TribLive stories, Page 816
Letter to the editor: Biden not the traitor
The letter “Biden a traitor?” (May 15, TribLIVE) was a disgrace. To call President Biden a traitor is the writings of an uneducated person. If you want to call someone a traitor, look to Donald Trump. He called for an attack on our capitol. He and his followers should have...
Pa. karate teacher threatened to toss teen out of class if she didn’t send him nude photos, police say
A central Pennsylvania man has been arrested on accusations he sexually abused several teenage students at the martial arts studio where he worked. Devin Hogue, 23, of the 500 block of Ridge Road, New Cumberland, had several inappropriate interactions with four teenage girls that, in some instances, escalated to sexual...
Police identify victim, suspect in Oliver Citywide Academy shooting
An Oliver Citywide Academy student was shot and killed by another student Wednesday morning outside the school, police said. Police identified the victim as Derrick Harris, 15. The suspect, Jamier Perry, also 15, is charged with homicide, possession of firearm by a minor and carrying a firearm without a license...
3 ways to pay for your summer vacation
A summer vacation can feel like a seasonal rite of passage — a sacred time to break away from the demands of everyday life in favor of fun and relaxation. But summer can also be an expensive time to travel, which makes it hard to budget enough money for your...
Letter to the editor: No kindness, compassion in Biden
President Carter, now in the twilight of his life, will be remembered as a bad president but a good man. His presidency will be remembered for record inflation, high interest rates, high unemployment, the humiliating embassy takeover in Iran and subsequent failed rescue attempt resulting in eight dead servicemen and...
State troopers conduct child car seat check in Rostraver
State troopers will be on hand Friday in Rostraver to check child car seats. The free event will be held from 3-7 p.m. at Rostraver West Newton Emergency Services’ headquarters, 100 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, just off Route 201 near the Route 51 interchange. Police will take a look at child...
Thomas Jefferson High School students win 1st place in Envirothon
Thomas Jefferson High School students won first place at the Allegheny County Envirothon on April 28 and will compete in the statewide environmental competition in Mifflinburg, Pa. Allegheny County Conservation District hosted 115 high school students representing seven school districts at the annual competition at Boyce Park. The winning team...
Letter to the editor: Good fiscal stewards in Norwin
Did you know that the Norwin School District has one of the lowest tax rates in Western Pennsylvania? Probably not, as the squeaky wheel doesn’t like to make the general public aware of this. Did you also know that Norwin has the lowest cost per student in Westmoreland County, let...
Editorial: Independence and the legacy of Pennsylvania hospitals
Hospitals are part of the fabric of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751 and was the first hospital in America to be founded as a medical facility and not as a workhouse or poorhouse. The state had the first mental health hospital. It boasts the oldest medical school and...
Letter to the editor: United Way nourishes our community
In the seven years I’ve been at Westmoreland Community Action (WCA), I’ve witnessed firsthand the overwhelming struggles of families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. New mothers in need of support, children falling behind in school and families going hungry because they don’t have enough to eat. However, I’ve also seen our community...
The Stroller, May 24, 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. Amateur Astronmers plan at free star parties Amateur Astronomers Association of...
Letter to the editor: Proposed gun laws don’t properly address issues
The letter “Ending gun violence” (May 14, TribLIVE) advocated for new gun laws under the guise of the “Common Agenda to End Gun Violence.” It states that the laws are “broadly popular” and “bipartisan.” I believe both characterizations are false. The bills are supported by the usual anti-gun crowd led...
Pa. is sitting on billions in unclaimed property, but a bill would get some back to its owners
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s treasurer wants the state to start sending unclaimed money directly to the people it belongs to, a proactive...
Pirates farm report for May 23, 2023: Jacob Gonzalez homers in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 21-24) saw a ninth-inning rally fall short in a 6-5 loss to Columbus (Guardians). LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.222) hit a solo home run, his third, and walked. C Endy Rodríguez (.248) doubled twice, walked and scored a run. DH Aaron Shackelford (.255) hit an RBI double, and 3B...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for May 23, 2023
High schools WPIAL Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Tuesday’s results Mt. Lebanon 3, Pine-Richland 0 North Allegheny 5, Butler 2 Championship Mt. Lebanon (12-10) vs. North Allegheny (16-6), TBA Class 5A Semifinals Tuesday’s results Shaler 2, Plum 0 Bethel Park 8, Penn-Trafford 5 Championship Shaler (18-4) vs. Bethel Park...
High school roundup for May 23, 2023: Shaler shuts out Plum to reach 5A finals
Derek Leas pitched top-seeded Shaler into the WPIAL Class 5A baseball championship game, allowing four hits in 6⅓ scoreless innings while striking out 10 in 2-0 semifinal victory over Plum on Tuesday. Luke Jarzynka delivered an RBI single in the third inning, and Elijah Muckle went 3 for 3 for...
Southmoreland advances to WPIAL Class 3A softball title game
For the first time in five years, the Southmoreland Scotties are headed to the WPIAL Class 3A softball championship game. Behind pitcher Maddie Brown’s selective memory and steady fundamentals, Southmoreland (16-2) was never seriously challenged in Tuesday’s 7-0 semifinal win over Waynesburg Central at Peterswood Park. For the first time...
Pennsylvania man convicted of torture at Iraqi military compound
A Pennsylvania resident directed Kurdish soldiers to kidnap a man in Iraq and “beat, tase, choke, and otherwise physically and mentally abuse” him for 39 days in 2015, federal prosecutors said. After the victim was kidnapped and taken to an Iraqi military compound, Ross Roggio, 54, of Stroudsburg, suffocated him...
Pa. House committee passes expansion of property tax and rent rebates
A bill that would fulfill one of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s major budget requests passed out of the Pennsylvania House Finance Committee on Tuesday on a unanimous vote, albeit after Republicans unsuccessfully tried to strip the bill of the one of its core components. House Bill 1100 expands the state’s Property...
Rep. Jessica Benham: Federal agency could help Alzheimer’s patients
Last summer, my grandmother passed away after years of living with Alzheimer’s disease. If you’ve lost a loved one to this disease or know someone who has, then you’re familiar with the long and cruel journey both the patient and their families have walked. I want to say thank you...
Column: Masters showed golf can get along, even in Ryder CupVideo
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Unless Brooks Koepka goes on to win the U.S. Open and British Open — it’s hard to bet against him at this rate — the Masters should be remembered as the most meaningful major this year. Jon Rahm in a green jacket was special on its own....
Woman says in lawsuit she was sexually abused as teen by Wilkinsburg School District security guard
A lawsuit filed Monday in state court accuses Wilkinsburg School District of failing to protect one of its students from sexual abuse by a security guard 14 years ago. The complaint, filed by a woman identified only by initials, alleges that when she was a middle school student from 2009...
Alex Bernstein: Raise minimum wage to build a better future
Everyone in Pennsylvania, from here in Pittsburgh to Erie, Scranton, Philly and everywhere in between deserves to earn a fair wage. But right now, thousands of Pennsylvanians are struggling to stay afloat, trying to navigate the cost of living crisis on a minimum wage of $7.25/hour — unchanged for nearly...
Pest alert: Allegheny County meetings address spotted lanternfly
Allegheny County residents can learn how to identify the spotted lanternfly and help curb its spread by attending a series of public meetings sponsored by Penn State Extension. The invasive insect has expanded throughout Pennsylvania since 2014, posing a threat to the state’s grape, tree fruit, hardwood and nursery industries....
Robert Coury to step down as Viatris executive chairman
Viatris Inc.’s executive chairman Robert Coury will transition from his current position to chairman emeritus and senior strategic adviser to the board and management, the company announced Monday. The move will follow the pharmaceutical company’s annual shareholder meeting in mid-December. Coury will continue to serve in this new non-employee capacity...

