TribLive stories, Page 1736
Navy experiments with ‘cyborg locusts’ to find explosives
Call the swat team. Bomb-sniffing “cyborg locusts” could be the next wave in national security, according to military news agency Stars and Stripes. Washington University researchers, funded by the U.S. Navy, reportedly indicate that locusts can differentiate between TNT, ammonium nitrate and other bomb-making materials, and locate their origins almost...
Ex-Navy SEAL who claims he killed Osama bin Laden tweets, then deletes, maskless selfie aboard flight
**This story contains explicit language** He went to war to fight for his country … but won’t wear a mask during a pandemic? Former Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill, who claims to have fired the shots that killed Osama bin Laden, tweeted a selfie Wednesday bragging about not wearing a mask...
Commonwealth Court must hear gun owners’ challenge over Pittsburgh ban
The state Superior Court on Wednesday moved an appeal by a number of gun owners who sought to file private criminal complaints against Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and members of city council over their passage of new firearms legislation last year to the Commonwealth Court. In a five-page opinion, the...
‘Let me be clear’: Pitt dean admonishes students for partying during pandemic
University of Pittsburgh students who party could tip the school into shutdown mode, a top official at the school warned. Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner cautioned students that large parties carry the potential of becoming covid-19 super-spreader events and threaten the ability to continue classes on the Oakland campus. On...
School districts tweak reopening plans again to require full-time mask use
Districts across the region again are amending reopening plans after the state released additional guidance this week. Students attending in-person classes now are required to wear face coverings at all times while in school with few exceptions, according to the state education and health departments. The changes are based on...
Police: 3 Penn State football players facing charges after marijuana, LSD found in their apartment
Three Penn State football players were charged Monday after university police officers said they found marijuana and LSD in the trio’s on-campus apartment. Officers responded about 3:40 p.m. Aug. 2 to sophomore running back Devyn Ford and redshirt freshman offensive linemen Sal Wormley and Caedan Wallace’s apartment for a fire...
They were caught up in the Tim Murphy scandal. Now, they have a co-parenting podcast.
For Shannon Edwards and Jesse Sally, the road from separation to divorce was a very public one. There were newspaper headlines and mentions on national news and comedy shows. There were allegations of infidelity and threats. And now, three years later, there is friendship and a new podcast on co-parenting....
‘Music in the Streets’ returns to Irwin
Irwin’s “Music in the Streets” is returning to the borough’s downtown business district this week with performances by several singers. On Thursday, former “American Idol” contestant Aubrey Burchell will perform at The Lamp Theatre courtyard from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Gail, Kevin & Company will perform on Fourth Street from...
Police disperse overnight protesters at Peduto’s house, mayor decries neighborhood harassmentVideo
The handful of protesters who camped out overnight in front of Mayor Bill Peduto’s Point Breeze home were dispersed Wednesday morning after Pittsburgh police declared the small contingent an unlawful gathering. A protest group that grew from about 150 to more than 300 Tuesday night marched from East Liberty to...
Northern Tier Library updates and programs
Northern Tier Library is now open to the public. A limited number of people are allowed in the building at one time to ensure social distancing, but appointments no longer need to be made to visit. Contactless lobby pickup is still available. Temporary hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The...
Letter to the editor: Trump has kept his promises
I detest and certainly distrust most politicians. I strongly believe that any politician who has been in office for more than two terms is corrupt and will not change. With that said, I must admit that I have in the past voted for some of these lowlifes. I am ashamed...
Westmoreland community happenings include meals, movies and more
Church news These activities are planned at Community Church of Hecla, 537 Hecla Road, Southwest:Vera Bradley bingo, 2 p.m. Aug. 30. Doors open at 1 p.m. Light lunch will be available.Turkey dinner, 4-7 p.m. Sept. 12. Takeout available. Information: 724-396-8065 or 724-244-2586 Classes These classes and programs start during September...
Sen. Casey casts Pennsylvania’s DNC roll call votes outside Biden’s childhood home
SCRANTON — Standing in front of Joe Biden’s childhood home late Tuesday night, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey reflected on the Scranton native’s local upbringing before nominating him to be the country’s next president. “Pennsylvania casts 34 votes for Sen. Bernie Sanders and 175 votes for the next president of the...
Letter to the editor: Pa. must get out of liquor business
I applaud the Aug. 14 political cartoon by Tim Hartman addressing a question I have asked any number of Pennsylvania representatives: Why should Pennsylvania be one of only two states that continue to sell liquor? I have never been given one good reason for it other than my most hated...
Letter to the editor: Trump and his perfect hair
Just when you think you’ve heard it all from President Trump, now he wants to change the water flow regulation on shower heads. Quote: “Because my hair — I don’t know about you, but it has to be perfect.” Never mind about the 170,000 dead from the virus — he...
Letter to the editor: Father Martin Bartel more than ‘numbers guy’
The veiled criticism of the Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, newly elected archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey, as a “numbers guy” indicates that the letter-writer does not know the man we know and love (“Numbers guys making the decisions,” Aug. 3, TribLIVE). He may have degrees in law, business administration,...
Editorial: Keeping the U.S. Postal Service an essential service
People talk a lot about what built America. Legislators. Presidents. Soldiers and settlers. Farmers and business, teachers and explorers. None of that is wrong. It does, however, neglect the element that connects them all. Communication. Specifically, the mail. When the original 13 states were just colonies, the first cities of...
Letter to the editor: ‘JoKa’ sounds like a winning ticket
I don’t understand why “JoKa” has not been promulgated among the media and Hollywood crowd for the recently selected Democratic ticket. It’s been almost a week, and Twitter hasn’t picked up on this new word. It makes for a great play on words in English. It was a hit movie...
Letter to the editor: Steigerwald’s opinion on canceling sports
In his column “High school athletes don’t need Gov. Wolf to keep them safe” (Aug. 9, TribLIVE), Tribune-Review contributing writer John Steigerwald chose to cherry-pick information and give an opinion based on no attributable facts. In a Sports news article concerning Gov. Tom Wolf’s “recommendation” that all high school sports...
The Stroller, Aug. 19, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Small Acts of Kindness Did your neighbor call and check on you, or bring a face mask or groceries? The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time. Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they...
Virtual story times, virtual visits and more with Shaler North Hills Library
Here are some of the upcoming offerings at the Shaler North Hills Library. Virtual Storytimes for Kids are 10 a.m. Thursdays. Virtual Programs for Adults (and families) are 5 or 7 p.m. Tuesdays (check for times). Visit five historic sites in the area. Virtual kits to download are here. These...
Serendipitous encounters at the Carnegie Carnegie
I am delighted that the Signal Item, the “longest continually running weekly West of the Alleghenies,” is back in print. In a Zoom call with the Item’s new editor, Katie Green, I was further delighted that she invited the Library & Music Hall to resume its bi-weekly column. I wrote...
Scott Martelle: Trump’s push to expand Arctic drilling is dangerous and foolhardy
Finishing a task that a Republican-controlled Congress gave it three years ago, the Trump administration has finalized plans for new oil and gas leases in one of the most pristine stretches of the world: the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a manifestly bad idea that Congress was wrong to slip...
Findlay sues Moon, airport authority over water and sewer service
The Findlay Township Municipal Authority is suing Allegheny County, the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Moon Township’s Municipal Authority over which entity gets to provide water to Pittsburgh International Airport. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Common Pleas Court, contends that the airport authority is improperly purchasing all of its water...
School districts tweak reopening plans again to require full-time mask use
Districts across the region once again are amending reopening plans after the state released additional guidance this week. Students attending in-person classes are now required to wear face coverings at all times while in school with few exceptions, according to the state education and health departments. The changes are based...
