TribLive stories, Page 1279
Gary Franks: Peace can be found in Ukraine
At one time, the U.S. and NATO countries all seemed to believe that sanctions would work to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine. They were mistaken. Now they believe sanctions will stop Russian President Vladimir Putin. The record shows the more sanctions the West imposes, the faster and harsher Putin...
Budget shortfall at Freeport Area could result in tax hike
Freeport Area School District may have to dip into its fund balance to eliminate an operating deficit at the end of the school year. That could result in a real estate tax hike to start the next school year. As of Thursday, the 2021-22 budget had a $2.4 million deficit,...
Sheldon Jacobson: March Madness and advanced analytics
March Madness begins March 15. Blue-blood programs like Villanova, Duke and Kansas are locks to make the tournament. Mid-majors like Loyola-Chicago and Murray State hope to pull upsets and advance to the second weekend. Virginia Commonwealth and BYU are just hoping for a spot in the Big Dance. College basketball...
Memphis forward prospect commits to Duquesne basketball
A day after the season came to a close for the Duquesne men’s basketball team, planning for the 2022-23 season began. Coach Keith Dambrot and the Dukes received a commitment Thursday from David Dixon, a forward prospect from Memphis, Tenn. Dixon (6-8, 200) played this past season at the Teplitzky...
More Pittsburgh officials urge PennDOT to slow down on Fern Hollow Bridge replacement
Some officials continue to voice concerns with the proposed design for Pittsburgh’s new Fern Hollow Bridge. PennDOT is overseeing the bridge’s design and construction, but the city will take control of the bridge once construction is complete. Because the project would be done under an emergency declaration, with work tentatively...
Dr. Andrew Smolar: An ode to friendship
When the virus struck, we were terrified. We saw people dying alone on television. Confused about how the virus spread, we washed groceries and hands repeatedly, changed our clothes and immediately modified our work. For me, that meant seeing my patients online. This felt heretical, because I’ve always sat with...
Missing girl from Leechburg found near Chicago
A 13-year-old student from the Leechburg Area School District missing since Tuesday night was found safe Thursday in the Chicago area, Leechburg police said. Leechburg Police Chief Jason Schaeffer confirmed Thursday night that Aeryona Dongilli, of Leechburg, would be returning home to her family. Schaeffer said Dongilli went with a...
Stephanie Sowl: 3 things that influence college graduates from rural areas to return to their communities
When high-achieving students from rural areas go off to college and graduate, they often choose to live in suburban or urban areas instead rural communities like the ones where they grew up, decades of research have shown. Often they are following the advice of adults — or just deciding on...
Letter to the editor: Past time for a carbon price
The need to put a price on carbon is the main theme of Matthew Brown’s Feb. 23 Associated Press article “As climate change costs mount, Biden seeks to price damages.” Citizens’ Climate Lobby has been pushing for a carbon price for over 10 years. The legislation we like, the Energy...
Letter to the editor: Klein should be reinstated to Jail Oversight Board
The apparent decision to not reinstate Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board member Terri Klein should be reconsidered (“Fitzgerald seeks to appoint former warden to Allegheny County Jail board,” March 4, TribLIVE). It feels like Klein not being reinstated is an act of retaliation for recent votes where she sensibly represented...
Mother of man killed in Fox Chapel wants psychiatric report of alleged killer
The mother of a man shot to death in 2019 in Fox Chapel filed a motion this week seeking the psychiatric report completed on the alleged killer. Adam Rosenberg, 23, is charged with two separate counts of criminal homicide in the death of Christian Moore-Rouse, 22, who was killed on...
Letter to the editor: War on fossil fuels
Unimpaired strategic energy planning would have allowed our fossil-fuel independence to continue unabated until clean energy products became nationally available and affordable. But clean energy ideologues convinced President Biden to declare war on fossil fuels. Americans are now living under the impact of that decision. Prices for everything are significantly...
The Stroller, March 11, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community Easter Egg hunts, breakfasts with the Easter Bunny and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. March for Parks fundraiser planned March 26 The 20th annual Westmoreland County March for Parks...
Police: ATV rider shot at sheriff’s deputies in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill
Two Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies came under fire Thursday night during a confrontation with two ATV riders in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill South, police said. Sheriff Kevin Kraus said the two uniformed deputies were in an unmarked car about 10 p.m. when two men on two all-terrain vehicles sped by. He...
Letter to the editor: Business tax reductions do not create jobs
A common false narrative, pushed by Republican politicians, is that reducing an employer’s income tax will lead to job creation. Not true. The theory is that employers, upon learning that their tax liabilities are being reduced, will be so overjoyed that they will rush right out and hire a bunch...
Fox Chapel police to host ‘coffee’ talk at Cooper-Siegel Community Library
Fox Chapel police officers are ready to mingle with borough residents at an upcoming Cooper-Siegel Community Library event. Coffee With a Cop is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. on April 1 at 403 Fox Chapel Rd. The free event, created by Fox Chapel Police Chief Michael Stevens, serves as a meet-and...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 10, 2022
High schools Basketball Boys PIAA playoffs Class 6A First round Thursday’s result Abington 47, Pocono Mountain West 43 (OT) Second round Saturday’s schedule Lower Merion (25-3) vs. Abington (17-11), TBD; Scranton (22-2) vs. Garnet Valley (18-10) at Bethlehem Freedom, 3:30 p.m.; Roman Catholic (20-4) vs. Central Dauphin (18-5) at Coatesville,...
High school roundup for March 10, 2022: Norwin moves into Penguins Cup semifinals
Jake Meier, Ty Shigo and Logan Fear scored second-period goals to lead Norwin to a 3-2 victory over Westmont Hilltop in the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup playoffs Thursday night. All three Norwin goals came in an eight-minute span. Nick Rozich gave No. 5 Westmont Hilltop a 1-0 lead in...
ATI ends joint venture in Russia
Specialty steelmaker ATI is pulling out of its joint venture with a Russian-based metal production and titanium-magnesium operation, no later than the end of the year. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker notified the Securities and Exchange Commission in a filing Wednesday that it is expecting to wind up the joint venture with...
Experience suggests Belle Vernon softball capable of solid season
Ashley Joll isn’t certain if a coaching career is in her future. But when Belle Vernon’s senior shortstop brings up a suggestion, she gets the full attention of WPIAL championship-winning coach Tom Rodriguez and his staff. It’s why the Potomac State recruit is a two-year team captain. “She’s good to...
Belle Vernon baseball seeks consistency, playoff success
Loaded with starting upperclassmen and left-handed pitchers, the Belle Vernon baseball team was cruising through the early portion of its 2021 schedule. The Leopards opened Section 3-4A play with a 5-1 record and a perch atop the standings. Things were good. Then came a covid-19 pause. Belle Vernon went two...
Pittsburgh estates attorney facing charges in alleged embezzlement scheme
A Pittsburgh attorney already suspended from practicing law for mishandling client funds is facing criminal charges that he stole more than $230,000 from three estates and improperly charged for his services. Gordon D. Fisher, 76, will have a preliminary hearing on April 25 on charges of theft by failure to...
The 4 reasons the Pa. Supreme Court picked the winning congressional map
This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access. HARRISBURG — In February, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced that it had...
Laurels & lances: Shooting, sentencing and structure
Laurel: To surviving. Oakmont is not the kind of place where a mid-afternoon shooting is commonplace. It was certainly not what Greg Scampone was expecting at the Fox’s Pizza Den he owns on Allegheny River Boulevard. But it’s what happened when the shop was robbed Sunday. A man walked in,...
Judge rules against Port Authority union’s vaccine mandate challenge
An Allegheny County judge on Thursday ruled against the union representing Port Authority bus drivers in their challenge of a covid-19 vaccine requirement taking effect next week. In a two-page order, Common Pleas Judge John McVay denied Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have...
