TribLive stories, Page 1531
Editorial: Are the swimming holes drying up?
It seems like forever that kids have equated the freedom and fun of summer with cannonballing off the side of a cement wall into the clear blue depths of chlorinated water. Pennsylvania was one of the first states with municipal swimming pools. There were nine in Philadelphia alone more than...
Op/ed: Citizens for a Great School opposes construction of new high school in Leet
Citizens for a Great School is a nonpartisan and nonprofit community organization. It came into being as a result of the Quaker Valley School Board’s decision to build a new high school without seeking voter approval. Our large group supports a significant investment in either the existing building or a...
Letter to the editor: Charen needs to use plain English
When I saw, on the Trib’s Opinion page, that someone named Mona Charen had written a piece apparently damning “cancel culture” (“Both sides need to cancel cancel culture,” Feb. 26, TribLIVE), I started to read it, hoping to find out just what cancel culture was. After completing my read of...
Letter to the editor: Base gun decisions on facts, not emotions
During covid we have been told to follow the science, data and facts for making decisions. I guess such thoughts have been tossed when looking at recent proposed gun control leglislation from Congress. Universal background checks, magazine capacity limits, “assault weapons” bans have all been done before. The past data...
Bullet breaks window in Brighton Heights bar
Pittsburgh Police are investigating gunshots early Thursday morning outside Rumerz Sports Bar and Grill in the Brighton Heights neighborhood, according to the city Department of Public Safety. It does not appear that anyone was hurt in the incident, according to police. The city’s Shotspotter audio gunshot detection system alerted police...
Letter to the editor: Converting to natural gas could help pay for roads
Gov. Tom Wolf’s idea to form a commission to solve the problem of paying for our roads could be a workable solution (”Gov. Wolf seeks to phase out Pennsylvania’s gas tax,” March 12, TribLIVE). Here’s an idea for the commission: Instead of proposing a new tax, Wolf’s favorite idea, how...
The Stroller, March 25, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Easter Bunny to visit East Deer on Saturday The Easter Bunny will ride through East Deer with the township volunteer Fire Department and Recreation...
High school scores, summaries and schedule for March 24, 2021
High schools Basketball Boys PIAA finals Class 6A Saturday’s schedule Archbishop Wood (19-0) vs. Reading (25-2) at Giant Center, 7:30 p.m. Class 5A Friday’s schedule Archbishop Ryan (12-5) vs. Cathedral Prep (17-7) at Giant Center, 7:30 p.m. Class 4A Thursday’s schedule Allentown Central Catholic (19-4) vs. Hickory (23-3) at Giant...
Waynesburg wrestling routs Cathedral Prep in PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals
After a dominant showing in the PIAA quarterfinals, Waynesburg looks like it’ll be the team to beat as the Raiders seek the school’s first PIAA Class AAA team championship this weekend at Cumberland Valley. Led by wins from state champions Mac Church at 126, Wyatt Henson at 145 and Luca...
In what is hailed as a conservation success story, bald eagle numbers have soared
The number of bald eagles — a species that once came dangerously close to extinction — in the United States has more than quadrupled over the last dozen years despite massive declines in overall bird populations, government scientists announced. A new survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found...
Oath Keepers militia, far-right Proud Boys coordinated plans for Capitol assault, Justice Department says
WASHINGTON — A leader of the Oath Keepers militia was communicating with members of the far-right Proud Boys in the weeks leading to the U.S. Capitol attack, federal prosecutors allege, suggesting for the first time the extremist groups had formed an alliance for the day of the deadly assault. The...
No rust on these Rams as Highlands prepares for baseball season
While much of the world was on lockdown last summer, Highlands managed to get a baseball season in. The team, dubbed the “Summer Rams,” played in the new Western Pennsylvania Baseball League and did quite well. The league consisted mostly of high school-aged players whose season was called off due...
Highlands softball hopes leadership, versatility are paths to WPIAL playoffs
The Highlands softball team went into the 2020 season with high expectations, only to have those expectations dashed by the season’s cancellation. But the hopes of returning to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2018 haven’t dimmed. Coach Jen Koprivnikar feels the aspects of leadership and versatility is...
As thousands of unemployment claims expire, Pa. residents refile, wait on federal benefits
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan 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 — Shawn McCreary has measured the last year in time waiting. As a substitute teacher, there have been exactly zero...
Pagan woman sues Pleasant Hills Panera over religious discrimination
A Clairton woman who worked as a baker at the Pleasant Hills Panera claims that she was discriminated against and ultimately fired because she is Pagan. Tammy McCoy said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court that she was hired at the Panera on Clairton Boulevard in October 2019....
Suez Canal blocked by grounded mega-ship, causing huge traffic jam in the seaVideo
On any given day, more than 50 ships traverse the 120-mile Suez Canal, bearing millions of tons of cargo that make up some 12% of the world’s trade volume. But not since Tuesday, after a mammoth vessel ran aground in the vital waterway. In the more than 24 hours since,...
Virginia abolishes death penalty after executing almost 1,400 people over 400 yearsVideo
NORFOLK, Va. — After more than 400 years and nearly 1,400 lives, the death penalty is dead in Virginia. Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation Wednesday abolishing it in a state that has executed more people than any other. The ceremony was at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, where lethal injections...
Food Podcast: Clearview executive knows what it means to experience food insecurity
For Lisa Florian, being involved with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is personal. “Growing up, my family was no stranger to standing in line at the food bank. I personally am grateful to be able to give back where I once had to receive,” said Florian, the senior vice...
Lawsuit alleges defamation by mother of Wilkinsburg mayor
A data analyst working for Wilkinsburg is suing the mayor’s mother, alleging her Facebook posts railing against the position amount to defamation and libel, according to the lawsuit. Kate Luxemburg filed the lawsuit against Beverly Garrett in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. Beverly Garrett is the mother of...
Former Penn State standout Donovan Smith reportedly cashes in with new contract
Former Penn State left tackle Donovan Smith has had a good couple of months. In February, he won Super Bowl XLV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And Wednesday, he reportedly agreed to a lucrative contract extension to continue to protect Tom Brady’s blindside. Smith and the Bucs agreed to a...
Big Ten alters attendance policy to reflect local guidelines, restrictions on coronavirus mitigation
The Big Ten announced Wednesday it will allow schools to host fans at games in accordance with local health guidelines and restrictions for the rest of the 2020-21 regular season. The policy is effective immediately, and it also covers spring football games. Previously, Big Ten competitions were closed to the...
Wilkinsburg man pleads to manslaughter after friend is killed in drug deal gone bad
A Wilkinsburg man with ties to two high-profile cases pleaded guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter in an unrelated shooting. Demetres Beck, 26, admitted to Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski that he and a friend, Kierre Simmons, participated in a robbery on Dec. 29, 2014. According to Deputy...
Faculty union blasts leader of Pa. state universities: ‘His job was to improve the system, not tear it down’
Instructors and coaches are blasting the leader of the state-owned universities for saying that the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education should be reorganized or dissolved. At a Senate budget hearing last week, Chancellor Dan Greenstein warned that if a proposal to consolidate some universities doesn’t happen, he will come...
Editorial: On ballot questions, clear language should be the only option
When you cast a vote, it’s important to know exactly what’s going on. You need to know what the race is. You also need to know exactly who the people are. No one needs a situation like the confusing butterfly ballots in Florida in 2000 that some say had third-party...
Pa. museums, historical sites to reopen April 30
Twenty-three Pennsylvania-run museums and historical sites, including the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Landis Valley Village in Lancaster and the Ephrata Cloister, will all reopen on April 30, albeit with reduced hours and at a limited capacity. According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,...
