TribLive stories, Page 2054

Ten songs. One Video. It’s how all 930 Thomas Jefferson High School students came together to say goodbye to the building that has served as TJ’s home for the past 60 years. On May 24, the entire student body lined the hallways, auditorium, cafeteria and gymnasium to film a lip...

The West Jefferson Hills School District has hired two advisers in attempts to “build cultural competence in the district,” according to the superintendent. School board members on May 28 approved the hiring of Morris Turner and Maurice Lucas as cultural advisers for Pleasant Hills Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High...

After battling injuries much of the last two years, Laurel’s Kayla Ruperto is making the most of her senior season. The Spartans righthander held Frazier hitless for five innings and struck out nine as Laurel rolled to a 9-3 victory to win its second straight WPIAL Class 2A softball title...

Pennsylvania’s top 2020 prospect is not only leaving the Keystone State. He’s set to sign with the Buckeyes. Julian Fleming — the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 6 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting class — chose Ohio State over Penn State on Friday, an expected yet difficult pill...

That first day of school is hard. We drop the kids off for kindergarten. We dry their tears and push them to go. We hide our tears so they don’t know we’re scared, too. And that’s not the only first day. There’s the first time taking the bus, the first...

Harrison commissioners are targeting three more deteriorated and abandoned houses for demolition. Commissioners started the process to tear down the three houses, all in the township’s Natrona Heights neighborhood. They are at 2602 Monroe St., 1204 Cambridge St. and 1525 Union Ave. The Cambridge Street house is near Allegheny Valley...

Here is the Burrell High School Class of 2019: Devin Dwayne Lee Baker, Ronald J. Beach, Nia Michelle Beam, Rebecca Beitel, Selena T. Bell, Brandin Ray Best, Andrew Bigler, Logan Bitar, Presley D. Black, Evan James Blose Geneva M. Bowman, Ashley R. Brown, Lauren Brown, Andrew Burkett, Cecilia Catherine Caprino,...

Here is the Leechburg Area High School Class of 2019: Alyssa Maria Avalos, Samantha Faith Bigenho, Jaden Janay Black, Emilie Elizabeth Boehm, Mallory Elizabeth Busch, Keara Delaney Carnahan, Marcedez Alana Cleveland, Julia Mae Cominos, Caleb Harrison Covey, Zachary John Cravener. Michaela Rose Curfman, Tanner William Dudek, Joshua William Durick, Mariah...

In the article “Rep. Frankel, Pittsburgh Jewish lawmaker, outraged with pro-life group using Holocaust images” (May 17, TribLIVE), Rep. Dan Frankel said he was “… incredulous that someone would equate the Holocaust and images of murdered, naked bodies in a concentration camp with the issue of women who want to...

Absurditopians and Stupidians obviously wrote Don Boudreaux’s column “What if real wars were fought like trade wars?” My 16, TribLIVE); nothing else explains its lack of economic reality. When a tariff is imposed, it’s not just to collect the tariff; since demand is elastic — that is, in proportion to...

While I share Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s outrage at the recent shootings at schools and places of worship (“Bill Peduto, Philly mayor: Why we oppose Pa. Senate gun bill,” May 9, TribLIVE), I cannot support their attempts to circumvent the rights of law-abiding citizens. This...

The gray catbird isn’t the most popular of birds, but to Jerry McWilliams and others it is the equivalent of the canary in a coal mine. The bird is telling us something. “It used to arrive here in the last week of April and it left in late September,” said...

Hello, Sewickley, After months of planning, the Free the Music initiative is ready to launch. Studio 419 will host a casual gathering to celebrate and reveal Sewickley’s first public piano from 6 to 9 p.m. today. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres, drinks and sweets, as well as live music...

Beth Samuel Jewish Center The center is at 810 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge. For information, visit bethsamuel.org or contact the center at bethsamueloffice@comcast.net or 724-266-5238. • 3:30 p.m. June 2 — Peace is a Community Project with speaker Shulamit Bastacky, Holocaust survivor. United Presbyterian Church of Ambridge, 823 Maplewood Ave. This...

“The Walking Dead” universe is expanding — and shrinking — at the same time. With a third series and three TV movies on the horizon at AMC, spinoff “Fear the Walking Dead” returns Sunday and a second character from the main zombie apocalypse show will soon cross over. Austin Amelio,...

Long tables covered with healthy, deep green plants filled the Belmont Sports Complex in Kittanning for the Armstrong County Penn State Master Gardener’s Plant Sale. I was the speaker that day and had about 15 minutes before starting to quickly peruse the offerings. I was blown away at the quality...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-20) shut out Charlotte (White Sox), 4-0. The Indians held the Knights to just two hits as RHP Pedro Vasquez (1-1, 7.71) threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, a walk and a hit allowed in a winning effort. CF Jason Martin (.255) went 2 for 3...

We are far enough into the Trump administration to know how the script usually plays out when a Cabinet officer or high-ranking staffer is on the outs with the president. First, Trump asks everyone within his orbit what he thinks of the imperiled official. Second, reports of Trump’s dissatisfaction hit...

High Schools Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Championship Thursday’s result Pine-Richland 7, Penn-Trafford 2 Lacrosse Boys PIAA playoffs Class 3A First round Thursday’s results Emmaus vs. St. Joseph’s Prep, ppd. Pine-Richland vs. McDowell, ppd. Friday’s schedule Emmaus vs. St. Joseph’s Prep at Northampton, 5:15 p.m.; Pine-Richland vs. McDowell at Mars,...

By most measures, Sara Jubas’ freshman season with the James Madison softball team was a success. She started every game she played (57) and earned a spot on the Colonial Athletic Association all-rookie team after hitting .302 with seven homers and 25 RBIs. But that was an appetizer for what...

Sen. Pat Toomey is placing economic philosophy above the interests of Pennsylvania’s steelmakers and workers. Toomey is a zealous disciple of free trade, even when our national security may be at stake. It’s time for the senator to change course. There’s a very current example of why he should: The...

Pine Township Director of Public Works Tony Barbarino said township staff was “crazy busy” cleaning up during and after a damaging line of storms moved through Western Pennsylvania last week. The biggest nuisance was hail that made “chopped salad” of area trees, Barbarino said. It knocked the leaves into the...

The Leechburg Public Library closed abruptly Thursday, apparently for good. After serving the needs of the Leechburg area for 93 years, the library announced Thursday on its Facebook page that it was closing permanently that day. The post cited “many circumstances” but didn’t provide specifics. Pam Broglio, president of the...

Laurel: To a high-flying success. The Memorial Day weekend Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland County Airshow drew thousands of visitors to the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. The annual undertaking is a big one for a small staff, assisted by contracted performers, hired hands and hundreds of volunteers. For two...