TribLive stories, Page 31
In shutdown fight, fiscal hawks in Congress push for flat spending
WASHINGTON -Republican fiscal hawks in Congress are making a new pitch in the struggle to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history: Continue to spend at the same rate as last year for as long as possible. That approach would not cut discretionary spending but also not add to...
Christine Flowers: Malala’s message should echo to the White House
There are a few people in the world who are instantly recognizable with just one name: Madonna, Beyonce and Rihanna come to mind, as do fellow performers Cher, Elvis, Prince, Bono and Sting. The same is true for Malala. I have known about this brave young woman from the moment...
Federal shutdown threatens these Trump voters’ livelihoods but not their political loyalties
From federal paychecks to public benefits, the longest U.S. government shutdown in history is cutting lifelines for millions of Americans, many of whom voted for President Donald Trump. But conversations with five Trump voters – part of a group of 20 whom Reuters has interviewed monthly since February – show...
SNAP users brace for hungry weekend after Trump admin appeals order for full benefits
Tens of millions of Americans are spending the weekend anxious and hungry, as they await resolution of political and legal wrangling over federal food assistance. The Supreme Court late on Nov. 7 allowed the federal government to make only partial payments for now. The dispute ended up in the highest...
Trump urges lawmakers to give healthcare money ‘directly to the people’
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Saturday floated a potential compromise amid the impasse over the U.S. government shutdown, urging Republicans to redirect federal money that currently goes to health insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act and give it to individuals. “I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the...
Major retailers promise a cheaper Thanksgiving, but there’s a twist
Grocery giants Walmart, Target and Aldi are trumpeting their Thanksgiving meal deals as more affordable than ever. But those retailers are doing exactly what shoppers are doing, trading down to cheaper private-label alternatives or offering fewer items. Walmart’s meal this year features nine Great Value private-label brand items out of...
Westmoreland County athletes of the week: Penn-Trafford’s Mia Williams and Franklin Regional’s Fabrizzio Costa
Fabrizzio Costa School: Franklin Regional Class: Senior Sport: Soccer Claim to fame: Costa scored the decisive goal goal in a 1-0 Panthers victory over Bethel Park in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Oct. 28 when he finished off a pass from Michael Hillebrand. He also scored a goal in the...
Penn Hills notebook: Steelers bring in former Indians star
Daequan Hardy walked into the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room Nov. 5 and saw some familiar faces. At Penn State, he played with Joey Porter Jr. and Pat Freiermuth. This summer with the Buffalo Bills, one of his teammates was safety Daryl Porter Jr. The person that Hardy had the longest...
Martin Schram: Dick Cheney — reflecting on the unseen
The president’s chief of staff was talking with aides outside his president’s waiting motorcade when he spotted me — and immediately began walking purposefully toward me for what figured to be one of those tough, and probably angry, confrontations. Reporters know we can expect that when what we have written...
Letter to the editor: Pittsburgh nonprofits should help city with emergency vehicles
I have a suggestion for the new mayor of Pittsburgh: There are a number of large nonprofit organizations in the city of Pittsburgh, with UPMC and AGH being two of the largest. I saw on the local news the deplorable conditions of Pittsburgh emergency vehicles, including police vehicles and ambulances,...
Letter to the editor: Maduro bounty not justice
The United States offers a $15 million bounty for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture, claiming we want him to face justice for drug trafficking. But this bounty reveals a troubling contradiction: It can’t be collected through legitimate law enforcement. Maduro won’t voluntarily travel to countries that would extradite him. He’s...
Letter to the editor: Democrats have nothing but attacking Trump
Seeking election to a public office? Looking for political credibility? Are you a Democrat? No problem: Attack the Orange Monster! Health care for illegal immigrants? Insist that President Trump is against affordable health care. ICE deportation of migrant criminals? Insist that Trump’s Gestapo is rounding up “fathers, husbands and hard-working...
Editorial: Voters chose confidence in election machines
The voters of Westmoreland County were clear when they showed up at the polls. They picked a side. They made a choice. They went with the voting machines. In September, the county’s Republican commissioners approved a $40,000 plan to add optional paper ballots for the November election, citing a 2024...
Thanksgiving dinner, turkey bingo and more at Sewickley area churches
Antioch Baptist Church 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley. 412-741-7688. antiochfw baptistsewickley.org. Morning worship and praise service is at 10:45 a.m. First Sunday Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. The men of Antioch Baptist Church extend a heartfelt invitation to you and your congregation to join us for our Annual Men’s Day Celebration...
Letter to the editor: Trump’s actions show who he is
President Trump likes to say he is a law-and-order president. It justifies his militarizing our streets, sending federal law enforcement to cities that don’t want or need those troops, and spending about $28 billion annually on ICE agents who act like thugs and terrorize our fellow citizens and human beings....
The Stroller, Nov. 8, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Donations needed for family...
Billy Strings delivers bluegrass magic at PPG Paints Arena
Billy Strings and his drum-tight (but drumless) band brought two sets and 25 songs of pure bluegrass magic to the first of two back-to-back PPG Paints Arena shows on Friday night. I’m already jealous of those who have tickets for Saturday night’s sold-out show. The 33-year-old guitar virtuoso may not...
Letter to the editor: No pay for Congress during shutdown
The resolution introduced Oct. 29 by Sen. Lindsay Graham should be brought before committee and voted on immediately. The resolution proposes “an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring Members of Congress to forfeit their compensation during Government shutdowns.” This is a critical piece of legislation because it...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 7, 2025
High schools Football WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Friday’s results Central Catholic 44, Canon-McMillan 7 North Allegheny 35, Norwin 17 Championship Nov. 15 schedule Central Catholic (10-1) vs. North Allegheny (8-3) at Pine-Richland, 6:05 p.m. Class 5A Quarterfinals Friday’s results Moon 20, Penn-Trafford 13 Peters Township 42, Bethel Park 14...
Central Catholic pulls away from Canon-McMillan to reach 7th straight WPIAL title game
For the seventh straight season, Central Catholic will play for a WPIAL Class 6A championship next weekend after a dominating 47-7 win over Canon-McMillian at West Mifflin on Friday night. The top-seeded Vikings (10-1) have won four WPIAL titles since the classification was formed in 2016, including a title last...
Trib HSSN’s 2025 Week 11 top performers for passing, rushing, receiving
Top performers for Week 11 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania. Passing 263 - Joey Felitsky, North Catholic (13 of 15) 232 - Kymon’e Brown, Jeannette (13 of 29) 228 - Cam Walter, Woodland Hills (16 of 24) 225 - Ryan Messina, Elizabeth Forward (23 of 34) 217 -...
High school football roundup for Nov. 7, 2025: Khalil Taylor’s 4 TDs guide Pine-Richland past Shaler
Khalil Taylor scored four touchdowns as No. 1 Pine-Richland earned a convincing 42-10 victory over No. 8 Shaler (4-8) in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals Friday night. Taylor, a Division I recruit, scored on a 90-yard kickoff return, a 30-yard pass from Aaron Strader, a 9-yard interception return and an...
Coroner: Both drivers die in Interstate 70 crash in Washington County
Both drivers died who were involved in a crash Friday afternoon on Interstate 70 in Washington County. Both people, a man and a woman, were from West Virginia; they were traveling by themselves. Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco identified woman as Donna K. Havens, 59, of Wheeling. Warco said Havens...
QB Joey Felitsky gets redemption as North Catholic tops No. 4 Elizabeth Forward in quarterfinals
Last season, North Catholic quarterback Joey Felitsky threw a crucial interception that allowed Elizabeth Forward to kick a game-winning field goal in their WPIAL quarterfinal game. As he walked off the field, Trojans coach Chris Rizzo said that “without a doubt” his quarterback was going to get another shot at...
‘I heard some kind of crack’: Woman admits in police interrogation video to killing best friend’s baby
For 12 hours on June 16, 2024, Nicole Virzi sat in an interrogation room at Pittsburgh police headquarters, repeatedly denying she hurt her best friend’s 6-week-old son who she’d been watching the night before. Over the course of the day, the Ph.D. student in clinical psychology consistently told detectives she...
