TribLive stories, Page 708
Rob Perkins: Our indigent defense system is (still) broken. Here’s why that matters.
Our criminal justice system is adversarial by design. Prosecuting attorneys work on one side of the aisle, and defense attorneys on the other. Defense lawyers play a critical role, as they serve as a check and balance on the near-limitless power of the prosecutor. About a year ago, I wrote...
Westmoreland happenings: Choral concert, church services, blood drive, more
Arts • The Irwin Male Chorus will present a concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Community United Presbyterian Church, 1640 Keystone Park Road, New Alexandria. Refreshments will be served. Details: 724-668-7752. • The Westmoreland Performing Art Professional Theatre Company will present “A Christmas Story – The Musical” Dec. 22...
Letter to the editor: Biden is out of control
President Biden has proven to me that he wants to make our choices for us and that he will punish anyone with other ideas. Don’t want an electric vehicle? He is trying to stop fossil fuels, stop production of non-electric cars and parts, give tax breaks to buy electric cars...
Indiana Township ambulance service closing after 28 years
After working under the same roof for almost three years, employees with Seneca Area Emergency Services soon will be working as West Deer EMS Service. Seneca Area EMS announced Tuesday night that it will close as of Jan. 1, after operating for 28 years. Seneca Area EMS covers the western...
What’s happening at Northern Tier Library for the week of Dec. 13, 2023
Richland Center will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26. The library will also be closed on Jan. 1, 2024. The Pine Center will be closed from Dec. 25 through Jan. 1, 2024. Pine Tree Shoppes Bookmobile’s last day of service is Dec. 15. It will resume on Jan. 5,...
Letter to the editor: Pa. powers America
I was amused by a recent TripAdvisor survey naming Pennsylvania the “most American state.” While the metrics used were silly — most RV parks, fast-food restaurants and the like — I still think the idea holds merit. We’re the birthplace of America, after all. But more than that, we play...
Editorial: Juvenile detention must be consistent and secure
Braedon M. Dickinson, 16, and Robert Cogdell, 14, were watching television on Saturday night. All of a sudden, they got up and ran out the back door. News came Monday morning that they were found more than 30 miles away in Fayette County. It’s a worrisome situation no matter what...
The Stroller, Dec. 13, 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. Toy donations being accepted in Washington Township The Washington Bell Lions...
Letter to the editor: Lottery tickets are not for kids
During the holiday shopping season, the Pennsylvania Lottery reminds players and its retailer partners to gift responsibly by discouraging the sale of lottery products to anyone younger than 18. While lottery tickets can make fun gifts for some adults, they are not intended for use by minors. Throughout the year,...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 12, 2023
High schools Basketball Boys Tuesday’s results Nonsection Avella 58, Freedom 44 Baldwin 74, Bethel Park 59 Belle Vernon 79, Bishop Canevin 57 Brownsville 64, Geibel 50 Burgettstown 64, Carlynton 61 Burrell 75, St. Joseph 22 Chartiers Valley 51, Obama Academy 41 Deer Lakes 65, Mohawk 55 Derry 65, Greensburg Salem...
High school roundup for Dec. 12, 2023: Freshman hits pair of buzzer-beaters to lift North Hills past Butler in OT
Freshman Nathan Schanbacher scored on a putback at the fourth-quarter buzzer to force overtime then hit a shot from the baseline at the buzzer in OT to lead North Hills to a 73-71 nonsection boys basketball victory over Butler on Tuesday night. Eric James scored 25 points and Zach Pollaro...
Expansion of Pennsylvania permits to grow, sell medical marijuana headed to governor’s desk
A bill that will allow more of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana growers and processors to also act as retailers — and vice-versa — fully cleared the legislature on Tuesday and will head to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk. Despite some legislators’ predictions earlier this year that the bill could — or should...
Washington County Controller April Sloane accused of starving her dog to death
Washington County Controller April Sloane faces felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals after police said she starved her dog to death. The dog, Thor, had been adopted in April 2021. Police said they found his body in the garage of Sloane’s home on Dec. 6. He had been dead...
Cottage on Sewickley Heights estate explodes; 1 person hospitalized
One person was taken to a hospital after an explosion Tuesday at a cottage on a Sewickley Heights estate. According to Aleppo fire Chief Bill Davis Jr., a plumber was working in the cottage at 543 Backbone Road when the explosion occurred. He was taken to a local hospital by...
Florida GOP looks to remove Christian Ziegler as chair, analysts say
ORLANDO, Fla. — Embattled Florida Republican Party chair Christian Ziegler faces a vote on Sunday to remove him from his $120,000 a year job as a result of rape allegations lodged against him and the admission that he and his wife had a three-way affair. So far he has steadfastly...
Fox Chapel Area student telethon Dec. 22 to benefit Backpack for Hunger
Fox Chapel Area School District students will host their 34th annual telethon Friday, Dec. 22 at 1:30 p.m. to raise money for Backpack for Hunger. The telethon will involve students from all six schools in the Fox Chapel Area School District: Fairview, Hartwood, Kerr, and O’Hara elementaries; Dorseyville Middle School;...
Dyan Mazurana and Anastasia Marshak: Hamas’ use of sexual violence is an all-too-common part of modern war — but not in all conflicts
The United Nations, women’s groups and human rights groups are facing criticism for not quickly condemning Hamas fighters for raping and sexually violating Israelis during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Most critics cite rising antisemitism as the reason some experts and advocates did not quickly rally behind Israel’s repeated claims...
Elwood Watson: The continued hypocrisy of so-called family values conservatives
Do as I say, not as I do. This sort of Victorian philosophy seems to be par for the course among many of the so-called family values conservatives. Recent reports that Christian Ziegler, the husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under police investigation in Sarasota, Fla., following...
Study identifies glaring racial disparities, recommends changes in Allegheny County’s justice system
A comprehensive study on racial disparity in Allegheny County’s criminal justice system shows that Black people are five times more likely to be arrested than white people, 10 times more likely to be held in jail while awaiting trial and nine times more likely to be convicted of a felony....
Monroeville treats families to Winter Wonderland
The line of vehicles stretching through part of Monroeville Community Park West often was at a standstill, but no one was complaining. As cars, trucks and SUVs inched along on the morning of Nov. 9, the folks inside were greeted by a series of festively costumed volunteers offering gifts, treats...
Jonathan Sharp: Protecting our firefighters from dangerous chemicals
Firefighters , the brave people who risk their lives to protect their communities, are regularly exposed to countless toxic substances while extinguishing blazes, including formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, smoke, carbon monoxide and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” because of their persistence...
Celebrity heartbreak 2023: The 15 most shocking, messy splits of the year
Ava Gardner knew a thing or two about the agony of a celebrity divorce. With one of her divorces — maybe from Frank Sinatra? — the thrice-married actress rented a house in Palm Springs and “sat there and suffered for a couple of weeks.” She said: “When you have to...
Letter to the editor: Florida State’s chances
Florida State players, fans and alumni are shocked at being left out of the college football playoffs despite their 13-0 record. Travel back in time for some perspective. On Jan. 3, 1994, Florida State defeated Nebraska, a Top 5 team, to win the Orange Bowl and finish 12-1. Meanwhile, Notre...
Therese Rocco, Pittsburgh’s 1st female assistant police chief, dead at 97
Therese Rocco, a devout Catholic, Pittsburgh native and trailblazing police officer who became a role model for women and embraced the saintly task of tracking down missing children as her life’s work, died Monday after several weeks in hospice care at West Penn Hospital. She was 97. Diminutive and dogged,...
Pine-Richland area student achievements for the week of Dec. 12, 2023
Francesca Pettinato has been named to the 2023 summer trimester dean’s list at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s main campus in Davenport, Iowa. Caroline Dawson was recently initiated into the Grove City College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 348 new initiates from 12...
