Tom Fontaine stories, Page 6
5 takeaways from the midterm election in Pennsylvania
While many people were sleeping overnight Tuesday, Pennsylvania’s political landscape changed in some significant — and historic — ways. Here are some of the key takeaways from this year’s crucial midterm election: Dems to hold both U.S. Senate seats Democrat John Fetterman declared victory in his U.S. Senate race against...
Undeterred by losses, diehard Pirates fans flock to PNC Park for season finale
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered Wednesday’s season finale with 100 losses, but that didn’t dampen Rob North’s enthusiasm for what would be the team’s last game until next year. “What’s not to love about coming to the ballpark and having fun?” said North, 35, of Shadyside, as he stood outside PNC...
50 years later, Roberto Clemente remains gatekeeper of MLB’s 3,000-hit club
Fifty years ago today, Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente laced a double off New York Mets rookie pitcher Jon Matlack to join one of baseball’s most exclusive fraternities: the 3,000-hit club. “I still think it was a pretty good pitch,” Matlack, now 72, recently told the Tribune-Review, describing the curveball...
Roberto Clemente: Keeping the Dream AliveVideo
Luis Clemente swats at insects as he stands on the edge of a swimming pool filled with stagnant, murky water in this San Juan suburb of 150,000 people. The pool had been a glistening centerpiece of Roberto Clemente Sports City. On this blistering May morning, nearly 50 years after the...
Clemente family, Puerto Rican government ‘at war’ to keep Pirate legend’s Sports City dream aliveVideo
CAROLINA, Puerto Rico — Luis Clemente swats at insects as he stands on the edge of a swimming pool filled with stagnant, murky water in this San Juan suburb of 150,000 people. The pool had been a glistening centerpiece of Roberto Clemente Sports City. On this blistering May morning, nearly...
Increased covid-19, labor costs eat into UPMC’s 1st-quarter income
UPMC reported a sharp decline in operating and investment income during the year’s first quarter, with the health care giant pointing to continued financial challenges from covid-19 and increased labor costs, according to an earnings report released Thursday. The report showed that UPMC had nearly $6.1 billion in total operating...
5 takeaways from Election Day in Western Pa.
Tuesday’s election didn’t produce any of the drama or tumult that we saw in 2020, but it turned out to be historically significant in other ways. Republicans shined in countywide races in Westmoreland County and races for the state’s appellate courts, while Black and women candidates came up big in...
Incumbent, 2 challengers poised to win contested Allegheny County Council races
An incumbent and two challengers jumped out to early leads Tuesday in the three contested races for Allegheny County Council, according to unofficial results. In council’s District 1 race, with all precincts reporting results as of midnight, Democrat Jack Betkowski of Ross had collected 51.2% of the 23,629 votes counted...
Looking back at Trump’s strong connection with Western Pennsylvania
Outgoing President Trump’s frequent visits to Western Pennsylvania were emblematic of his time in office. He brought aspirational ideas. He made questionable claims. He galvanized supporters and detractors alike. He made his first official Pennsylvania campaign stop in Pittsburgh in April 2016. Trump, then the front-runner for the GOP nomination,...
Election 2020: What to watch for in the campaign’s final week
The race for the presidency is in the home stretch, with less than a week until Election Day. Pennsylvania figures to play a prominent role in what unfolds over the next week and who ultimately wins the White House. Here are five things to watch: Where will the campaigns go?...
5 takeaways from the dueling presidential town hallsVideo
Voters got to see a presidential debate after all Thursday night. But it wasn’t between President Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. It was between Trump and NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie, who moderated one of the dueling town hall meetings held simultaneously in place of a...
5 takeaways from the presidential debate
So what did we learn from Tuesday night’s televised presidential debate? Not a whole lot. In a debate that figures to be remembered mostly for how much President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden insulted and talked over each other, what the candidates didn’t say and the opportunities...
Emily Kinkead leads incumbent state Rep. Adam Ravenstahl in primary challenge
Pittsburgh attorney Emily Kinkead led incumbent state Rep. Adam Ravenstahl early Wednesday in a Democratic primary race for state House, according to unofficial election returns. As of 6 a.m., Kinkead had collected 53% of the votes counted, while Ravenstahl had 47%, the unofficial tallies showed. Allegheny County officials were continuing...
Shell suspends work on multibillion-dollar cracker plant in Beaver CountyVideo
Shell Chemicals said Wednesday it will temporarily halt its multibillion-dollar project to build an ethane cracker plant in Beaver County because of coronavirus concerns. The company then plans to gradually ramp work back up at the sprawling site where about 8,000 people have been working. “The decision to pause was...
Chelsa Wagner wins another term as Allegheny County controller
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner rolled to a lopsided victory in Tuesday’s election despite an outstanding criminal case against her stemming from an alleged March 6 confrontation with police at a Detroit hotel, according to unofficial election results. The results showed that Wagner collected 63.2% of the votes cast compared...
2 incumbents, challenger win contested Allegheny County Council races
Two Allegheny County Council incumbents facing election challenges Tuesday cruised to victories, while a third incumbent was ousted, according to unofficial election results. Republican incumbent Cindy Kirk of McCandless collected 53.9% of the votes counted in District 2 to defeat Democratic challenger Christine Allen of Sewickley, who picked up 46%...
Highlands incumbent Michelle Peters ousted by challengers
Two challengers sent an incumbent packing Tuesday in primary races for Highlands School Board, according to unofficial results. All three candidates cross-filed to seek two nominations up for grabs in the Republican and Democratic primaries in Highlands’ Region 3. Kristie J. Babinsack, 46, won the GOP and Democratic races, collecting...
Joe Pittman wins big in state Senate special election
A longtime aide to former state Sen. Don White will replace his former boss in Harrisburg, according to unofficial election results. Republican Joe Pittman collected nearly two-thirds of the votes cast in Tuesday’s primary to defeat Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor Susan Boser in a special election race in the...
4,693 flags placed in Pittsburgh to raise awareness about child abuse
Members of the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance and local volunteers on Wednesday placed 4,693 blue-ribbon flags along Downtown Pittsburgh’s Grant Street and the Boulevard of the Allies to represent each child hurt by abuse and neglect in 2017. The event was held in conjunction with National Child Abuse Prevention Month....
