Editor's Picks category, Page 423
Gary Smith: The faith of Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu, who played safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2003 to 2014, has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He will enter the hall with Bill Cowher, who coached the team for his first four seasons, and defensive back Donnie...
Study: Pa. roads average 1,030 litter items per mile
Pennsylvania state agencies are declaring war on litter. On Wednesday, the agencies released the results of the first statewide study on litter — the cost of cleaning it up, public attitudes toward litter — and announced the formation of a working group to shift Pennsylvania’s strategy from cleanup to prevention....
State of the Union viewership down double digits from 2019Video
Ratings for President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday took a significant drop from the year before. The speech was down more than 20% from 2019 across the three major cable news networks and the four major broadcast networks, according to Nielsen Media Research. Updated Ratings: #SOTU Down vs....
Pittsburgh restaurant makes OpenTable’s 100 most romantic
Eight Pennsylvania eateries made OpenTable’s list of most romantic dining spots in the country. One of them is in Pittsburgh. Altius, perched atop Mt. Washington, was included in the restaurant booking service’s 100 recommended places to dine with your date. But if you’re thinking of trying Altius on Valentine’s Day,...
Fact checking Trump’s State of the Union addressVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s portrayal of American renewal Tuesday night drew on falsehoods about American energy supremacy, health care and the economy as well as distortions about his predecessor’s record. The Associated Press fact-checked remarks from Trump’s State of the Union speech. A look at some of the claims...
Not in my nest: Pittsburgh bald eagle dad pummels intruding eagleVideo
Don’t mess with dad. Footage captured by a webcam in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood on Tuesday morning showed a male bald eagle pummeling a young eagle that had entered and stomped around the elder eagle’s nest. “Adult eagles are very territorial at their nest, which is to only be used for...
Incubus, 311 set for Burgettstown showVideo
Incubus will launch a summer tour in July and make a stop at S&T Bank Music Park Aug. 18. Ticket presale for the Burgettstown show begins at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 and runs through 10 p.m. Feb. 6. General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 7, both at livenation.com...
Uncle Dave’s Books brings art to Alle-Kiski Valley children
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. An award-winning author of children’s books is...
Pittsburgh police officers will carry specialized gauze to control bleeding
Pittsburgh police officers will now be carrying special gauze that can help control bleeding in cases of gunshot wounds or other injuries, thanks to a donation from Allegheny Health Network. Each Pittsburgh police officer will be provided with a NuStat Tactical gauze package. Allegheny Health Network donated 1,000 packages to...
Guns N’ Roses announces summer 2020 U.S. tour
Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan and the rest of Guns N’ Roses are heading out on a stadium tour through the U.S this summer. The band announced Monday a 19-date tour kicking off July 4 at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisc. A Pittsburgh date was not included, but several cities within...
No evidence Flyers mascot Gritty hit 13-year-old in the back, police say
Did Gritty physically assault a 13-year-old boy in November? No, said Philadelphia police Monday. A news release stated that the actions of the person wearing the Flyers’ mascot costume that night did not constitute physical assault. The investigation is no longer active. The person wearing the mascot costume has not...
She didn’t want to be a nurse. Now she’s director of a Frazer school that teaches nurses
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Lynne Rugh never thought nursing was for her. But a nudge from a friend’s mother led her to a rewarding career she has been working in for close to five...
Chocolate-covered dreams at Speckled HenVideo
Chocolate lovers have a sweet destination in rural Clinton Township. Speckled Hen Chocolate Co. opened in 2013, specializing in unique gourmet hand-dipped chocolates, gift baskets, event favors, chocolate-themed classes and homemade fudge. Sarver native and owner Valerie Cannon, 45, often provided homemade chocolate-covered pretzels for her co-workers. She made the...
Déjà vu, again: Bill Murray is back for ‘Groundhog Day’ Jeep commercialVideo
Just like the premise of the movie “Groundhog Day,” its star Bill Murray, and others are back again — but this time riding in the new Jeep Gladiator as the getaway vehicle. The 60-second commercial debuted on television Sunday during Super Bowl LIV. For some, the biggest football game of...
Troubling trends in outdoor recreation participationVideo
Maybe you’ve seen it in the news lately. America is facing a potential french fry shortage because of a poor potato crop. Couch potatoes remain plentiful, though. In fact, some new data suggests that — for the first time in years — while participation in outdoor recreation remains high, the...
Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth honor Kobe Bryant with emotional ‘See You Again’ halftime performanceVideo
The Los Angeles Lakers’ first game after the tragic death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant was filled with heartfelt tributes. Friday’s game at the Staples Center, “The house that Kobe built,” featured the Lakers hosting the Portland Trailblazers. At halftime, Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth performed their hit song...
Pittsburgh Dad spins wheel on ‘Price is Right’ stageVideo
Pittsburgh Dad finally made his appearance on “The Price is Right.” Sort of. Curt Wootton, the man behind “Pittsburgh Dad,” and his crew were in the audience for an episode of the game show that aired Friday on CBS. The show was taped in December. Thanks for stopping by #PriceIsRight,...
Humorous Yinzer cards ‘not your grandmother’s Valentine’
Okay, cupids. You know Valentine’s Day is coming. And your sweeties will be expecting card and candy declarations of your love. Those declarations do not, however, have to be sappy or sentimental, especially if your loved one has a good sense of humor. Hailing from Pittsburgh also helps. The Yinzer...
Soldiers & Sailors unveils exhibit spotlighting Western Pa. Medal of Honor recipients
Clara Burns listened intently as her younger brother’s death was recounted Wednesday night at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. Lance Cpl. William Prom, a machine gun leader in the 3rd Marines Division who grew up in Pittsburgh and Millvale, was marching alongside two platoons returning from a reconnaissance...
Allegheny General Hospital unveils memorial to deceased organ donors
Swallowing tears, Joy Krumenacker faced the packed lobby of Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side. “Fifteen months ago, I entered this hospital to spend my very last weekend with my son,” she began. Allegheny General Hospital and the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) unveiled a memorial Wednesday...
Pittsburgh adoptee to compete in Animal Planet’s ‘Puppy Bowl XVI’Video
An adoptee from Animal Friends in Ohio Township has once again reached the pinnacle of puppy professional athletics: a spot on the roster for Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl XVI,” which will air at 3 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2. Kenny was one of a litter of puppies transferred...
‘Hope Scarves’ bring joy, optimism to UPMC cancer patientsVideo
In the crowded lobby of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center on Tuesday, Lara MacGregor, founder of Hope Scarves, stepped to the microphone and told a story of friendship. During a trip to a cancer conference in 2009, MacGregor was taking a moment in the lobby of her hotel. She felt overwhelmed...
PETA wants Punxsutawney Phil to retire; Groundhog Club president responds
PETA is suggesting Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog call it a career. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley on Tuesday morning and asked for Punxsutawney Phil to retire “to a reputable sanctuary and start using a cutting-edge animatronic groundhog...
Beating away the day: WCCC uses drum circle to help students handle stressVideo
The sound of drums on Tuesday echoed through the recently renovated Student Achievement Center at Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. Students gathered for the monthly drum circle and worked together to beat away the stress of the semester. “It’s meant to help them learn to work together, to collaborate...
Wienermobile pulled over in Wisconsin for traffic infraction
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Oscar Mayer’s iconic Wienermobile got a grilling from a Wisconsin sheriff’s deputy because the driver of the giant hot dog failed to give enough room to another car on the road with emergency lights. The deputy pulled over the Wienermobile and gave the driver a verbal warning...
