TribLive stories, Page 1317
Valley boys basketball team learning how to win
The Valley boys basketball program is struggling through another difficult season. But Ben Aftanas has been a shining light through the gloom. The senior guard is averaging 16 points for the Vikings, 1-16 on the season after a 65-60 nonsection loss to equally struggling Greensburg Salem (2-14) on Wednesday night....
Fast times expected at Westmoreland County swim meet
The county’s top swimmers will converge at Derry this weekend for the Westmoreland County Coaches Association swimming and diving championships. Diving events will take place Friday beginning at 5 p.m., and swimming events are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday. The event returns after taking 2021 off because of the pandemic....
District court in Pittsburgh split on school masking, issue likely to be decided by appellate court
The underlying facts in each case are the same. The North Allegheny and Upper Saint Clair school boards voted recently to reverse mandatory masking policies. Medically vulnerable students argued that the reversal put them at risk of contracting covid-19 and the decision violated their rights under the Americans with Disabilities...
Man pleads guilty in 2019 McKees Rocks Bridge crash that killed woman
A McKees Rocks man pleaded guilty Thursday to causing a crash that killed a woman in 2019 on the McKees Rocks Bridge. Christopher Vuckovich, 42, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle and related counts stemming from the Feb. 15, 2019 crash. In exchange for the plea, the Allegheny County District...
Byron Leftwich could be leaving Bucs to become head coach of JaguarsVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Byron Leftwich could be the Jaguars’ first choice again. The Bucs’ offensive coordinator, who was Jacksonville’s first-round pick in 2003 as a quarterback out of Marshall, could be hired as the Jaguars’ next head coach. There are some items to clear up contractually, but Leftwich and the...
Massive winter nor’easter expected to swamp New York area and New EnglandVideo
NEW YORK — Long Island will likely be buried in snow by Saturday. A nor’easter set to blanket the tri-state area and New England over the weekend could drop as much as 36 inches near Islip, according to AccuWeather’s latest predictions Thursday. More likely, though, is a snowfall closer to...
Police: Bedford County man taking target practice shoots child in head with pellet gun
A man taking target practice with a pellet gun at a home shot a child in the head, instead, saying the child ran into his line of fire. Now, as WJAC-TV in Johnstown reports, the shooter, identified as Leo Ramsey, 36, of Saxton Borough, Bedford County, is facing charges of...
Laurels & lances: Partners, verdicts and a voice
Laurel: To assembling assistance. Chris O’Donnell is the state humane officer for Armstrong County. That means she has more than enough on her plate trying to handle cases of abused or neglected animals. But some cases are bigger and more challenging than others — like the St. Patrick’s Day 2021...
Rep. Emily Kinkead: As governor, Shapiro will protect our democracy
Attacks on our democracy are only getting worse, and our next governor must be committed to defending our democracy and protecting our right to vote. On Jan. 5, 2021, I was sworn into my first term in office. It was an awe-inspiring day that I was able to share with...
John Sparks: Supreme Court renders mixed decisions on vaccine mandates
The U. S. Supreme Court has rejected President Joe Biden’s OSHA vaccination overreach for private sector employees, but has upheld the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate for healthcare workers. The decisions are important for their immediate effects. The OSHA-related opinion, NFIB v. Department of Labor, bars the president, through...
On-ramps to Neville Island Bridge, southbound I-79 to close Monday
The long-term closure of the ramps from Route 65 and Deer Run Road to southbound I-79 at the Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield will begin Jan. 31, weather permitting, according to PennDOT. Beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, the ramps that carry traffic from Route 65 in both directions and...
Current, former Steelers pay tribute to Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s official retirement from the NFL brought tributes from current and former teammates, as well as from around the sports world. Bill Cowher was head coach for the first three years of Roethlisberger’s career, from 2004 to 2006. The duo won a Super Bowl together on...
Barty to face Collins in bid to end Australian title drought
MELBOURNE, Australia — Ash Barty was the crowd favorite at Melbourne Park long before she ended a 42-year drought by reaching the Australian Open final. Danielle Collins said it’ll be “spectacular” to take on the women’s No. 1-ranked player in the final of her home Grand Slam event on Saturday....
Joshua Windham and Daryl James: Get Pa. agents off private land
Hunter Jon Mikesell and his friends thought they were alone when they reserved a clubhouse on private land in rural Pennsylvania for a Fourth of July retreat. But somebody was watching them the whole time. A man dressed in camouflage tracked the group’s activities from a hidden spot in the...
TribLIVE Real Estate: A Ligonier modern country estate on 20 acres, for $3.5 million
An exceptional property in historic Ligonier has come on the market. The country estate sits on 20 acres of land, affording complete privacy surrounded by scenic natural beauty, while its Tyburn Lane location allows for quick access to the Ligonier Diamond shopping area, golf courses, private clubs, and many recreational...
Letter to the editor: Other forms of indoctrination in schools
Reagarding Cheri Blum’s letter “Indoctrination in schools”: If schools aren’t supposed to be used for indoctrination, why do students say the Pledge of Allegiance? And why do Catholics have their own schools? Kris Weinschenker Unity...
Gov. Wolf vetoes Pa. congressional map sent to him by Republicans
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 — Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed a congressional map sent to...
Letter to the editor: Volunteers seem to care more than commissioners
Westmoreland County residents should thank Diana Steck, Bob Mason and Michael Pardus for their leadership and advocacy around the American Rescue Plan funds ("Westmoreland County needs a people’s American Rescue Plan," Jan. 9, TribLIVE). For almost a year, these three concerned citizens, alongside the many volunteers at Voice of Westmoreland,...
Editorial: Rallying around missing monkeys and a curious canine
Monkeys on the loose during a pandemic? It was a little too perfect — too deliciously ironic. When the news broke about the Friday crash near Danville, it seemed like just the latest in the never-ending series of jokes about the new and different variety of apocalypses on the horizon....
The Stroller, Jan. 27, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings 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. Volunteers needed to help order food in New Kensington The City of New Kensington is partnering with Oasis Grocery Direct as a...
Letter to the editor: Vaxxed and unvaxxed divisions
We are at a tipping point in this country. Around the world, countries are locking in the unvaccinated and forcing vaccinations on citizens, with some putting the unvaccinated or those with covid in “quarantine camps” for their, and society’s, safety. Here in the United States, we are being divided into...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 26, 2022
High schools Basketball Boys Wednesday’s results Class 5A Section 2 West Allegheny 49, Moon 35 Section 3 Gateway 59, Woodland Hills 29 Class 3A Section 2 Aliquippa 82, Freedom 40 Class 2A Section 4 Carmichaels 66, Frazier 37 Nonsection Springdale 71, Apollo-Ridge 45 Charleroi 73, Mt. Pleasant 48 Yough 62,...
High school roundup for Jan. 27, 2022: Allderdice tops Obama in City League showdown
Major Rainey scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures as Allderdice defeated Obama Academy, 64-60, in a matchup of top teams in City League boys basketball Wednesday night. Michael Quigley added 12 points, and Sam Kelly, Avery Ruben and Ethan Anish had 10 apiece for Allderdice (9-5,...
High school wrestling roundup for Jan. 26, 2022: North Allegheny tops Butler for section crown
Casey Walker (106 pounds) earned a 6-0 decision at 106 pounds that sparked a run of five wins in a row that helped North Allegheny to a 33-30 victory over Butler in the WPIAL Section 3-3A wrestling finals Wednesday night. William Bentrim (113) earned a pin, Sam Horton (120) won...
Fast start fuels Latrobe wrestling to Section 2-3A championship
It took all of 22 seconds for the Latrobe wrestling team to seize momentum Wednesday in its WPIAL Section 2-3A tournament championship match against Connellsville. Wildcats freshman Luke Willochell recorded a quick pin in the opening match at 106 pounds over the Falcons’ Trent Huffman, helping propel Latrobe to a...
