TribLive stories, Page 1340
Peter Morici: Fixing Biden’s China policy
China’s global ambitions pose an existential threat to Western democracy, prosperity and security, but the Biden administration, preoccupied with domestic economic renewal and social justice, has not articulated a comprehensive policy. Cooperation on climate change could materialize, but the consequences for economic competition — fundamentally the trade and investment relationship...
George Guido: Cager Classic set to return after 2-year hiatus
Let’s open 2022 with some good news. The Cager Classic at Highlands High School is set to return after a two-year hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The 25th event — we no longer can call it annual — will go with its usual Thursday-Saturday format March 24-26. The...
Carr leads No. 17 Texas past short-handed West Virginia, 74-59Video
AUSTIN, Texas — Marcus Carr scored a season-best 20 points, and No. 17 Texas defeated short-handed West Virginia, 74-59, on Saturday in the Big 12 opener, snapping the Mountaineers’ eight-game winning streak. West Virginia (11-2) played without starting guard and leading scorer Taz Sherman (20.9 points per game) along with...
Sounding off: Laws protect us from religious subjugation
We are one nation under the Constitution of the U.S. created in 1787 by representatives of “We, the people.” The Founders also incorporated a Bill of Rights in 1791 to protect individual rights and liberties, and citizen independence protected by freedom of speech, peaceable assembly, religious liberty and freedom of...
Stephen Carter: What to expect from the world in 2022
December’s end is when we reflect on what we hope to improve in the year to come … and also the time for my annual predictions of news headlines for the next 12 months. Usually I begin by evaluating last year’s predictions, but this year only one bears mention: For...
Nathan Benefield: Gerrymandering won’t save unpopular candidates
With state and congressional redistricting underway in Harrisburg, many politicians have blamed “partisan gerrymandering” for past election losses. But this is another instance when the conventional wisdom gets it wrong. Redistricting-watchers fearing an electoral apocalypse and those hoping for a clear path to victory need a healthy dose of reality....
Letter to the editor: Could John Peck’s behavior be factor in his loss?
You reported that an apparently disgruntled John Peck, who was defeated by Nicole Ziccarelli in his reelection bid to continue as Westmoreland County district attorney, has, according to Ziccarelli, “so far refused to cooperate with the transition” (“Westmoreland County DA-elect Nicole Ziccarelli says transition team not getting cooperation from predecessor,”...
Letter to the editor: Deaths at jail must be investigated
The Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board has the statutory responsibility of providing “oversight of the health and safekeeping” of the residents and “investigate allegations of inadequate prison conditions” at the Allegheny County Jail. Since April 2020, there have been 11 deaths of jail residents (“Allegheny County Jail inmate dies,” Dec....
Editorial: Same stuff, different year
If you had trouble telling the difference between 2020 and 2021, you aren’t alone. The last two years have been a stressful roller coaster of issues that have required almost constant attention. In 2020, it was the pandemic. It was politics with the presidential election. It was the annual census...
The Stroller, Jan. 1, 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. Therapy dogs welcome to join program at Allegheny Valley Hospital Allegheny Valley Hospital, Harrison, is expanding its pet therapy program and invites...
Letter to the editor: Make a vegan New Year’s resolution
Millions of people around the world will make New Year’s resolutions. Some decide it’s time to get back to the gym; many make the decision to unplug from social media; and, becoming more popular, people will make a resolution to go vegan. This was my own New Year’s resolution 10...
Looking ahead to 2022: Pandemic continues, campaigns heat up, new mayor for Pittsburgh and more
The New Year in Southwestern Pennsylvania is expected to carry over storylines popular in 2021 — especially in how the pandemic will play out in its third year and intense political races among the crowded field of candidates vying for U.S. Senate and governor as well as those slugging it...
Letter to the editor: We need a true conservative Republican in Toomey’s seat
To Richard Patton (”We need a real Pennsylvanian in Toomey’s seat,” Dec. 24, TribLIVE): Hear, hear! But more important than actually being from Pennsylvania is that we get a true conservative Republican. No RINOs! So welcome any candidate that fits your request and mine. And to RINO Pat Toomey: Bye!...
Pittsburgh celebrates New Year’s Eve, rings in 2022 with First Night activities
Thousands of people flocked to Downtown Pittsburgh on Friday night to ring in 2022. Among the main attractions of the night was a 50-foot inflatable rabbit, and three smaller, similar creatures, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Joining the giant rabbits for the New Year’s Eve festivities was a full...
East Deer asks to join Cheswick, Springdale Township’s joint police department
East Deer could be joining the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department in the near future. The township commissioners voted 5-0 Friday afternoon to apply to the force, which now covers Cheswick and Springdale Township. The department is operated by a board from the two municipalities. The board would have to...
Alle-Kiski Valley stories of the year in 2021
Even as the global covid pandemic kept its grip on the Alle-Kiski Valley for a second year, 2021 saw its share of other significant developments, including the arrival of a major brewery, a concerted effort to diminish blight and even the rebirth of some downtown areas. Here are some of...
Letter to the editor: Why would Penn Hills hire officer under investigation?
Why on earth did Penn Hills hire a cop under investigation for killing a young Black man in Wilkinsburg (“Arbitrator judge reinstates former Wilkinsburg police officer to Penn Hills,” Dec. 15, TribLIVE)? If he is found guilty, what is Penn Hills to do with him? Penn Hills residents, please be...
Photos of the year 2021
It was a year of starting again. Giving it another try. The coronavirus continued to invade our homes and communities in 2021 but we learned how to rise above it. We got our children back in classrooms and engaged in after-school activities. Restaurants and theaters welcomed patrons in greater numbers....
Penn State announces in-person spring semester classes despite omicron
Despite covid-19 surging throughout the country, and with health experts warning of challenging weeks ahead, Penn State announced Thursday night that it will start the spring semester in person, as planned, because it feels it can do so “safely but carefully.” Still, according to the university, conditions around University Park...
Hope springs eternal: Community leaders look forward to better 2022
Seen in a meme: “The fact that 2021 is almost over proves that time also flies when you’re NOT having fun.” Wasn’t 2021 supposed to be the year that life returned to normal — or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof? At the beginning of the year, it seemed as...
Letter to the editor: If election system works, audit should be supported
Tricia Cunningham’s op-ed “Corman, Mastriano act tough on election integrity, but they caused the problems” (Dec. 18, TribLIVE) denigrates Republican state Sens. Jake Corman and Doug Mastriano for advocating a complete audit of the 2020 elections on the basis that they both voted for Act 77 which was partly to...
The Stroller, Dec. 31, 2021: 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. Best wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year to all our readers! Natrona food pantry offers help The Natrona Community Pantry...
Letter to the editor: Single-use plastics ban good for our health
Pittsburgh City Council is currently considering Councilwoman Erika Strassburger’s proposed legislation to ban single-use plastics (“Experts join discussion about potential plastic bag ban in Pittsburgh,” Dec. 18, TribLIVE). An important issue connected to this legislation is the health consequences on all of us by continuing the manufacture of plastic bags....
Westmoreland County stories of the year in 2021Video
The covid-19 pandemic continued to make news locally in its second year, from continued illness and deaths to vaccinations and heated discussions and demonstrations about how best to keep children safe at school. But life in Westmoreland County continued in 2021, and other important and newsworthy events happened — including,...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 30, 2021
High schools WPIAL Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Avella Tournament Cornell 58, Avella 56 Fort Cherry 48, Brownsville 43 McGuffey 56, Chartiers-Houston 50 Avonworth 80, Burgettstown 57 Brooke (WV) Tournament Consolation Bloom-Carroll (OH) 68, Cameron (WV) 32 Championship Mt. Lebanon 48, Brooke (WV) 39 Deer Lakes Tournament Consolation Steel Valley 52,...
