TribLive stories, Page 634
Gary Franks: America needs a constitutional tune-up
We are rapidly approaching our 250th birthday as a republic. And the nation is in need of a tune-up. With just a few tweaks of our Constitution we can put the nation on a path that would allow it to go another 250 years. The Constitution is the supreme law...
Woman sues Kennywood, says cheese from Potato Patch fries burned her hand
A Mt. Lebanon woman is suing Kennywood, alleging that she got second-degree burns after the hot cheese from her Potato Patch fries dripped onto her hand. Charmaine Charles Halsel said she was at the park around 5:45 p.m. on July 2, 2022, when she ordered the famous fries. When the...
Lawsuit alleges UPMC’s monopoly on health care harms skilled nursing staff
An Erie nurse is suing UPMC alleging that the medical system’s monopoly on health care in the region has led to depressed wages, unfair working conditions and chronic under-staffing. The lawsuit, which closely mirrors a complaint filed by two unions asking the U.S. Justice Department to investigate potential antitrust claims...
In brief: Herald area events for the week of Jan. 22, 2024
Recycling changes in Blawnox Blawnox residents are reminded there is no curbside recycling. Those materials are to be disposed of with the regular trash. Glass recycling still is available via the bin at the O’Hara Township building. Food pantry open Jan. 26 Blawnox’s food pantry will be open from 11...
Bell Acres CEO, 81, headed to prison for tax fraud after delay requests fail to sway judge
A Bell Acres man convicted of the largest tax fraud ever in Western Pennsylvania is scheduled to report to federal prison on Monday. In September, a judge ordered Joseph Nocito, 81, to serve one year and one day in federal prison. But last month Nocito asked that his sentence be...
Ice festival opens in Ligonier
Artists from Jeannette’s DiMartino Ice will be in Ligonier on Saturday and Sunday with tools — including chainsaws — to shape multiple blocks of ice into eight giant outdoor sculptures. The carving is just element of the Ligonier Ice Festival continuing through the weekend. New sculptures will be created beginning...
Malpractice case that ensnared top UPMC surgeon settled
A medical malpractice lawsuit that pitted high-profile UPMC surgeons against one other amid romantic entanglement, secret recordings and fraud allegations has settled. Details of the settlement were not disclosed in paperwork filed Jan. 5 to end the case in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. A spokesman for UPMC, one of...
Sports Illustrated fires all staffers
Sports Illustrated, one of the most respected sports publications in the country since its inception in 1954, fired all of its staffers Friday, according to a report in the New York Post. The Post report stated that Sports Illustrated owner the Arena Group informed staffers of their termination Friday. SI...
Lisa Jarvis: Measles outbreak should be a vaccine wake-up call
A cluster of measles cases in the Northeast is putting a spotlight on how easily the highly contagious disease can spread — and how dangerous any further slip in childhood vaccination rates could be. Infants and toddlers not old enough to have been fully protected through vaccination are vulnerable to...
Trib Lunch Box: School delays/closings, weekend fun, Pittsburgh bridge revamps
Here are some noon headlines from the TribLive, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024: School or no school? When the heavy snow hits or temperatures reach single digits, school superintendents in Western Pennsylvania face a judgment call: To close or not to close. Court issues narrow win for gun advocates...
Dwan B. Walker: Communities depend on banks to invest in infrastructure
Aliquippa is the place where I grew up, attended school and raised my family. Eventually, it was the place that granted me the humbling opportunity to become mayor, a role I’ve served in for the last 12 years. It’s safe to say Aliquippa is a community I care about deeply....
Letter to the editor: County tax hike is fiscal mismanagement by commissioners
I stand in opposition to the decision by our three county commissioners to raise property taxes by 32.5% This outrageous increase puts a financial burden on seniors living on fixed incomes and families struggling to live from paycheck to paycheck. I have filed a complaint with the ACLU, and I...
Letter to the editor: Gas operation concerns in Bell Township
In Bell Township, our once-tranquil landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation due to the proliferation of natural gas operations. Four compressor stations, numerous drilling sites and waste facilities have dramatically altered the scenery along Route 819, replacing our serene entryway with an industrial zone. This stark transformation, especially when contrasted...
More snow expected in Pittsburgh area over the weekend
With more than a few inches of snow already on the ground early Friday, forecasters with the National Weather Service in Moon expect 2 to 4 inches more during the day in the Pittsburgh region. A winter weather advisory remained in effect early Friday in much of the area and...
Laurels & lances: Looking out and letting down
Laurel: To recycling. Everyone knows it’s better to reuse than to let something go to waste. That’s not just true of paper and plastic. It also applies to technology. On a visit to Acrisure Stadium, Leechburg Area School District security guard Mike Kapustik noticed there were unused metal detectors in...
The Stroller, Jan. 19, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free shuttle service available for NK, Arnold residents The New Ken...
How do superintendents make the call to cancel school in bad weather?
When the weather gets bad, Mike Porembka hops in his truck and hits the road at 4 a.m. The Greater Latrobe School District superintendent drives around the district — from downtown Latrobe to Unity — gathering information and assessing road conditions and temperatures. Ultimately, he must decide whether to cancel...
Letter to the editor: Our support of Israel will be disastrous
No group I have encountered has been more generous than Jews. This is a deep part of Jewish culture. So I have long been mystified at Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, especially in this current war. Benjamin Netanyahu has answered Hamas’ barbaric act of war with a barbaric act of war...
Monroeville library gallery space showcases Hampton artist
Shelia Hawthorne Klotz’s artwork will be on display through Jan. 24 at the Elaine Biondo Gallery Space inside the Monroeville Public Library. Hawthorne Klotz, who resides in the Hampton area, creates artwork including watercolors, acrylics and collages, which she displays in the form of wall art, note cards and jewelry....
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 18, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Butler 64, Pine-Richland 47 Section 2 Baldwin 55, Upper St. Clair 54 Class 5A Section 1 Thomas Jefferson 91, Connellsville 27 Class 4A Section 1 Indiana 53, Freeport 44 Section 2 North Catholic 101, Ambridge 51 Section 3 Southmoreland 83,...
High school roundup for Jan. 18, 2024: Iyanna Wade scores 56 in Clairton win; Olivia Terlecki boosts Upper St. Clair
Iyanna Wade poured in 56 points, hitting six 3-pointers, to power Clairton to a 73-55 victory over Winchester Thurston in Section 3-2A girls basketball Thurday night. The Bears (11-2, 4-2) led by seven at halftime and pulled away with a 23-point third quarter. Jasmine Hollins scored 15, Alexis Bansah added...
John Harbaugh, with mix of love and old-school rigor, has Ravens set for playoff run
Anxiety percolated behind the scenes. How could it not? Lamar Jackson, the superstar quarterback around whom the Baltimore Ravens had shaped their roster and their plans, asked to be traded. John Harbaugh, entering his 16th season as the team’s coach, faced the prospect of starting over at the most important...
U.S. appeals court issues narrow win for gun advocates in Pa. case
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that adults between ages 18 and 20 in Pennsylvania may openly carry guns – but only during a state of emergency. The narrowly tailored 2-1 decision – prompted by a lawsuit filed by a group of plaintiffs that included a Verona woman — set...
Utility shut-off protections in Pa. would be expanded to summer months under bill
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers have until the end of 2024 to reauthorize a key area of state law that protects low-income utility customers from sudden...
Man riding on back of garbage truck in Centre County killed after crash into overhanging tree
A man riding on the back of a garbage truck was killed this week when the driver backed into a tree in Centre County, state police at Rockview wrote in a crash report. Nathan Kerstetter, 38, of Milesburg, was hanging off the back of the truck about noon Wednesday when...
