Catholic priest accused of changing the outcome of the last NFL game of the season



With everything on the line, a Catholic priest's blessing may have changed the outcome of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium for "Sunday Night Football" with the season on the line. The game would decide who topped the AFC North and the final playoff spot.

'The Catholic community in Pittsburgh is very strong.'

A perfect, dramatic ending was set up for the last game of the season, after the Steelers went ahead 26-24 with a late touchdown. After blocking their opponent's extra point, the Ravens converted a pivotal fourth-down play to get into position for a 44-yard game-winning field goal.

However, kicker Tyler Loop pushed the ball right, and the Ravens lost in dramatic fashion.

Just after the game, NBC commentators Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth decided to sprinkle some Catholic lore on the ending and revealed that a priest may have been involved in the missed field goal.

At 6:15 p.m. local time, Tirico revealed, a priest was seen "spreading holy water" in the Steelers' defending end zone, where the kick was missed.

"The Catholic community in Pittsburgh is very strong ... and down at that end zone, Tyler Loop misses the ... field goal ... and allows the Steelers to win," Tirico explained.

"So it's not Tyler Loop's fault," Collinsworth laughed.

RELATED: Pope Leo calls out gambling addiction and 'demographic crisis' in Vatican meeting

The priest in question has since been named by local outlets as Father Maximilian Maxwell. Maxwell currently serves as the prior of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. According to WJCL, the Steelers have held their training camp at the college since 1966.

At the same time, Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia, was quick to claim Fr. Maxwell as one of its own and proudly boasted on the school's Facebook page.

"Check out former Benedictine Military School theology teacher Fr. Maximilian Maxwell blessing the Pittsburgh Steelers' football field with holy water before the game Sunday night!" the school wrote.

Following the dramatic ending, Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward was asked about the potential blessed outcome.

"I'm not gonna ask questions," Heyward said, per WJCL. "The good Lord made a good decision tonight. I'm thankful, and we keep moving on."

RELATED: New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan resigns; pope appoints his replacement

Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

On the other side of the ball, Ravens players still kept their faith, particularly Loop, who said he will be leaning on his religion to get him through the tough moment.

"I had written down a little prayer before the game. ... Faith is a big part of my life and right now I'm reading the book of Romans, and in Romans 8 it says God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

Loop continued, "Ultimately, I'm here to love on the guys around me. I'm here to try and have their back ... reminding myself that 'hey, God's got my back even when stuff sucks.'"

Ravens running back Derrick Henry told reporters that he advised Loop to keep his faith and trust in God's plan.

"I just told him the story after this is gonna be great for him because God put him in this position to use him as an example," Henry revealed.

The Steelers will host the Houston Texans in Pittsburgh on January 12.

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Does your city feel like Disney? Blame Robert Moses



A single man had near-unending influence over the infrastructure of the largest North American cities.

Robert Moses, born in 1888 in New Haven, Connecticut, helped pioneer large-scale urban infrastructure built around cars and commerce. His top-down planning approach later influenced other controlled, master-planned environments, including those created by Walt Disney.

'An extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the democratic process, stepped outside that framework.'

Moses held many titles during his time in politics and city/park planning, including secretary of state of New York (1927-1929), the first chairman of New York State Council of Parks (1924-1963), and the first commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (1934-1960).

Mr. Moses' neighborhood

Moses' influence can be seen all over New York City, and he is predominantly responsible for turning a collection of neighborhoods into the common metropolis that most cities appear as today.

It was Moses' idea to run expressways right through the middle of cities to maximize access to commercial zones. He was responsible for infrastructure projects like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Staten Island Expressway, and the Cross Bronx Expressway. Many bridges that lead into New York City and Manhattan were his doing as well.

FDR Drive, where the United Nations headquarters is located, is also a creation of Moses.

All's fair

Aside from numerous bridges and expressways, Moses also built nearly 30,000 apartment units by 1939, which is discussed in his biography, "The Power Broker," by Robert Caro.

The book describes Moses as "an extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the democratic process, stepped outside that framework to grasp power sufficient to shape a great city and to hold sway over the very texture of millions of lives."

It was that influence and power in New York that led him to becoming the president of the World's Fair in 1964. Which, according to a documentary by Defunctland, led to Moses implementing mass evictions in low-income neighborhoods to make way for road systems.

RELATED: Comedian Shane Gillis shocks ESPN crowd with Epstein and illegal alien jokes: 'This is Disney'

Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Moses planned to make at least half of the fairgrounds permanent and openly said that much of the infrastructure was meant to stay as part of his vision of a futuristic park. This plan mirrored Moses' suggestions for many of the city projects he worked on.

Shopping block

At the same time, the fair was more heavily commercialized than any before it. Moses abandoned the visual and thematic consistency of earlier fairs to maximize profit, allowing companies to design their own exhibits in exchange for high rental and repair fees — services that were allegedly monopolized by a small number of favored contractors.

Moses' success in commercialization was noted by Disney, who wished to replicate his overall design thesis when plotting out Disney World in Florida. The two had worked together on the 1939 World's Fair, for which Disney created a special promo cartoon and even licensed a Donald Duck Day.

The first animatronics were created for the 1964 iteration of the fair as well.

Moses' influence goes far beyond Disney, though. He either directly consulted on, or influenced, the planning of at least a dozen North American cities. He is responsible for the infrastructural theory that cities should be focused on commercial centers, not residential housing.

Room for vroom

The idea that cars should move swiftly through cities on expressways took hold in places like Portland, where Moses was hired to help design the freeway network.

In Pittsburgh, Moses put his skills in planning both parkways and parks into practice when he was hired by the Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association to solve congestion issues. He ended up building the Penn-Lincoln Parkway, the Crosstown Boulevard, and the Point State Park.

RELATED: Tragic Kingdom: String of mysterious deaths shakes Disney World

Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer/D23 EXPO via Getty Images

Moses acted as a consultant for a "high-speed freeway" in New Orleans in the 1940s and "stressed the benefits of removing vehicle traffic from the crowded streets," according to an article by urban planning expert Jeff Brown.

While most of his suggestions were not taken in New Orleans, they were in Hartford, Connecticut, where he planned another freeway. The city declined his suggestion to build a parking garage in tandem with the expressway, though.

Interestingly, Moses' road was reportedly placed through a slum in order to capitalize on "urban renewal funds" to help pay for the project.

Goin' south

Other cities like Boston, San Francisco, Baltimore, Memphis, Phoenix, and Toronto, Canada, have seen indirect influence from Moses. In the 1940s and 1950s, Moses eventually faced resistance, and many of his highway projects were scaled back or canceled, according to the New World Encyclopedia.

As the desire for Moses' planning skills eventually soured, he and others looked to opportunities in Latin America.

The article "Transforming the modern Latin American city: Robert Moses and the International Basic Economic Corporation" discusses how in 1950, the mayor of Sao Paulo, Brazil, hired a commercial corporation headed by Nelson Rockefeller to design the public works for the city.

Moses was appointed director of studies to work in the "Program of Public Improvements" for Sao Paulo and allegedly caused great controversy in Brazil due to his intentions to import American companies to operate in the country.

Moses' influence is still visible in major cities where congestion is chronic and housing is scarce. Disney World succeeded for a simpler reason: It was designed entirely around consumerism, without the complications of cars, housing, or civic life.

In that sense, Disney World represents a kind of Robert Moses ideal — an urban space devoted purely to consumption, perfectly controlled, and freed from the democratic friction and human needs that constrained Moses in the real world.

‘You built this country’: Trump, triumphant, celebrates historic US Steel-Nippon deal in Pittsburgh — it's home, for good



President Donald Trump celebrated on Friday the partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan-based Nippon Steel, telling Pennsylvania steelworkers, "We don’t want America’s future to be built with shoddy steel from Shanghai — we want it built with the strength and the pride of Pittsburgh!"

Trump marked the occasion with a rally at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works-Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, just outside of Pittsburgh — a venue carefully secured in advance by the U.S. Secret Service, keen not to drop the ball again in the Keystone State.

'I proclaimed a simple but crucially important principle: If you don't have steel, you don't have a country!'

"This is an incredible deal for American steelworkers, and it includes vital protections to ensure that all steelworkers will keep their jobs and all facilities in the U.S. will remain open," Trump told rally-goers, evidently proud of shepherding the companies into an agreement that wouldn’t jeopardize American control or jobs.

The president also announced that the tariff on steel would double from 25% to 50% in order to help the steel industry even more. The audience applauded loudly at the proclamation.

"When I came into office eight years ago, I proclaimed a simple but crucially important principle: If you don't have steel, you don't have a country!" he added.

Trump lauded steelworkers as "the best people," saying, "You people and others like you built this country."

“We are once again going to put Pennsylvania steel into the backbone of America,” he said at the end of his speech.

Supporters of the deal were jubilant in their comments to CBS News.

"How I feel is I can take a breath today," said third-generation steel worker Andrew Macey. "It's just wonderful."

"When you see that everything you've done for the last two years come together, it's overwhelming with emotion," said West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly. "So yes, I was crying. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Big men cry, and I was crying with happiness."

Background

Former President Joe Biden torpedoed a $15 billion deal for the Japanese corporation to fully purchase U.S. Steel, stressing that "a strong domestically owned and operated steel industry represents an essential national security priority and is critical for resilient supply chains."

Biden's Jan. 3 decision — announced weeks before Trump retook office and just days after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States indicated it was unable to reach a consensus on the transaction — was condemned by both companies. They noted in a joint statement that Biden's action reflected "a clear violation of due process and the law" and relied upon a process "manipulated to advance President Biden's political agenda."

The companies subsequently took legal action, challenging Biden's order, and said of their litigation:

From the outset of the process, both Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel have engaged in good faith with all parties to underscore how the Transaction will enhance, not threaten, United States national security, including by revitalizing communities that rely on American steel, bolstering the American steel supply chain, and strengthening America’s domestic steel industry against the threat from China.

U.S. Steel leaders suggested that without an infusion of capital from Nippon Steel, the American company would have to limit its legacy blast furnace investments and embrace cheaper nonunion electric arc furnaces, reported CBS News.

The company's mixed package of threats and warnings also included the suggestion that U.S. Steel might move its headquarters out of Pittsburgh.

Change of heart

Trump, like his predecessor, was not initially convinced the sale was a good idea.

The president, who emphasized in his first term that "if you don't have steel, you don't have a country," noted a month before Biden blocked the deal, "I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan."

Trump reiterated his opposition in late January, stating, "We saved the steel industry. Now, U.S. Steel is being bought by Japan. So terrible."

'US Steel will REMAIN in America.'

Despite his months-long opposition, Trump expressed an openness on Valentine's Day to the possibility of Nippon Steel acquiring a minority stake in U.S. Steel, saying he "wouldn't mind greatly." However, he suggested that "psychologically, we can't even think about letting that happen," in reference to a full takeover.

It appears there has since been a favorable shift in psychology and terms.

A month after speaking with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Sen. Dave McCormick (R) about U.S. Steel and about keeping jobs and investment in the state, Trump announced on May 23 that the deal — or some form of it — had the green light to proceed.

RELATED: Revving up America — Trump’s Nippon Steel deal puts the pedal to the metal

Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

The deal

Trump framed the deal not as an acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon but rather as the beginning of a "partnership" that would create at least 70,000 jobs — U.S. Steel presently employs just over 14,300 people in North America — and add $14 billion to the American economy.

"I am proud to announce that, after much consideration and negotiation, US Steel will REMAIN in America, and keep its Headquarters in the Great City of Pittsburgh," the president wrote on Truth Social. "For many years, the name, 'United States Steel' was synonymous with Greatness, and now, it will be again."

The president framed the $14 billion figure as an investment — the largest in "the History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" — and noted that the bulk of the investment would occur over the next 14 months.

'That's a big deal.'

While the White House told Blaze News that the "details of the deal will be announced at the appropriate time," Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick, a champion of the deal, provided some insights into key elements of the arrangements with CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday.

McCormick confirmed that Nippon has agreed to invest $14 billion "into new investment into U.S. Steel, and that's going to be $2.4 billion, at least, minimum, in the Mon Valley right outside of Pittsburgh."

Gov. Shapiro confirmed at an event Thursday that, based on commitments Nippon Steel has made to him and the White House, there will be an investment of at least $2.4 billion in steelmaking in the state.

"That's a big deal, and it's something that I think we do need to celebrate," said Shapiro.

Besides the investment, there are apparently a number of assurances that Americans are still calling the shots.

RELATED: Trump signs steel, aluminum tariffs despite significant opposition

Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

'This is being extremely well received in Pennsylvania.'

Sen. McCormick noted further that "it's a national security agreement that will be signed with the U.S. government. It'll be a U.S. CEO, a U.S. majority board, and then there will be a golden share that will essentially require U.S. government approval of a number of the board members, and that will allow the United States to ensure production levels aren't cut and things like that."

Nippon Steel Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori told Reuters that trade and manufacturing capacity issues will be overseen by directors appointed by the CFIUS, effectively putting the Department of Commerce on the board.

Blaze News reached out to U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, and the Department of Commerce for comment but did not receive responses by deadline.

The deal, according to McCormick, would save about 10,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and add another 10,000 jobs in the building trades. He noted elsewhere that the deal supports the creation of at least 14,000 jobs.

"This is being extremely well received in Pennsylvania," said McCormick. "The steel workers there are wildly excited about it, and I think it's going to be a great thing for my state."

While individual workers might be elated, the United Steelworkers, a general trade union headquartered in Pittsburgh, is skeptical — but was initially outright condemnatory.

'The latest "partnership" announcement continues to raise more questions than answers.'

"Allowing the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon, a serial trade cheater, will be a disaster for American steelworkers, our national security, and the future of American manufacturing," USW international president David McCall said in a statement on May 22. "It is simply absurd to think that we could ever entrust the future of one of our most vital industries — essential to both national defense and critical infrastructure — to a company whose unfair trade practices continue to this day."

Blaze News reached out to the union after more details emerged about the nature of the "partnership." In response, a spokesman provided the message the USW sent to members Wednesday, which contained softened language but sustained skepticism:

The latest “partnership” announcement continues to raise more questions than answers. Nippon still maintains it would only invest in USS facilities if it owned the company outright. We’ve seen nothing in the reporting to indicate that position has changed. We also have no confirmation if or how much of the stated $14 billion would go to our union-represented sites, or how much would be for new capital improvements versus routine repair & maintenance.

While the USW remains uncertain about the arrangement, there appears to be significant support in Pennsylvania, including at the top.

Gov. Josh Shapiro noted in a statement that he and Pennsylvania Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis have long "worked with the leadership of Nippon and U.S. Steel, local labor, and federal, state, and local partners to press for the best deal to keep U.S. Steel headquartered in Pittsburgh, protect union jobs, and secure the future of steelmaking in Western Pennsylvania."

"Now that President Trump — who has sole decision making authority in the CFIUS process, has expressed his support for the deal — we have the opportunity to deliver historic investments, ensure the future of American steelmaking continues to run through the Mon Valley while the headquarters of U.S. Steel remains in Pittsburgh and have our workers, right here in Pennsylvania, continue leading the world with their skill and innovation," added Shapiro.

Davis said the announcement looked "promising" but noted that he wants to "make sure everyone involved in the deal holds up their end of the bargain."

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64-year-old female paid boys to shovel snow, got them drunk, attempted to inappropriately touch one of them: Police



A 64-year-old Pennsylvania female is accused of getting two boys drunk and trying to sexually assault one of them after they came to her house to shovel snow for money, according to police.

Two boys — ages 12 and 13 — reportedly were in their Pittsburgh neighborhood asking people if they could shovel snow from their walkways and driveways for money. The boys offered to shovel snow in front of Rochelle Stewart's home on Jan. 8, according to police. Stewart allegedly agreed to pay the boys $5 for the task.

'The juveniles were speaking in a nonsensical way exclaiming that a lady had just got them drunk and touched them.'

In the criminal complaint obtained by KDKA-TV, the boys told investigators that Stewart invited the pair inside for hot chocolate. However, police said Stewart then offered the boys alcohol, which they consumed. One of the boys allegedly confessed to detectives that he became drunk.

The criminal complaint said Stewart sat down next to the intoxicated boy and put her leg over his and then attempted to touch him in an inappropriate and sexual manner. One of the boys recorded a video of Stewart rubbing the victim’s arm and shoulder, according to the criminal complaint.

The boys told police they then left Stewart's home but had to go back after one of them realized he left his coat at the house.

Stewart called police to report a burglary in progress around 9 p.m. that night, according to Law & Crime. Police said they attempted to make contact with the 911 caller but were unsuccessful.

When police arrived, they reportedly found the boys, who allegedly appeared to be highly intoxicated.

"The juveniles were speaking in a nonsensical way exclaiming that a lady had just got them drunk and touched them," police wrote in the criminal complaint.

Officers said they separated the boys to question them individually, and the children gave a similar version of the events, according to court documents.

Police determined that Stewart was "extremely intoxicated," according to court docs. Stewart told police that neighborhood kids were "pranking" her and were "drug dealers," according to People magazine.

When questioned by police, Stewart reportedly denied the boys were ever inside her house. Police found the boy's coat inside Stewart's home as well as a half-empty bottle of vodka, according to the complaint.

Stewart was arrested and booked at the Allegheny County Jail. Stewart was charged with six misdemeanors: one count of indecent assault, one count of making a false police report, two counts of giving minors alcohol, and two counts of corruption of minors. Court records show that Stewart was released after posting $1,000 bail Thursday.

Stewart is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on Jan. 22.

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Megyn Kelly joins Trump at rally to urge voter support



Megyn Kelly campaigned alongside former President Donald Trump at his rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Monday evening.

During her speech, Kelly explained why she has chosen to vote for Trump, citing his stance on immigration as the reason.

"And people like Laken Riley," Kelly said. "I'll be thinking about her tomorrow all day. Twenty-two years old, killed in Georgia, a young nursing student, by an illegal. I'll be thinking about Jocelyn Nungaray, 12 years old in Texas, murdered by two Venezuelan illegals."

'Oh, wait, I'm talking about Kamala and Doug.'

Kelly declared that Trump's opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, opened the nation's borders "by choice" and that it "wasn't accidental."

"She said it would be humane," Kelly stated. "That's what she and her boss believed. Tell it to Laken Riley's family."

She also praised Trump for protecting women.

"The boys should not be in the girls' locker rooms. Payton McNabb, North Carolina sophomore in high school, slammed so hard in the face by a volleyball hit at her by a boy pretending to be a girl. She suffered traumatic brain injury and permanent paralysis," Kelly continued.

"Kamala Harris looks at her and says, 'Be kind. Suck it up.' And, 'That's what's right.' Why do our girls have to face brain damage in order to be kind to boys who want to invade their sports?" she questioned.

Kelly slammed Harris for changing the laws in California to allow prisoners to receive taxpayer-funded gender mutilation surgeries.

"She was not just following the law; she changed the law. President Trump will stop it," she added.

"He got mocked by the left for saying he would be a protector of women," Kelly declared. "He will be a protector of women, and it's why I'm voting for him. He will close the border. He will keep the boys out of girls' sports and where they don't belong."

She noted that Trump "will look out for our boys too."

"He will not look at our boys like they're second-class citizens. And ladies out there who want a bit of girl power in this election, let me tell you something: How can you win when the sons and the husbands and the brothers and the dads that you love are losing?" Kelly asked.

She took a jab at the left for backward views on masculinity and marriage, citing a campaign ad that encouraged wives to vote for Harris behind the backs of their Trump-supporting husbands.

"That's their version of what marriage looks like," Kelly told the audience. "An overbearing husband who bullies his wife into saying she voted one way, as opposed to an honest, open relationship."

"Oh, wait, I'm talking about Kamala and Doug [Emhoff]," Kelly jeered.

She further slammed the liberal media for failing to press Emhoff on allegations of abuse.

"Vote Trump," Kelly concluded. "And get 10 friends to vote Trump, too."

Kelly's endorsement of Trump marked a complete turnaround from their once-contentious past.

During the first 2016 Republican primary debate, then-Fox News host Kelly confronted Trump regarding his controversial comments about women.

“You’ve called women you don’t like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals,” Kelly said to Trump.

He quipped, “Only Rosie O’Donnell.”

“For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell,” Kelly replied.

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My First Trump Rally Was One Of His Last, And It Lived Up To The Hype

While politicians have traditionally used rallies to deliver lectures about economics or foreign policy, Donald Trump is different.

Motorcycle cops injured during Trump shooting removed from unit, possibly as punishment



Two members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police motorcycle unit who were injured during the shooting that nearly claimed the life of former President Donald Trump have been transferred elsewhere, possibly as punishment for assisting with Trump's security detail without receiving proper authorization, according to an exclusive report from WPXI.

In the lead-up to Trump's fateful rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the Pennsylvania State Police asked the Pittsburgh police department to provide some motorcycle officers who could help escort Trump's motorcade from the airport in Allegheny County to the rally site and back again. The department offered 10 such officers.

Some in the department were also apparently frustrated that the officers joined Trump's detail when first lady Jill Biden was also in town and needed security for her motorcade.

Four of those 10 officers were wounded by shrapnel during the shooting that struck Trump in the ear and killed former fire chief Corey Comperatore. Despite their injuries, those officers were captured on video assisting others. They were eventually treated at the scene, though one officer did go to the hospital for further treatment.

Days later, two of the wounded motorcycle officers — both of whom were supervisors — were transferred to other divisions in the bureau. One was assigned to Zone 1 on the North Side and the other to Zone 3 in Allentown, WPXI reported.

The bureau contends that the officers never received permission to assist with Trump's security detail, though the officers allege that they did, sources told WPXI.

Some in the department were also apparently frustrated that the officers joined Trump's detail when first lady Jill Biden was also in town and needed security for her motorcade. Without enough city officers, motorcycle cops from local universities were dispatched to assist with Biden's retinue.

Thus far, the bureau has been tight-lipped about the reasons for the officers' transfer. On the order formalizing the transfers, Police Chief Larry Scirotto noted only that they had been made "for the good of the bureau."

"This was an administrative decision made by the Chief," said a statement from spokesperson Cara Cruz. "Per the [Fraternal Order of Police] contract, I am unable to speak to the reasons behind the move as it involves personnel."

Fraternal Order of Police President Bob Swartzwelder suggested that bureau leaders have focused on "petty" issues rather than support the officers who were wounded in the line of duty: "In a time when we should be honoring the heroics of these officers, we’ve created some petty administrative investigation in the midst of a serious political race."

Blaze News reached out to the local FOP for further comment but did not receive a response.

H/T: Sean Davis of the Federalist

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'Did anybody see my bubbleheads?' 18,000 bobbleheads of NHL legend Jaromir Jagr stolen in California cargo theft
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'Did anybody see my bubbleheads?' 18,000 bobbleheads of NHL legend Jaromir Jagr stolen in California cargo theft



California once again became synonymous with theft problems after a large shipment of bobbleheads belonging to the National Hockey League was stolen, the team announced.

After the shipment arrived in California, a case of cargo theft robbed the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins of a reported 18,000 bobbleheads meant to commemorate legendary Czech Republic-born player Jaromir Jagr.

The 52-year-old recently had his jersey number retired by the team; he spent 10 years on the squad winning two Stanley Cup championships. Jagr is second only to Wayne Gretzky in all-time points in the NHL, along with being fourth in all-time goals and fifth in all-time assists.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that the shipment carrying the Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads for tonight’s game against the San Jose Sharks has been stolen after its arrival in California. As a result, the bobbleheads are not in Pittsburgh and will not be distributed at tonight’s game, but will be distributed at a later date," the team said in a press release.

"We were shocked to be a victim of cargo theft, and we are working closely with local and federal authorities on the investigation," said Penguins President of Business Operations Kevin Acklin. "While this unfortunate incident adds to the legend of Jaromir Jagr, who will be in attendance as our guest at tonight’s game, we look forward to resolving this theft and delivering the prized Jagr bobbleheads to their rightful homes, with our fans," Acklin added.

Jagr has become increasingly popular as he typically leans into jokes about his iconic 1990s mullet and has participated in numerous NHL events in the last year.

The former player joked on his X account that he is currently in search of his "bubbleheads."

"Did anybody see my bubbleheads?? 18000 of them. Actually, I got one, missing 17,999. Let me know. Thank you," Jagr wrote.

Did anybody see my bubbleheads?? 18000 of them. Actually, I got one ,missing 17,999. Let me know. Thank you.
— (@)

The Pittsburgh Penguins media team quickly put together a video that showed Jagr buckling into a car to start searching for the bobbleheads with one in his passenger seat. The video prompted conspiracies that the shipment theft had been a publicity stunt, with hosts on "The Pat McAfee Show" wondering if the story had been "a work."

"Was the theft a publicity stunt?" a fan asked the hockey team on Instagram.

"They were actually stolen, unfortunately," the team replied. "All fans in attendance will receive a voucher that includes a one-time scannable barcode that will be required to pick up the bobblehead at a later date," the team added.

Fans will be required to attend the game to get the bobblehead.

Jagr famously unretired from professional hockey in December 2022 to ensure a team in his home country did not receive a penalty for not having enough players.

After leaving the NHL in 2018, Jagr played in the Czech Republic's top league for the Kladno Knights, a team he is the majority owner of. The team was down to just 12 players due to illness and, after postponing the previous game, was in danger of facing league disciplinary actions should another game be postponed.

Jagr, who was seemingly retired not having played in any of the team's first 26 games, decided to suit up to avoid any penalties. He had two assists in just 15 minutes of ice time.

The Pittsburgh Penguins said that it was still working with the manufacturer, transportation companies, as well as state and federal authorities to locate the cargo.

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'They are not forgotten': Pennsylvania teen stuffs 3,000 Christmas stockings for sailors aboard USS George Washington
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'They are not forgotten': Pennsylvania teen stuffs 3,000 Christmas stockings for sailors aboard USS George Washington



A Pittsburgh-area teenager has collected donations and supplies to stuff 3,000 Christmas stockings for active-duty Navy personnel working on a United States aircraft carrier.

Collin Arthrell, who has two brothers serving in the Navy, has fully embraced military culture with not just his family but for Christmas as well.

On the Arthrells' lawn sits a vast display of military-themed Christmas decorations, including a replica of the USS George Washington, where his siblings are stationed. "It's 18 feet long," Arthrell told KDKA News. "The bushes are raising it up so it's like on water. You got the blue lights, which resembles the water."

The 14-year-old boy was inspired by his brothers to start "Stockings 4 Sailors" in 2018, which had the teenager collecting donations and simple gifts for servicemen and women.

"I'm inspired by my brothers because I've looked up to them my whole childhood," he said. "It makes me feel warmth I can still have a connection to them."

"There's candy, a message from someone from a school, you got your phone chargers, toothpaste, toothbrush, loofa," Arthrell told reporters. He added that there were items donated by military families from across the United States.

A local woman named Darla Losteter stopped by the residence to give donations and said she donates because she has military in her family, as well.

"We like to give them stuff at holidays too because they are not forgotten," she said.

In December, the Arthrell family will travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to deliver the 3,000 stuffed stockings to the military members on board the ship.

"It's a giving holiday, so I think you should give to those who are doing a much-needed support for the country. Giving them something would boost their morale and help them out," the boy added.

"I just love them," the younger brother said of his siblings.

Brothers Carson and Christian Arthrell are aboard the USS George Washington in Virginia. The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was built in the mid-1980s and has a crew of over 6,000.

In March 2023, Stars and Stripes reported that the carrier has begun preparations to replace the USS Ronald Reagan in Japan.

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Woman charged for intentionally ditching dog at Pittsburgh airport as she reportedly went on Mexican vacation



A Pennsylvania woman has been charged for intentionally abandoning her dog at the Pittsburgh International Airport, according to police.

Allison Gaiser, 44, allegedly went to the Pittsburgh International Airport with her French bulldog on Aug. 4. She was reportedly departing on a flight for a vacation in Mexico. However, the airline denied the dog to travel on the plane because it didn't meet the criteria for an emotional support animal and did not have a proper kennel as required.

Surveillance camera purportedly caught Gaiser leaving the ticket counter with her dog in a stroller. She is reportedly seen pushing the stroller toward a moving walkway enclosure, next to the exit doors in the airport's short-term parking lot.

Around 5:30 a.m., police reportedly discovered the abandoned dog about 40 minutes after she was seen on surveillance video.

The Allegheny County Police Department said in a statement on a Facebook post, "Investigators determined Gaiser intentionally abandoned the dog near short-term parking before boarding a plane to a resort destination in Mexico."

The dog, a 7-year-old brown-and-white male French bulldog named "Frenchie," was found not restrained in the stroller. There was reportedly a bag of dog food under the stroller.

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The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported, "The microchip revealed the owner’s name as Alicia Gaiser, with two phone numbers and two emergency contacts with numbers. Police said they were not able to reach anyone at any of the numbers. Police found a Facebook page for Gaiser which had pictures of her with the dog."

A county police sergeant was waiting for Gaiser when she returned to the airport from her Mexican vacation at around 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 10. Police said Gaiser admitted to leaving the dog unattended to at the airport after Frenchie was declined air travel, but claimed that she made arrangements with her mother to pick up the dog.

However, the police interviewed the mother on the same day, and she allegedly told investigators that she only found out about her "grand doggie" being abandoned at the airport on Aug. 5, when Gaiser’s ex-husband shared a news story about the dog.

Police examined text messages between Gaiser and her mother. They reportedly determined that it was apparent that no immediate arrangement was made for her mother to pick up the dog from the airport.

According to court records, Gaiser was charged with a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals, neglect of animals, cruelty to animals, and abandonment. Gaiser's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16.

Meanwhile, Frenchie the French bulldog was taken to Animal Friends – an animal care facility. Authorities said the dog is now living in a foster home and is "doing great."

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Adorable French Bulldog Abandoned in Stroller at Airport www.youtube.com