Category: Opinion

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PA Sen. John Fetterman: Latest Medical Update – Patch

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was taken to the hospital Wednesday after a U.S. Senate event.

Fetterman communications director Joe Calvello said the results of an MRI and other tests eliminated the possibility of a second stroke.

“He is being monitored with an EEG for signs of seizure – so far there are no signs of seizure, but he is still being monitored,” Calvello said in a statement provided to CNN.

Calvello did not indicate when Fetterman might be able to leave George Washington University Hospital.

Shortly before last year’s election, which Fetterman won by defeating celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, Fetterman’s doctor released the results of an exam amid concerns that Fetterman’s health problems might prevent him from assuming his duties if elected.

Source: PA Sen. John Fetterman: Latest Medical Update

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3 Pittsburgh spans in urgent need of work not addressed for months

Julia Felton
JULIA FELTON

Pittsburgh officials waited months to address structural problems on three bridges that experts said needed to be addressed within a week, according to a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey. Gainey released a comprehensive report on the condition of 147 city-maintained bridges in December.

DETAILS

‘Priority zero’
A report released in December on the condition of bridges maintained by the city of Pittsburgh revealed 13 were identified as “priority zero” spans in need of immediate repairs.
Despite repeated requests, the city waited until Tuesday to publicly release a list of those bridges. Needed repairs on the spans have either been completed or in the works. The bridges include:

  • Bloomfield Bridge, Bloomfield.
  • Centre Avenue Bridge, over East Busway, Shadyside.
  • West Carson Street, connecting Esplen and McKees Rocks over Chartiers Creek.
  • Elizabeth Street Bridge, Hazelwood.
  • Herron Avenue, connecting Polish Hill and Lawrenceville.
  • Maple Avenue, northeastern pedestrian ramp at North Charles Street, North Side.
  • Parking lot bridge at Woodruff Street and Saw Mill Run Boulevard, Beechview.
  • South Negley Avenue Bridge, Shadyside.
  • Swinburne Bridge, connecting South Oakland and Greenfield.
  • Tripoli Street, connecting Madison Avenue and East Street over I-279, North Side.
  • Ramp Q bridge, connecting Madison Avenue and East Street over I-279, North Side.

Julia Felton is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Julia by email at jfelton@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Source: 3 Pittsburgh spans in urgent need of work not addressed for months

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US jet shoots down ‘unidentified object’ over northern Canada | CNN Politics

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that an “unidentified object” had been shot down by a US fighter jet over Canadian airspace on his orders.

“I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

The object was “cylindrical” and smaller than the suspected Chinese balloon shot down last weekend, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Saturday evening.

Source: US jet shoots down ‘unidentified object’ over northern Canada | CNN Politics

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South Side bar owners tell House panel they are suffering from crime

A group of South Side business owners used their time in front of state legislators Wednesday to lambaste previous efforts to curb violence and draw more daytime crowds to the neighborhood, saying the efforts are moot until leaders “let police do their jobs.”

“No matter what kind of marketing plan you guys want to do, it will not work if there are shootings and violence on the South Side,” said Rich Cupka, owner of South Side’s Cupka’s Café, Cupka’s II, and Cup Ka Joe.

The House Democratic Policy Committee heard from South Side business owners, community organizations and public safety officials during a two-hour policy hearing Wednesday at the American Serbian Club.

Mr. Cupka said dozens of meetings over recent years with South Side business owners, residents, and local politicians have resulted in little help for the neighborhood, specifically the entertainment district that is East Carson Street.

Source: South Side bar owners tell House panel they are suffering from crime

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Turkey and Syria earthquake: death toll passes 11,000 as anger grows over official response – latest updates

Number of people killed in Turkey and Syria expected to keep rising as anger grows in Turkey over slow response from authorities

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that the death toll from Monday’s quake has reached 8,754. Combined with the 2,470 known deaths in Syria, that brings the total official death toll to 11,224.

The World Health Organization has suggested the final toll could rise as high as 20,000. A similar-sized earthquake in the region in 1999 killed at least 17,000 people.

Reuters reports that, speaking to reporters in the Kahramanmaraş province near the epicentre of the earthquake, with constant ambulance sirens in the background, Erdoğan said there had been problems with roads and airports but that everything would get better by the day.

He also said citizens should only heed communication from authorities and ignore “provocateurs,” as thousands of people complain about the lack of resources and slow response by officials. Turkish police have detained several people over their social media posts about the earthquake.

Source: Turkey and Syria earthquake: death toll passes 11,000 as anger grows over official response – latest updates

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Bushy Run Battlefield reenactment canceled amid new state guidelines

A new state policy may scuttle reenactments of the Battle of Bushy Run. The battle was part of Pontiac’s War, a pan-Native campaign that opposed British settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. The British routed members of the Seneca, Cayuga and Lenape nations on Aug. 5-6, 1763.

Source: Bushy Run Battlefield reenactment canceled amid new state guidelines

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Community in shock as Greensburg police chief’s apparent double life is exposed

Shawn Denning got a tip Aug. 10 and the next day staked out Spring Avenue in Greensburg, eyes peeled for a blue Chevrolet Colorado. The driver had a few bundles of heroin, according to the criminal complaint Denning would file Jan. 5 after the suspect apparently decided not to cooperate with authorities on future narcotics investigations.

About three weeks later, the tables would turn.

Armed, in part, with information from an informant, federal investigators would be the ones filing the drug-related charges last week against the now ex-police chief in the West­moreland County community of 15,000.

Source: Community in shock as Greensburg police chief’s apparent double life is exposed

Related:

• Greensburg police chief’s arrest shocks community
• Greensburg police chief out, charged with drug distribution
• Ex-Greensburg police chief resigned upon arrest on federal drug charges
• Editorial: Greensburg chief’s resignation after charges was a service

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Breezy and cold with scattered snow showers

Breezy and cold with scattered snow showers

TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE LOW TO MID 30’S, AND WE FACTOR IN THE WIND’S. THEY ARE GUSTING AROUND THE REGION AT 25 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, SO IT KNOCKS THE WIND CHILL DOWN. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS 23 AS YOU WAKE UP. 24 DEGREE WIND CHILL IN UNIONTOWN AND 24 AND UNIONTOWN. IT FEELS LIKE 23 AND WASHINGTON. 22 RIGHT NOW IN INDIANA, BUT A MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY. WE DO HAVE SOME SNOWFLAKES FLYING AROUND. ESPECIALLY IN WASHINGTON, ENDING GREEN PORTIONS OF WESTMORELAND AND FAYETTE COUNTY, EVEN IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF ALLEGHENY. NOT TOO BAD THIS MORNING. OVERALL, A CHANCE FOR SNOWFALL AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THIS IS ONLY FOR THE MOUNTAINS IN THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF FAYETTE. OTHER COUNTIES ARE UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING THAT WILL GO UNTIL THREE TO FIVE INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN THESE AREAS

Source: Breezy and cold with scattered snow showers

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Murrysville woman takes Walgreens to court for taxing toilet tissue

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – There are very few things we all need, and toilet paper is one of them. But did you ever look at your store receipt after buying it?  One Murrysville woman did and doesn’t like what she saw.

“It’s something that we all use. We all need to buy, and I have no idea why this is continuing to occur,” said consumer advocate Mary Bach. She’s got the time, the interest and the receipts.

“That’s correct. I do have the receipts,” she said.

She sent us her receipts from the Walgreens in Murrysville that show sales tax added to a purchase of toilet tissue.

Bach took Walgreens to court and the magistrate judge in Export sided with her. She says the fix would “take a nanosecond,” but it didn’t happen yet. She just filed a complaint against the Walgreens in Penn Hills for the same issue, planning to argue in front of the magistrate judge there in March.

Bach tells KDKA’s Meghan Schiller that people can visit the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s website for the full list of items not subject to sales tax in Pennsylvania.

Source: Murrysville woman takes Walgreens to court for taxing toilet tissue

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Customers struggling to get jewelry back after local store in Robinson closes

Channel 11 tried calling L.S. Jewelers in Robinson. The store’s voicemail box is full and is not accepting any more voicemails.

“L.S. Jewelers is currently a tenant,” said Zamagias Properties Senior Legal Counsel Daniel Gustine. “Beyond that, we can’t provide any further comment at this time.”

“It’s just extremely frustrating,” said a customer named Katie Bonwell. “I brought it in for a simple repair, and now I can’t get it back.”

Source: Customers struggling to get jewelry back after local store closes

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US farm group calls for probe of high egg prices

A farm group is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to examine the rise for signs of price gouging from top egg companies.

The latest concern is eggs, the price of which was up 138% in December from a year prior, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

Various groups from regulators to farmers and industry officials have often argued in recent years about the power of top agriculture firms to set prices and drive up what consumers pay for groceries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pointed to a record outbreak of avian flu as a reason for the high prices.

Nearly 58 million chickens and turkeys have been killed by avian flu or to control the spread of the virus since the beginning of 2022, mostly in March and April, according to the USDA.

U.S. egg production was about 5% lower in October compared to last year, and egg inventories were down 29% in December compared to the beginning of the year, a significant drop, but one that may not explain record-high prices, said Basel Musharbash, an attorney with Farm Action.

Source: US farm group calls for probe of high egg prices

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Nearly 220 million people in Pakistan without power after countrywide outage | CNN Business

A nationwide power outage in Pakistan left nearly 220 million people without electricity on Monday, threatening to cause havoc in the South Asian nation already grappling with fuel shortages in the winter months.

Source: Nearly 220 million people in Pakistan without power after countrywide outage | CNN Business

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Hempfield man announces second bid for Westmoreland commissioner

A former retired executive from Hempfield announced this week he will seek election as Westmoreland County commissioner. John Ventre, 65, said he will run in this year’s Republican primary and is targeting first-time incumbent Doug Chew as his chief opponent this spring.

Source: Hempfield man announces second bid for Westmoreland commissioner

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Josh Shapiro takes office as Pennsylvania’s 48th Governor

Josh Shapiro has become the 48th governor of Pennsylvania at the inaugural ceremony at the state Capitol.

Austin Davis, a McKeesport native, was sworn in as the first Black man to serve as Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor in a ceremony in the state Senate chamber.

Shapiro, 49, takes over in the nation’s fifth-most populous state with more experience in state government than any of his recent predecessors, including six years as Pennsylvania’s attorney general.

He took the oath from Chief Justice Debra Todd on a cold winter day, with lawmakers, ex-governors, members of Congress and several thousand others looking on.

“I am humbled to stand before you today as Pennsylvania’s 48th governor,” Shapiro said at the start of his remarks from the podium. “Along the winding road that has led to this moment, I have been grounded in my faith and family.”

Shapiro succeeds term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, and is the first governor of Pennsylvania since 1966 to be elected to succeed a member of his own party.

Source: Josh Shapiro takes office as Pennsylvania’s 48th governor

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Repair costs undetermined for Westmoreland courthouse waterline break

Two weeks after a broken pipe caused water to cascade into four floors at the Westmoreland County Courthouse, officials still are assessing the cost of repairs. Crews worked for nearly 24 hours to fix water damage caused when sub-zero temperatures led to a waterline break the evening of Dec. 25,

Source: Repair costs undetermined for Westmoreland courthouse waterline break

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Garland appoints special counsel to investigate Biden docs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday appointed a special counsel to investigate the presence of classified documents found at President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, and at an unsecured office in Washington dating from his time as vice president.

Source: Garland appoints special counsel to investigate Biden docs

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Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, dead at 54 | CNN

Singer Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the late Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, has died, her mother confirms in a statement. She was 54.

“Priscilla Presley and the Presley family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Lisa Marie,” Priscilla Presley said in the statement, provided to CNN by a representative. “They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Source: Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, dead at 54 | CNN

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Pa. state police seized $65 million worth of illegal drugs last year

Pennsylvania State Police troopers got more than $65 million worth of illegal drugs off streets across the commonwealth in 2022, according to a report released Wednesday. That includes 547 pounds of cocaine and 348 pounds of fentanyl, with a combined street value of $20.9 million.

Source: Pa. state police seized $65 million worth of illegal drugs last year

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Five Star Trail to get improved access in Greensburg

Walkers, joggers and bicyclists in Greensburg should have an easier time getting to the Five Star Trail after improvements are added next year at several points along the recreational path. The city is partnering with PennDOT on a project that will establish a new trailhead at George Street, which parallels East Pittsburgh Street.

The project has an estimated cost of about $334,500, including construction and engineering, Raykes said. The cost will be covered in large part by federal Transportation Alternative-Set Aside funds, with Greensburg providing a 20% match.

Source: Five Star Trail to get improved access in Greensburg

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Biden’s legal team found another batch of classified documents in search of second location | CNN Politics

President Joe Biden’s legal team found another batch of classified government records following the initial discovery of classified documents at his former think tank office in Washington this past fall, people briefed on the matter told CNN on Wednesday.

Searches for additional documents took place after Biden’s lawyers found the initial classified documents in early November, the people said. One of the sources told CNN that effort led to the discovery of additional documents of interest to federal officials reviewing the matter.

NBC News first reported the new batch of classified documents.

Source: Biden’s legal team found another batch of classified documents in search of second location | CNN Politics

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Jeannette gym damaged by flooding over Christmas break

The gym floor at Jeannette Junior-Senior High School was damaged after flooding on Christmas but Superintendent Matt Jones said it hasn’t affected basketball games and physical education classes.

A frozen water line and broken sprinkler sent water onto the floor during the holiday deep freeze. City firefighters alerted district maintenance crews and the water was cleaned up quickly.

Efforts were made to dry the wood and officials consulted with the company that installed the floor for an inspection of the top layers and subsurface.

The district is awaiting a response from its insurance company before deciding how to restore the floor to its original condition, he said.

Jeannette was not the only school district that faced damage from water during the deep freeze around the holiday.

On Christmas Eve at Shaler Area High School, a sprinkler pipe burst around dinner time. Water expands as it freezes — it’s the only known nonmetallic substance to do so — and, as a result, can put pressure on the pipes that contain it.

Source: Jeannette gym damaged by flooding over Christmas break

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Target 11: City of Pittsburgh cancels scheduled bargaining session with police union

By WPXI.com News Staff

Target 11: City of Pittsburgh cancels scheduled bargaining session with police union Target 11 has learned the City of Pittsburgh has canceled its scheduled bargaining session with the Pittsburgh police union.

Source: Target 11: City of Pittsburgh cancels scheduled bargaining session with police union

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Biden’s classified documents issue adds to House Republicans’ growing list of investigations | CNN Politics

As House Republicans officially take over Congress and clamor to investigate the Biden administration, a new line of attack fell squarely into their laps: classified documents recovered from one of President Joe Biden’s private offices when he served as vice president.

“President Biden has been very critical of President Trump mistakenly taking classified documents to the residence or wherever and now it seems he may have done the same,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a key lawmaker in leading investigations in the 118th Congress, said Tuesday. “How ironic.”

The news of Biden’s possession of classified documents and the prompt Republican response that followed came as Congress voted Tuesday to establish a panel engineered to investigate the “weaponization” of the federal government, adding to an already growing list of oversight priorities House Republicans have laid out now that they have committee control and subpoena power. The party-line vote was 221-211.

Source: Biden’s classified documents issue adds to House Republicans’ growing list of investigations | CNN Politics

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U.S. air travel rumbles back to life after FAA computer outage

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, Jan 11 (Reuters) – U.S. flights were slowly resuming departures and a ground stop was lifted after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) scrambled to fix a system outage overnight that had forced a halt to all U.S. departing flights.

More than 6,000 flights were delayed and nearly 1,000 canceled according to the FlightAware website as officials said it will take hours to recover from the halt. The numbers were still rising.

Source: U.S. air travel rumbles back to life after FAA computer outage

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Steelers vs. Browns score: Pittsburgh seals 19th straight non-losing season, but falls short of playoffs

Pittsburgh came up just short of the playoffs, but finished with a winning record

Sunday was certainly a bittersweet day for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh handled its business by recording a 28-14 win over the Browns, but was eliminated from playoff contention after the Dolphins kicked a late field goal to defeat the Jets.

While they won’t be playing this postseason, the Steelers’ late surge should be a sign of good things to come for Mike Tomlin’s team. The Steelers, who ushered in a new era this season with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, finished the season with a 9-8 record after a 3-7 start. The Steelers increased their NFL-best streak of non-losing seasons to 19, while Tomlin expanded his record of 16 straight non-losing seasons to begin a coaching career.

Neither team had separated itself from the other until Kazee’s pick of Watson late in the third quarter. Pittsburgh’s offense capitalized on the short field after Harris punched it home for his 10th total touchdown of the season.

The Steelers’ resilience this season was again on display on Sunday. Pittsburgh fell behind early before scoring 20 unanswered points against the Browns, who finished last in the AFC North for a second straight year. Cleveland cut its deficit to 20-14 in the second half before Derek Watt’s touchdown run and Diontae Johnson’s two-point conversion catch gave the home team an insurmountable 14-point lead with under five minutes left.

George Pickens’ 31-yard touchdown catch tied the score after David Njoku’s 10-yard touchdown catch gave the Browns a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Steelers took their first lead just before halftime when Levi Wallace’s interception of Deshaun Watson set up Chris Boswell’s first of two field goals.

Pittsburgh’s lead swelled to 13 points when Damontae Kazee’s interception set up Najee Harris’ 3-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Watt’s game-clinching score occurred moments after Nick Chubb caught Watson’s second touchdown of the game from 2 yards out.

Source: Steelers vs. Browns score: Pittsburgh seals 19th straight non-losing season, but falls short of playoffs

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First on CNN: McCarthy proposes key concessions after House adjourns for second day without electing a speaker | CNN Politics

After suffering yet another stinging defeat on Wednesday, in which he lost a sixth round of voting for House speaker, Kevin McCarthy proposed more key concessions in his push to get 218 votes — including agreeing to propose a rules change that would allow just one member to call for a vote to oust a sitting speaker, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Source: First on CNN: McCarthy proposes key concessions after House adjourns for second day without electing a speaker | CNN Politics

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Target 11 Exclusive: Pittsburgh police officers told not to follow controversial traffic stop policy

By Rick Earle, WPXI-TV

Acting Pittsburgh police chief Tom Stangrecki issued an order this week advising officers to return to the practice of enforcing minor traffic violations, such as broken headlights or expired inspection stickers.

The police bureau banned officers from enforcing those secondary traffic offenses after Pittsburgh City Council passed legislation last year barring officers from engaging in that practice.

Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess sponsored the legislation that he said disproportionally targeted African American drivers.

Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle spoke with Councilman Burgess, who said he was unaware of the reversal and he had no idea why Police changed the policy.

EARLE: Do you think they are almost slapping this back in your face?

Rev. Ricky Burgess: I don’t take this personally, but again I just think they should reconsider it because I think it will actually have the reverse effect and make us less safe.

Burgess said he stands by the ordinance and the data supports it.

“We have shown through data that when you do these secondary stops it targets disproportionately African Americans and African American communities,” said Councilman Burgess.

Target 11 reached out to the city on Monday.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

The city sent an emailed response Tuesday afternoon, stating that the move was made because of recent changes to state law.

Source: Target 11 Exclusive: Pittsburgh police officers told not to follow controversial traffic stop policy

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