[naviga:h3]Cheer [/naviga:h3]

More than 200 motorcycles, hundreds of mourners and 75 police officers attended a funeral service on Wednesday to show support and love for the family of Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department patrolman Kristine Bartman.

Bartman, 30, was killed on July 13 in an accident on the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh, while driving her motorcycle home from a Justin Bieber concert.

It was a tragic and random event that ended her life, but officers from across Butler County, as well as five other departments in the region, turned out to honor her memory. The observances also included an honor guard from the Pittsburgh Fraternal Order of Police, helicopters from STAT MedEvac and LifeFlight, and a “last ride” into Evans City and the Evans City Cemetery.

At a time when violence against police has spiked in this country, showing love and solidarity with the men and women who protect our streets each day is more important than ever. Patrolman Barton’s death is a tragedy, and the hundreds of people who turned out to provide comfort to her family should be proud of their efforts.

[naviga:h3]Jeer [/naviga:h3]

It’s long past time for Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane to step aside. Instead, she continues to make a mockery of her office, with questions about potential witness tampering swirling after members of her office interviewed Matthew Peifer for a job.

Peifer is the son of David Peifer, who is a member of the AG’s office and a witness against Kane in the case over her allegedly leaking grand jury information to a newspaper.

Kane’s trial on the charges is expected to begin on Aug. 8, so what possessed her to allow a job interview involving his son to proceed is hard to fathom. Kane’s spokesman insists that she hasn’t taken a personal role in the hiring process, but that hardly makes a difference. The AG is a veteran lawyer and there is no excuse for even the appearance of impropriety when it comes to a witness apparently prepared to testify against her.

It’s just another example of Kane’s very bad judgment. She exercised good judgment when she decided not to seek a second term, but even a blindfolded person can find the door to a room, given enough time.

Kane needs to step down — and Peifer needs to withdraw his application for a job in the AG’s office.

[naviga:h3]Cheer [/naviga:h3]

Nathan Barnhouse’s journey from a youth struggling with bullying and depression to the confident young adult enjoying television notoriety he is today is remarkable and noteworthy.

Barnhouse is in the midst of a run on the Fox television show MasterChef, where he competes against other home cooks in pursuit of big money and a book deal. But equally impressive is Barnhouse’s work as a missionary in Africa and his effort to use his celebrity to reach out on social media and try to help other young people who may be struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Barnhouse’s story is a compelling one, and his instinct to use his notoriety to shine a light on two of the most pervasive issues young people struggle with these days is commendable.

Whether Barnhouse ultimately wins or loses on MasterChef, he should continue acting as a champion for young people and the disadvantaged.