Why losing weight isn’t just about counting calories — and what to do about it
BOSTON — When it comes to losing weight, it turns out the simple math of counting calories doesn’t always add up. Fad diets come and go, but the underlying message almost always follows a simple equation. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, the weight will melt away. In...
U.S. airlines chase profits in premium cabins, deepening a fare class divide on flights
One traveler breezes through a priority security lane and heads straight to an invite-only lounge for craft cocktails and a chef-prepared meal before boarding early. A flight attendant offering a glass of champagne and a warm hand towel welcomes the passenger to a spacious seat at the front of the...
Q&A: Country icon Tim McGraw on Pawn Shop Guitar tour, Pittsburgh memories and moreVideo
Country star Tim McGraw realized one of his recent singles may have inadvertently wrecked one of his fraternity brother’s best stories. The mostly autobiographical song, “Pawn Shop Guitar,” recounts McGraw’s start in music, when he sold his high school ring at a pawn shop for $25 to buy an acoustic...
U.S. Postal Service raises stamp prices
The U.S. Postal Service is raising the price of a Forever stamp, and it’s happening this weekend. The new rate is a 4-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp — from 78 to 82 cents — starting on Sunday. The Postal Service cited its “severe financial...
Fourth of July fireworks displays leave behind smoky aftermath
Pittsburgh’s own fireworks display on the Fourth of July wasn’t the only one mired in a smoky haze. An analysis released Sunday by IQAir found fireworks celebrations across the country led to sharp spikes in air pollution as Americans marked the nation’s 250th birthday. Air quality maps showed elevated concentrations...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: NorsideVideo
Norside’s upcoming sophomore album, according to drummer Steve Ippolito, doubles down on the band’s essentials: “groove, grit and soul worn straight to the bone.” Coming July 10, the “Coal & Soul” album aims to be a living embodiment of the area. “The title ‘Coal & Soul’ carries the weight of...
Where to see Big Boy steam locomotive’s stop in Leetsdale
Leetsdale officials are bracing for something big rolling through town this month. Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is on a coast-to-coast tour as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration and is scheduled to stop in the borough on July 11. Spokesperson Mike Jaixen said the world’s largest operating steam...
‘Minions & Monsters’ tops Fourth of July holiday box office, barely beating ‘Toy Story 5’
LOS ANGELES — The Minions have taken down “Toy Story 5” at the July Fourth weekend box office, but not by much. “Minions & Monsters,” the seventh film in the “Despicable Me” franchise, earned $36.4 million at the holiday weekend box office, according to studio estimates for North America. “Toy...
University of Pittsburgh study finds video game improves ER doctors’ decisions for older trauma patients
HBO’s “The Pitt” mirrors doctors for entertainment, but a real-life Pittsburgh physician’s video game recently proved successful in asking peers to gaze into the mirror to improve health outcomes. University of Pittsburgh researchers have found that an emergency room mobile video game called “Night Shift” has been found to improve...
Heavy metal cafe Grim Wizard grows into larger space in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood
Grim Wizard Coffee may have moved into a new space, but at the heavy metal-themed cafe in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood, all roads still lead back to the wizard. A deep red arch separates the moody coffee bar from a room filled with pinball machines, where “No sun in the shadow...
A child can drown in seconds. Doctors want more families to be prepared
NEW YORK — Doctors and others are sounding an alarm: More U.S. children have been drowning in recent years. “When drowning occurs, seconds matter,” said Dr. Rohit Shenoi, the lead author of a recent American Academy of Pediatrics warning. “Quick rescue and resuscitation can mean the difference between life, death...
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry in front of famous friends at Madison Square Garden
NEW YORK — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at a ceremony and Stevie Nicks performed among a crowd packed with stars of sports and entertainment. The deep secrecy that surrounded the buildup to the nuptials...
Review: Jack Johnson brings beachy vibes to Star Lake
If a beach vacation isn’t in the cards this summer, hopefully you got to live vicariously through Jack Johnson’s live music on Friday night at the Pavilion at Star Lake. Touring to support his documentary film “Surfilmusic,” which chronicles his journey from surfer to filmmaker to musician, Johnson drew an...
Mt. Lebanon native’s celebrity photography featured at Braddock art gallery
When Kevin Scanlon was attending Mt. Lebanon High School, a printmaking class that included photography hooked him immediately. “I was already good with math and science, so the learning curve with exposures and darkroom work wasn’t steep,” said Scanlon, 52. “The teachers, Mr. Batchelor and Mr. Lippert, said my buddies...
Noah Kahan’s sold-out show at PNC Park focused on folk … and furriesVideo
Folk rocker Noah Kahan is selling out stadiums around the country, but guess what was at the top of his mind (and later atop his head) Friday night during his concert at PNC Park? That would be furries, the people who wear custom-made fursuits, with Anthrocon celebrating its 20th year...
A fairytale at MSG: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding set to take place
Today will be a fairytale. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding is slated to take place Friday at Madison Square Garden, where the couple’s closest friends and family — and several hundred more — will attend what is expected to be an elaborate event inside the iconic New York venue....
A California farmer is giving away tons of nectarines that he’s not allowed to sell
Thousands of visitors have flocked to Cesar Mora’s farm in central California this week to gather free nectarines. He’s giving his harvest away rather than watching it rot as he’s locked in a legal battle with a company that claims exclusive rights over the variety of white nectarine he grows....
Rescued pigs are multiplying at Pigsburgh Squealers
Blue Martin came home to her Frazer farm Wednesday to find a rescued pig had given birth to six babies. “She was out in the field. Thank gosh I could hear the babies crying,” said Martin, owner of Pigsburgh Squealers Rescue, a 25-acre nonprofit no-kill pig sanctuary where abandoned or...
Famous Pittsburghers who shaped American culture
The ways that famous Pittsburghers such as Andrew Carnegie and H.J. Heinz shaped the world of industry and commerce are well known, but Southwestern Pennsylvania has also been a major force in the arts and culture world throughout its history. From songwriters to playwrights to artists to actors, Pittsburgh’s native-born...
Tasso Katselas-designed mid-century modern home on market in Shadyside
A house designed by Tasso Katselas on East Woodland Road in Shadyside is on the market. The 1960 contemporary, nestled in nature, offers a classic representation of mid-century modern style. Katselas is known for major public works, such as the 1992 Pittsburgh International Airport and the Allegheny County Jail, as...
Three Brothers Bagels serves authentic New York-style bagels in Shaler
What makes a bagel is the type of flour used, says Colin Whiddon, co-owner and head baker of Three Brothers Bagels in Shaler. He uses King Arthur’s Sir Lancelot, which is high-gluten and high-protein. And, bagels need to be boiled, with lye added to the water to give them a...
Three Rivers Karting, YouTube creator team up on accessible go-karts
With the testing help of an innovative local YouTube creator, the gearheads at Three Rivers Karting Entertainment Park have used their inspired ingenuity to put high-speed access directly into the hands of those often unable to harness it. Over the last year, Leetsdale go-kart track owner and long-time area racer...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: July 3-5
It’s always a lucky year when Independence Day falls on the weekend, and even more so when it’s America’s 250th. This weekend is full of events that are a mix of red, white and blue fun and regular summer weekend get-togethers. Here are a few options. Westmoreland Arts
and Heritage...
From MMA to music: Friends build entertainment hub in North Versailles
Ryan Middleton and Hunter Homistek dreamed of building a permanent home for their combat sports promotion business, 247 Fighting Championships — one that would aid their expansion into live concerts and performances. They just didn’t expect things to take so long or become so expensive. Their venue, Sunny Days Arena,...
Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured U.S. ship
LONDON — Michael Scurr has been volunteering at Britain’s National Archives for the last 11 years, spending his Thursday mornings painstakingly cataloging documents for the benefit of future researchers. Then one day last May the retired insurance executive made a discovery of his own while sifting through the letters of...
