TribLive stories, Page 1300
As virus surged, few Pa. schools signed up for free covid-19 testing
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan 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 — Nearly six months into the school year, the majority of Pennsylvania schools have not opted into a free, on-site...
Peter Morici: GOP needs practical solutions before midterms
Republicans are a bit too confident about the midterm elections and more vulnerable than they think. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has told key party donors that the Republicans will not offer a legislative platform but rather run against President Joe Biden’s record. Plenty of ammo At first glance, they...
Letter to the editor: History repeating itself in Ukraine
This Russian threat on Ukraine is history repeating itself. Make no mistake: Vladimir Putin will not be satisfied with only Ukraine. I believe Putin wants to rebuild the old Soviet Union and take over the rest of Europe. This reminds me of 1939 and the years before. Adolf Hitler first...
Letter to the editor: Saluting our farmers
I recently attended the 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. It is touted as the best in our state, and certainly the biggest and best in the country. I was in awe of the preparation it must take to produce an event of this magnitude to inform the general public...
Editorial: Courts and doctors must cooperate on addiction
The opioid epidemic is not like influenza or covid-19. It is a medical issue that affects the body and threatens lives. It also is a social problem that ends up in court either because of crimes or because of issues such as custody. It is rare that a case of...
The Stroller, Feb. 17, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Reservations being...
Letter to the editor: Benninghoff’s failure on redistricting
Have you ever done something for 25 straight years and still not been able to do it correctly? State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre County, has. As Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2020, 25-year legislator Benninghoff had the responsibility to lead the effort in redistricting so that...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Feb. 16, 2022
High schools Basketball WPIAL Boys Wednesday’s result Nonsection Central Valley 53, Keystone Oaks 52 City League Semifinals Thursday’s schedule Carrick (6-11) at Allderdice (15-7), 6 p.m. Brashear (6-8) at Obama Academy (11-7), 6 p.m. WPIAL playoffs Class 6A First round Tuesday’s schedule North Hills (22-0) bye; Baldwin (12-10) at North...
Crews respond to Fox Chapel gas leak
First responders from Fox Chapel and Aspinwall, along with crews from People’s Gas, responded to shut off natural gas to a home on Delafield Road in Fox Chapel on Wednesday, Feb. 16, officials said. Fox Chapel Assistant Fire Chief Brian Zimmerman said workers apparently damaged a gas line. The house...
Group of Fox Chapel Area School District parents continue push to make masks optional
Protests against masks for Fox Chapel Area School District students continued Wednesday outside of the administrative offices, marking the third such gathering against the district’s policies this month. About 13 protesters, including two children, gathered along Field Club Road about 2:30 p.m. during dismissal at the high school. They later...
Wolf renews higher-ed scholarship idea, amid worker shortage
HARRISBURG — Two years after he first proposed it, Gov. Tom Wolf is trying to engage the Legislature anew in his bid to start a major new scholarship program for college students in Pennsylvania, but on Wednesday said the idea has new urgency because of difficulties in finding workers across...
Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy and Taifa Smith Butler: The story of Pittsburgh’s water
During his recent visit to Pittsburgh, President Joe Biden had a lot to say about roads and bridges and America’s crumbling infrastructure — mere hours after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed. But notably, he failed to mention another critical public resource to which the people of Pittsburgh have called attention...
Food Podcast: Why is the Black community experiencing higher rates of food insecurity in the Pittsburgh region?Video
On this week’s episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union on the TribLIVE podcast network, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank celebrates Black History Month by learning more about food insecurity and race in the Pittsburgh region. “African Americans are three times more likely to experience food...
Low-income Philadelphians to receive no-strings-attached cash in anti-poverty experiments
PHILADELPHIA — The City of Philadelphia will be introducing two programs that will distribute money to low-income residents with no strings attached. The goal of the programs is to understand the impact of cash infusions on household stability and economic well-being. City officials are releasing few details about the initiatives,...
Folklore expert: Original ‘Bambi’ was not a children’s story
The novel on which the Disney movie “Bambi” was based dealt with loss, loneliness and racism. If you thought it was rough to see Bambi’s mother die in the 1942 Disney film, you should read the original story. Before it became an animated classic movie for children, “Bambi” was a...
Johanna Murphy: Employee shortage, Pittsburgh? Autistic, neurodiverse people ready to work.
For the past several months, op-eds and think pieces have meditated on the current national hiring crisis: Jobs all over the country are going unfilled. It’s a phenomenon we’re familiar with in Western Pennsylvania. For years, as our population has shifted, regional workforce development discussions have lamented the shortage of...
Book review: Political scientist who studies civil wars worries that U.S. is headed toward one
SAN DIEGO — Barbara Walter, a political scientist at UC San Diego, has been studying civil wars for 30 years. She understands the script they follow: how they ignite, how they escalate, how they end. The storm clouds she sees gathering now are over the United States. “If you were...
Letter to the editor: Trump should leave the building, permanently
Fearless leader Trump should do what Elvis did: leave the building. And never come back. Francois Vukosic Bridgeville...
Westmoreland happenings: chili cook-off, soup sale and musical bingo
Fundraisers • Lincoln Heights Civic Association will host bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, 42 Millersdale Road, Jeannette. There will be 20 regular games and five quickies. Cost: 25 cents for a three-card bingo board and $1 for quickies. Payout is 50/50. Free coffee. • Soup sale to benefit...
Letter to the editor: Another Dem commission — yippee!
I can rest easy now. Comes news of another Dem commission to tackle some issue or another which sounds good and does zip. Pete Buttigieg, he of two months paternity leave and doing very little/nothing else in a year, is leaping into action. Leap, Pete, leap! He announced the formation...
Letter to the editor: Keep dogs safe around frozen water
Please keep your dogs safe in the winter. Keep them on a leash when you are around water. A few years ago, my dog Pumpkin got away from me chasing some ducks that were standing on the ice at Burrell Lake Park. She ran out onto the ice and slid...
Letter to the editor: GOP’s hollow words on election integrity
Republican Joe DiSarro, political science professor at Washington & Jefferson College, believes that Republicans’ redistricting plan, which political observers suggest favors Republicans, is a better option for Western Pennsylvania (“Westmoreland officials favor congressional map that unifies county”). This plan splits communities where Democratic voters reside and moves those voters into...
Editorial: EMT training is practical solution to filling need
The first step in a medical emergency often is taken even before getting to the hospital. It can begin with an ambulance staffed by professionals trained to offer the care that will stabilize a patient until more in-depth diagnostics and treatment can be provided. It is a vital journey that...
Letter to the editor: Illegal slot machines rob seniors
Every Pennsylvania taxpayer, even those who do not enjoy gaming or the entertainment venues in the state’s casinos, benefits from the commonwealth’s casino industry. Last year, the industry generated $1.93 billion in state tax revenue, an increase of $838.2 million over the previous year. Casinos also provide nearly $150 million...
The Stroller, Feb. 16, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Garden center...
