Editor's Picks category, Page 419
Dave Crawley accuses KDKA, CBS of age discrimination, retaliation after Regatta plunge
Longtime Pittsburgh television news reporter David Crawley claims in a federal lawsuit he was discriminated against because of his age and retaliated against by his employer, KDKA-TV and its parent company CBS Corp., after he was hurt in a 2017 stunt he was assigned to do during the Three Rivers...
Grammar — a ‘dating deal breaker’ — celebrates its own day; Oxford comma still debated
Wednesday is National Grammar Day, a time to celebrate good writing, strong syntax and proper punctuation. Grammar nerds likely cringed at that last sentence. It all depends on your feelings about the Oxford comma — which comes before the last item in a list, such as after “trains” in the...
State-owned universities offering enhanced retirement program
More than 200 faculty members across Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities have signed on to a retirement incentive program, meeting the threshold required for the plan to go into effect, according to university officials. The incentive was laid out in January as a way to pare the number of employees at...
All Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival returns to PNC Park
The All Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival returns June 27 to PNC Park on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Along with samples of more than 200 craft beers, wines and cocktails from local, national and international vendors both in the park and on Federal Street, festival-goers will have the opportunity...
Dr. Carol J. Fox: How to prevent the spread and protect our community against coronavirus
Coronavirus — specifically the strain that causes covid-19 — has dominated our news cycles in recent days. We learn daily of increasing numbers of individuals who have been infected. At this writing, there are only two presumed positive cases in Pennsylvania, but we do need to be prepared for the...
National clientele of Arabian horse owners drawn to Upper Burrell training centerVideo
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact Senior News Editor Tom Fontaine at tfontaine@tribweb.com. Arabian horses are playing soccer in Upper...
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese suspends communion wine as coronavirus spreads
As fears over the coronavirus grow, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Monday it will suspend the distribution of wine during communion. Bishop David Zubik announced precautions in the diocese Monday, to take effect immediately. Across the diocese, the distribution of wine is temporarily suspended. Additional precautions include the halting...
Samir Lakhani: The simple power of soap
Sometimes the simplest acts make the biggest impact. Take handwashing with soap. It’s proven by researchers to reduce the presence of harmful bacteria by 92%, according to researchers at the National Institute of Health. I run a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit charity called Eco-Soap Bank — and our sole mission is to...
Leechburg Area Pool Board votes to keep pool open
The Leechburg Area Pool is here to stay. At least for now. At a pool board meeting Sunday night in Gilpin, officials said they received enough volunteers to be able to open the pool this season. They still are looking for more. “This was exciting,” board member Dave Safranyos said....
Alle-Kiski Valley ambulance companies struggle to keep up with call volume, community needVideo
The patient was cold and shaking, so the paramedic clutched her hands in his, warming them as they rode in an ambulance to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Her hands were limp and icy. She had just suffered a stroke. Hayden Geisweidt loves being a paramedic. He enjoys taking care of...
Welcoming vibe, good coffee await at Oakmont’s Moonbeam CafeVideo
A new coffee shop in Oakmont is brewing up friendly vibes. “I hate going into cafes and restaurants and the wait staff is not warm and welcoming,” says owner/barista Nina Komaniak. “No coffee snobs here.” Perhaps the youngest business owner in Oakmont, 21-year-old Oakmont resident Komaniak replaced the typical collegiate...
West Deer teen takes bite out of Ohio burger competition, continues family legacyVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Justin Von Hansen knows a thing or two about cooking. The 16-year-old West Deer resident is the nephew of world pizza champion Eric Von Hansen and works at Caliente...
Cajun or Creole? Here’s how you can tell
Confused about what’s Cajun and what’s Creole? Though you might hear the terms Cajun and Creole used interchangeably, they are in fact, two distinct ethnic groups, each with its own history, traditions, culture and, of course, food. The two cuisines do share some common ingredients but differences can be difficult...
Western Pa. school districts collaborate with PPG, FedEx Ground, Siemens
About 100 educators and business leaders gathered Thursday to celebrate successful partnerships and share what they’ve learned. The program connecting them all, the Educators and Corporations Program (ECP) will soon be introduced statewide. “Every partnership is different, but they all have one common thread,” said Sam Shaneyfelt, a consultant for...
Eggtastic news for Harmar bald eagles? Bird behavior hints that incubation has begun
After a few days of constant presence at the nest, the Harmar bald eagles are believed to be incubating at least one egg, according to a local photographer. Without the benefit of a webcam, watchers have to rely on the birds’ behavior to determine if there are eggs. Typically, the...
`Let’s go home’: Afghan war vets torn on US-Taliban deal
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Veterans of America’s longest war are finding themselves torn as the U.S. signs a potentially historic peace accord with the Taliban in Afghanistan. For many, the U.S. is long overdue in withdrawing its forces after more than 18 years of fighting. Others question the trustworthiness of...
Pittsburghers lap up beers at BrewDog’s grand opening in East Liberty
It’s 11 a.m. at BrewDog’s grand opening on Friday, Feb. 28, and the place is packed. The new 4,000-square-foot space is the Scottish company’s latest American outpost. It is located on Centre Avenue across from Target in East Liberty. Co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie started releasing experimental beers in...
High school dancers from around the world visit Point Park for national dance festivalVideo
Driven by the dream of a college scholarship, high school dancers from around the world have traveled to Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh to perform for the country’s top dance schools during the National High School Dance Festival. “It is an amazing way to get my name out to...
International food conference to be held in Pittsburgh
An annual food conference by the International Association of Culinary Professionals will be held in Pittsburgh this year, March 27 to 29. Chefs, food critics and authors will gather at the Omni William Penn Hotel for interviews, panel discussions, networking and, of course, food. Several well-known personalities will be present,...
Students hit the pool to raise funds for Special Olympics PennsylvaniaVideo
On a freezing morning outside Heinz Field, students and teachers from across the Pittsburgh region took turns plunging into a pool to help raise money for Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Twenty schools and nearly 500 students participated in the Cool Schools Plunge. The high Friday was 31 degrees. The 10th Annual...
80-foot fall, vandalism at Western Pa. parks top week’s headlinesVideo
Two parks in the Western Pennsylvania area made the news this week, both for the wrong reasons, while endings were announced for a private school in the North Hills, double coupons at Giant Eagle and security at Pittsburgh International Airport. Woman falls at McConnells Mill Jocie Van Kirk, a 21-year-old...
Shoppers find religious books, knickknacks, fellowship at Bloomfield’s Sacred Heart of Jesus Store
Each person who enters Sacred Heart of Jesus Store in Bloomfield leaves with something, even if they don’t make a purchase. “The blessing doesn’t go on the items we sell; the blessing goes on literally everyone that comes in,” says Sister Mary Madalyn Schleifer, who runs the Liberty Avenue shop...
Leap Day babies enjoy some ‘every 4 years’ perks
If you are planning to blow out the candles on your cake on Feb. 29, you are among approximately 205,000 people in the United States who can claim a Leap Year birthday. Many Leap Year babies celebrate on Feb. 28 or March 1 most years. A Leap year gives them...
UPMC took in $20B in revenue in 2019, claims dominance in Western Pa. insurance market
Nearly 1 in 3 Western Pennsylvanians now has a health insurance plan with UPMC — making the nonprofit behemoth not only the state’s largest private employer and hospital system but also the region’s largest insurer. That’s according to UPMC executives and their newly released 2019 year-end financial statements. They cited...
Mickey from ‘Disney on Ice’ visits UPMC Children’s Hospital of PittsburghVideo
Ella Weisbord had a simple request as she waited to meet a Disney character Thursday in UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “I want to dance with Mickey,” the 5-year-old from Cheswick said. Mickey Mouse was happy to comply. Ella’s mother wheeled the girl up to Mickey for a meet-and-greet …...
