TribLive stories, Page 1412

Fox Chapel Area High School and Dorseyville Middle School students won awards as part of the virtual 87th Annual Region 7 Meeting of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS). District first-place winners were seniors Jackson Romero and Sanjay Seshan; juniors Zoe Lakkis and Siddharth Yende; sophomores Lawrence Liu and...

It’s an absolute disgrace that, as you reported, the Pennsylvania state representatives and senators are collectively charging the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for “per diem” expense without supporting receipts (“State lawmakers need daily expenses accountability,” March 21, TribLIVE). Any company or organization that I’ve ever been...

Organized Freedom Seder Daniel Kratovil, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s MD Class of 2023, was among the student organizers of the school’s annual Freedom Seder, held on March 23. Freedom Seders intertwine the archetypal story of the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in ancient Egypt with more modern...

Thank you, President Trump: Thanks to you and your staff my wife and I received our first dose of the Moderna vaccine. Fortunately you were in office when this non-American virus was let loose on the world. Had a Democrat been in the White House, I bet we would still...

I believe in President Trump’s world, truth is a foreign word. Lies rule the day. He is a self-appointed king, minus the crown (his coiffure would be disturbed). It seems a perfect day for Trump is when he flaunts himself onstage before a highly motivated audience. More clapping and enthusiasm...

I must disagree with David Millstein’s letter “Commissioners misguided on gun-rights resolution” (March 21, TribLIVE). He wrote that the Second Amendment’s language is not absolute. That is incorrect. The intended scope and reach are binding forever. Absolute means total and complete, not diminished in any way. The Second Amendment is...

Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Traffic stoppages planned Monday on Tarentum Bridge PennDOT will conduct 15-minute traffic stoppages as needed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday in each...

High schools WPIAL Baseball Saturday’s schedule Class 5A Section 1 West Mifflin at Laurel Highlands, 1 p.m. Section 4 Plum at Armstrong, 11 a.m. Armstrong at Plum, 1:30 p.m. Nonsection Connellsville at Penn-Trafford, 12 p.m. Hempfield at Pine-Richland, 12 p.m. Riverside at Ellwood City, 1 p.m. Hockey PIHL Penguins Cup...

Looks like Lil Nas X’s “Satan Shoes” collaboration has taken a step too far. The Hollywood Reporter said this week that fulfillment of orders of the controversial sneaker has stopped after a U.S. District Court in New York approved Nike’s request for a temporary restraining order against Mschf, the Brooklyn-based...

Johnson & Johnson has expanded a clinical trial of its experimental coronavirus vaccine to include adolescents 12 to 17 years old, the drugmaker announced Friday. The ongoing, placebo-controlled trial was initially designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the shots for people ages 18 and older. The company now...

Traffic will be detoured around a section of Union Avenue in Ross Township starting Monday morning for bridge work, PennDOT announced. Beginning at 7 a.m. April 5, Union Avenue, or Route 4012, will be closed to traffic between Edies Way and Williams Street through late May. Crews are replace the...

Editor’s note: The following text was delivered at a March 30 press conference alongside Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. The American Rescue Plan is powerful. It makes major improvements to the public food safety net to protect our neighbors from hunger — particularly in boosting food stamp (SNAP) benefits — so...

WASHINGTON — The entire season-opening three-game series between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets was called off on Friday because of a covid-19 outbreak on the 2019 World Series champions, who had four players test positive for covid-19. The Nationals announced the postponement of games scheduled for Saturday and...

As Bill Cleary reflects on his 30-plus-year career at Serra Catholic, he has more than a few fond memories to look back on. From winning four WPIAL championships and a state title in 2005, to the bonds he shared with players, coaches, parents and community members alike, Cleary is grateful...

I pay moderate attention to my carbon footprint. You probably do, too. It just seems like the right thing to do. I recycle. I drive a Prius. My house has solar panels. My yard is xeriscaped. I support green energy. I never vote for politicians who, head in the sand,...

I write to strongly disagree with Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew’s comments regarding mail-in voting (“Westmoreland commissioner says county voters want end to no-excuse mail-in ballots, another disputes that”). Chew does not speak for all his constituency. I wager to guess he speaks for only a select few of his followers...

Pennsylvania on Sunday will lift its mandate for businesses to telework when possible — instead, teleworking will be encouraged. “Telework for businesses will be highly encouraged; previously, telework was to be used unless it was not possible to do so,” state officials said. The mandate was placed early on in...

In response to letter-writer John L. Petrancosta Sr. (“Smoking marijuana detrimental to health,” March 14, TribLIVE): I have no idea where you people get this, that research shows marijuana is a gateway drug and affects your health. I’m 70 years old. I’ve been smoking weed since I was 16, and I...

In regard to teachers being moved to the front of the line for receiving covid-19 vaccines regardless of age: Others in Phase 1A still are trying to get vaccinated, often driving many miles, or being put on a waiting list. Teachers may be considered essential workers, but so are grocery...

Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Help with rent, utilities available to those in need The Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services, is offering CARES Act...

High schools WPIAL Baseball Thursday’s results Class 5A Section 2 Plum at Armstrong, ppd. Class 3A Section 3 St. Joseph at Valley, ppd. Nonsection Avonworth at Moon, ppd. Beaver at Freedom, ppd. Beaver Falls at Blackhawk, ppd. Belle Vernon at McKeesport, ppd. Bethel Park at Mt. Lebanon, ppd. Butler at...

Jahan Dotson had his signature moment in 2020. The Penn State wide receiver reached his right hand back to snag a one-handed pass on a ball thrown behind him with Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade all over him. The ball stuck to his hand and the junior sprinted into the...

State police are investigating the cause of a fire Thursday night that destroyed two neighboring vacant houses in Arnold. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Gouza said flames engulfed a two-story house at 1410 Third Ave. and spread to an adjacent, wood-frame house at 1412 Third Ave. The fire broke out shortly...

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden this week passed the baton on his massive infrastructure plan to Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are already making demands on what the plan should include. It marks the start of what is likely to be a four-month grueling marathon to get the package through...

As an American who has heard about thousands of shootings by now, I have never been asked about how I felt about any particular shooting — until a few days after the shootings at three massage businesses in Atlanta, dominated by women of Asian descent. Yes, I am an Asian...