TribLive stories, Page 1195
Judge says Tree of Life defendant does not have to appear in court to be questioned on his waiver of rights
A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request by prosecutors to require the man accused of killing 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill to appear in court to be questioned about his right to a speedy trial. Members of the team prosecuting Robert Bowers asked...
New Jersey man gets 2 years for throwing firecracker during George Floyd protests Downtown
A New Jersey man who admitting throwing a firecracker toward police officers during the 2020 protests Downtown over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis will serve two years in federal prison. Nicholas Frank Lucia, 27, of Long Beach Township, was sentenced via video conferencing on Wednesday by U.S. District...
Judge to John Eastman: Give Jan. 6 committee more emails, including the one presenting evidence of a likely crime
WASHINGTON — Conservative lawyer John Eastman must give 159 more emails to the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including one a judge says is evidence of a likely crime related to the effort to overturn the election. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter...
Ross woman gets 14 days incarceration, 2 years probation for entering U.S. Capitol during riot
A Ross woman who admitted to entering the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots will serve 14 days incarceration and two years probation. Jennifer Heinl, who turns 45 on Thursday, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan via video conference. She must also serve 50...
Vandergrift officials propose new restrictions on trash, household furnishings
Vandergrift residents might soon have fewer options for what trash items they can kick to the curb. Last month, Vandergrift Council unanimously agreed to have borough Solicitor Larry Loperfito draft legal papers to allow for changes to the borough’s trash ordinance. The proposed ordinance was made public during Tuesday’s meeting...
‘I don’t want it to happen again,’ Uvalde student Miah Cerrillo says as gun laws debatedVideo
WASHINGTON — Miah Cerrillo gave lawmakers a horrifying firsthand account of the school massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde as she described covering herself in her friend’s blood to play dead while the shooter gunned down her classmates. The fourth grader testified Wednesday via a pre-recorded video in which...
Baldwin High School graduates 348
Baldwin High School’s class of 2022 graduated on June 2. The commencement at Baldwin High School Stadium featured a welcome by senior class president Jordan Gremba and remarks by distinguished graduates Jacquelyn Lanzerotti and Kritika Timsina, who was also valedictorian. The class of 2022 graduates are: Isabella Acquaro Alec Aggazio-Bach...
Quaker Valley High School graduates 174
The 174 members of Quaker Valley Senior High School’s class of 2022 received their diplomas on June 6 during a commencement ceremony at Quaker Valley High School Stadium. Student speakers were Eleanor Schlick and Sara Ruhl, and the Quaker Valley High School Concert Band, Vocal Ensemble and Concert Choir all...
Joshua Windham and Daryl James: Fight for right to work from home
Travelers shop online for short-term vacation rentals. They browse listings, compare rates and make inquiries on sites like Airbnb — sometimes from thousands of miles away. Nobody needs a brick-and-mortar office to close a deal. Sally Ladd, who managed five short-term rental properties in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, worked remotely without...
Man enters plea in 1995 fire that killed 3 Pittsburgh firefighters, maintains innocenceVideo
A man accused of setting a fire at his home on Bricelyn Street in 1995 that killed three Pittsburgh firefighters continues to claim his innocence. But on Wednesday, after fighting for 27 years, Greg Brown Jr. entered a guilty plea, finally bringing the case to conclusion. Brown, 44, entered what...
Can’t stop listening to ‘Running Up That Hill’? Here are 10 more great Kate Bush songs
Though they had no idea as they were experiencing it, legions of “Stranger Things” viewers have been recently indoctrinated into a secular belief system that has already transformed millions of lives. The text that led them there? Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” Its...
David Cronenberg on the evolution to ‘Crimes of the Future’
A remarkable number of the films by David Cronenberg could easily be called “Crimes of the Future.” In fact, he already used the title once before, on a short feature in 1970. His latest film, also called “Crimes of the Future” but unrelated to the earlier work apart from the...
PennDOT to close portion of Rochester Road in Franklin Park for slide repairs
PennDOT is asking motorists to use caution on Rochester Road in Franklin Park because a portion of it will be closed beginning Thursday, June 9, weather permitting, for slide repair work. Rochester Road will be closed between Nicholson Road and Wexford Bayne Road Thursday at 7 a.m. Through traffic will...
Tens of millions of Pennsylvania school dollars ‘unauditable’
Recent state audits have called attention to some Pennsylvania school districts’ lackadaisical controls that have made auditing how tens of millions of dollars were spent impossible. The audits do not suggest any illegal activity, but poor compliance measures can hide how taxpayer dollars are being wasted or improperly spent. A...
Coalition urges Pa. lawmakers to adopt a state earned income tax credit to help working poor
A diverse coalition of advocacy groups has come together to promote an anti-poverty initiative that has the potential to benefit as many as 874,000 low- to moderate-income Pennsylvania households. The groups are pushing for Pennsylvania to become the 31st state to enact a refundable state earned income tax credit, which...
Westmoreland happenings: Turkey dinner, strawberry festival and vacation Bible schools
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there is no fee....
Letter to the editor: Pa. should give us a 2-month income tax holiday
I recently read that Pennsylvania has $2 billion in American Rescue Plan funding sitting in a bank account. This is approximately two months of income taxes withheld by employers on their workers’ wages. I recommend that the state grant a two-month income tax-withholding holiday and instruct employers not to withhold...
Letter to the editor: A return to Christ would solve world’s problems
I am tired of listening to all the politicians from President Biden to local councilmen and commissioners stating what must be done to correct our country and the world. No man or woman has the answers to the sinful condition the world is in, from mass shootings to gang violence,...
Letter to the editor: PACT Act would provide care veterans need
I have the honor to serve as the commander of the Department of Pennsylvania, Veterans of Foreign Wars. In that position I have a duty to help educate our citizens regarding what is really needed for our veterans. I now ask everyone to contact their senators to support the PACT...
Editorial: Police and mayoral departures show public services needs
“They didn’t feel they were appreciated.” That’s what Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert told WESA in July 2021. He was talking about how his officers were retiring, resigning or otherwise leaving their jobs. He attributed it largely to taking other law enforcement jobs. On May 27, Schubert announced he was...
Letter to the editor: Pharmacists should be able to vaccinate
Our world has changed dramatically, and we must do everything we can to ensure Pennsylvania communities have quick and ample access to vaccinations. During the pandemic, the federal government estimates that pharmacies provided more than two of every three covid-19 vaccine doses to Americans. A recent study by the Journal...
The Stroller, June 8, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Freeport golf outing accepting reservations Freeport College Club will sponsor a golf...
Letter to the editor: Enough is enough — we need action on guns
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death in children (“Gunfire taking toll on children,” June 1). On May 24, 19 children were massacred in school — where we expect kids to be safe and cared for. Enough! We deserve to live in communities that are safe and secure,...
Remember When: Soon-to-be-demolished smokestack opened in 1970 at generating station in Springdale
On July 2, 1967, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved the construction of a new power generating plant for Duquesne Light Co. The Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale included what would be a 763-foot smokestack that became one of the Alle-Kiski Valley’s most recognizable structures when the facility opened in...
Demchak Hope Challenge raises record amount for St. Margaret Foundation
St. Margaret Foundation continued its Brian Demchak Hope Challenge presented by PNC this year in the virtual ‘Your Way!’ format, which debuted at the start of the pandemic. The challenge raised a record $138,672 and had a record 270 registrants. The challenge generated 41 fundraising pages and had 24 sponsors....
