TribLive stories, Page 1628
Plum High School baseball and softball fields get artificial turf
Work to replace the playing surfaces of Plum High School’s baseball and softball fields with synthetic turf is underway. Workers with Art Global, an artificial grass manufacturer, were working on the project Friday, which was approved by Plum’s school board last April. At the time, the manufacturer was awarded a...
California would ban boys and girls sections at big retailers under proposed law
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s large retailers would have to do away with boy and girl signage for toys and child care aisles, under a bill being considered by state lawmakers. Assembly Bill 1084 would require retailers with 500 or more employees “to maintain undivided areas of its sales floor where...
Ron Klink: Drug costs bill a bad means to a bad end
What happens in a world where medical innovations like the vaccines that are defeating the coronavirus are no longer possible? That could be the result of a ham-handed effort to make America an “also-ran” country in the global pharmaceutical business. Some lawmakers are trying to revive the Lower Drug Costs...
Philadelphia man charged with attempted homicide after pursuit on Pa. Turnpike
A Philadelphia man faces multiple charges after leading State Police on a high-speed pursuit Thursday morning. State Police said troopers tried to pull over Mark Anthony Davenport, 31, who was driving a white 2020 Honda sedan 90 mph in a 70 mph zone near mile marker 210.1 in Upper Mifflin...
Letter to the editor: Golden calf, golden Trump
The children of Israel bowed down to their golden calf in the wilderness. The Republicans had their golden Donald in Orlando (there was a gold-colored statue of him at the CPAC conference last month). What’s the difference? Moses made his people drink their idol; we have all drunk the dregs...
Candles a decor favorite during the pandemic, as they add light, scent, moodVideo
If a candle is burning in a dark room, we don’t see the darkness, we see the light. Perhaps that’s why candles have become such a popular decor element over the course of the pandemic. Little lights you can place anywhere, candles can make a room feel cozy and welcoming....
Letter to the editor: How can anyone be proud to be a Democrat or Republican?
What has become of our once great and peaceful country? Under President Obama, it seemed people were allowed to riot, loot and burn cities. He sent his goon squad to one burning city where the police were told to stand down and watch, but nothing else. There are paid professional...
Local businesses ‘hold seats’ at Tull Family Theater
You’ve seen the no-contact fans at sporting and performance events: the cardboard cutouts of grandmas, dads, youngsters — even pets — that fill seats while covid-related occupancy restrictions are in place. Locally, these cardboard “fans” are popping up at The Tull Family Theater, as regional businesses “hold” the seats until...
Letter to the editor: Biden’s executive orders
President Biden, the man who promised to govern by consensus, having both the House and Senate under Democratic control, has already issued nearly 60 executive orders and actions, more than any other president in U.S. history. It is my opinion that some of these “signings” can only be classified as...
The Stroller, March 5, 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...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 4, 2021
High schools Basketball Boys WPIAL playoffs Class 6A First round Quarterfinals Friday’s schedule Seneca Valley (11-9) at Upper St. Clair (16-1), 8 p.m.; Butler (11-8) at Penn-Trafford (13-5), 6 p.m.; North Allegheny (15-6) at Fox Chapel (17-2), 6 p.m.; Pine-Richland (11-5) at Hempfield (12-5), 6 p.m. Class 5A Quarterfinals Saturday’s...
High school roundup for March 4, 2021: McKeesport earns date with Chartiers Valley
Avionna Menifee finished with 19 points and Carmen Coles contributed 17 to lead McKeesport to a 59-43 victory over Oakland Catholic in the WPIAL Class 5A first round Thursday night. Haley Hertzler added 10 points for McKeesport (16-4), which will take on No. 2 Chartiers Valley in the quarterfinals. Alexa...
Bridgeville, Carnegie area fish fries for the week of March 5, 2021
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Fish Fry (part of the new St. Raphael Catholic Church) will be held every Friday during Lent, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (reduced hours on Good Friday). It is take-out only – credit and debit cards accepted for all orders. Cash transactions are indoors...
Cold shooting dooms Monessen girls in loss to Union
The same problems that plagued the No. 6 Monessen girls basketball team all season came out in full force in its WPIAL Class A playoff game against 11th-seeded Union. As a result, the Greyhounds’ season ended with a 39-24 loss. The Scotties (10-10) were led by Elise Booker, who had...
South Allegheny tops Ligonier Valley, serves notice in Class 3A
Top-seeded South Allegheny opened up postseason play with a statement victory Thursday. The Gladiators featured three players in double figures and ran away with a lopsided 75-36 triumph over No. 17 Ligonier Valley in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. SA’s three-headed monster of Antonio Epps (20...
Two players set career highs in points as Belle Vernon boys rout Freeport
While Belle Vernon is the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class 4A bracket, the Leopards feel disrespected. Coach Joe Salvino feels like many aren’t picking his team to win a title, and his players feel the same way. So BVA came out in Thursday’s first-round game against No. 17...
Free-throw shooting, defense lead Central Valley boys over Burrell
Solid free-throw shooting and a strong presence on the defensive boards proved to be the difference as Central Valley posted a 51-37 victory over Burrell in a WPIAL Class 4A first-round game. Senior guard Brandon Graham scored 22 points and was 13 of 15 from the free-throw line as the...
Allegheny County Jail administration defends covid-19 testing policy
Allegheny County Jail officials defended their handling of the covid-19 pandemic during Thursday’s oversight board meeting. Chief Deputy Warden Laura Williams told the board that there have been 2,163 inmates tested at the jail since March 2020. Of those, 287 have tested positive. According to Williams, 42 inmates are currently...
LSU banned Les Miles from 1-on-1 contact with female students after 2013 investigationVideo
Kansas football coach Les Miles, during his tenure at LSU, was accused of kissing a female student and texting her and another from his personal phone, leading the school to bar him from being alone with women who were student employees, according to a 2013 LSU investigation that the school...
Laurels & lances: Ladies, lawsuit, prevention, pay
Laurel: To grand dames. March is Women’s History Month, and it has started with recognition of some amazing centenarians. Julia Parsons of Forest Hills was honored on her 100th birthday Tuesday with a parade that included a Color Guard and fellow servicemembers. During World War II, Parsons was Navy codebreaker...
U.S. military’s defenses struck down 3 to 4 incoming rockets during Iraqi base attackVideo
WASHINGTON — A U.S. artillery defensive system protecting U.S. and coalition forces at an Iraqi air base that came under attack this week struck down three or four incoming rockets before they hit, a defense official told McClatchy on Thursday. Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq is a large training and...
‘QAnon Shaman’ says he stormed Capitol to ‘bring God back into the Senate’Video
The man known as the “QAnon Shaman” said he was only trying to spread good vibes and the word of God when he broke into the Capitol — and even stopped a brazen thief from swiping muffins from the break room. Jacob Chansley, 33, who made national headlines for donning...
Police: Remains found near VA Hospital in Oakland
Pittsburgh police are investigating after remains were found Thursday morning in Oakland, officials said. Officers received a call just before 10 a.m. about possible remains found on Brackenridge Street near the Oakland VA Hospital, said Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz. Detectives arrived and found bone fragments in the street, Cruz...
Baker Mayfield ‘almost’ certain he saw a UFO flying over Texas
Count Baker Mayfield among those who “want to believe.” The Cleveland Browns quarterback decided to go to the one place all people seemingly go to after an encounter with the third kind — Twitter — to let the world know he is “almost” certain he saw a UFO on Wednesday...
‘Pink hat lady’ indicted on charges stemming from Capitol insurrection
A Mercer County woman charged with breaching the Capitol during riots there on Jan. 6 has been formally indicted. A federal grand jury sitting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday returned eight counts against Rachel Powell, 40, of Sandy Lake, including obstruction; destruction of government property; entering a restricted building with...

