Editor's Picks category, Page 263

WASHINGTON — First responders and frontline workers being challenged by the deadly coronavirus pandemic are highlighted in White House Christmas decorations that also give a special nod to Melania Trump’s redesigned Rose Garden. It’s the final Christmas in the White House for the Trump family, although the president continues to...

The popular “Sammy’s Special” sandwich — a large portion of hot corned beef, topped with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing on freshly-baked bread – will be available once again. Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef reopened with dine-in and pick up on Tuesday. Located on Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, the...

The Westmoreland Ballet Company takes “The Nutcracker” off the stage and into the community with a new video production of the beloved holiday classic. Filmed at indoor and outdoor locations around the county, the video will debut online at 7 p.m. Friday. It also will stream at 7 p.m. Saturday...

Sky-gazers could be in for a treat Sunday night into early Monday morning as the celestial bodies align just right to create the full beaver moon along with an early morning lunar eclipse. Hardcore star-gazers can set their alarms for 4:30 a.m. when the full moon, nicknamed the beaver moon,...

SALT LAKE CITY — A mysterious silver monolith that was placed in the Utah desert has disappeared less than 10 days after it was spotted by wildlife biologists performing a helicopter survey of bighorn sheep, federal officials and witnesses said. “We have received credible reports that the illegally installed structure,...

Three black bears were taken by archers in Allegheny County so far, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The black bears bagged in Allegheny County were in West Deer, Elizabeth and in the state game lands in Marshall and Franklin townships, said Zeb Campbell, game warden for Allegheny County. While...

Original local holiday TV specials have been in short supply in recent years but with so many traditions canceled this year due to covid, there’s a welcome new gift under the Christmas TV programming tree: Pittsburgh CLO’s “A Musical Christmas Carol” starring Richard Thomas will air on WQED-TV at 7:30...

Beloved “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek offered an uplifting vision for the future of the world in a video he taped shortly before his death to be aired as part of the game show’s Thanksgiving episode. “You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing...

WASHINGTON — Nostalgia was in and jokes were out Tuesday as President Donald Trump offered a reprieve to a pair of meaty turkeys at the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony at the White House. The National Turkey Federation presented the White House with two birds, Corn and Cob. Corn was...

Turkey-trot fundraisers across the region are being slowed down this year by the covid-19 pandemic, which is reducing participation and forcing many of the events to go virtual. The 29th annual Greensburg Turkey Trot has 235 runners and walkers signed up for this year’s virtual event, down from more than...

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A significant number of Pennsylvania municipalities are considering applying for a state program for the severely financially distressed, while...

BOSTON — Cute plastic animals with tiny accessories that pose a choking hazard, Black Panther-inspired claws with the potential to cause facial or eye injuries, and green slime that could be harmful if swallowed: These are just some of the items on an annual list of potentially dangerous toys released...

For Christmas movie fans everywhere, getting paid for doing what you love is now being taken to a whole new level. Reviews.org recently announced a seasonal job opportunity in which yuletide merrymakers will get the chance to earn $2,500 on a quest to find the best Christmas movie of all...

A customer left a $3,000 tip for a single beer as a restaurant voluntarily closed because of the covid-19 pandemic. The man walked in Sunday, ordered the beer and asked for the check, which came to $7.02, Nighttown owner Brendan Ring wrote on Facebook. Ring said the man wished him...

Driving around town to see the neighbors’ decorations has long been a holiday tradition. But if you want something on a grander scale — say, lasers or 1 million twinkling LED lights — try one of these holiday displays, sure to impress even the most skeptical Scrooge. Holiday Laser Show...

A Tarentum teen is doing his part to prove that hockey players are good people. Wesley Westerman, 15, started collecting turkeys for needy families last year after he read an article and saw a YouTube clip of “The Social” co-host Jessica Allen describing hockey players as conceited and rude. Wesley...

Jamie Rimmel never spends Thanksgiving Day in her own kitchen. Instead, she volunteers her time every year organizing and cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal for the public at her church, Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg. A free take-out Thanksgiving dinner will be offered Thursday to anyone from noon-...

As the number of covid-19 cases explodes in the region, more residents are seeking tests and face a number of options. And depending on where you go, waiting for results might take longer, according to health officials. While there are a number of covid-19 testing sites in the region, many...