The Big K Morning Show
National and Local conversations
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And tell them that your girl Tasha McKeea sent you, the sharpest rides, affordable, sexy, sharp. Now at T-Mobile, get four 5G phones on us and four lines for $25 a line per month when you switch with eligible traders, all on America's largest 5G network. Minimum of four lines for $25 per line per month without a paid discount using debit or bank account, $5 more per line without auto pay, plus taxes and fees and $10 device connection charge. Get 24 monthly bill credits for well qualified customers, contact us before canceling entire account to continue bill credits or credit stop and balance on a required finance agreement to bill credits and if you pay off devices early, ctmobile.com. Secret Service, do immediately with bullets and they grabbed me. Everybody just, we got into the carts and we moved along pretty, pretty good. Former President Donald Trump speaking on X Spaces last night from Mar-a-Lago after Sunday's incident where he was golfing at West Palm Beach at one of his courses, Secret Service agents saw a muzzle of a gun fired and then chased down the suspect as we know, 58 year old Ryan Wesley Routh, who was arrested 50 miles away without incident. So where does this campaign go from here, 49 days left? Let's check in with Katie KTV's political analyst, John Delano, John, good morning. Hey, good morning, Larry. Good to be with you and all your listeners. Seven weeks from today, this campaign, we hope, is over. And from the, what apparently was a assassination attempt set up where this suspect was camped out for 12 hours before, there's a lot of questions about Secret Service security, Secret Service security for all the candidates, including the reigning president, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. So that said, apparently Biden called Donald Trump and offered more help for security. But you know, I think no matter what party you're in, it was shocking to hear this again on Sunday. Yeah, no question about it. And all the elected officials I spoke with yesterday were very clear on the fact that, I mean, this was awful. They thanked, they were thankful that Donald Trump was not injured or actually the shooter never got anywhere near him. And that was in part because the Secret Service did do their job in terms of advanced preparation. But it raises all kinds of questions about the protection of our candidates. And the truth is, and today we're hearing lots of stories about golf courses and how very, very difficult they are to really isolate, even when a candidate makes an unannounced appearance of the golf course. Now former President Trump loves his golf courses and he goes to them all the time. So I suppose there's some anticipation that he's likely to be playing golf. But the fact is that they are very hard places to secure. And talking yesterday with Congressman Mike Kelly who chairs the task force that is looking at what happened in Butler and will be expanded to include what happened in Florida, he was basically making the point with me that these outdoor venues that these candidates like are really tough places to secure. But many presidents have golfed and done other things outdoors and we've become so accustomed to it. And now we see when Donald Trump was at a couple of different rallies they put up the bulletproof plexiglass or whatever it's, I mean, I guess whatever it's going to take to secure them. Like that said, the fact that the rhetoric and the violent rhetoric has in some cases inspired some of these people is unsettling for everybody. Well, let's start with the first premise which is that these individuals who engage in this kind of assassination attempt are clearly have mental issues. And in many cases they have no right to possess firearms. And yet they're able to get firearms in the United States of America and we haven't dealt with that issue and I think a lot of people regardless of politics would agree that people like this Ralph who was already convicted and was not permitted as a felon to have firearms like this still found a way to get a AR. So that's a problem right off the bat but I think that everybody agrees or most everybody agrees that there has to be resources, greater resources for the Secret Service. They are stretched very thin and I think that the President Biden of course ordered that President Trump be given them full protection as any president would be given, not a former president but as a president would be given and the director of the Secret Service said that yesterday that they were providing him maximum protection. But even maximum protection does not prevent somebody to sneak in the hedges of a golf course in order to shoot somebody. I mean that's just plain ridiculous. And so I think the resource element we're going to hear a whole lot more about that in the days ahead. We're with Katie KTV political analyst John Delano and John. I know that a lot of people are seeing these ads have been Pennsylvania. We've been targeted. They're spending more money here than anyone and you were kind of educating people in the last few years about the fact that they are permitted to say anything. So a lot of what's being said in many cases is just flat out not true. That's exactly right. There is a constitutional right for candidates to lie about themselves and each other. I don't like truth and advertising laws that prevent a company from lying about a product on Katie KAA. A candidate doesn't have a truth and advertising laws. And so they're free to say the most scurrilous things about each other. And they do. We hear ads on radio and television all the time that are not true. And so it's really up to the voter to discern. What is truthful and what is not. And even when they take words out of other people's lips, which is the cutting and editing and those of us in radio and television are very familiar with how we can make people say something they don't mean by carefully editing their language. I just encourage everybody to do their own research, talk to friends and neighbors and people they know if they feel strongly about issues because you just can't trust everything you hear, candidates say about each other. It's just not honest. Well speaking of not honest, this whole thing about pets in Springfield, Ohio, now they're doubling down on this and just three days ago Donald Trump said this. They take in the geese, you know, where the geese are in the park in the lake and even walking off with their pets. And the Republican governor of Ohio said he did his own investigation and it wasn't true. There are legal Haitian immigrants that work and live in parts of Springfield. Apparently there's a community there and they're being villainized because of this and JD Vance doubled down saying, you know, sometimes you have to make up stories to get your point across. Well, that just almost proves the point we were just discussing. JD Vance is coming right out there and saying we lie and we lie because that's the way we get attention. And in fact as Governor DeWine who as you know is a Republican governor of Ohio, he called these statements coming out of the campaign garbage, quote unquote, garbage. And you know, but it has attracted a lot of attention. And the Democrats think, if you listen to what they're saying, they think that this was deliberate by Donald Trump and JD Vance in order to distract attention away from the fact that Kamala Harris was doing better in the polls and did better in the debate and all that stuff, that this was a way to distract attention away from it. And frankly, it worked. It did distract attention away from all that and now we're talking about eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio. And encouraging the proud boys and the Ku Klux Klan members to march in Springfield, Ohio, a place they would never visit for any reason. Right. And the whole issue there of shutting down schools, shutting down events, the municipal building. And I understand they may be canceling a fall festival in Springfield, Ohio. All of this is a result of basically a lie that's being perpetrated in order for political purposes, and it makes no sense. All right. We have 49 days to election day. You pointed out seven weeks from today, and we have all seen these monumental events that have occurred basically since July 13th. But there have been others along the way. Who knows? There's always an October surprise though, right? Yeah. And again, nobody can predict what's going to happen over the next seven weeks. The polls suggest that this is still neck-and-neck race. The national polls, just to remind people, there's a national poll out today that shows Kamala Harris with a six-point lead. The national polls do not count. It's really what is happening in these seven battleground states of which Pennsylvania is number one, the most electoral votes, 19 out of Pennsylvania. And these races in these states are still neck-and-neck within margin of error. And so if you feel strongly in favor of Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, you've got a vote. And early voting is going to start in Pennsylvania, and it's not starting quite as quickly as some thought it was going to, but it's going to happen here in Pennsylvania, which allows people to cast a vote early. I've always had an issue with early voting, not because I think it's wrong or that there's something illegal about it or untoward, but things can happen between now and election day. As you just pointed out, Larry, and if you want maximum amount of information, as long as you're certain to vote in person, you know, listening to what's going on in this campaign, if you're somebody who might change his or her mind, you don't want to vote instantly. You want to wait a little. But I know that's contrary to what some people believe, and there's an effort in both parties nowadays to get people to vote early. Well, you know, regardless of the outcome of the election, one side or the other will be claiming there was some kind of fraud. And yeah, I mean, they're still talking about it four years later and won't give that up. So yeah, no question about it. We all hope and pray that this is an election that will be over by the next day. And I hope without violence of any sort, absolutely John, appreciate your time as always. You're going to be a busy man here in the next seven weeks, too. Oh, there's a lot to cover, but it's, you know, for someone like me, it's all fun. Well, candidates will be coming back and forth to Pennsylvania. We're looking forward to that. Some of us are at least appreciated, John. Thank you. Have a great day, everybody. Katie KTVs, John Delano from the P.J. Fitzpatrick home improvement traffic center triple A traffic powered by Bowser Genesis of Monroeville. Here's Heather Zambito. The parkway used to stacking up at Wilkinsburg on the unbound side, Parkway West inbound, lining up the top of Green Tree Hill. No delays inbound on the parkway North 28th, sluggish between the Bypass and Millvale. Then again, between the 40th Street and 31st Street bridges, a couple of accidents to report one in Warrendale on Warrendale, Bang Road at Brush Creek Road and another in West Mifflin. The seasons may be changing, but the deals and the sharpest rides are unbeatable as ever. Hey, what's going on? It's your girl, Tasha McKia. And I need you to join the sharpest rides for their fall into savings event, where they're offering incredible prices on their massive inventory. That's right, everything is on sale now, shot from sleek sedans to rugged SUVs and sporty convertibles. The sharpest rides has the perfect ride to match your fall adventures, plus with their exclusive financing options, getting behind the wheel of your dream car has never been easier. Go on and shop online at the sharpestrides.com right from the palm of your hands, or check other massive inventory in person at the sharpest rides, located 2250 South Sea Home Street in Inglewood. Either way, you will fall into savings. Don't miss out, head on over to the sharpestrides.com today and explore the deals that make every season better. And tell them that your girl, Tasha McKia sent you the sharpest ride, affordable, sexy, sharp. Now at T-Mobile, get four 5G phones on us and four lines for $25 a line per month when you switch with eligible trade-ins, all on America's largest 5G network. Minimum four lines for $25 per line per month without a paid discount using debit or bank account, $5 more per line without auto pay, plus taxes and fees and $10 device connection charge. Phones be at 24 monthly bill credits for well qualified customers, contact us before canceling entire account to continue bill credits or credit stop and balance on a required finance agreement to bill credits and if you pay off devices early, see T-Mobile.com. Lebanon Church Road at Clareton Roadwatch for delays there. Triple A traffic on the fives is brought to you by Awaken180 weight loss. This September make losing weight part of your new routine, energy, clarity, better health. Find it all at Awaken180weightloss.com. I'm Heather Zambedo on the voice of Pittsburgh 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA. And we have a cloudy sky. That's unusual to high 78 chance for rain. Maybe tomorrow doesn't look like today, 62 at the airport now. Here, but around the country with more and more impact for our school districts, threats that are coming mostly online and mostly from very young people. We've heard as young as 10 years old, a 10 year old girl locally being accused of making threats and curious how the local school districts are handling this. And we're joined by Dr. Johanna Venanna, who is the superintendent at the Blackhawk School District, who's had extensive experience at Char Valley and then through her North Hill School District time. Dr. Good morning. Good morning. I'm sure this is on your mind each and every day. I know you're on your way into school now, so collectively, do you talk with other super Yes, we do. On a regular basis, this is the topic that comes out then, of course, when it surfaces in our districts, then of course we try to communicate so we're all on the same page. And what is the collective thoughts? I mean, this seems to have been proliferating, especially this year around the region. It's scary. Nobody ever wants anything horrible to happen in their districts. So we try to make each other aware as soon as possible to make sure that we investigate it, look into it, and then try to quell it if it's non-credible. Ironically, this happened about the same time last year as well. So obviously, this isn't the first time, and I know it has happened, certainly, social media components add, I guess, an ease for people who think they can't be identified by putting out some of these threats. And you're right, obviously, the vast, vast majority of them are not credible, but still, it really disrupts what you're trying to do every day in a classroom, right? It does, you know, and makes parents scared to send their students to school. It makes students afraid to come to school or activities. But the majority of the time, it is non-credible. And definitely something we need to look into and see. But many times we have students that will see something and they repost it. And that seemed to be the issue that I think a lot of places had last week. And I was thinking about it on my drive-in, before you called, how we communicate. And I'm sure you have some type of social media. I have social media, and in today's society, that's how we communicate. So if I'm trying to warn someone... That looks like we lost. Yeah, we lost you for just a second. Can you repeat that? Sure. Many times we communicate through social media. If you think about it, you have social media, I do too. And if I see something that, you know, 79 is shut down, I may send a quick text to say, "Hey, you may want to avoid that road today." And our students do the same thing. But we don't want to discourage them from communicating when they see these things, but we need to try to encourage them to do it the right way. Whether it's tip lines, call the police, call the authorities. But they're school no, instead of just reposting, something that may or may not be true, and something that can obviously cause a lot of alarm. And the students, through every grade, are so adept at navigating social media. I'm curious, in your school district at Blackhawk, do kids have their phones in the classroom? To some extent, they do. I mean, we're one-to-one districts, so they have iPads with them. Obviously, that's on the district network, so it's a little bit more secure. They'll have it with them, but it's, you know, I say it's a moderate issue. So what is the game plan moving forward? Obviously, you're working with law enforcement. I know the FBI has been involved in some of these cases to try to identify the sources. And as I mentioned, some of these threats are coming from very young students. Yesterday, we saw in Florida, an 11-year-old was arrested and shackled, basically, to show people what happens if you're caught making these kind of threats. People can argue about whether that was overdoing it, but the fact is it's happening around the country. So what's the plan moving forward? Well, I think that we need to, you know, constantly be in communication with our local law enforcement, make sure we have those relationships. I think that we also need to continue to encourage students to communicate appropriately, parents, community members. I was very pleased with the amount of information that I received from parents, from community members. Students as well, you know, when they saw the slotting incident. And that's the best thing to do is to tell someone when you see something or hear something that isn't appropriate. But it's also very important that our students have an outlet for mental health. And you think about these young children who are making these threats, you know, why are they doing this? You know, what behavior is being reinforced and how can we reassure them as well? So there's a whole lot of dynamics that I think school districts are struggling with right now and really contemplating. And that's, you know, the community, the students, the parents. Also, the child that maybe doing, you know, making threats. And you mentioned something that's become a term that people have heard. Can you explain what swatting is so parents can understand that? It's a non, you know, a post of a non-credible threat that's copied and just repeated and sent over and over again is basically the easiest way that I can explain it. Yeah, we remember last year, Central Catholic emptied out because of these kinds of threats in other schools, you know. So I appreciate you taking time and, you know, it's a good, good advice if you see something, say something, but say something to the right authorities that can do something about it, right? Yep. Yes, I appreciate it. Thank you so much for reaching out and giving some time of attention to the very important topic. I appreciate it. All right, Dr. Johanna Venanna, who is the superintendent at Black Hawk School District on the Big K Morning Show. After the show, I'm heading to Bowser, Chevrolet and Enrollvo. Of course, they have Bowser, Chevrolet and Chip want to, so you can take advantage of Bowser Truck Month, they have over 100 trucks, 100 trucks in stock ready to go. From the Silverado 1500 to the big 6500 heavy duty work trucks and even the Silverado EV, that's electric. And you go, "Truck that's electric, but this isn't just any old truck. First, the first ever Silverado EV at Bowser's. You got 754 horsepower, 440 mile range on a single charge." Right there, you're going, "Okay, zero to 60 in under 4.5 seconds, up to 10,000 pound max towing and zero percent for 36 months through the end of September. So visit Bowser, Chevrolet, Ben-Roville or Chippewa, and take advantage of Bowser Truck Month. Go to powerabowser.com or bowsercheverlay.com for details. Katie Gay Radio's high school football game of the week, Friday night is powered by Bowser Chevrolet and it's Trinity at Bethel Park. Our coverage starts with the sworn up financial kickoff show at 6. Very impressed and proud of our team's coverage of high school football. It's a lot of fun, too, you know, on a Friday night, if you're driving around, tune in. Hands-in, really, Johnny Lee, Donnie Baseball, baseball, football, Johnny football, not to be confused with Johnny Baseball, Aaron. Do you ever listen? They do a really good job. It's fun. Yes. I've listened to high school football a little bit. I plan to listen more and I just got into listening to college football as well. With you and Doren Dickard, wow. Yeah, Doren and Pat Vostik, who you see here, covering pit football, it's a lot. That backyard brawl game was fun and it was epic. Yes. How about this? Like this rookie, they call him a rookie. He's a red shared freshman quarterback, Eli Holstein. Right. He's thrown for 300 yards plus in the first three games. I don't think anybody at pit has done that and they got all these awards again. So Holstein's been the rookie of the week in the ACC for three straight weeks. I don't think that's ever happened before. He also got quarterback of the week. He got two awards this week and their linebacker Kyle Lewis was ACC player of the week in their defensive bat, Donovan McMillan. The Panthers are racking it up. Yeah. It's like the caliber of athletes right now or next level. So how about this? How rare? I saw a picture of Coach Tomlin and Coach Patton Ordousie of the Panthers together. They had a fan. They were standing behind this fan and they said, we're undefeated. Both teams. That is really cool. They share facility, you know, they're doing they're together in this. Amen. Keep it going. Yes. Absolutely. Keep it going. So a lot of people asking, you know, we just talked super intended at Black Hawk school about kids and you mentioned something that really resonated with me. You call it doomscrolling that people do on social media where they just see all this horribly negative stuff and that's what they and by the way, once you start doing that, there are they start feeding you more because that's what you're interested. Exactly. The algorithms that figure all that out, right? You only have to look at something for five to 10 seconds and they're like, oh, you like that? We'll send you more. Be honest. What's the longest you ever scrolled in one sitting? I think easily probably two hours. Two hours? Oh, yeah. And that was at work. I get it. No. The seasons may be changing, but the deals at the sharpest rides are unbeatable as ever. Hey, what's going on? I'm Natasha McKeea and I need you to join the sharpest rides for their fall into savings event where they're offering incredible prices on their massive inventory. That's right. Everything is on sale now. Shot from sleek sedans to rugged SUVs and sporty convertibles. The sharpest rides has the perfect ride to match your fall adventures plus with their exclusive financing options, getting behind the wheel of your dream car has never been easier. Go on and shop online at the sharpest rides.com right from the palm of your hands or check other massive inventory in person at the sharpest rides located 2250 South Sea Home Street in Inglewood. Either way, you will fall into savings. Don't miss out. Head on over to the sharpest rides.com today and explore the deals that make every season better. And tell them that your girl, Natasha McKeea sent you the sharpest ride, affordable, sexy, sharp. 80 and T customers switching to T-Mobile has never been easier. We'll pay off your existing phone and give you a new one free all on America's largest 5G network. Visit T-Mobile.com/carrierfreedom to switch today. Pay off up to $650 via virtual prepaid mastercard in 15 days free phone up to $130 via 24 monthly bill credits plus tax, qualifying port and trade and service on Go 5G next to credit required. Contact us before canceling entire account to continue bill credits to credit stop and balance and require a fine agreement as do.