TribLive stories, Page 647
Mark Z. Barabak: Biden’s fellow seniors have advice for the 81-year-old president
For those who doubt Joe Biden’s capacity to be president, Herb Klar has a suggestion: Swing by his neighborhood sometime. “They don’t come to Rossmoor and see all the octagenarians … and see how lively and bright and competent we all are,” said Klar, 76, a retired clinical social worker,...
Doug Gansler: Could a 3rd party be the answer we need in 2024?
Four more years of a Trump presidency would take an enormous toll on America and its democracy. Polling continues to trend in Donald Trump’s direction over President Joe Biden’s, and we seem to be hurtling toward a disaster in November’s presidential election. This is a rare and unprecedented moment in...
Letter to the editor: Differing views of Republicans, Democrats
I feel utter disappointment for the writer of the letter “Republicans revenge impeachment” (Dec. 21, TribLive) and his obvious failure to grasp history and retain any knowledge from it. He states that the GOP voted in unison for a “religious fraud.” Sounds like freedom of religion is something the writer...
Sounding off: Letter-writers focus on Gaza, Fetterman, Parkway congestion, Tomlin
Ceasefire won’t work in Gaza It’s clear that ceasefires have not brought peace in the Middle East, but instead prolonged the violence. Over the past 80 years, terrorist groups have attacked Israel and frequently killed innocent civilians. And whenever Israel fights back to the verge of victory, the U.N. calls...
Letter to the editor: Look at causes when addressing Parkway congestion
I applaud the idea of improving the traffic flow along the Parkway East (“$142M in federal funding to address congestion, transit along Pittsburgh’s Parkway East,” Dec. 19, TribLive). We all know it’s a mess. But I think they are missing the mark. Improving the shoulders so commuter buses will have...
Editorial: Why should the DA have to approve body camera video release?
The things we can see make a huge difference in the things we can understand. We show pictures not only because they add interest to a story but also because they can give as much information as the words. In addition, they can provide context. Pictures can help us not...
The Stroller, Dec. 30, 2023: 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. HOPE Center accepting donations The Alle-Kiski HOPE Center is seeking donations...
Letter to the editor: Hamas’ genocide of both Israelis and Palestinians
I am confused about the news saying that the Jews are committing genocide on the Palestinians. The pro-Palestinian protesters are saying that Israel should stop committing genocide. Where were the protesters when Hamas brutally attacked Israel and did indeed commit genocide? It is beyond comprehension that Hamas has no compassion...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 29, 2023
High schools Basketball Boys Friday’s results Ambridge tournament Highlands 64, Sto-Rox 41 Rochester 55, Nazareth Prep 47 Blackhawk 60, New Brighton 45 Bethel Park 68, Ambridge 55 Apollo Trust Company Tournament Consolation Summit Academy 52, Leechburg 51 Championship River Valley 56, Apollo-Ridge 33 Aquinas Academy tournament Consolation Pittsburgh Christian Academy...
High school roundup for Dec. 29, 2023: South Allegheny surges past Norwin in 2OT thriller
Cam Epps had 21 points to help tournament host South Allegheny to a 67-57 victory over Norwin in double overtime Friday night. Drew Cook added 16 points for the Gladiators (8-1) and Josh Jackowski scored 14, including eight in the second overtime. Mario Csukas led the Knights (5-4) with 17...
Dozens of schools facing federal probe of alleged civil rights violations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Education is investigating if nearly 90 elementary, secondary and higher education campuses across the nation — including at UC Davis and other University of California campuses — violated a federal civil rights law after an “alarming” rise in reports of antisemitism, anti-Muslim and...
Southmoreland boys run record to 10-0 with convincing win over Ringgold
Southmoreland boys basketball coach Frank Muccino is known as a harsh critic of his team’s performances, but there wasn’t much to be frustrated with during a 67-38 victory over Ringgold in the Charleroi Holiday Classic on Friday evening. The Scotties (10-0) finished the tournament at 3-0 with the other wins...
NYPD ‘prepared’ for large pro-Palestine protests during New Year’s Eve bash at Times Square
NEW YORK — There are no known security threats related to this weekend’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, but the New York Police Department is gearing up for the possibility that thousands of pro-Palestine protesters will be demonstrating nearby, Mayor Eric Adams and police officials said Friday. In...
Florida lawmakers want to end 3-day waiting periods for rifles, shotguns
ORLANDO, Fla. — A Southwest Florida state senator wants to eliminate a statewide three-day waiting period to buy a rifle or a shotgun, undoing one of the changes enacted after the Parkland mass shooting. State Sen. Jonathan Martin’s bill would keep the waiting period in place for handgun purchases while...
In Pennsylvania, any challenge to Trump being on the ballot must go through the courts
Pennsylvania’s secretary of state said Friday he does not have the authority to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot and any such challenge here must be done through the courts. “Pennsylvania’s Election Code does not give me, as secretary of the commonwealth, the authority to reject a nomination...
2023 in books: Protests, bannings and the rise of AI helped shape the story of publishing
NEW YORK — Book publishing in 2023 was a story of cooling sales and rising conflict, marked by legal action, protests, censorship and the impact of forces well beyond the industry. Print book sales continued to recede following the pandemic-era surge, but fiction remained strong, thanks in part to the...
Allegheny County Jail now offering treatment for opioid use disorder without a prescription
A month after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Allegheny County Jail officials announced Friday that incarcerated people with opioid use disorder can now be treated with buprenorphine as part of their medication-assisted treatment program. Even patients who don’t have a prescription will be able to benefit...
Police: Man charged in firing of shots at truck driver near Arnold Palmer airport, leading police on lengthy chase
A man from Lancaster County faces felony charges after police say he fired shots Friday afternoon at a box truck leaving the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity before leading police on a 16-mile chase and crashing in Blairsville. Tyler J. Mieczkowski, 22, is charged with reckless endangerment of another...
Andrew Good: Pennsylvania workers need wider E-Verify mandates
Pennsylvania lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would require all state and local government contractors, and their subcontractors, to verify that newly hired workers are either American citizens or legal immigrants. Contractors that refuse to do so would face stiff fines. If passed, this bill would prevent companies from using...
Adam Brandon: The fear factor and winning the independent voter
Voter trust and fear over the 2024 election are driving unprecedented interest in independent voters. The candidate who can address these fears, whether that candidate is President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump, will go on to win. With only a handful of states up for grabs, they need...
Woman sues Hershey’s Co. over Reese’s pumpkins without faces
A Florida woman filed a federal lawsuit against The Hershey Company over claims some of its seasonal shaped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were advertised deceptively. Cynthia Kelly, of the Tampa area, is suing the company for $5 million in Florida’s Middle District Court. In the lawsuit, Kelly claims the company...
The year in review: Influential people who died in 2023
Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): JANUARY Fred White, 67. A drummer who backed up his brothers Maurice and Verdine White in the Grammy-winning ensemble Earth, Wind & Fire. Jan. 1. Ken Block, 55....
Woman critically injured in downtown Greensburg hit-and-run, police say
Investigators shut down part of South Main Street in Greensburg on Friday to gather more evidence in a hit-and-run that left a 72-year-old woman in critical condition. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was crossing the road with the assistance of a wheeled walker when she was struck....
2023 (Taylor’s Version): The year in pop culture
In weather terminology, they call it “rapid intensification” — the process by which a storm strengthens dramatically in a short period. In pop culture terminology, they call it Taylor Swift. It’s not like Swift didn’t have big — huge! — years before this. But 2023? This was ridiculous. From the...
Letter to the editor: Taking care of the whole child
Public school administrations and school boards, now smitten by the whole-child teaching approach and wanting to stay in touch, really don’t seem to know or care all that much, until they get bitten by the money and funding crunch. The whole-child approach has been in child care programs for decades...
