TribLive stories, Page 1520
What will happen to the collapsed Surfside condo if Hurricane Elsa affects Florida?
SURFSIDE, Fla. — Authorities managing the search under the rubble of the partially collapsed building in Surfside are worried that Hurricane Elsa could bring down the portion of Champlain Towers South Condo that remains standing. Ray Jadallah, assistant Miami-Dade fire chief, said at a private briefing Friday morning that while...
Emily Greene: Infrastructure debate leaves Pa. behind
The president and a group of senators have come together on a bipartisan deal on President Joe Biden’s “infrastructure” package. The president has already spelled out conditions under which he would veto the deal, highlighting how tentative the agreement may be. Either way, we all ought to be concerned that...
Michigan boy dies 3 days after getting Pfizer covid-19 vaccine; CDC is investigating
DETROIT — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the case of a 13-year-old Saginaw County, Mich., boy who died in his sleep three days after getting his second dose of a covid-19 vaccine in mid-June. The county health department confirmed the investigation, telling the Free Press...
Pandemic ‘hangover’ could lead to shortage of backyard fireworks
Business was booming for the consumer fireworks industry ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, but a shortage of product could be looming. Impacts from the covid-19 pandemic are causing consumer fireworks companies across the country to receive about 70% of the inventory they ordered, according to Bruce Zoldan, CEO...
Letter to the editor: U.S.-Russia nuclear weapons freeze critical
I don’t know if nuclear first strike capability is possible. We need to determine whether an arms race with Russia could lead to our annihilation, and if so, we need to have both countries agree to a freeze on new nuclear weapons. There should of course be immediate inspection of...
Letter to the editor: Trib is fair and balanced
Howard L. McHenry’s letter “Are you a political fool?” (June 5, TribLIVE) awakened the need for a letter that I have been meaning to write for some time. McHenry seems to insinuate that the Associated Press (AP) coverage as presented in the Tribune-Review is somehow not to be trusted, and...
The Stroller, July 2, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Operation Gratitude to benefit troops, first responders The fourth annual Operation Gratitude Collection drive will take place through July 31. The...
Career and technical schools cope with pandemic, share optimism about future
When the covid-19 pandemic extended into the 2020-21 school year, districts had to find a way to safely accommodate students and still deliver quality education. For career and technical education (CTE) schools, that challenge was multiplied, but as individual schools rose to meet it, they took away plenty of positives...
Letter to the editor: Big business should pay fair share
The writer of the letter “We don’t deserve the wealthy’s money” (April 11, TribLIVE) asked, “Why do we deserve their money?” and stated that “we do not.” Excuse me — do these wealthy leeches not profit from the roads, railroads, schools and other forms of infrastructure which they use to...
Pirates farm report for July 1, 2021: Cal Mitchell homers twice for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-23) beat Iowa (Cubs), 7-6, in 12 innings. 1B Christian Bethancourt went 3 for 5 and hit a two-run single in the bottom of the 12th for the decisive runs. RF Bligh Madris went 3 for 4 with two walks and an RBI. 3B Kevin Kramer went 2...
Penn State athletes begin cashing in with name, image, likeness deals
Thursday marked the first day that the NCAA allowed student-athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. Several athletes already announced plans or agreements to make money during their time in college — including some at Penn State. Several football players, including linebackers Brandon Smith and Curtis Jacobs, defensive...
Laurels & lances: Opening early, taking too long
Laurel: To exceeding expectations. Remember last week when we gave a lance to the crash on the Tarentum Bridge? The one that happened right there in the middle of the construction project that was already complicating everyone’s commuting? It was going to delay reopening of the bridge amid the $3.24...
New Pittsburgh soccer team hires noted Italian scout
Pittsburgh United FC, the newly formed United Premier Soccer League club, announced a signing Thursday that it hopes will make a major impact on its roster when it begins play in the fall. It’s not a striker or goalkeeper. It’s a scout. The team announced the addition of Nicola Martini...
Mitch McConnell has warned of ‘likely catastrophe’ over U.S. troop pullout in Afghanistan. Will he be proved right?
WASHINGTON — For more than two months, Mitch McConnell has excoriated President Joe Biden’s decision to leave Afghanistan as a “hasty abandonment” that will “threaten the U.S. homeland” and lead to a “likely catastrophe.” An accelerated exit that will now pull a significant number of U.S. troops out by this...
Cheech & Chong cancel Palace Theatre showVideo
The comedy duo of Cheech & Chong canceled their concert that had been scheduled at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong, the Grammy Award-winning comedy duo, were supposed to play on Oct. 2. Drusky Entertainment, which had been promoting the show, made the announcement Thursday....
O’Connor no longer head of Sewickley Academy
According to the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees, Head of School Kolia O’Connor is no longer serving the school, effective June 25. Dr. Ashley (Brown ‘00) Birtwell is currently serving as the Interim Head of School. In a statement released to the school community, chair of the board of trustees...
Bridge linking Swissvale to Rankin set to reopen
People traveling on the Parkway East to Kennywood Park will soon be able to use the Swissvale exit again to cross the Kenmawr Bridge to get to the park. Since the bridge closed May 17, traffic had been re-routed through Homestead. The bridge is set to reopen at 7 p.m....
Pastor Lance Rhoades: McKinsey opioid settlement isn’t enough for Pennsylvanians
Few states have been hit as hard by the massive epidemic of opioid use disorder as Pennsylvania. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died over the last few years from substance use disorder of opioids, many that began through legal prescriptions. Countless more families have been torn apart as they...
Gateway School Board approves budget with 3.6% tax increase
The Gateway School Board on June 15 approved a general fund budget for 2021-22 that is a 15.3 percent increase over this past year’s budget, and it also comes with a 3.6% tax increase. The real estate tax millage rate will go up from 20.165 to 20.891, which will net...
Food Podcast: Pittsburgh food bank changes look with new branding
On this week’s episode of the food podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank reveals its new logo and look. The mission is the same, but the logo has changed to reflect the innovative things the food bank is doing to provide meals to...
Letter to the editor: Cocktails-to-go no solution for Pa. economy
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward has called the recent bill that would approve the sale of alcoholic mixed drinks “to go” a step toward normalcy that could “jump-start the economy” (“Pa. Senate passes bill to legalize cocktails-to-go, sends to House with modifications,” June 17, TribLIVE). LOL! Surely you jest,...
Neighbor Spotlight: Brentwood manager George Zboyovsky is making an impact
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Letter to the editor: Biden must fix border to save lives
I realize there are many problems for President Biden to resolve, but I believe one important duty is being forgotten or ignored: the duty to protect the people and provide security and safety for all Americans. Biden announced at the G-7 Summit that the United States will be donating coronavirus...
Letter to the editor: Sen. Kim Ward should side with the wounded, vulnerable
Some Catholic bishops claim they worry about the president’s soul if he keeps taking Communion despite disagreeing with their views on abortion. Here’s a suggestion: How about focusing less on the soul of America’s most powerful adult and more on the safety of America’s largest powerless children, who remain vulnerable...
2021 July Fourth fireworks, events around Westmoreland County, beyond
After the cancellation of most large Fourth of July fireworks shows last year because of the covid-19 pandemic, some local venues and communities are celebrating our country’s independence once again. Saturday, July 3Connellsville: Arch Street, 9:45 p.m.; part of the Dave Reed Rockin’ Rib Fest from 4-11 p.m.Latrobe: Memorial Stadium...
