBs
After Mason Rudolph retreated to the locker room Sunday when he did his part in the second half to secure a 34-12 victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was greeted by a high-five from Aaron Rodgers. It was like Rudolph was living out a dream from his youth. “I think...
No Aaron Rodgers update — but Steelers declare Cam Heyward, Darius Slay healthy for Bears
Aaron Rodgers remains, officially, questionable to play Sunday. But there is no longer any question that two other Pittsburgh Steelers starters will be in uniform to face the Chicago Bears. Via a team spokesman, the Steelers revealed early Saturday afternoon that defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and cornerback Darius Slay had...
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s exit opens room for new political unknown in Georgia
CHATSWORTH, Ga. — U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene built her career as one of Donald Trump’s fiercest defenders. Now, after a dramatic turn against the president she once championed, she’s walking away from a Washington that she said “despised” her. What comes next for her — and for Georgia politics...
‘Woot!’: Westmoreland volunteers enjoy their good deeds for those less fortunate
Sporadic hooting and hollering was coming from inside the Murrysville Christian Concern’s new community building in Export early Saturday, as a group of more than 200 volunteers adorned in blue hairnets scooped, measured and packaged oatmeal kits. The volunteers flanked long tables, which were lined with oatmeal, scales, funnels, toppings...
Ukraine’s allies push back on U.S. peace plan seen as favoring Moscow
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s Western allies rallied around the war-torn country on Saturday as they pushed to revise a U.S. peace plan seen as favoring Moscow despite its all-out invasion of its neighbor. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed Ukrainians “will always defend” their home. A Ukrainian delegation, bolstered by representatives...
Steelers 4 Downs: In Bears matchup, 1 team gets to QB quickly, the other doesn’t
1. Race to the QB When it comes to pressuring opposing quarterbacks, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t elite. But when they’re successful on the pass rush, they are doing it quickly. Certainly moreso than their opponent Sunday. While according to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Steelers are generating pressure at a...
Students’ weather balloon from Michigan lands (probably) in Brackenridge
From live leeches to building model rockets, a lot happens in Joe Graber’s Michigan high school science class. The most recent project is a weather balloon experiment that could lead to a scavenger hunt in the Brackenridge area. According to a Facebook post by Carrie Balk, a weather balloon launched...
Westmoreland transit authority cuts ties with state lobbyists
A divided Westmoreland County Transit Authority board fired the agency’s state lobbyists this week. Four of the board’s seven members voted against retaining the Harrisburg-based firm, Malady and Wooten, which has represented the county transportation agency’s interests to state officials since 2022. The authority, which operates fixed-route local and commuter...
Overly’s light display — and Santa — return to Westmoreland Fairgrounds
The Overly’s Country Christmas annual holiday lights display is open for the season, ready to host old and new traditions for area families. The lights are accompanied by a Christmas village, model train display, Santa Claus and other attractions. The nonprofit organization regularly donates proceeds from the event to local...
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, former Trump loyalist, says she is resigning from Congress
WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a loyal supporter-turned-critic of President Donald Trump who faced his political retribution if she sought reelection, said Friday she is resigning from Congress in January. Greene, in a more than 10-minute video posted online, explained her decision and said she didn’t want...
Victim in fatal Duquesne shooting identified as Homewood man
A Homewood man was shot and killed in Duquesne on Friday afternoon, according to the Allegheny County Police. At 2:22 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Duquesne Place for reports of a shooting, police said. The Allegheny County Examiner’s Office identified him as Eugene Jackson, 61. Police...
Aluminum City Arts could make New Kensington ‘Destination City’
Tony Paletta remembers thinking negatively of New Kensington when he was growing up in the city. He remembers moving away to live on the West Coast for a number of years and returning to New Kensington five years ago. That’s when his perspective changed. “Coming back in 2020, so much...
See how much money your Pa. school district will receive to close adequacy, tax burden gaps
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 — Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts will each receive a slice of $565 million that lawmakers put in this...
Pittsburgh doctors cheer removal of black box warning on hormone therapies for menopause
Pittsburgh-area doctors are welcoming the removal of a black box warning — the strongest available to the federal Food and Drug Administration — from hormone therapies used to treat menopause symptoms. The agency announced the change last week, directing drugmakers to remove prominent labels alerting women of increased risks of...
Independence hospital staffers ‘trying to piece everything together’ in aftermath of merger announcement
Butler Memorial Hospital staffer Tara Erskine is ready for change. Erskine, 30, of Kittanning has worked as a CT scan technologist at the Butler hospital for eight years. A member of the hospital’s technologists union, Erskine is optimistic about Butler Memorial being partnered with West Virginia University Health System. Officials...
Wall fire at Lower Burrell supermarket causes evacuation
A fire in a wall Friday afternoon at the Community Supermarket in Lower Burrell caused an evacuation of the store for about a half-hour. Crews responded to the grocery store, at 3220 Leechburg Road, just before 4 p.m. for a smell of something burning, said Brennan Sites, chief of Lower...
Trump and Mamdani go from adversaries to bromance after White House meeting
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday met the man who had proudly proclaimed himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” but he seemed to find the opposite. The Republican president and New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani were warm and friendly, speaking repeatedly of their shared goals to help Trump’s hometown...
Death penalty on the table for Fayette women accused of killing 9-year-old
Fayette County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against two women accused in the death of 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey. District Attorney Mike Aubele said notices of aggravating circumstances were filed Friday against both suspects — Sarah Shipley, 35, and Kourtney Eutsey, 31, both of Dunbar Borough. The aggravating circumstances prosecutors...
3 men charged in White Oak fatal shooting of motorcyclist
Three men are facing charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist in White Oak. On Friday, Victor Cruz, 27, Albert Renchko, 36, and Jacob Baker, 33, were charged in the Oct. 12 shooting death of 33-year-old Kenneth Hayman. Allegheny County dispatchers were notified that day of a...
How Westmoreland County uses blue ‘pills’ to break more than 200 election ties
Brian Carnahan didn’t even know he’d be a candidate for public office until he cast a write-in vote for himself on Election Day. That single vote was enough to put him into a five-way tie for the position of inspector of elections at his Jeannette 5th Ward precinct for the...
The fallout of Epstein’s crimes span the globe. Here’s a look at some of those paying the cost
The fallout from Jeffrey Epstein’s transgressions spans oceans and continents, from the vulnerable girls he exploited to the privileged people and institutions that chose to associate with him, cover up his activities — or look away. No one has paid a higher cost than Epstein’s victims, who number more than...
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers listed as questionable to play Sunday vs. Bears
His future Hall of Fame quarterback was out on the practice field Friday, taking some first-team reps just five days after suffering a wrist fracture. Not that Mike Tomlin would admit it made him feel any better about Sunday’s game. “I’m not in the comfort business,” the Pittsburgh Steelers coach...
