Trump to call for unity, face skepticism in State of Union
By JULIE PACE, AP Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump will call for optimism and unity in his State of the Union address, using the moment to attempt a reset after two years of bitter partisanship and personal attacks.
The question is: Will anyone buy it?
Skepticism will emanate from both sides of the aisle Tuesday when Trump enters the House chamber for the primetime address to lawmakers and the nation.
Democrats see little evidence of a president willing to compromise. And even Trump’s staunchest allies know that bipartisan rhetoric read off a teleprompter is usually undermined by scorching tweets and unpredictable policy.
Still, the fact that Trump’s advisers are looking for a different approach is a tacit acknowledgement that the president’s standing is weakened as he begins his third year in office.

Pittsburgh, Pa  – Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Burn Center is stressing the importance of burn prevention as the American Burn Association (ABA) kicked off its National Burn Awareness Week on Sunday. In 2018, the West Penn Burn Center saw an increase in burn-related injuries increase by 15 percent with scalds being the top reason for pediatric admissions.

Every year, the ABA designates the first week of February to mobilize organizations across the country to increase awareness of the frequency and causes of burn injury in America. In particular, the week sheds more light on the susceptibility of children when it comes to burn-related injuries. Each day, more than 300 children are seen in emergency rooms and two children die from burn injuries across the country.

West Penn Burn Center is the only burn center in the region to receive the honorable verification seal acknowledging excellence in pediatric burn management from the ABA and the American College of Surgeons. Every year, the clinical team treats roughly 500 new patients, averaging three to five pediatric admissions every month due to scalds.

“Children are particularly at high-risk for burns because of their immature motor and cognitive skills, dependence on adult supervision and inability to quickly identify and react to harmful situations, among other reasons,” said Ariel M Aballay, MD and director of the West Penn Burn Center. “At West Penn, we’re committed to providing a full spectrum of advanced care and support for children with burn injuries, and their families.”

Extending beyond clinical care, the West Penn Burn Center understands the psychological impacts of burn injuries, especially those that occur during adolescence. In addition to clinical consultation for patients, the Center hosts an annual summer Burn Camp at Camp Kon-O-Kwee in Zelienople.

“Burn Camp offers the opportunity for kids to feel truly comfortable talking about their shared experiences, knowing that they will not be judged by their peers and reassured that they comprise their own unique community. We recognize that burns in children can be traumatic, life changing events,” continued Aballay.

And these events continue to occur at a consistent pace, according to the ABA. The proportion of burn center admissions due to scalds continues to increase each year, with scalds comprising 35 percent of all admissions to U.S. burn centers.

“A major component that will drive these numbers down is the ongoing efforts to educate children and their families while also equipping them with necessary resources that help to create safer environments at home and at school,” said Aballay. “To that end, the West Penn Burn Center offers free burn prevention and safety programs to local schools in its service region and to former patients, at no cost.”

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary milestone, the West Penn Burn Center was established in 1969 and is a national leader in innovative burn care. For more information on the Center or to learn more about its community-based programs, visit ahn.orgor call 412-578-5295.

This story is a press release by the AHN.

The president of a Virginia university says Gov. Ralph Northam won’t be a part of her official inauguration this week after the revelation of a racist photo in his medical school yearbook. William & Mary President Katherine Rowe said in a statement Monday that Northam was scheduled to participate in Friday’s celebration, but now he won’t be part of the program. Under the circumstances she says Northam’s “presence would fundamentally disrupt the sense of campus unity we aspire to.”

 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania says adjusting state laws to protect victims’ rights is easier and more flexible than amending the state Constitution, and the group says it isn’t in favor of the proposed Marsy’s Law. Andrea Sears reports…

Pennsylvanians hoping to hunt big game with powerful semiautomatic rifles are not going to get the chance this year.  The state Game Commission announced over the weekend that the use of semiautomatic centerfire rifles for big game hunting will not be permitted for the 2019-2020 season.  The reported reasons include public input and opinions from the General Assembly, among others.

There are 96 Pennsylvania State Troopers set to get to work.  The 154th cadet class graduated in Harrisburg Friday and will be off to their respective new barracks starting this week.  The P-S-P now has just shy of 45-hundred troopers state wide.

According to published reports, some workers at Ellwood City Medical Center, which has had three troubled payrolls in a roll, reported being paid Friday. It’s unclear if all workers received pay checks or if they were for their full amount. Because they were distributed late, some concern also was being expressed about whether the checks will be good when workers attempt to cash them today. The situation with payroll delays and reported nonpayments of vendors has come under federal and state investigation. The Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office also has opened a criminal probe in the case.

AN ALIQUIPPA MAN FACES TRIAL ON CRIMINAL HOMICIDE CHARGES. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

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THE BEAVER COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE THIS MORNING RELEASED NEW NUMBERS ON DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE COUNTY. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWSCORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…