Tribune - Review / Pittsburgh Tribune - Review

Proper Ventilation Helps to Prevent Fungus

Question: My problem is with a line of dahlias I planted in the spring. They grew and blossomed beautifully, then the trouble started. The new buds have all turned squishy with a gooey substance inside. They turn black and do not bloom. What happened? Each day I keep getting more buds, but they all die off. Answer: You've got a classic fungal issue: botrytis. It is one of the most common fungal diseases around, and you can chalk its appearance up to the extremely wet season we've been experie...

Billy Mays Stickers Have Fans Stuck On Him

Billy Mays stickers are popping up in the oddest places all across the country. Get yours now! The country's most famous pitchman and a McKees native, who died in June, lives on in a quirky little phenomenon started by his son, Billy Mays III.

Gadhafi's Visit: Repulsive & Nauseating

Continuing U.S. outrage over the intolerable fate of Libya's convicted Lockerbie jetliner bomber should be more than sufficient for President Obama to deny Moammar Gadhafi's entry into the country next month to attend a session of the United Nations. Oh, we simply can't do that. It would set back relations with Libya's reformed "rogue" regime since Moammar the "mad dog" -- as dubbed by President Reagan -- relinquished his nuclear ambitions in 2003.

Footing Labor's Bill

Washington, D.C., has too many people who wrongly think the supply of federal dollars -- taxpayer dollars -- is infinite. Unfortunately, so do Detroit and, yes, Pittsburgh. Buried in Capitol Hill's thousands of pages of health care reform proposals are provisions that would give $10 billion to union- backed retiree health plans. Many of those plans, such as the United Auto Workers', are woefully underfunded.

Saturday Essay: Big Brother Banker

I was told what was scheduled to happen to my checking account. But imagine my surprise at the fact that when I finally was asked about what I want to happen to that account, it was the U.S. Justice Department doing the asking. For the sake of convenience -- nothing against First Niagara -- I don't want my National City checking account to go to First Niagara. But that's scheduled to happen as a result of the feds ordering PNC to take over bailed-out National City. So a week ago today, I inqu...

Huckabee: No Deficit of Opinions

Mike Huckabee has had more careers than most people. The former Arkansas governor who lost the 2008 Republican presidential nomination to John McCain has authored six books. He hosts "Huckabee" on the Fox News Channel and is heard three times daily on the "Huckabee Report" on the ABC Radio Network. An avid musician, he plays bass in his rock 'n' roll band, Capitol Offense, and began running marathons after he was diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

Uniontown Area Man Loses More Than $3,500 in Mail Scam

A Uniontown area man lost more than $3,500 after responding to a scam letter saying he would be paid for participating in a research project. The 43-year-old, who lives in North Union, received a letter in the mail that said he was chosen to participate in a consumer research project and would be paid for his services, state police said.

Two Indiana Men Charged with Taking Guitars, Items From Homer City Residence

Two Indiana County men were charged with stealing about $9,000 worth of guitars and other items from a Homer City residence. Gregory Wissinger, 28, of Homer City and Cody Stineman, 20, of Coral are accused of burglarizing the Homer City home of Anthony Malandro on Aug. 18.

Businessman From Marshall Was Known for Being Charitable

Ed Holzer was known as a hard-working and astute businessman throughout his 50-year career in the North Hills. During the 20 years that Mr. Holzer operated Holzer's Disposal in McCandless, he made it a point to know his customers and would go into the homes of the elderly or sick to pick up their garbage, said his daughter, Lorraine Marks of Fombell, Beaver County.

Home Prices Fall in School Districts Where They're Already Low

Home prices are falling in school districts that have the cheapest housing in Allegheny County, while they generally are growing in districts where homes typically sell in the $200,000 range. RealStats, a real estate information company based on the South Side, reached that conclusion after looking at median sale prices for four years in school districts county-wide. Sale prices in the bottom 10 districts in terms of housing costs weakened by an average 11.4 percent between 2005 and 2008, whi...

Newsmaker: Elbie Yaworsky

Age: 55 Residence: Ambridge

Greensburg Man Gets Probation for Sex Sting Plea

A Greensburg man, who pleaded guilty in June to four charges stemming from an Internet sex sting two years ago, was sentenced Friday to serve 23 months of intermediate punishment. Fayette County Judge Conrad P. Capuzzi sentenced Pellegrino G. Fiore III, 32, to serve 11 1/2 months of that sentence on house arrest with electronic monitoring.

Lawsuit by Penn Hills Worker Partly Reinstated

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday partly overturned a Pittsburgh judge's dismissal of a gay Penn Hills man's lawsuit against his former employer. Brian D. Prowel worked for Butler-based Wise Business Forms from 1991 to 2004. The company cited "lack of work" when it fired him.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Allegheny to Open On Federal Street

A lightning strike and economic upheaval weren't enough to keep a library out of the North Side. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Allegheny opens at 10 a.m. today on Federal Street to serve a neighborhood that lacked a library for three years, after lightning damaged the old building in 2006.

Penndot Assures High-Occupancy Vehicle Lane 'Safe' After Driver Causes Crash

A PennDOT official Friday sought to reassure drivers that the high-occupancy vehicle lane on the Parkway North is "extremely safe" after a driver circumvented barriers and traveled the wrong way, causing a head-on crash. "Everything that's in place works well," said PennDOT District 11 Executive Dan Cessna. "This incident was the result of driver error."

Penn Avenue Trees May Get Protection During Road-Widening Project

Neighborhood groups and Pittsburgh officials agreed to try to protect 20 century-old trees along Penn Avenue opposite Bakery Square from damage when the road is widened, said Ernie Hogan, deputy director of East Liberty Development Inc. But Rob Pfaffmann and his wife, Lisa Haabestad, aren't sure the agreement between the city, Bakery Square developer Walnut Capital and several community groups will work. Pfaffmann said the agreement doesn't spell out how to protect the trees, or who would pay...

Steelers' Depth a Key to Success in a Long Season

Tyrone Carter serves as the Steelers' primary backup at both safety spots, and his preparation leading up to games includes extra film work in case he is needed because of an injury to Troy Polamalu or Ryan Clark. "I watch how (opponents) are attacking the free safety and how they are attacking the strong safety," the 10th-year veteran said. "You go into it like 'Hey, if something happens I've got to play.' So I prepare just like I have to play that week."

Steelers Qb Dixon's Injury Not As Bad As First Feared

- Dennis Dixon feared the worst after a hit to his throwing shoulder knocked him out of the Steelers' 17-13 loss to the Washington Redskins last Saturday. An MRI revealed no significant damage, though Dixon will be forced to watch tonight from the sidelines when the Steelers play the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field. he mild separation of the A/C joint that Dixon sustained in his right shoulder halted the progress he had been making during the preseason. Dixon has completed 18 of 35 passes for 1...

Maholm Set to Start in Cincinnati

- Left-hander Paul Maholm will start one game in Monday's day- night doubleheader against Cincinnati, but manager John Russell on Friday was not ready to say which one. Russell also hedged on revealing the other starter. Lefty Phil Dumatrait is an option, depending on whether he pitches in relief this weekend against Milwaukee. - Shortstop Ronny Cedeno missed his sixth straight game due to a fractured left pinky. Russell said batting is not a problem for Cedeno, who got a pair of late-innin...

Armstrong County Man Arrested, Charged in Tax Evasion Scheme

A former CEO of a Wilkins medical staffing company was arrested by federal agents and charged Friday in federal court in a fraud and tax evasion scheme that prosecutors say caused shareholders to lose more than $200 million. U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said those who owned stock in World Health Alternatives Inc. were victims of the fraud.