TribLive stories, Page 1436

WASHINGTON — Following a 2020 fire season that shattered records and killed 33 people in California, federal wildfire experts predict another tough year for the state due to widespread and worsening drought conditions. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack told reporters Thursday they had been briefed...

As a mother of two children with learning challenges, I have long known the disparities plaguing our education system. The reasons why some children succeed in their education, and others do not, are varied and widespread. It is no surprise that socio-economic factors such as employment and race can be...

Holiday Park Elementary students will be learning remotely today and Friday due to several covid cases, Plum School District officials announced. Seven students and two teachers recently tested positive for the virus, requiring 23 people to quarantine, according to a notice sent to families. All building activities have been canceled...

Colonial Pipeline Co. paid nearly $5 million to Eastern European hackers on Friday, contradicting reports earlier this week that the company had no intention of paying an extortion fee to help restore the country’s largest fuel pipeline, according to two people familiar with the transaction. The company paid the hefty...

Prosecutors on Thursday withdrew felony charges against Pitt basketball freshman forward John Hugley, making him eligible for a program that ultimately will allow the case against him to be expunged from his record. He was subsequently reinstated to the team. Hugley was initially charged with criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen...

The life sciences industry has always played a key, if underappreciated, role in the American economy. After all, without STEM workers, the country would not be well on the way to finally beating back this deadly virus. While the pandemic has certainly brought a renewed appreciation for the crucial work...

Mental health problems are likely to outlast the covid-19 pandemic that helped spawn them, university researchers said. “There is a huge wave of mental health struggles here, and it’s likely to be sustained,” Sheri Madigan of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada said. Madigan was one of three university researchers...

Nurses and health professionals from across the Poconos gathered together to remember those lives lost to the pandemic, and to call for action to prevent the loss of even more patients in the future on Tuesday afternoon. As part of Nurses Week 2021, a vigil for patient safety honoring the...

To our fellow Quaker Valley citizens and neighbors, it is time to: Believe in our award-­winning school district and Up our game in secondary education. It’s time to match the quality of our facilities to the Leaders that we graduate from Quaker Valley. Do it now! The building in which...

I have requested the Quaker Valley school board’s stance on critical race theory and the 1619 Project. As of this submission, they have refused to give a direct answer. Critical race theory is a racist teaching with emphasis on separating people as oppressors or oppressed based on group identity. It...

There is a real possibility that certain venues will have fully vaccinated sections at events such as hockey and concerts, to name two. If this happens, my questions are: 1. Where will my fully vaccinated bathrooms be located at these venues? 2. Where will my fully vaccinated water fountains be...

Parenting is about choices. It starts at birth and never stops. Formula or breast milk? Disposable diapers or cloth? Screen time, daycare, junk food, bed times. It’s exhausting but necessary. You would think that it would stop when a child is old enough for school, but it isn’t as easy...

I find it totally disgusting that our county prison feels it is necessary to give prisoners $25 if they get the covid vaccine (“Westmoreland County to pay jail inmates to get covid vaccine,” April 26, TribLIVE). They should just be thankful that they are able to get it. Here’s an...

In response to the letter “All lives, of all colors, matter”: The Black Lives Matter movement should not be “dropped” by the nation. In the Bible, specifically in Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep. There are 100 sheep, and one goes missing. The shepherd leaves the...

Too often in politics in Pennsylvania and the United States, we choose to forgo fixing a bridge until it inevitably collapses. But we almost always admit there’s a problem with the bridge. In the article “Pandemic ‘exposed what a problem we have on our hands’ in U.S. nursing homes” (April...

Congratulations to President Biden and his administration. How refreshing to see government start working for all people of this country. On covid-19, we see record-setting vaccinations and hear true medical professionals daily. Gone are the days of lies and silencing those same experts. This country now gets the truth, as...

High schools Baseball Wednesday’s results Class 5A Section 2 Mars 6, Hampton 2 Armstrong 8, Woodland Hills 3 Armstrong 15, Woodland Hills 4 Section 4 Connellsville 12, Albert Gallatin 1 Bethel Park 15, Thomas Jefferson 0 Class 4A Section 1 Indiana 14, Burrell 6 Section 2 Quaker Valley 7, Ambridge...

Cole Egan threw a no-hitter, striking out 12 and walking three, to lead West Allegheny to a 4-0 nonsection baseball victory over Eden Christian (14-4) on Wednesday. Luke Lambert went 3 for 4 and Dylan Grass drove in two runs for West Allegheny (14-3). Armstrong 8, Woodland Hills 3; Armstrong...

Information about Memorial Day events should be sent as soon as possible to: Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084; e-mail cpinto-smith@triblive.com or fax 724-226-4677. Free Pot Love luncheon planned Saturday Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church free takeout monthly Pot Love Dinner will begin at noon...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 4-3) won 5-3 over Toledo (Tigers). 1B Will Craig went 3 for 3, hit his third home run of the season and doubled. 2B Kevin Kramer belted a two-run homer in the third inning. SS Cole Tucker and DH Chris Sharpe doubled. Beau Sulser started and went five...

Despite a loss to rival Burrell on Wednesday, Highlands was determined to celebrate the school’s first section softball crown in 16 years. Burrell used a big inning to down the Golden Rams, 8-1. Highlands (13-4, 7-3) leads the Bucs (7-5, 6-3) and Knoch (6-3) by one-half game in the standings....

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A report about the stunning lack of action at the University of Michigan while a rogue doctor was sexually assaulting hundreds of young men has cast an unflattering light at one of the school’s giants, the late football coach Bo Schembechler, whose bronze statue stands on...

Hampton Township School District welcomed back motivational speaker Doug Reavis to Hampton Middle School on May 11. More than two years ago, Reavis visited with middle school students to share his touching story about his brother and his message of “silent strength.” This year’s presentation theme, “attitude of gratitude,” aimed...

A Crafton man pleaded guilty to damaging a police car and assaulting police horses during last year’s protests Downtown following the death in Minnesota of George Floyd. Raekwon Blankenship, 25, will be sentenced by Allegheny County Judge Thomas E. Flaherty on Aug. 12. He is the first to plead to...