TribLive stories, Page 367
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 31, 2025
High schools Basketball Boys Friday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Fox Chapel 53, North Hills 48 New Castle 55, Pine-Richland 47 Butler 72, Seneca Valley 57 Woodland Hills 54, North Allegheny 52 Section 2 Central Catholic 65, Norwin 50 Canon-McMillan 71, Hempfield at 59 Mt. Lebanon 74, Connellsville 27 Class...
High school roundup for Jan. 31, 2025: Belle Vernon’s Zion Moore scores 2,000th point
Zion Moore scored 37 points to become the 39th boys basketball player in WPIAL history to hit the 2,000-point mark, leading Belle Vernon to a 76-49 win over East Allegheny in Section 3-4A on Friday night. Trevor Kovatch added 11 for the Leopards (17-4, 10-1). Jayden Patterson scored 25 for...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s chief of staff resigns
Jake Wheatley, chief of staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, has resigned, the mayor’s office said Saturday. A statement sent to the media Saturday evening did not list a reason for the departure. Wheatley’s resignation was effective Jan. 29. “Jake has made extremely important contributions to my administration and the...
Taco Bell manager who killed employee testifies he feared victim
Zairyre Simmons was abused as a child and grew up in the foster care system. He watched a person get shot while playing basketball at a Homewood playground and later lost his best friend and older brother to violence. All of those circumstances — along with a 2018 incident when...
Thomas Jefferson, Neshannock, Butler win PIAA competitive spirit titles
Neshannock and Butler added to their trophy cases while Thomas Jefferson outdueled a WPIAL rival for its first title at the PIAA competitive spirit championships Friday in Hershey. Neshannock won the Class 2A Large Varsity division for the third straight year, posting a score of 80.87 to beat second-place Hickory...
Health data disappears as Trump administration targets ‘gender ideology’
Public health data disappeared from websites, entire webpages went blank and employees erased pronouns from email signatures Friday as federal agencies scrambled to comply with a directive tied to President Donald Trump’s order rolling back protections for transgender people. The Office of Personnel Management directed agency heads to strip “gender...
NFL officials spotting the football isn’t going away
The NFL will engage its Competition Committee on technology to take virtual line-to-gain measurements next season, but officials will continue to spot the football. There’s no current technology being considered that would help determine forward progress, which became a point of contention after Josh Allen was ruled short on a...
Philly DA: Local officials don’t have to comply with Trump administration’s immigration crackdown
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Friday local elected officials and law enforcement cannot be forced to comply with the Trump administration’s “Nazi stuff,” referring to the president’s planned crackdown on immigration. “Local law enforcement can volunteer to do Nazi stuff,” said Krasner, a Democrat. “I’m sure I...
Quantum Theatre spotlights historical abolitionist with ‘The Return of Benjamin Lay’
Quantum Theatre’s new production will shine a light on a historical rebel you won’t find in textbooks. Benjamin Lay was an 18th-century abolitionist and animal rights advocate. He was also part of the Quakers, a Christian religious community heavily present in Pennsylvania at the time he was alive. Lay was...
Jason W. Park: Hey Hegseth — for Pete’s sake, get a Eureka! moment
Pete Hegseth’s appointment to lead the Department of Defense involved the slimmest of margins and required the tie-breaking vote of Vice President JD Vance, 51-50. However, this was not before allegations of public drunkenness on one hand and sexual assault and spousal abuse on the other surfaced. Of course, even...
In brief: Audrey Hepburn presentation, business networking and more in Quaker Valley area
Library presentation A survivor of Nazi occupation in her childhood, Audrey Hepburn went on to become the it girl of films in the 1960s. Hepburn showcased her inner beauty, grace and style by becoming a noted humanitarian in later years. Discover the life of Audrey Hepburn and delve into her...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: Jan. 31
The following is a regular feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz:...
Letter to the editor: A return to common sense with Trump
A president who wants to bring common sense to government. I wish he would bring common sense to the Trump haters of this opinion page. Hitler, threat to democracy, oligarchy, dictator, etc., etc. What do you think you just had? I don’t even know who was giving the orders for...
Letter to the editor: McCormick’s Hegseth vote is telling
One of the first tests of new Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick was how he would vote on the flawed nomination of the unqualified, immoral Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. McCormick failed his constituents, providing the deciding vote to install Hegseth. Throughout his campaign, McCormick cited his military experience and...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Jan. 31-Feb. 2
This weekend, we’ll get to find out whether Phil’s bringing us an early spring or six more weeks of this already-too-long winter. Whatever the weather, here are some things to do around town. Brigid This weekend is a holiday honoring Celtic goddess and Catholic saint Brigid, so come join a...
The Stroller, Jan. 31, 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. Free transportation available to...
Laurels & lances: Juveniles & education
Laurel: To making improvements. Westmoreland County commissioners say they want to see more oversight at the secure juvenile detention center. Good. The facility was closed for about eight months between 2023 and 2024. It reopened in March 2024 with half the licensed 16-person capacity. That will require more staffing. Part...
Lifelong Hempfield resident announces run for township supervisor
A lifelong Hempfield resident wants to serve as a township supervisor. In announcing her candidacy, Becky Durbin said she intends to focus on implementing a community alert system, supporting the township’s fire departments and the public works department. It’s important, she said, to maintain green space and make good decisions...
Letter to the editor: Our leaders used to deserve respect
There was once a time when public officials earned and deserved respect. A time when those with policy differences were political opponents, not enemies. A time when public service was honored. Divorce was once considered to be a negative for candidates seeking the presidency. Today’s White House occupant is a...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 30, 2025
High schools Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Imani Christian 63, Upper St. Clair 58 Section 2 Norwin 61, Hempfield 56 Class 3A Section 3 South Allegheny 68, Steel Valley 27 Class 2A Section 1 Bentworth 54, Clairton 49 Nonsection Carrick 69, Valley 54 Penn-Trafford 80, Greensburg Salem...
High school roundup for Jan. 30, 2025: Imani Christian stuns No. 1 Upper St. Clair
Kieshaun Demus scored 19 points as No. 1 Imani Christian turned the tables on No. 1 Upper St. Clair on Thursday night, winning 63-58 to hand the Panthers their first Section 2-6A loss of the season. RJ Sledge added 11 points for the Saints (12-6, 10-2). The first time the...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Jan. 31-Feb. 2
After an especially chilly January, we’ll all be waiting with bated breath to see what fate Punxsutawney Phil has in store for us on Sunday. Whether he sees his shadow or not, you can still celebrate like spring is just around the corner with these events. Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Market...
Westmoreland Symphony’s ‘Love Stories’ evening features renowned cellist
The Westmoreland Symphony will present a special Valentine’s weekend concert titled “Love Stories” with special guest artist Zlatomir Fung at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg on Feb. 15. The centerpiece of the evening is Dvořák’s “Cello Concerto in B minor” featuring Fung. “He’s a brilliant cellist and an artist on...
Pittsburgh woman settles civil rights lawsuit against city, Allegheny County for $70K
A Pittsburgh woman who sued Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh over claims of civil rights violations, false arrest and violent treatment has settled her federal case for a total of $70,000. The county last week paid Joanna Obuzor, 41, of the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, $62,500 after approval from...
Police: Snowmobilers said they were trying to run over fox they chased through Lebanon County field
A Lebanon County man and teenager admitted they were trying to run over a fox when they chased the animal on snowmobiles through a field earlier this month, newly filed court documents show. Myerstown resident Jeffrey S. Horst, 20, was charged Thursday with six offenses, including animal cruelty, court records...

