TribLive stories, Page 1439
O’Connor no longer head of Sewickley Academy
According to the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees, Head of School Kolia O’Connor is no longer serving the school, effective June 25. Dr. Ashley (Brown ‘00) Birtwell is currently serving as the Interim Head of School. In a statement released to the school community, chair of the board of trustees...
Bridge linking Swissvale to Rankin set to reopen
People traveling on the Parkway East to Kennywood Park will soon be able to use the Swissvale exit again to cross the Kenmawr Bridge to get to the park. Since the bridge closed May 17, traffic had been re-routed through Homestead. The bridge is set to reopen at 7 p.m....
Pastor Lance Rhoades: McKinsey opioid settlement isn’t enough for Pennsylvanians
Few states have been hit as hard by the massive epidemic of opioid use disorder as Pennsylvania. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died over the last few years from substance use disorder of opioids, many that began through legal prescriptions. Countless more families have been torn apart as they...
Gateway School Board approves budget with 3.6% tax increase
The Gateway School Board on June 15 approved a general fund budget for 2021-22 that is a 15.3 percent increase over this past year’s budget, and it also comes with a 3.6% tax increase. The real estate tax millage rate will go up from 20.165 to 20.891, which will net...
Food Podcast: Pittsburgh food bank changes look with new branding
On this week’s episode of the food podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank reveals its new logo and look. The mission is the same, but the logo has changed to reflect the innovative things the food bank is doing to provide meals to...
Letter to the editor: Cocktails-to-go no solution for Pa. economy
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward has called the recent bill that would approve the sale of alcoholic mixed drinks “to go” a step toward normalcy that could “jump-start the economy” (“Pa. Senate passes bill to legalize cocktails-to-go, sends to House with modifications,” June 17, TribLIVE). LOL! Surely you jest,...
Neighbor Spotlight: Brentwood manager George Zboyovsky is making an impact
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Letter to the editor: Biden must fix border to save lives
I realize there are many problems for President Biden to resolve, but I believe one important duty is being forgotten or ignored: the duty to protect the people and provide security and safety for all Americans. Biden announced at the G-7 Summit that the United States will be donating coronavirus...
Letter to the editor: Sen. Kim Ward should side with the wounded, vulnerable
Some Catholic bishops claim they worry about the president’s soul if he keeps taking Communion despite disagreeing with their views on abortion. Here’s a suggestion: How about focusing less on the soul of America’s most powerful adult and more on the safety of America’s largest powerless children, who remain vulnerable...
2021 July Fourth fireworks, events around Westmoreland County, beyond
After the cancellation of most large Fourth of July fireworks shows last year because of the covid-19 pandemic, some local venues and communities are celebrating our country’s independence once again. Saturday, July 3Connellsville: Arch Street, 9:45 p.m.; part of the Dave Reed Rockin’ Rib Fest from 4-11 p.m.Latrobe: Memorial Stadium...
Loudoun United ends Riverhounds’ winning streak at 3 games
Ted Ku-DiPietro and Jovanny Bolivar scored on long-range strikes to help Loudoun United FC to a 2-1 victory Wednesday night, ending the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ winning streak at three games. Louis Perez scored for the Riverhounds (5-4-2). It was the second win of the season for Loudoun United (2-7-0), which received...
Pirates farm report for June 30, 2021: Mitch Keller effective for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-23) beat Iowa (Cubs) 2-1 in 10 innings. RHP Mitch Keller was effective in his second Triple-A start of the season, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings. He has allowed three earned runs in 9⅔ innings since being sent...
Cosby’s release leaves accusers dismayed, but women’s advocates say no court can erase their ‘courage and resolve’
PHILADELPHIA — It was late morning in Las Vegas when a caretaker told Autumn Burns that Bill Cosby was about to be released from prison. Assuming it had to be a joke, Burns responded: “Oh, come on.” Then the news flickered on, and Burns, who is 74 and blind, listened...
Business owner sues Pittsburgh police, judge after parking lot dispute
A woman who says she was unlawfully detained after she called Pittsburgh police about a person illegally parked in a Greenfield lot that she owns filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday alleging retaliation and excessive force. Marsha Simonds, and her husband, Matthew, sued the City of Pittsburgh, as well as...
Editorial: Remove the mystery around Westmoreland elections bureau
The position of Westmoreland County Elections Bureau Director is up for grabs again. Officially now. It’s been almost three weeks since JoAnn Sebastiani was suspended with pay on June 8. Since then, the county commissioners have done little but confirm her absence while remaining tight-lipped on the reasoning. Until Tuesday,...
House creates committee to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol attack
WASHINGTON — The House voted largely along party lines Wednesday to create a special committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump crowd. The attack occurred while Congress was certifying the 2020 presidential results and forced Vice President Mike Pence and hundreds of lawmakers to...
Man gets 26 to 52 years for deaths of 2 men found in burning Point Breeze home
Vincent Smith lived a wanderer’s lifestyle. He didn’t drive, traveled the country, rode his bike everywhere, loved reading Jack Kerouac and fancied discussion about Kierkegaard. At his sentencing hearing on Wednesday, a long-time friend called him nonviolent, peaceful and kind with a “gentle soul.” But Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney...
Pennsylvania governor vetoes GOP-led election overhaul, citing voter ID restrictions
This article is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. This article is available for reprint under the terms of Votebeat’s republishing policy. HARRISBURG — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a Republican rewrite of Pennsylvania’s Election Code on Wednesday, making clear his...
Parts of I-79 to close from July 9-12
Parts of Interstate 79 and state Route 65 will be closed beginning July 9 at 9 p.m. through July 12 at 5 a.m. The Ohio Township Police Department announced the closure on Facebook on Tuesday. I-79 northbound will be closed at the Coraopolis exit, and all traffic will be detoured...
Guidelines for college athletes to profit from name, image, likeness in state budget
Pennsylvania’s college student-athletes now have the ground rules to profit off of their name, image and likeness for the first time. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state’s budget into law Wednesday, and it included language in the school code part of the bill to govern NIL dealings. According to previous...
Woman, whose attorney refused representation amid dispute with Allegheny Co. DA, pleads guilty to DUI crash
A Corliss woman whose case became embroiled in the controversy between a Black defense attorney and Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to drunken driving-related charges with a new attorney by her side. Vanessa Williams, 59, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while driving under the...
The Stroller, July 1, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual golf outing planned by Tarentum Lions Club Tarentum Area Lions Club will host their annual golf outing July 10 at...
Westmoreland news includes Independence Day celebrations, car cruise and sunset yoga
Class • Laurelville Retreat Center, 941 Laurelville Lane, Mt. Pleasant Township, will host outdoor Sunset Yoga with Find Your Fire Fitness at 7:30 p.m. July 9 atop Laurelville’s Sunset Hill. Bring a mat. In case of rain, the event will be in the Shenandoah gymnasium. Cost: $15. Tickets: visit the...
Carnegie public art project brightens borough
Crossing the West Main Street Bridge in Carnegie will be a brighter and more colorful experience, thanks to a new public art project. The borough’s first public art project sought to bring an uplifting voice to community spaces, and that voice was found in local artist Alicia Kesneck. She, along...
Letter to the editor: Manchin makes fools of Republicans
How does Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin keep making fools of the GOP? They haven’t realized by now he is never going to vote against whatever the Democrats put out there. And yet time and time again the GOP think he is going to do the right thing. Nada. John Newhouse...
