TribLive stories, Page 668
Analysis: Was Ron DeSantis overrated?
TAMPA, Fla. — A year ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis was ready to remake America in Florida’s image. The Florida Legislature had handed him major conservative policy wins on abortion, education, immigration and taxes. He was two months removed from a historic trouncing of Charlie Crist, the ex-governor rolled out by...
Bald eagle found dead after neighbor reports gunshot, Missouri officials say
A bald eagle was found dead in Missouri, officials said. Now, the state’s Department of Conservation is searching for its killer. The bald eagle had a gunshot wound from a rifle when it was discovered south of Salem, Mo., on Jan. 18, officials said. Missouri Department of Conservation officials said...
Jackie Calmes: Why 2024 may not be the worst political year ever
The 2028 presidential campaign can’t come soon enough. Just think: Fresh faces, furrowed by fewer lines. Fresh ideas, not of the authoritarian, willfully divisive kind (we can hope). Fresh blood, and without triggering Hitlerian talk of “poisoning” our nation. A new contest, not a rematch of two unpopular geriatric retreads....
Justice Department expands claims against Pa. courts in opioid addiction treatment case
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 — The U.S. Department of Justice has broadened its accusations that Pennsylvania courts discriminate against people with opioid use disorder by restricting access to...
North Allegheny notebook: Boys wrestlers capture section title
North Allegheny’s boys wrestling team completed an undefeated section season Jan. 24 with a 66-9 win over Mars to secure the Section 2-3A championship. The Tigers improved to 16-3 overall and finished 5-0 in Section 2. Casey Walker (127 pounds), William Bentrim (133), Griffen Reid (139), Travis Stipetich (152), Kellen...
POINT: Housing alone cannot solve homelessness
In March 2021, San Francisco’s Mission Hotel held a joint funeral service for seven residents. The hotel is one of the sites leased by the city to house the unsheltered population, and resident deaths have become so frequent in these facilities that joint memorials have become the norm. Although the...
Counterpoint: Housing is a human right, not a privilege
Homelessness in the United States surged by a record 12% between January 2022 and January 2023, according to a report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the world’s wealthiest nation, how does this happen, and what can be done to remedy it? The primary reason people are...
Letter to the editor: Greensburg Salem school costs disheartening
The article “Greensburg Salem seeks committee to navigate potential construction upgrades” (Jan. 19, TribLive) concerning capital needs of Greensburg Salem School District was disheartening. How could such a long list of needs have developed? Has maintenance been deferred or ignored? Would the millions of dollars of covid relief funds spent...
Sounding off: Writers focus on Steelers, CEO pay, Trump, county tax hike
Post-season thoughts on Steelers In reference to the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers season, the onus has been placed upon the coaches, which is mostly valid. I offer my own thoughts on this matter. Chuck Noll went from the basement to NFL history. He demanded discipline. He drafted the best...
Letter to the editor: Trump should not have immunity
Alexis de Tocqueville, in “Democracy in America,” Volume 1, Chapter 6, states: “The right granted to the courts of punishing the agents of the executive government when they violate the laws is so natural a one that it cannot be looked upon as an extraordinary privilege. Nor do the springs...
Editorial: What is the future of volunteer fire departments?
Fire departments aren’t an optional public service. Some things we enjoy having, such as a museum or library, make lives better or help people access important services. Other things augment our communities and improve property values, such as swimming pools or baseball fields. But fire departments are something we can’t...
The Stroller, Jan. 27, 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. DL Middle schoolers to present ‘Oliver! Jr.’ The Deer Lakes Drama...
Letter to the editor: Biden derelict in his duties
On Jan. 20, 2021, Joe Biden spoke the following words inscribed in the body of the Constitution; “ I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 26, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Friday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Seneca Valley 61, Butler 56 Central Catholic 63, Pine-Richland 49 North Allegheny 71, New Castle 63 Section 2 Mt. Lebanon 51, Baldwin 46 Upper St. Clair 48, Hempfield 39 Canon-McMillan 51, Norwin 47 Class 5A Section 1 Bethel Park 90,...
High school roundup for Jan. 26, 2024: Thomas Jefferson stands tall with key section win over Peters Township
Noah Prosser scored 17 points to lead Thomas Jefferson to a 70-58 victory over Peters Township in a key Section 1-5A boys basketball matchup Friday night. Nicholas Trklja and Evan Berger each scored 15 for the Jaguars (13-3, 6-0). Mickey Vaccarello had 17 and Jack Dunbar finished with 13 for...
Bob Casey acknowledges ‘long, tough race,’ ahead of him in match-up with McCormick
PHILADELPHIA — This race will be different for Bob Casey. The three-term senator has faced challengers before but never one as well-funded and with as much early GOP support as Dave McCormick. And the Pennsylvania Democrat made the stakes known at the first rally of his campaign in Philadelphia on...
Pa. Senate leaders back Texas governor’s immigration fight, blast Biden
Pennsylvania Republican state Senate leaders have joined a growing chorus of conservatives across the country who are publicly backing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s controversial efforts to thwart illegal immigration into his state. In a joint statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Majority Leader Joe Pittman and Appropriations Committee Chairman...
Appellate court says state attorney general, and not local DAs, had authority to settle opioid claims
A Pennsylvania appellate court on Friday said that the state Attorney General’s Office had the authority to settle claims against opioid manufacturers over the harms caused by the abuse of the medication. The Commonwealth Court ruling, against the district attorneys of Allegheny County and Philadelphia, wrote in their opinion that...
Gary Franks: Haley must tell us why she’s better than Trump
The Republican establishment is with former President Donald Trump. Nearly every Republican elected official in Washington is rushing to kiss his ring. Yes, the same guys and gals who have played a role in getting us into this mess want to have the sole person who, along with President Joe...
Police say car was going the wrong way on the Mansfield Bridge in head-on crash
Police are investigating a head-on crash that happened Friday on the Mansfield Bridge in Glassport when one of the cars was heading the wrong way. Allegheny County Police said their initial investigation shows a man driving a four-door Hyundai “traveled the wrong way onto the bridge” and crashed into a...
Chiefs-Ravens matchup features star quarterbacks, stingy defenses and potential Hall of Fame coachesVideo
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs took a different route to face the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game. They’re going on the road. After hosting this game five straight seasons, the No. 3 seed Chiefs had to beat Josh Allen and the Bills in Buffalo and now...
Shapiro’s higher education overhaul plan and $1,000 tuition proposal draws intrigue, skepticism
Already there are questions about the cost to cap tuition and fees for many state university students at $1,000 a semester and who would pay — not to mention bringing state universities and community colleges under one umbrella. There are regulatory, legal and logistical hurdles, all in a state whose...
Lisa Jarvis: A promising turn in the quest to treat long covid
A new study published this month in Science makes a compelling case that people with long covid have a chronic imbalance in their immune response. The findings don’t explain why that immune response is out of whack and needs confirming in larger studies. Still, this is important new piece to...
Commonwealth Court rules Quaker Valley High School project can move forward
A Pennsylvania appellate court on Jan. 26 said that Quaker Valley School District can move forward with its planned construction of a new, $95 million high school. The 19-page Commonwealth Court ruling affirms a decision by the lower court that said that the Leet Township Zoning Hearing Board did not...
Sen. Dave Argall: Cracking down on thieves and looters in Pa.
Retailers across the nation are under siege, with some struggling to stay afloat amid a rising tide of crime. Many of us take for granted the ease with which we can walk into a store and buy the simple items we need to go about our daily lives — a...
