Pittsburg, PA
Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s torch run returns for 14th year
A long-running tradition returned to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
This is the 14th year for Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s “Be A Fan” torch run.
Now, the Special Olympics Pennsylvania torch is on its journey away from PNC Park through its three-day, 150-mile trip to Penn State University.
Over 350 runners representing nearly 40 law enforcement agencies are Guardians of the Flame on the torch as it’s passed off every two and a half to four miles until it reaches State College for the 2025 Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games.
The competition officially starts on June 5, but on Tuesday, runners like Pennsylvania State Police’s Tabitha Jacoby are accompanied by local Special Olympics program athletes.
“They’ll say, time and time again, ‘We love you guys, you’re our heroes,’ when really, they’re our heroes,” said Jacoby.
Organizers said this torch run brings the community together like no other event.
“If you have a chance to meet one of the athletes, they’re always smiling, they’re always happy to see you. And the general public can learn a lot from these athletes,” said State Law Enforcement Torch Run Director Matt Porter.
“We have law enforcement; we have people out on the streets supporting our law enforcement. We have athletes running alongside,” said Special Olympics Pennsylvania Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Andrew Fee. Fee added that the games are “highly competitive, good sportsmanship, a lot of fun when you’re not on the field.”
These athletes compete to represent Pennsylvania in the Special Olympics USA Games.
Athletes like swimmer Gianfranco Schiaretta said he’s ready for this statewide competition, “feeling confident, feeling strong.”
He said it takes a lot of hard work, and to him, this torch, with the Flame of Hope, represents so much.
“Desire, devotion, and discipline is the biggest thing,” said Schiaretta.
It’s a symbol of what our athletes with special abilities accomplish every day.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed an infielder on the injured list ahead of their series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park.
The club announced that Jared Triolo is headed to the 10-day IL with a right knee patellar tendon injury. As the corresponding move, the Pirates recalled Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis after having previously optioned him upon bringing Konnor Griffin up to the majors.
ROSTER MOVES: The Pittsburgh Pirates today placed infielder Jared Triolo on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 4) with a right knee patellar tendon injury.
Outfielder Billy Cook has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 5, 2026
As the corresponding move, the Pirates recalled Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis after having previously optioned him upon bringing Konnor Griffin up to the majors.
Triolo’s Recent Numbers in Pittsburgh
A second-round pick out of the University of Houston in the 2019 MLB Draft, Triolo made his big league debut in 2023 and has remained a staple of Pittsburgh’s infield ever since.
The 28-year-old has never put up gaudy numbers at the plate outside of his rookie year (.785 OPS in 209 plate appearances), but his defensive prowess and versatility has provided adequate value for the team.
Triolo won the National League Gold Glove for utilitymen in 2024 after posting three Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant, and he logged six OAA in 2025.
He had played in six games for the Pirates this season until suffering his injury. Over that stretch, Triolo slashed .217/.308/.261 with -2 OAA.
Pirates’ Current Infield Depth
Triolo started six of Pittsburgh’s first seven games this year, spending five of those contests at shortstop and one at third base.
While he hasn’t produced in any facet of the game so far in 2026, Triolo’s absence is at least notable due to the fact that the Pirates might have to dig deeper down into their depth chart for reinforcements.
Griffin’s presence, of course, does minimize that affect, as the top prospect in baseball has become Pittsburgh’s everyday shortstop.
With Triolo out of the picture for the time being, Nick Gonzales is in line to continue receiving a lion’s share of the reps at the hot corner, though Nick Yorke could push for playing time there as well.
Elsewhere around the infield, Brandon Lowe will remain the starter at second base amidst his hot start to the season, while Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz are the two primary options at first base.
Cook also has prior experience at first, second and third base, though he’s more of an outfielder these days.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
The Allegheny County Police Department announced charges against four people after a drug bust earlier this week in Braddock.
On Thursday, the county police’s violent crime and firearms unit, along with the SWAT team, served a search warrant at a home on Corey Avenue.
When they entered, they found two adult men, an adult woman, and one boy inside. They were all taken into custody.
Following a search of the home, detectives found a loaded handgun, five bricks of suspected fentanyl, multiple handgun magazines, and firearm accessories.
All four of the people in the home are now facing charges in connection with the investigation.
Among them is 24-year-old Jawan Coachman, who is being charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and tampering with evidence. Both 18-year-old Nathaniel Scott and 19-year-old Nakhiya Enoch are facing multiple drug charges and an additional charge related to firearms violations.
Meanwhile, the juvenile had charges filed in juvenile court, and his identity has not been released.
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