Bob Bauder stories, Page 15
Pittsburgh redevelopment authority postpones vote on construction at Civic Arena siteVideo
The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority board of directors Thursday postponed a vote on long-delayed redevelopment of the former Civic Arena property at the request of Hill District residents who said they weren’t given an opportunity to review the plans in advance of a URA meeting. The Pittsburgh Penguins, which have...
Peduto hires ex-Obama administration official as operations chief
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has hired a former Obama administration official to replace Guy Costa as the city’s chief operations officer. Kinsey Casey, who served in positions at the State Department, White House and Department of Homeland Security, will oversee daily city operations with a focus on coordinating work among...
Family swept out of house by Carrick water main break settles in cemetery caretaker’s cottageVideo
Rose Gitzen has found a house surrounded by her family — both living and dead — while awaiting word on her flood-damaged home in Carrick. Gitzen, 78, was among the residents of East Agnew Avenue displaced from their homes on Sept. 20 after a water main break severely damaged their...
Pittsburgh’s Columbus Day Parade returns to Bloomfield
Pittsburgh’s annual Columbus Day parade will return to Bloomfield on Saturday, rain or shine. The parade was canceled last year after the death of a longtime organizer, Hank Blum. Guy Costa, one of the parade organizers, said the parade starts at 11 a.m. and runs along Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield...
Tri-COG Land Bank lists $45,000 vacant Edgewood lot as 1st property for sale
A vacant lot in Edgewood has become the first property posted for sale by the Tri-COG Land Bank. The organization consisting of municipalities and school districts in Allegheny County acquired the lot at 430 Morris St. in 2018 and is selling it for $45,000. The land bank was founded in...
City poised to settle lawsuit alleging excessive force by police outside PPG Paints Arena
Pittsburgh is poised to pay an Ohio man $47,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging city police used excessive force in 2017 while arresting him during a confrontation outside PPG Paints Arena that was caught on video and allegedly shows an officer punching him and slamming his head off the...
Pittsburgh’s Grandview Avenue getting speed bumps to slow traffic
A drive along Pittsburgh’s Grandview Avenue in Mt. Washington is going to be a little bumpy over the next few months. The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announced Friday that the city would temporarily install rubber speed humps and improve pavement markings along Grandview, a popular destination overlooking Downtown, to...
Pittsburgh to use $250K grant to help homeless people
Pittsburgh announced Friday it will use a $250,000 state grant to help find housing for homeless people and prevent residents from becoming homeless, officials said. The city is contracting with McKeesport-based Auberle, which provides such services as workforce development, independent living, drug and alcohol and mental health programs, and emergency...
Pittsburgh adopts United Nations Sustainable Development GoalsVideo
Pittsburgh on Friday became the second U.S. city to adopt United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that include eradicating poverty, eliminating pollution, improving quality of life and educational opportunities for all people. Mayor Bill Peduto said the city would count on local nonprofits, including hospitals and universities, to help fund and...
Jurassic World visits Pittsburgh elementary schoolVideo
Pittsburgh is offering discounted tickets for the Jurassic World Live Tour show at PPG Paints Arena this month and Mayor Bill Peduto joined show staff for an announcement Thursday at Westwood Elementary, where students got to meet Olive the Baby Stegosaurus. Kids were a little wary when Olive — actually...
Pittsburgh police officer in legal limbo over medical marijuana use
A Pittsburgh police officer is in a legal Catch-22 over medical marijuana. Mayor Bill Peduto confirmed on Thursday that the city placed the officer, whom officials have declined to name, on paid administrative leave six to eight months ago after he tested positive for marijuana. The officer had a state-issued...
Pittsburgh seeking the return of historical documentsVideo
A North Carolina family’s donation of historical documents related to one of Pittsburgh’s early mayors inspired the current mayor’s office to issue a public plea this week: Help us locate archival treasures that might have “walked off” from City Hall over the last 200 years. James Hill, special assistant to...
Pennsylvania provides $96,000 for urban farming in Allegheny County
Grow Pittsburgh, which promotes regional urban agricultural initiatives, plans to expand through a $50,000 state grant that will help pay for a new greenhouse. Jake Seltman, executive director of the Homewood-based organization, said Grow Pittsburgh would continue to partner with The Frick Pittsburgh for use of its greenhouse. He said...
Penguins fans could face traffic delays going to, from home opener
Fans traveling to the Penguins’ home opener Thursday should build extra time into their trip because of construction in the city and around PPG Paints Arena. PennDOT has closed a ramp from Interstate 579 to Seventh Avenue for construction of a “cap” over the interstate, also known as Crosstown Boulevard....
Peduto proposes $606 million operating budget for 2020 with no real estate tax increase
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday released a 2020 budget proposal that increases operational spending by about $31 million and maintains the current real estate tax rate. The mayor’s spending plans include $606 million for daily operations and $109 million for capital improvements. The operating budget is up from about...
Rivers Casino payments for PPG Paints Arena keep rolling
Rivers Casino has anted another $3.5 million toward the cost of building the PPG Paints Arena, officials announced on Tuesday. Under a 2007 agreement, the North Shore casino contributes $7.5 million a year — paid in two installments each fiscal year — toward the $321 million arena on Centre Avenue...
It’s October … and it’s hot in PittsburghVideo
Pittsburgh’s North Shore was blast furnace hot on Tuesday morning, but Brenda Kremer and Kelly Stolp didn’t mind. It was snowing back home in Montana. “This is kind of nice,” said Kremer, 62, of Boulder, who was in town with family for Monday night’s Steelers game. “I’m definitely not used...
Steve Blass thanks Pirates, city of Pittsburgh for ’77-year party’Video
Steve Blass considers himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. After a 60-year career with the Pirates as a pitcher and broadcaster, Blass, 77, is retiring this weekend. On Friday, Mayor Bill Peduto presented Blass with a proclamation declaring Saturday “Steve Blass Day” in the city. Peduto...
Stored scent program could help Pittsburgh bloodhound find lost peopleVideo
Pittsburgh police’s newest bloodhound, Cappy, wasted no time Friday finding a city employee hiding out in Point State Park. Public Safety Social Media Specialist Tricia Adamczyk volunteered for the demonstration intended to showcase a program dubbed “Scentsational.” The program allows the public to store the scents of people prone to...
Pittsburgh Public Schools investigating ‘inappropriate’ first-grade homework
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials on Thursday denounced part of a reading homework assignment distributed to first-graders that centered on children running away from a police officer, saying it was not an acceptable part of district curriculum. “Tom will run. He will run from the cop,” the assignment says. “Tom will...
Street closures, bus detours planned during Pittsburgh’s Great Race
Streets in Pittsburgh’s Downtown, Uptown, Oakland and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods will close Saturday and Sunday and Port Authority of Allegheny County bus routes will be detoured during the 42nd running of the annual Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, officials said. Street closures on Saturday during the Dollar...
Pittsburgh seeking $1.8M grant for Grandview Avenue improvements
Pittsburgh is applying for state aid to help rehabilitate one of its most iconic streets known for its panoramic views of the city. City Council on Wednesday advanced a resolution authorizing the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to apply for a $1.8 million grant that would fund improvements to Mt....
Audit: Pittsburgh property sales ‘shrouded in secrecy,’ open to fraudVideo
Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority are sitting on thousands of tax delinquent properties for years because of a public sales process that is “shrouded in secrecy” and difficult to navigate for potential buyers, according to an audit released Tuesday by the city Controller’s Office. Controller Michael Lamb said...
Pittsburgh looks to hire more female and minority firefighters
City officials hope a consultant can help attract a more diverse pool of job applicants to the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau. City Council on Tuesday introduced a resolution that would authorize the hiring of the National Testing Network at a maximum cost of $49,875 for a study of fire bureau hiring...
Carrick residents worry that insurance won’t cover damages from water main breakVideo
Rose Gitzen and several of her neighbors anxiously awaited word Monday on whether insurance would cover extensive damages to their homes and a nearby business caused by last week’s water main break on East Agnew Avenue in Carrick. The Pennsylvania American Water Co., which owns the water main, has promised...
