TribLive stories, Page 66

The state of Texas is canceling its biennial immunization conference, planned for May, amid uncertainty over how much the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could participate while under a federal gag order. The Texas Department of State Health Services wrote in an email announcement on Wednesday that the...

Butler’s Jackson Jungling shot a perfect score of 200-20x to win the WPIAL rifle championship Thursday at Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club in Canonsburg. Jungling is Butler’s third champion, the first since Kayla Fry shared the title in 2007. He is the first champion with a perfect score since West Greene’s...

WASHINGTON — Linda McMahon, the former CEO of a professional wrestling and entertainment juggernaut and Donald Trump’s pick as Education secretary, told senators Thursday that the president’s plan to dismantle the Education Department would need congressional approval. “We’d like to do this right,” she said. “We’d like to make sure...

A 26-year-old woman has died after being shot Thursday morning in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. The victim, Taylor Hall, was pronounced dead at an area hospital Thursday morning after the shooting in the 3100 block of Kelvin Street, the medical examiner said. Pittsburgh police...

Allegheny County residents will begin receiving 2025 real estate tax bills this week, but deadline information in the enclosed bulletins is wrong because of last-minute changes, according to County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars. On Tuesday night, Allegheny County Council voted to extend property tax deadlines by about a month, including...

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania counties are tapping into opioid settlement money to support child welfare programs as they face staff shortages, increased risks for children, and other challenges. Most of these initiatives have received approval from a powerful state oversight board — including efforts to train staff, support parents in treatment,...

BELLEFONTE — Pennsylvania has given $13.5 million to hundreds of farmers over the past three years to help them pay for bird flu testing, recover lost revenue, and implement biosecurity measures. These are the tentpoles of the state’s special grant program helping farmers respond to the aggressive virus, which is...

The thousands of investors had different goals for growing their money last year, from paying for cancer treatments to helping loved ones, to just making a good return. But all had one thing in common: they were victims of cryptocurrency scams that totaled an estimated $5 billion in potential losses....

Could the United States soon be joining the likes of Norway, Kuwait and Mongolia in having a national reserve to invest on projects of strategic interest? If President Donald Trump gets his way, then perhaps so. On Feb. 3, Trump issued an executive order calling for the creation of a...

While Elon Musk, who I think zero people voted for, is taking our largest humanitarian program “to the woodchopper,” thousands and thousands of people around the world are being deprived of much-needed food, medicine, information and guidance. Goods are sitting on docks because Musk has said “stop!” And King Donald...

I love Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show.” He is not only outrageously funny, he is brilliant. President Trump and the Republican Party are saying a big “whatever” to what used to be taking pride in their jobs and believing the Constitution was more than a piece of paper. Currently,...

Norwin School Board voted Monday to censure one of its members. Alex Detschelt has been a regular point of controversy on the board for years. There was his use of a slur regarding people with intellectual disabilities that he shared on social media. There was his subsequent opposition to a...

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. Night at the Races...

The Allegheny County Jail is the only jail in Pennsylvania where a restraint chair is not being used because of a 2021 referendum. The restraint chair allows officers to transport residents without injury to the resident or to the officers. Currently, for residents needing to be transported, officers have to...

High schools Basketball WPIAL playoffs Boys Class 6A First round Monday’s schedule Woodland Hills (11-11) at Seneca Valley (11-11), 7 p.m.; North Hills (7-15) at Butler (15-6), 7 p.m.; Norwin (10-11) at Mt. Lebanon (15-7), 7 p.m. Quarterfinals Feb. 20 schedule Woodland Hills/Seneca Valley winner at Upper. St. Clair (20-2),...

Lukas Stead and Asher Schwartz scored 12 points apiece as Allderdice defeated Westinghouse, 81-23, in the City League semifinals Wednesday. Matt Kassis added 11 points and Keith Taylor and Trey Schachter had 10 points each for the Dragons (14-9). Jaymeer Wilson and Souljah Cook scored six points each for Westinghouse...

Once the Plum boys bowling team hit its stride Wednesday, nothing was getting in its way. After losing their first game of the semifinals, the Mustangs reeled off wins in the next four games to claim the WPIBL boys team championship at AMF Mt. Lebanon. Plum, which finished second in...

If you received a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls, The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission wants you to know that it’s probably a scam. Officials are warning customers to be vigilant, as scammers are pretending to be toll agencies and are sending texts demanding money immediately, the Pennsylvania Turnpike...

Snowshoeing and alpine skiing were among the events Wednesday at the 46th annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County. Athletes, coaches and volunteers were at the the resort for three days of activities and competition, which also includes snowboarding. Opening ceremonies were held...

“Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing,” said football coach Vince Lombardi years ago. Many investors feel the same way about earnings. Excuse me, Lombardi disciples, but earnings aren’t the only thing. To withstand unexpected hardships or to seize timely opportunities, a company’s financial strength is also key. Once a...

Two days after issuing a mask mandate for its facilities, UPMC has softened its language, stating that masks are recommended, not required. On Monday, UPMC issued a statement that masks would be required for people at all its facilities in an attempt to curb the spread of respiratory viruses. On...

A day after the start of trial for a Clairton man accused of killing his friend’s father, Sabr Ellis decided to change his not guilty plea. The 25-year-old instead admitted Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter for the Jan. 21, 2021, stabbing death of Anthony Koontz. As part of the negotiated agreement,...

Marc Fogel woke up Wednesday morning in a plush Washington, D.C., hotel and enjoyed a breakfast of bacon and eggs for the first time in more than 31⁄2 years. “He’s just grateful and on top of the world right now,” his mother, Malphine Fogel, told TribLive. “There’s only good things...

Fundraisers • A pancake and sausage breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Greensburg Masonic Center, 349 Donohoe Road, Hempfield. Menu: buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes, waffles, sausage, fruit cup and beverage. Cost: $10; children 5 and older, $5; younger than 5, free. • Jeannette...

When teacher Marc Fogel returned to the United States on Tuesday after three and a half years’ imprisonment in Russia, he was accompanied by a figure many don’t know much about — Trump envoy Steve Witkoff. “What a dynamic man this guy is,” Fogel said of Witkoff during a press...