Megan Swift stories, Page 18
Bird flu kills 200 snow geese in Pennsylvania
About 200 snow geese were found dead last week in the Allentown area — likely because of the bird flu. The dead birds were found in both Nazareth Township in Northampton County and Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported. Preliminary in-state testing revealed the presence...
Police investigate 2 overnight shootings in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police are investigating two shootings that happened overnight Saturday — one in East Liberty and the other downtown. At 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police were called to a residence in the 6200 block of East Liberty, where a male believed to be in his early teens was found with a...
Steelers vs. Bengals: What they’re saying in Cincinnati after win
The Cincinnati Bengals delivered the final blow to the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday night — the team’s fourth consecutive defeat and end to its regular season. With losses to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and now the Bengals, the Steelers blew a chance to clinch the AFC North...
Acrisure Stadium employee arrested for threatening co-workers with kitchen knife
An Acrisure Stadium employee was arrested Saturday before the Pittsburgh Steelers game — after threatening fellow employees with a kitchen knife. Just before 4 p.m., Pittsburgh police responded to reports of a “disorderly employee” working in an Acrisure kitchen area. The employee was a male, who has not been identified,...
Western Pa. snowstorm will impact Monday morning commute
A snowstorm coming into Western Pennsylvania starting Sunday evening will likely impact the Monday morning commute. Allegheny County will see between 3-6 inches of snow, and Westmoreland County will see between 3-10 inches, according to Andrew Kienzle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. Pittsburgh is expected to...
‘It’s really cold’: Westmoreland County residents polar plunge into 2025
For Craig Shevchik, polar plunging into Keystone Lake at the beginning of January is tantamount to spending time in the freezer. “I’m cold,” was his first reaction after emerging from the lake on Saturday morning. Shevchik, 52, of Greensburg, led the charge into the freezing cold water for the fourth...
Rise of the iPhone, social media ‘opened up a new world’ in 21st century
Editor’s note: One-fourth of the way through this century, TribLive is looking ahead to the next 25 years, using the events of the past 25 as a road map of what possibly is to come. This installment of the occasional series looks at technology and social media. Jessica Ghilani vividly...
Advocates push for historic designation of Donny’s Place, once a popular Pittsburgh gay bar
A grassroots group trying to thwart the demolition of one of Pittsburgh’s oldest gay bars is pushing for Donny’s Place to be designated as a historic city landmark so it can’t be torn down. The defunct establishment at 1226 Herron Ave. in Polish Hill opened in 1973 and closed two...
Fueled by anger and caffeine, 200 Starbucks workers strike in Pittsburgh area
In Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood on Tuesday, the sound of holiday songs filled the air outside the closed Starbucks at Forbes Avenue and Atwood Street. But the carolers weren’t fueled by holiday cheer. They were actually striking baristas from various stores in the Pittsburgh area demanding a union contract alongside their...
North Shore bars expect large Christmas Day crowds for Steelers game
Donavon Epps anticipates a busy Christmas Day on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. As front of house manager at Bar Louie, he said the Steelers’ 1 p.m. home game against the Kansas City Chiefs should bring in a good amount of fans — despite the holiday. Bar Louie will operate from 11...
Pittsburgh-area dry cleaners react to EPA chemicals ban
David Pratt felt relieved upon learning that the Environmental Protection Agency banned two known carcinogens used in consumer products and dry cleaning. Environmental advocates pushed for the banning of some of the chemicals for over 30 years, he said. Both have been used since the early 1900s. “It means that...
Penn State hotel prices soar ahead of home playoff game
The Penn State Nittany Lions take the field Saturday for the team’s first-ever playoff home game, and hotel prices are surging in the State College area. The Nittany Lions will play the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, a team that’s used to playing under sunny skies in Texas. Weather forecasts for...
Russia announces development of free cancer vaccine amid skepticism
Russia said it has developed a cancer vaccine that will be distributed to Russian patients for free starting in early 2025 — but the news has drawn skepticism. Andrey Kaprin, the general director of the Radiology Medical Research Center of the Russian Ministry of Health, announced the development on Dec....
Digital authorization required for Americans to travel to U.K. in 2025
Planning a trip to the United Kingdom in 2025? If so, you’ll need more than just a passport. Starting Jan. 8, American citizens will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization in order to enter the U.K., Time Magazine reported. “U.S. citizens transiting through or traveling to the United...
Millions of Stanley mugs recalled
Could your Stanley travel mug be dangerous? About 2.6 million of Stanley’s switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. have been recalled due to a burn hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The mugs’ lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and...
LGBTQ landmark Brewers Bar gets new ownership in Lawrenceville
After being put up for sale this summer, Brewers Bar in Lawrenceville — Pittsburgh’s oldest gay bar — will remain intact with new ownership in 2025. Justin Beiter will be the face of the bar as a co-owner and operator. He said it will be rebranded, but it will remain...
Pittsburgh 4th in list of top cities for dating
If you’re single and looking to find love, Pittsburgh could be the city for you. The Steel City came in 4th place in a recent study ranking American cities based on “dating friendliness,” the New York Times reported. WalletHub compared 182 cities, including the 150 most populated cities and at...
St. Louis bakery embroiled in smiley cookies trademark dispute with Eat’n Park
Eat’n Park isn’t smiling over a St. Louis bakery producing a similarly named cookie. McArthur’s Bakery and The Pioneer Cafe in St. Louis, which employs adults with disabilities, has received a cease and desist letter from Pittsburgh-based restaurant chain Eat’n Park alleging trademark infringement over its popular Smiley Cookies. McArthur’s...
Annual Geminid meteor shower will hit peak soon
This weekend, the annual Geminid meteor shower will once again appear — with shooting stars streaking across the sky. It will peak Friday and Saturday under a nearly full moon, which will reduce visibility, but bright meteors may still be spotted in the days leading up to the peak, according...
Trump launches fragrance line featuring photo of Jill Biden
President-elect Donald Trump has launched a new fragrance line titled “Fight, Fight, Fight” — for men and women. Selling for $199 each, Trump announced the line on Sunday in a Truth Social post, USA Today reported. “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” the post reads, on top of a photo...
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...
Pittsburgh Popcorn Company hit with health code violations
The Allegheny County Health Department issued 13 health code violations to the Pittsburgh Popcorn Company’s processing facility. According to the Food Safety Assessment Report, an inspection took place on Dec. 4 at the facility in the South Side Slopes. Out of 33 total food safety assessment and general sanitation categories...
Is there a future for TikTok in the U.S.?
The future of the popular social media app TikTok is growing murkier. A court ruling Friday indicates TikTok will be banned next year in the United States unless it’s sold before then — which is unlikely, according to experts. Jessica Ghilani, associate professor of communication and Cyber Institute Affiliate Scholar...
Robotic shorts could revolutionize walking for elderly, people with chronic illnesses
New robotic shorts could transform the way older adults and frail people walk. Designed to improve mobility and independence, the WalkON shorts were created to be worn over everyday clothes and could help those with chronic illnesses as well, the Washington Post reported. “A pouch-like harness goes around the waist...
Coca-Cola pivots climate goals away from reducing single-use plastic
The Coca-Cola Co. will no longer focus on reducing virgin and single-use plastic — and instead pivot its climate goals to focus more heavily on the use of recycled materials. By 2035, the company said it aims to increase the use of recycled plastic in packaging between 30%-35% and “help...
