TribLive stories, Page 1624
House to vote Wednesday on massive coronavirus aid billVideo
WASHINGTON — The House will vote to clear the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package for President Joe Biden’s signature on Wednesday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. House lawmakers received the paperwork on Tuesday from the Senate after that chamber’s marathon “vote-a-rama” that ended Saturday afternoon, resulting in numerous changes...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 9, 2021
High schools Basketball Boys WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Tuesday’s results Upper St. Clair 70, Butler 62 Pine-Richland 76, Fox Chapel 63 Finals Friday’s schedule Upper St. Clair (18-1) vs. Pine-Richland (13-5) at Peters Township, 8 p.m. Class 5A Semifinals Wednesday’s schedule Mars (16-2) at Chartiers Valley (21-2), 6 p.m.;...
Serra Catholic overcomes Winchester Thurston in overtime for spot in Class 2A finals
Grace Navarro isn’t one to dwell on the past. The Serra Catholic senior might miss a basket on one possession before quickly putting it behind her and setting her focus on the next. “When I’m playing, I’m kind of out of it and I can’t hear anything or pay attention...
Rochester boys hold off Leechburg in WPIAL Class A semifinals
Rochester continued its boys basketball rags-to-riches story Tuesday night. But it wasn’t without a major challenge from Leechburg. Winless a year ago, the Rams are headed for the WPIAL Class A title game after a 58-55 home semifinal victory. Second-seeded Rochester (14-4) will play No. 1 Bishop Canevin at 8...
Buffalo Township man with dementia found after search died of hypothermia
A Buffalo Township man who was found by searchers late Tuesday after going missing earlier in the evening died of of hypothermia, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dennis Fester, 74, who suffered from dementia, went missing Tuesday. His wife, Sally Fester, said her husband went for a...
Judge denies bail for Trump administration aide for alleged role in Capitol siegeVideo
A Trump administration aide accused of leading rioters into the Capitol building — and violently assaulting an officer with a stolen shield — is a danger to society who should remain behind bars pending trial, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. Federico “Freddie” Klein, 42, appeared virtually in Washington, D.C., federal...
Looking for a covid-19 vaccine? This site can help find spares — but you’ll need patienceVideo
In an attempt to rid Americans of the tedious task of refreshing websites for hours on end, a team of 21 medical advisers, technology experts and business people are running a site that matches covid-19 vaccine providers with leftover doses to people who want one. The free service, coined Dr....
Couple sues Penn Hills police over broken arm during wrongful arrest
A Penn Hills husband and wife are suing the police department there, alleging that an officer responding to a domestic disturbance wrongfully arrested the woman and, in doing so, broke her arm. Barbara Ann Thompkins, 61, and her husband, Eric Klavon, filed the civil rights complaint in federal court on...
Senate Republicans paint DOJ nominee Vanita Gupta as ‘strident’ partisanVideo
WASHINGTON — Civil rights lawyer Vanita Gupta told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that she would abandon some of the harsh partisan rhetoric she used over the past four years if confirmed for the No. 3 position at the Justice Department. Committee Republicans aired their concerns at the confirmation...
Ashley Lynn Priore: A chess strategy may help unify Pa.
I’m a proud Pittsburgher. How could I not be? I was born and raised in the Steel City and attended the University of Pittsburgh down the street from my home. In 2014, I founded a nonprofit organization, Queen’s Gambit Chess Institute. I have taught chess in Pittsburgh’s nine districts ever...
Lawrence County CYS director alleges defamation over domestic violence fundraiser
The director of Lawrence County Children & Youth Services filed a defamation lawsuit Monday over a GoFundMe page that accuses him of abusing his family. John Bout, who was named director of the agency in 2019, filed the complaint in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court against Jennifer Lybarger, an adjunct...
Katie Couric makes history as first woman to guest host ‘Jeopardy!’Video
Who is Katie Couric? Coinciding with International Women’s Day on Monday, the veteran journalist became the first woman to guest host “Jeopardy!” Couric made her debut after repeat champion Ken Jennings and executive producer Mike Richards initially took over for the late Alex Trebek. “It is such a thrill to...
Mt. Troy Road reopened; Port Authority bus routes reinstated
A portion of Mt. Troy Road in Reserve has reopened after a two-month closure. The street was shut down in late December between Fornof Lane and Lonsdale Street for construction of a retaining wall and a rock embankment. The project cost was $689,388. The accompanying Port Authority bus route detour...
Josh Fleitman: We must vaccinate against the gun violence epidemic, too
A sleeping infant struck and killed by a stray bullet during a gunfight in Spring Hill. An elementary school teacher slain in her Westmoreland County home when someone shot into the incorrect house in retaliation over a drug deal gone wrong. A young, Black man, cornerback on his Catholic high...
California and Florida took vastly different approaches to covid. Here’s how it turned out.
A year into the pandemic, California and Florida have become common points of contrast as Americans grapple with the horrific human and economic tolls of trying to control covid-19. Though the states took wildly different approaches to the pandemic, their rates of death from covid-19 differ as much as one...
Heritage Valley Sewickley nurse honored with Cameo of Caring Award
Registered nurse Sara Manfredi, who works on the Progressive Care Unit at Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital, has been honored with a Cameo of Caring Award. The award honors exceptional bedside nurses who work in acute care hospitals. According to a hospital news release, “the Cameo of Caring Program & Awards...
Living with Children: ‘Addicted’ to smartphones
Concerning my prior use of the word “addiction” in association with smartphones and children (including teens), some people think I am speaking figuratively. To set the record straight: No, I am speaking quite literally. When the addiction in question is to a substance, as in an opiate, there is both...
Letter to the editor: Benz’s ‘Miracle’ piece excellent
All of the Trib’s sports reporters are very good at their jobs, but the recent Tim Benz column “Will America ever allow itself to have another ‘Miracle’?” (Feb. 24, TribLIVE) was simply outstanding. Very thought-provoking. Well-reasoned. Excellently conveyed. Benz and Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal are two of...
Editorial: When local live music restarts, be there to applaud
Music that reflects the life and love and pain of its people has been a part of Southwestern Pennsylvania from its earliest days. It is the fifes and drums of early settlements and the old standards of Stephen Foster. It is the doo-wop of the Del Vikings, the urbane jazz...
Letter to the editor: Kudos to Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Valley Hospital
This is a “tip of the hat” to Allegheny Health Network and more specifically to Allegheny Valley Hospital for their incredibly well-organized vaccination events. I’ve had the pleasure of taking several people to AVH for their covid-19 vaccinations, and I’m here to tell you, they ran so smoothly, and we...
DUIs, drugs, firearms violations among charges handled March 1, 2021 by Monroeville judge Jeffrey Herbst
Monroeville District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Ricco Sears, 35, of Pittsburgh on charges of having illegible plates at a...
Letter to the editor: Trump put America first
To all you folks who suffer from Trump derangement syndrome (TDS): I know you keep clamoring on about the evils of Donald J. Trump, I guess partly because you have nothing to brag about with the current do-nothing, same-old status quo administration. And you won’t for four years. I’m not...
Letter to the editor: Crimes among Trump associates
In addition to President Trump, there may be others who may have committed crimes or malfeasance, or at least acted unethically, while a member of his administration and should continue to be under investigators’ microscope. If any activity is deemed to be malfeasance or corruption, but not a crime, and...
Letter to the editor: Urge reps to support gun background check bill
Please encourage your federal representative to support House Resolution 8 this week in the U.S. House. HR 8 will close the background check loophole that allows gun buyers to bypass FBI background checks on firearm purchases not completed through a licensed dealer — including many transactions completed at gun shows....
The Stroller, March 9, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch will publish a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To have an event listed online and in the print edition, send the information as soon as possible to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084 or email Carol Pinto-Smith; email...

