TribLive stories, Page 1684

TOPEKA, Kan. — A weekly Kansas newspaper whose publisher is a county Republican Party chairman posted a cartoon on its Facebook page likening the Democratic governor’s order requiring people to wear masks in public to the roundup and murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust. The cartoon on the...

HARTFORD, Conn. — Someone smashed the head off of the Christopher Columbus statue that has stood in front of Waterbury’s city hall for many years. The decapitated statue was discovered Saturday morning. The Waterbury chapter of UNICO, an Italian American service organization, said on its Facebook page Saturday it would...

SEATTLE — Six months into a pandemic that has killed more than half a million people, more than 200 scientists from around the world are challenging the official view of how the coronavirus spreads. The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain you have...

CHICAGO — A 34-year-old woman was shot and killed and two others were injured Saturday morning on the 31st Street bridge over Lake Shore Drive, according to Chicago police. The killing was the second to occur on July 4, a notoriously violent holiday in Chicago. From 3 p.m. Friday to...

RIO RANCHO, N.M. — The July Fourth holiday hurts me every year. Waving flags seems out of place, and wearing anything stars and stripes makes me feel like Apollo Creed in “Rocky.” Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless The U.S.A.” doesn’t invoke patriotism inside of me, and I never take advantage...

U.S. racial and ethnic minorities accounted for all of the nation’s population growth during the last decade, according to new Census Bureau estimates. The data underscore the nation’s growing diversity and suggest that the trend will continue as the white population ages and low birth rates translate to a declining...

As an ordained Roman Catholic deacon, serving as a chaplain to our incarcerated sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, I most strongly urge Attorney General William Barr to immediately halt plans for the federal executions of Daniel Lee (July 13), Wesley Purkey (July 15), Dustin Honken (July 17)...

Several employees from the Target store in Harmar tested positive for covid-19 within the last week, a spokeswoman said Saturday. Spokeswoman Danielle Schumann did not disclose the exact number of employees who tested positive. “We’ve communicated directly with these team members, who went into quarantine and are following all health...

In the midst of all the misery and divisiveness, you put the story about the Trafford councilman who wished Dr. Rachel Levine a happy Father’s Day on page 1 (“Trafford councilman criticized for transphobic joke about state health secretary,” June 24, TribLIVE). Really? You need to put that at the...

If there was ever a newspaper article that was the perfect example of why people don’t like or trust the police, it’s “Former Springdale police chief shoots dog belonging to Allegheny Valley Regional police chief” (June 27, TribLIVE). Every detail of this story is horrible. Why does ex-Chief Julio Medeiros...

The media often attributes the increases in coronavirus to “opening up” too early, President Trump’s rallies, people vacationing at beaches, etc. Hardly ever mentioned are the protests, which could cause spreading of the virus. Thousands of people protest from the early hours until the middle of the night, many without...

Pesticides have been used for decades to manage invasive weeds and combat pests in homes, schools, early learning centers and public places. However, there is a growing body of evidence showing that exposure to toxic pesticides can cause both short- and long-term health risks, and children are especially vulnerable. In...

As another Independence Day is upon us, here’s a quick review of why we broke away from England. It seems that Thomas Jefferson had a poor opinion of King George III. The main problem — poor customer service. George never listened and he had no competition. Tom understood that competition...

Happy Independence Day to all our loyal readers! Enjoy your weekend safely and stay cool. Salvation Army food bank distribution planned at new location The New Kensington Salvation Army food bank distribution for Wednesday will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the new location, 255 Third St. Drive-through distribution...

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — After months of diligently isolating, truck driver Tommy Macias, 51, made one error that cost him his life. He went to a barbecue party with some friends. He didn’t know that someone who had tested positive for COVID-19, but showed no symptoms, also was there. “It...

While President Trump has touted his tariffs and ongoing trade war as a tool to force manufacturers to return jobs to American soil, the reality in states like Pennsylvania paints a very different picture. Instead of strengthening America’s economy, it has weakened domestic manufacturers by raising their costs, thus making...

As the covid-19 crisis continues to unfold, new concerns continue to surface in the community. Health inequities. Food insecurities. Job losses. Achievement gaps. Digital divides. Isolation and anxiety. To name a few. Although covid-19 doesn’t discriminate, it does hit Black communities harder with a disproportionate number of diagnoses and deaths....

I encourage everyone to fly the American flag proudly and properly on Independence Day. At the same time, do not dishonor the flag by wearing it or using a disposable object with the flag printed on it. These are violations of the Flag Code, which by Act of Congress on...

In the days since the killing of George Floyd, many organizations (nonprofit and for-profit) have used their numerous social media platforms to express their support for protesters and their message. Fortunately, the negative response has been in the minority. Businesses and organizations are being told to mind their own business....

I voted for Trump, just as I have voted for every Republican before him since I could register in 1992. I have been to eight of the last 10 Marches for Life in Washington. I was told by Sean Hannity on his radio show that I was his conductor of...

Regarding the article “Trafford councilman criticized for transphobic joke about state health secretary” (June 24, TribLIVE): Zack Cole, who are you to judge Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine’s gender? Her name is “Rachel,” not “Richard.” It is called R-E-S-P-E-C-T. You are in public office and should be dealing with...

The quest to win a Stanley Cup is usually an eight-month grind. To claim hockey’s most prized possession, players must show up at training camp in September, persevere through an 82-game regular season and survive four rounds of playoffs into the middle of June. The unusual circumstances surrounding the currently...

In her letter “Our leaders must speak out on racism” (June 27, TribLIVE), Aileen Cunningham wrote that “silence on racism is complicity.” This does not apply in the current social/political situation. You are not a racist just because you choose not to join those who are protesting. Many Americans are...

Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Freeport Theatre Festival to open 2020 season The Freeport Theatre...

The Archdiocese of San Francisco has agreed to stop celebrating public Mass indoors and to restrict outdoor services after city officials threatened to close churches that were operating in defiance of the city’s public health orders amid the coronavirus outbreak. “The Archdiocese remains steadfast in protecting the health of its...