TribLive stories, Page 1902
Tom Hanks donates his plasma after beating covid-19: ‘As easy as taking a nap’Video
Helping others is in Tom Hanks’ blood — literally. On Wednesday, the screen icon shared on social media some up-close photos of his plasma, which he donated to coronavirus relief efforts earlier this month after beating covid-19. “Here’s last week’s bag of plasma,” the “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”...
Navy secretary orders deeper investigation on ousted carrier captain
WASHINGTON — Acting Navy Secretary James McPherson said he’s delayed a decision on whether to return the ousted captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the aircraft carrier where the coronavirus swept through the crew. Putting aside a recommendation by the Navy’s top uniformed officer to restore Capt. Brett Crozier to...
Editorial: Port Authority needs to find answer
If you get a flat tire, you can put on the emergency doughnut to get to the garage for a real repair. You can’t just accept that the little round rim of rubber is going to do the job of a full-fledged tire. A half-solution can end up being no...
Special effects legend Tom Savini sports ‘Friday the 13th’ protective maskVideo
Special effects legend Tom Savini sported a protective mask that Jason Voorhees would be proud of on social media last week. The response was so overwhelming that it’s now for sale to the public. Savini’s protective face gear was clearly inspired by the hockey mask worn by the villain of...
Trump’s ‘Operation Warp Speed’ aims to rush coronavirus vaccineVideo
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is quietly organizing a Manhattan Project-style effort to drastically cut the time needed to develop a coronavirus vaccine, with a goal to have 100 million doses ready by year’s end, according to two people familiar with the matter. Called “Operation Warp Speed,” the program will...
Tristan Jarry offers Penguins rare 2nd-round successVideo
The tale of goaltender Tristan Jarry has turned into one of the greatest development success stories written in the Penguins organization in recent years. Jarry was a highly touted amateur, a Memorial Cup champion with the Edmonton Oil Kings who the Penguins traded up to select in the 2013 draft....
Nursing homes plagued by shortages of masks, gowns and testing
Shortages of masks and gowns, as well as a lack of tests, contributed to the coronavirus outbreaks that claimed 1,428 lives in Pennsylvania nursing homes and personal care facilities so far, an industry leader said Wednesday. Nursing homes and personal care facilities across Pennsylvania have been hot spots for infection,...
NHL exploring ways to finish season, including playing only in select citiesVideo
Get used to the concept of pods and pucks if the NHL is going to have any chance of completing its season, with the most likely scenarios calling for games in empty, air-conditioned arenas during the dog days of summer. What is emerging as the leading plan involves bringing teams...
Ex-Pirates manager Clint Hurdle’s daily emails offer encouragement, inspiration
Clint Hurdle began sending his daily notes of inspiration more than 10 years ago, during his days managing the Colorado Rockies. They were a simple, small way of checking in with his staff to discuss leadership ideas, to offer support. The dozen colleagues would share something good from the week....
Andrea Richardson and Tamara Dubowitz: Feeding needy and protecting front-line workers
Workers in food retail, donation or meal delivery are on the front lines of the covid-19 pandemic. Until now, food retailers, food banks and school food services operated under food safety regulations to prevent food-borne disease. But with the deadly outbreak of covid-19, they are developing new standards and guidance...
Letter to the editor: Kudos to grandparents who step in
As we live cautiously in these uncertain times, I would like to say thank you to all the grandparents who are taking the time to educate their grandchildren. I know I’m not the only person in a position to “care for” and “see to it” that my grandchildren continue their...
Letter to the editor: Coronavirus & abortion
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Health recorded 30,364 abortions. Of those, 87% were in the six counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Dauphin, Northampton and Allegheny. As of April 28, Pennsylvania has confirmed 42,000 cases of covid-19 and 1,600 deaths. Much of the virus has occurred in those same counties....
Letter to the editor: Choosing freedom over fear
We need to return to work. This shutdown is more harmful to the American people than the virus itself. People are losing businesses and jobs. We do not want to be dependent on the government and have our children and children’s children pay for it. Every business is essential if...
Letter to the editor: Warm weather & plagues
It was warmer than this during the Black Plague (mortality of 30% to 75%), smallpox outbreaks (about 30%, CDC estimate), Spanish flu (675,000 deaths in the U.S. alone, CDC) and yellow fever plagues (about 3%, about the same as covid-19, WHO estimate). This must mean that the cloaks and hats...
Letter to the editor: A pandemic history lesson
History should provide insight for directing resources toward activities that would alleviate repeating events, such as war and pandemics, that cause unbelievable physical and economic harm. One could argue the well- documented 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed millions and contributed to the economic disaster of 1929, should have been one...
The Stroller, April 29, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Here is today’s dose of Small Acts of Kindness: Jessica Meyer would like to recognize Dee Shaffer of Lower Burrell for making face masks and offering them at no cost. Initially, bags with masks were clipped to the mailbox of her home for those who had requested them and now...
Allegheny Land Trust provides nature webinars
Allegheny Land Trust provides free, nature-based educational webinars for adults through Zoom and Facebook Live. From 4 to 5 p.m. on April 30, learn about “Spring Wild Edibles.” From 1 to 2 p.m. May 4, parents and kids can”Make Your Own Nature Kaleidoscope.” From 4 to 5 p.m. May 5,...
Bill would allow Pennsylvania restaurants to serve to-go cocktails during pandemic
At least one local restaurateur thinks a proposed bill that would allow restaurants to sell liquor products to-go is “too little, too late.” House Bill 327, which the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed Tuesday, would allow a restaurant or hotel with a valid liquor license that lost more than 25%...
Treasury plans to reclaim stimulus payments sent to deceased
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department is planning to instruct people whose deceased relatives received coronavirus stimulus payments to return the money to the federal government, according to a department spokesman. The Treasury is aware that some individuals who have recently died received the $1,200 economic impact payments and plans to...
Prominent Manhattan ER doctor on coronavirus front lines kills herself
NEW YORK — A prominent Manhattan emergency room doctor who had treated a staggering number of coronavirus patients killed herself in Virginia, authorities said Monday. Dr. Lorna Breen, 49, the medical director of NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital’s emergency department, died by suicide in Charlottesville, a spokesman for the local police department...
Editorial: Hospitals need elective surgery to survive
There are some things we want back after weeks in a pandemic lockdown. We want happy hour and Sunday brunch and a shopping trip that doesn’t feel like deploying on a military maneuver. But there are other things we need. New hips. Gallbladder removal. Coronary angioplasty to see if an...
Analyst: Ford needs to consider merger after $2B lossVideo
Ford Motor Co. and its competitors have warned for weeks that their finances are teetering on the brink of uncertainty as a global pandemic continues to brutalize America and bring manufacturing to a standstill. While the current landscape is grim, coming months promise to be unrelenting. The cold reality for...
Richard Baumhammers still on death row 20 years after killing spree
On a cloudy Friday afternoon 20 years ago Tuesday, an unemployed immigration lawyer went on a killing spree. It started next door to his parents’ Mt. Lebanon home, where he killed his Jewish neighbor. He went on to shoot five more people, all ethnic or racial minorities. Richard Baumhammers, 54,...
Florida coronavirus cases surpass 32,800 as death toll hits highest in single dayVideo
MIAMI — Florida’s Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed 708 additional cases of covid-19, bringing the state’s total of confirmed cases to 32,846. There were 83 new deaths announced — the highest reported on a single day — bringing the statewide death toll to 1,171. The 83 new deaths are...
Coronavirus cases spike at Allegheny County Jail
Cases of covid-19 at Allegheny County Jail more than doubled overnight, with at least 24 inmates testing positive as of Tuesday, data show. At least three jail employees also have tested positive for coronavirus, county-reported figures show. Several test results for both inmates and staff members are pending. “Confined areas...
