Laurel: To someone at the microphone. Since Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli took office in January, messaging has been a little challenging.

Ziccarelli has wanted all information from her office — and sometimes other law enforcement departments — to filter through her podium. Other staff members or attorneys were not able to answer questions, directing calls back to the DA.

The problem with this has been that, while Ziccarelli would read a prepared statement with some details about a case, she would not answer questions, leaving reporters, and by extension the public, without any ability to expand on a narrow narrative.

That should change with the hiring of WPXI Westmoreland County bureau chief Melanie Gillespie Jones as the DA’s spokesperson, a job she will step into Nov. 14 with a $75,000 salary. She will primarily be tasked with public information duties for Ziccarelli but will assist other departments as needed.

Ideally, this could make the flow of information from the DA’s office more streamlined, with someone who knows what questions should be asked and how to best facilitate requests. However, this will work only if Jones is permitted to be a real spokesperson and not just a mouthpiece for more prepared statements.

Lance: To teasing kids. It isn’t that we want to beat up on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Eagles, Dolphins, Bills, Jets, Browns and Patriots have already done that this year.

But let’s say the team hasn’t just overpromised and underdelivered on the field so far. It also happens a lot when promising appearances. On Wednesday, the organization promised that a Steelers representative would show up at Kiski Area South Primary School’s football field day.

For kids, this could sound like Kenny Pickett could be coming to throw the ball around. What they got was mascot Steely McBeam.

The thing is there’s nothing wrong with sending the guy in the big suit. It’s not like people are disappointed if they get the Pirate Parrot instead of … well, that might be a bad comparison. The team hasn’t lost quite that many games.

Just say you’re going to send the mascot, Steelers. Don’t be cagey. This isn’t like you’re hiding your playbook. No one will be disappointed if they get a football player instead. At least not yet. Let’s see how the New Orleans Saints game goes Nov. 13.

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