Editor's Picks category, Page 266
TV Talk: Billy Gardell talks about a ‘Secret Celebrity Renovation’ for Penn Hills friend’s momVideo
On the second-season premiere of CBS’s “Secret Celebrity Renovation” (8 p.m. Friday), Swissvale native Billy Gardell (“Bob (Hearts) Abishola”) assists in a makeover to the Penn Hills home of the mother of his friend/co-worker Joe O’Connell. “After thinking about it, my best friend’s mom was just the perfect candidate,” Gardell...
Family sues Sesame Place for alleged racial discriminationVideo
PHILADELPHIA — A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Philadelphia accusing Sesame Place and its parent company of allowing costumed characters to racially discriminate against Black children, citing an example from June similar to one captured in the recent viral video of a character at the park appearing to dismiss...
Family seeks release of Oakmont teacher being held in Russian prison
Marc Fogel has lived in six countries and taught overseas for 35 years, including stints in Mexico, Malaysia, Colombia, Oman and Venezuela. Last summer, Fogel and his wife, Jane, were about to start their 10th and final year teaching at the Anglo American School in Moscow. But when they arrived...
Former ‘American Idol’ winner Scotty McCreery put in the hard work to make it as a country singerVideo
Winning “American Idol” at 17 was a good thing for country singer Scotty McCreery, but it didn’t mean he had it made. “I think it also made you have to prove a little bit more to the doubters — like you weren’t just a karaoke singer, you’ve got something to...
How a driven prosecutor is building the case to execute Parkland killer: ‘Brick by brick’
MIAMI — When Mike Satz stood up and approached the jury, he did not raise his voice, bellow about justice or dramatically point his finger at the mass murderer seated a few feet away. Instead, the career prosecutor calmly delivered an exhaustive account of Nikolas Cruz’s 2018 rampage through a...
Inside the pickleball boom: Here’s what you should know about the fast-growing sport
Pickleball courts are popping up all over the area. They’re the ones populated by people of all ages who have fallen under the spell of a sport played on a small court, 44 feet long by 20 feet wide, with paddles — not rackets — and a plastic ball with...
What are the 10 most commonly stolen cars in Pa.?
Passenger vehicle thefts in the U.S. rose 8% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to a new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Almost 1 million vehicles were stolen nationwide last year, with full-size pickups accounting for 14% of the vehicles taken. “Used car values are at historical highs,”...
Big pink diamond discovered in Angola, largest in 300 years
JOHANNESBURG — A big pink diamond of 170 carats has been discovered in Angola and is claimed to be the largest such gemstone found in 300 years. Called the “Lulo Rose,” the diamond was found at the Lulo alluvial diamond mine, the mine’s owner, the Lucapa Diamond Company, announced Wednesday...
Sheetz, Pa. Lottery launch ‘Free Gas for a Year’ contest
OK, no one won last night’s Mega Million drawing. There’s another way to test your luck — especially if you’re feeling financial pain at the gas pump. Sheetz and the Pennsylvania Lottery have teamed up to offer a unique opportunity to give one lucky customer free gas for a year....
Dog-friendly dining spots gaining in popularity
There’s a special menu offered at The Olde Spitfire Grille geared toward four-legged customers. From “bark bowls” to “sweet puptato chips,” the South Greensburg eatery has gone out of its way to cater to customers and their pets. It’s been a growing trend in Western Pennsylvania. Pet-friendly restaurants have been...
TV Q&A: How are local TV news reporters judged on their work?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: How are local news reporters evaluated on their performance by their respective channels? Do ratings matter? Viewer feedback? – Beth, McCandless Rob: As with any...
Runaway pig enjoys hog-wild adventures in Mt. Pleasant area as owner hopes to bring him home
Willie enjoys spending his days relaxing on the golf course and eating apples. If Willie were human, these activities wouldn’t seem too out of the ordinary. Willie isn’t human, though. He is a runaway pig. The 120-pound swine has been on the lam in the Alverton and Mt. Pleasant areas...
Week in pictures: July 18-24
A selection of the most compelling images from Tribune-Review photographers from around the region during the week of July 18-24....
Klondike drops the Choco Taco from its lineup
Fans of the beloved Choco Taco — a taco-shaped ice cream treat produced by Klondike — will need a new way to satisfy their sweet tooth. Klondike has made it official: The Choco Taco has been discontinued. Klondike confirmed the news on its website. One- and four-count pack sizes will...
Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow top MTV VMA nominees
LOS ANGELES — Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow are top contenders with seven nominations at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. MTV announced Tuesday that Lil Nas X and Harlow earned multiple nominations for their collaborative hit “Industry Baby,” which is nominated for video of the year....
Free JamBrewzle music festival set at Latrobe brewery
Playing at various festivals over the years, musician Derek Woods of Hempfield had a vision for creating one of his own. “I always wanted to start a festival that had a semi-circus theme to it,” said the front man for the Derek Woods Band. The dream became a reality when...
From the ’Burgh to the Gulf: Lions relocated in zoo breeding program
In early June, three 2-year-old lion cub siblings were permanently relocated from the Pittsburgh Zoo to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Adjusting to a new home is a feat for anyone, including the three young predators, Chadwick, Regina and Daniel. Staff members at the zoo in Gulf Shores, Ala., worked...
Rare 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card going up for auction
NEW YORK — A decades-old, mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card could break a record at auction. The collector’s item from 1952 features one of baseball’s most celebrated and charismatic legends, and is widely regarded as one of just a handful in near-perfect condition. It’s estimated the final cost of...
‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Law & Order’ actor Paul Sorvino dies at 83
Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor who specialized in playing crooks and cops like Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas” and the NYPD sergeant Phil Cerretta on “Law & Order,” has died. He was 83. His publicist Roger Neal said he died Monday morning in Indiana of natural causes. “Our hearts are broken,...
Good beer, great value: 10 cheap beers you’ll actually enjoy drinking, including 1 that’s cheaper than gas
Inflation won’t quit. The price of gas has reached the stratosphere. The stock market is taking a beating. And I won’t even start on crypto. Boy, could we use a beer. But we don’t need just any beer in these fraught economic times. What we need more than ever is...
TV Talk: Former Pittsburgher talks new season of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’Video
When “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” returns for its third season Wednesday on Disney+, the show moves from its regular Utah high school setting to a summer camp where the campers perform the Disney musical “Frozen.” Executive producer/showrunner Tim Federle, a 1998 graduate of Upper St. Clair High...
Pro wrestling on display in New Kensington, just ahead of a wrestling school’s opening
Pro wrestling came to the heart of New Kensington on Saturday evening at the Voodoo Brewery along Fifth Avenue. Seven matches were scheduled in an event dubbed MV Young’s Backyard BBQ. Michael Young, 27, a Lower Burrell native, was the main attraction. He’s the organizer and current singles champion for...
Murrysville brothers join Coast Guard, continue family’s military service
When Nathan Harris made the decision to enter the U.S. Coast Guard, it was more than just choosing a school. And it was more than just competitive sibling rivalry. Harris’ older brother Drew is already in his second year of Coast Guard training. The Harris brothers’ decision carries on a...
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh permits cup during Holy Communion, but parish reactions split
Churches within the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh now are permitted to make their own call when it comes to offering sacramental wine at Holy Communion. Bishop David Zubik announced June 24 the diocese will allow each parish’s pastor to assess whether the Communion chalice should be reimplemented during Mass. The...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 22-24
Funky Friday The funky soul sounds of Joslyn & The Sweet Compression will fill Greensburg’s St. Clair Park on Friday, as the weekly SummerSounds concert gets underway at 7 p.m. Powerhouse vocalist Joslyn Hampton and her brass-heavy band play original music influenced by generations of groove music. Band member Marty...
