TribLive stories, Page 1196
Pirates farm report for June 7, 2022: Rodolfo Castro homers in return to Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-26) outslugged Columbus (Guardians), 9-6. 3B Rodolfo Castro (.247), sent down by the Pirates on Sunday, went 1 for 5 with a 461-foot home run, his third. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.273) went 3 for 5 with a double and three RBIs. 1B Mason Martin (.228) went 1 for...
Fire chief calls blaze at former Derry auto shop ‘suspicious’
A blaze that destroyed the defunct Ralph Smith & Son Inc. auto repair shop in Derry was called “suspicious” Wednesday by borough fire Chief Josh Campbell. “The state police fire marshal is still investigating the exact cause. … I was there within 5 to 10 minutes of the call (Tuesday),...
North Allegheny boys volleyball moves within 1 win of 4th straight state title
The North Allegheny boys volleyball team will have a chance to win its fourth straight state championship Saturday at Penn State’s Rec Hall. Cole Dorn had nine kills and Nico Sfeir and Jack Birch added six apiece as the WPIAL champion Tigers rolled to a 25-23, 25-17, 25-17 victory over...
Man says American Airlines blunder put him in jail for 17 days
An Arizona man says he wrongfully spent 17 days in a rural New Mexico jail in 2021 after American Airlines mistakenly pinpointed him while helping police with a theft investigation at DFW International Airport, according to a lawsuit filed in Fort Worth. Michael Lowe, a Grand Canyon tour guide, said...
Mars boys lacrosse earns 2nd straight trip to state championship game
For the second straight season, Mars will get a chance to become the first WPIAL team to win a state championship in boys lacrosse. Enzo Grieco and Austin Cote scored four goals apiece to lead the Fightin’ Planets to a 16-8 victory over Penncrest in the PIAA Class 2A semifinals...
Pennsylvania pushes free needles to drug users to prevent disease, nudge recovery
As a teenage heroin user in Philadelphia, Kate Favata learned of a place that gave clean needles and syringes to people who inject drugs. Getting what she needed to use drugs was the only appeal. Now in recovery from drug addiction, she believes it saved her life. “Nobody said to...
Pittsburgh man gets at least 4 years in prison for killing girlfriend’s unborn baby
A Perry South man will serve four to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to shooting his girlfriend and killing her unborn child on Tuesday. Andrai Russell, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Russell was already charged...
Column: Saudi money could put college stars in tough spotVideo
DUBLIN, Ohio — Texas A&M senior Sam Bennett was a mixture of joy and exhaustion upon making it through 36-holes of U.S. Open qualifying for the first time. Still to come is the toughest test in golf. All that might be a breeze considering what could await. The temptation of...
James Franklin set to move Penn State forward with 1st chapter of tenure in rearview mirror
UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin sat on the balcony outside of his office in the Lasch Building on May 31, taking a moment to contemplate a question. Franklin has been Penn State’s head football coach since January 2014, helping it navigate sanctions that could have crippled the program for the...
Tull Family Theater to host The Damaged Pies band, author Elin Hilderbrand
The Tull Family Theater is hosting two upcoming events. First, they’re pairing up with The Damaged Pies, one of Pittsburgh’s long-time favorite bands, for a film, concert and fight against hunger on June 19. For their 35th anniversary, the band will bring their trademark rock and five-part harmonies to an...
Peter Morici: Draft decision banning abortion shouldn’t cheer conservatives or originalists
Much of what has been said about Justice Samuel Alito’s draft majority decision striking down the constitutional guarantee for abortion is simply false. Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett did not lie during their confirmation hearings. They stated Roe (1973) and Casey (1992) — which established a...
Hosta Show returns to Soergel Orchards in Wexford
The Daffodil and Hosta Society of Western Pennsylvania’s 28th Hosta Show is back following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Hosta Show is a juried show that offers the opportunity to hosta enthusiasts in the Western Pennsylvania area to showcase their best hostas. Entries for the juried show...
Mike Butler: Pittsburgh International Airport model for how to ease emissions
If anyone wonders what the airport of the future might look like, the Pittsburgh International Airport is a great example. For that, we must applaud the imaginative Allegheny County Airport Authority. It is taking two related paths to showcase how Pennsylvania’s second-largest airport can protect the environment while also raising...
Court says Zappala erred in ignoring criminal complaints on gun legislation
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court on Tuesday ruled that Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. did not follow the law when he dismissed private criminal complaints submitted against Pittsburgh’s former mayor and city council over gun control legislation they approved three years ago. Zappala should have investigated the complaints, the...
Letter to the editor: Cyber-charter drain
Regarding the editorial “State- related schools should be more answerable to Right-to-Know Law” (May 25, TribLIVE): Your subject matter and headline/subheadline are right on. However, you missed the biggest malfeasance of taxpayer dollars in Pennsylvania by omitting the ongoing drain by cyber-charter schools. There is no transparency, Right-to-Know Law notwithstanding. Perhaps...
Letter to the editor: Associated Press is not neutral
The Associated Press claims to be a neutral news agency, but it clearly isn’t. I understand that the news business has changed and that newspapers are forced to use outside agencies for content, but why the AP? In the article, “Christian nationalism on the rise in some GOP campaigns” (May...
Letter to the editor: Senate needs to address the big problems
Matthew A. King’s letter calling out Sen. Bob Casey for his vote in favor of allowing continued mink farming in the U.S. (”Casey’s mink vote appalling”) raises interesting issues. We have serious problems in our country with rampant inflation; out-of-control fuel prices; unchecked illegals, many smuggling Fentanyl; increased crime; and...
Mike Holden to leave WPXI for job closer to family in Cleveland
Popular WPXI-TV news reporter Mike Holden announced Tuesday morning on social media he will be leaving Pittsburgh this month to take a television news reporting job closer to his native home in Cleveland. “Personal News: June 24th marks my last day reporting here at WPXI,” Holden wrote in his post....
Sewickley area student news for the week of June 7, 2022
Several Quaker Valley musicians were recognized for being selected to play in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) festivals this spring. PMEA Elementary Band Fest: sixth-graders Caden Hanna, alto saxophone; Hannah Olawaiye, clarinet; Lena Rothbauer, flute; Michael Semonik, trumpet. PMEA Jr. High District Band: Evan James, seventh grade, baritone; Charlotte...
Letter to the editor: Sen. Kim Ward’s inaction on drug pricing costing Pennsylvanians
Pennsylvanians face unaffordable prices for their drugs. Pharma’s record profits in 2021, estimated at $120 billion, have grown twice as fast as other business sectors. It is long past time for our state legislators to act now on Senate Bill 579, which establishes a pharmaceutical transparency review board. This year...
Letter to the editor: Priorities for American Rescue Plan funds
For over a year Westmoreland County Commissioners have had $105 million from the American Rescue Plan to help alleviate the suffering caused by covid-19. The Voice of Westmoreland is dismayed that some of these funds are still being held. Here are uses within VOW priorities. 1. Mental health needs are...
The Stroller, June 7, 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. Up The River band to be featured in Tarentum concert The Tarentum...
Editorial: Violence curbs business success
If you care about money, you need to care about curbing violence. Fudge Farm is closing its East Carson Street location on Pittsburgh’s South Side. A small business closing is not surprising in a high-inflation economic climate. That’s especially true for food service businesses that have been fighting for workers...
Letter to the editor: Republicans just want their guns
I am a registered Republican who votes Democrat because I’m a person who likes democracy and rejects fascist theocracy, so I get the Republican mailers for elections. Every single Republican mailer for the primary election bragged about how the candidates unapologetically defended their right to own as many bullets and...
Arsenal FC clinches Great Lakes Conference, earns trip to nationals
The Arsenal FC ’06 team held a one-goal lead, looking to clinch a trip to nationals for the first time in club history. The team needed a draw to stay alive, but a win would cement its legacy and earn it a spot at nationals in Florida. Coach Jonathan Velotta...

