TribLive stories, Page 658
Dyan Mazurana and Anastasia Marshak: Hamas’ use of sexual violence is an all-too-common part of modern war — but not in all conflicts
The United Nations, women’s groups and human rights groups are facing criticism for not quickly condemning Hamas fighters for raping and sexually violating Israelis during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Most critics cite rising antisemitism as the reason some experts and advocates did not quickly rally behind Israel’s repeated claims...
Elwood Watson: The continued hypocrisy of so-called family values conservatives
Do as I say, not as I do. This sort of Victorian philosophy seems to be par for the course among many of the so-called family values conservatives. Recent reports that Christian Ziegler, the husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under police investigation in Sarasota, Fla., following...
Study identifies glaring racial disparities, recommends changes in Allegheny County’s justice system
A comprehensive study on racial disparity in Allegheny County’s criminal justice system shows that Black people are five times more likely to be arrested than white people, 10 times more likely to be held in jail while awaiting trial and nine times more likely to be convicted of a felony....
Monroeville treats families to Winter Wonderland
The line of vehicles stretching through part of Monroeville Community Park West often was at a standstill, but no one was complaining. As cars, trucks and SUVs inched along on the morning of Nov. 9, the folks inside were greeted by a series of festively costumed volunteers offering gifts, treats...
Jonathan Sharp: Protecting our firefighters from dangerous chemicals
Firefighters , the brave people who risk their lives to protect their communities, are regularly exposed to countless toxic substances while extinguishing blazes, including formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, smoke, carbon monoxide and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” because of their persistence...
Celebrity heartbreak 2023: The 15 most shocking, messy splits of the year
Ava Gardner knew a thing or two about the agony of a celebrity divorce. With one of her divorces — maybe from Frank Sinatra? — the thrice-married actress rented a house in Palm Springs and “sat there and suffered for a couple of weeks.” She said: “When you have to...
Letter to the editor: Florida State’s chances
Florida State players, fans and alumni are shocked at being left out of the college football playoffs despite their 13-0 record. Travel back in time for some perspective. On Jan. 3, 1994, Florida State defeated Nebraska, a Top 5 team, to win the Orange Bowl and finish 12-1. Meanwhile, Notre...
Therese Rocco, Pittsburgh’s 1st female assistant police chief, dead at 97
Therese Rocco, a devout Catholic, Pittsburgh native and trailblazing police officer who became a role model for women and embraced the saintly task of tracking down missing children as her life’s work, died Monday after several weeks in hospice care at West Penn Hospital. She was 97. Diminutive and dogged,...
Pine-Richland area student achievements for the week of Dec. 12, 2023
Francesca Pettinato has been named to the 2023 summer trimester dean’s list at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s main campus in Davenport, Iowa. Caroline Dawson was recently initiated into the Grove City College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 348 new initiates from 12...
Letter to the editor: Align voting age with duties, privileges of adulthood
The writer of the letter “Lower voting age and get out the youth vote” (Nov. 30) points out that “Many of our youth are required to pay taxes and follow the same laws as adults, when working and driving, at the age of 16 and above. At age 17, our...
Editorial: UPenn president Liz Magill’s resignation is lesson to other college presidents
The departure of Liz Magill from her post as president of the University of Pennsylvania may not have been written in stone when she testified before Congress about antisemitism on college campuses. However, it wasn’t exactly written on a chalkboard, easily wiped away with a swipe of the hand, either....
The Stroller, Dec. 12, 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. Live Nativity planned in Tarentum Abundant Joy Fellowship will sponsor a...
Tarentum, Cheswick eyeing regional riverfront development
Boat docks are all but gone from the Tarentum riverfront, but they could return in the coming years, alongside a fishing pier, bike trail, canoe rentals or places to eat. The borough is teaming with Cheswick to devise a riverfront development plan to focus on public access to the shoreline...
Letter to the editor: Special needs children, adults deserve choices
Here we go again. Families and guardians of special needs children and adults have been informed that the government is again seeking to cancel 14(c) certificates, which would close down workshops like the one at Clelian Heights in Greensburg. They claim that if these establishments can’t pay special needs workers...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 11, 2023
High schools Basketball Boys Monday’s results Nonsection Albert Gallatin 74, Brentwood 57 Armstrong 64, Perry Traditional Academy 19 Brownsville 65, California 50 DuBois 66, Indiana 47 Homer-Center 56, Apollo-Ridge 39 Hopewell 56, Riverside 49 Jefferson-Morgan 46, Charleroi 43 McGuffey 54, West Greene 41 Penn-Trafford 70, Woodland Hills 49 Propel Andrew...
High school roundup for Dec. 11, 2023: South Fayette girls polish off rival Chartiers Valley
Juliette Leroux scored 20 points and Haylie Lamonde added 19 to lead South Fayette to a 67-49 nonsection girls basketball victory over rival Chartiers Valley on Monday night. Erica Hall chipped in 11 and Lainey Yater finished with 10 for South Fayette (3-1). Lilah Turnbull scored 14 points for Chartiers...
Detroit police: New evidence prompted arrest of ‘person of interest’ in death of synagogue leader
DETROIT — The second man to be taken into police custody following the Oct. 21 fatal stabbing of Samantha Woll has been on detectives’ radar since early in the investigation, two Detroit Police sources told The Detroit News, although the city’s police chief said Monday that new evidence surfaced over...
Penn State lands its 1st transfer portal commit of offseason
Penn State has its first transfer portal addition of the offseason. Alan Herron, a sought-after offensive tackle from Division II Shorter University, verbally committed to the Nittany Lions on Monday. He announced his decision on social media. Herron committed to Penn State after visiting campus over the weekend. He visited...
Hunter Biden’s lawyers argue he’s immune to gun, tax charges
Hunter Biden is immune from federal tax and gun charges because of a failed plea deal he reached with federal prosecutors in July that remains binding, his lawyers argued in court filings. Lawyers for Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, filed a challenge Monday to an indictment that special...
Supreme Court turns away case threatening California ban on gay ‘conversion therapy’
WASHINGTON — A divided Supreme Court on Monday turned down a Christian group’s free-speech challenge to the laws in California and 21 other states that forbid licensed counselors from using “conversion therapy” with children and teenagers. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. filed dissents, and Justice Brett M....
Can the Pa. legislature finish the budget before a leaky roof closes the state House for months?
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 — State lawmakers will return to Harrisburg next week in hopes of finally ending nearly six months of partisan deadlock on the last pieces...
Fox Chapel glows in 1st light up event
A visit from Santa, children’s activities, hot chocolate, the lighting of Christmas tree and a Menorah display were all part of the inaugural Light Up Fox Chapel on Dec. 6 at the borough building, 401 Fox Chapel Road. Fox Chapel Borough and the Cooper-Siegel Library partnered to host the event....
Greece-born Dimitrios Sklavenitis adapts quickly to college basketball with Seton Hill men
The Seton Hill men’s basketball team made a quantum leap in coach Ben Wilkins’ first season. After winning only three games during the 2021-22 season, the Griffins went 16-13 (11-11 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) in 2022-23. If Wilkins wanted to keep his team on that trajectory, he knew one of...
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Avery Davis
Last year, the girls basketball team from Greensburg Central Catholic made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA semifinals. The team is still stacked with talent, with the potential of making another deep playoff run. Avery Davis, who figures to have a large role with the Centurions, is motivated as...
Knoch grad Ryan Lang improves all-around game as Allegheny men’s basketball adjusts to new coach
For most athletes, the first year of college is a big adjustment period. The schedule demands, the faster pace of play, juggling academics, etc. Knoch grad Ryan Lang seemed to handle both with aplomb last year. As a freshman on the Allegheny men’s basketball team, Lang averaged 14.8 points while...
