TribLive stories, Page 2097

The changing demographics of the Pennsylvania Legislature are going to do more than increase Harrisburg’s social media presence and a demand for avocado toast. They are producing a whole new perspective on debt, and it’s an important view to understand as we move forward. We might pine for the old...

The damage caused in recent years to the Great Barrier Reef by ocean heat waves has compromised the massive reef’s ability to recover, and climate change could make the problem more severe in the future, according to research published Wednesday. The world’s largest coral reef, which stretches for more than...

The transfer of a liquor license to a planned New Kensington bed and breakfast/events center has been approved by city council. Unanimous approval of the transfer of a liquor license located in Loyalhanna Township and currently owned by Marchitelli Enterprises Inc. to Bloser Mansion LLC, 479 Sixth Ave., came despite...

New Kensington officials have approved a three-year contract with the city’s union employees that gives them 2.5 % pay raises in each year of the contract. City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti said it’s the first contract negotiation and agreement that combines both the public works employees and the mostly clerical workers...

FRESNO, Calif. — A woman gave birth to a baby at a McDonald’s restaurant in Madera, Calif., police say. It happened Monday night when the woman went into labor in the lobby, according to a Madera police Facebook post. When officers and paramedics from Pistoresi Ambulance arrived, they realized there...

Young art students attended a three-part series, “Art Explorations,” at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel and learned a variety of styles with Alison Babusci, STEAM program coordinator and instructor. The courses involved 3D art, textile art and 2D art and taught students about color and patterns. The projects are...

Donald Trump’s presidency is rooted in his love of country, God and family. Candidate Trump promised an ambitious agenda to which he has been faithful. He promised the American people jobs, a growing economy, unprecedented manufacturing opportunities, securing of our southern border, an allegiance to the Constitution and Supreme Court...

Thanks for the article “Flat Medicaid rates concern Pennsylvania nursing homes” (March 7, TribLIVE). It highlights the inadequacy of the current state budget proposal, which calls for no increase in Medicaid rates for nursing home care. Pennsylvania has one of the largest 85-plus populations in the nation, and seniors are...

It is only appropriate that citizens give Sen. Pat Toomey credit for his vote to void the president’s “state of emergency” declaration. Whether one approves of Donald Trump or not, that declaration gives him the ability to override the constitutional power of Congress to set spending. This erodes the basis...

Aldi is the latest supermarket chain to announce a sustainability push - an effort the company says will help it trim costs and stand out in a crowded field. The low-cost grocer, known for its spartan approach to retailing, plans to make all of its private-label packaging reusable, recyclable or...

If you’re missing some of the cuisines from Market Square’s now-closed Poros or the Cultural District’s Six Penn Kitchen, you’re in luck; because you’ll be able to relive the dishes and cocktails at Scratch Food & Beverage starting next month. Scratch Food & Beverage’s owner Don Mahaney and the restaurant’s...

Equality in Pennsylvania can never be obtained as long as education is not an even playing field. In pursuing the dream of equality in this country, let’s keep in mind: “Education equality is the civil rights issues of our time.” Unequal education can thwart the most important aspects of civil...

Happy birthday wishes to Mildred Thielet who celebrates her 95th birthday April 6 . Mildred has lived in Bridgeville all of her 95 years. She is mom to Don (Deana) Thielet and Marianne (Brent) Miller. She also has three granddaughters, Rebecca (Ross) Godlove, Gina Thielet and Julia (Roe) Vanderford; and...

It’s tempting to view President Trump’s many grievance-filled tweets as angry, indiscriminate lashing out against political opponents. It’s unhinged! It’s unpresidential! They’re “rage tweets!” Etc. Often, though, if you look closely, you’ll see some design. Behind the invective and often-incorrect claims will be a controversial suggestion with some built-in plausible...

High Schools Baseball Tuesday’s results WPIAL Class 3A Section 3 Charleroi 9, Washington 3 McGuffey 4, Keystone Oaks 2 Nonsection Allderdice 16, Penn Hills 13 (9 inn.) Baldwin 8, Mars 7 Brentwood 15, South Allegheny 0 Central Catholic 8, Chartiers Valley 4 Cornell 10, Carrick 5 Eden Christian 7, St....

Elizabeth Arnold was on target from the pitching circle Tuesday afternoon. The senior hurler struck out 18 batters and allowed just three hits to lead Vincentian Academy to a 3-0 win over No. 4 Serra Catholic (2-1, 2-1) in a Section 2-2A game. She also was 2 for 2 at...

As the Democratic Party quarrels over reparations for slavery, a new and related issue has arisen, raised by the president of Mexico. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has written Pope Francis and King Felipe VI to demand their apologies for the Spanish conquest of Mexico that began 500 years ago with...

BOGOTA, Colombia — Hundreds of Venezuelans desperate for food and services stormed the Colombian border on Tuesday, while Bogota indirectly warned Russia against a military deployment in support of Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolas Maduro. Parliament speaker Juan Guaido, whom dozens of countries have recognized as the country’s interim president, is...

On Tuesday, Pittsburgh’s council passed a package of laws that would ban some weapons within the city limits and regulate access for people deemed an “extreme risk.” There are people who see this as a step forward in a nation where gun violence has become heartbreakingly commonplace while action to...

The hot-button issue of Pennsylvania high school sports — holding separate playoffs for public and private schools — is about to get hotter. An amendment to state law introduced by Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre County) that would open a path to separate public and private state playoffs in Pennsylvania high...

A Giant Food Store customer angry that a cashier was apparently being careless with his snack chips confronted and choked the man, police allege. Bradley Bower, 55, of New Cumberland, will be arraigned on a charge of simple assault at the time of his preliminary hearing, which is set for...

North Allegheny’s official groundbreaking ceremony for work at Franklin Elementary School was canceled because of rain. But students joined principal Jeff Anderchak to kick off the expansion and renovation project with their own event to mark the occasion. Work at the school will nearly double the size of the building...

I can’t believe a jury found a man not guilty of homicide for shooting a boy in the back. To me that says it’s OK for police officers to shoot people in the back and kill them if they think they might have done something wrong or might do something...

I recently awoke from a nightmare in which I had come home late on a cold winter’s night to find my grandmother sitting on my front porch with a blanket wrapped around her and a note from the hospital which she had been admitted to only hours before. The note...

Distracted driving (texting, cellphone calls, drinking, etc.) is certainly a problem for pedestrians, as the latest death toll statistics indicate. However, pedestrians are a significant part of the problem. When you walk or run along the road, you are required to face oncoming traffic as far to the left as...