PNC Foundation to give Pittsburgh $2M for snow removal equipment
As Pittsburgh crews struggle to plow and salt roads after a massive snowstorm, officials Thursday announced the PNC Foundation will give the city $2 million to buy new snow removal equipment. The foundation’s contribution will fund 15 new vehicles this year for the city’s Department of Public Works. “Last weekend’s...
Pollution control equipment breaks down at Clairton Coke Works
The Allegheny County Health Department has found no indication of a long-term health emergency after U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works experienced a breakdown of pollution control equipment this week. A breakdown occurs when equipment stops working properly and releases more pollution than usual, county health officials said in a statement...
Parkway East’s ‘bathtub’ area reopens after water main break
A stretch of the Parkway East known as the bathtub is reopened Thursday afternoon after a water main break had forced a closure. The portion of I-376 inbound between Grant Street and the Fort Pitt Bridge and the on-ramp from Grant Street to westbound I-376 reopened before 3 p.m., the...
UPMC gives $10M to Pittsburgh for ambulances, freeing up money for snowplows
UPMC on Thursday donated $10 million to Pittsburgh for new ambulances, freeing up money for the city to also buy additional snowplows. Mayor Corey O’Connor joined UPMC President and CEO Leslie Davis at a Downtown medic station — standing in front of a 31-year-old ambulance that has been driven over...
Pittsburgh ‘nowhere near done’ plowing, hauling away snow, mayor says
Crews are still working around the clock to plow and salt roads and haul away massive loads of snow from Pittsburgh’s streets, Mayor Corey O’Connor said Wednesday afternoon. About a foot of snow pummeled Pittsburgh on Sunday, marking the snowiest day the city had seen in 16 years. O’Connor in...
Some Allegheny County Council members seek to ban cooperation with ICE
Six Allegheny County Council members on Tuesday introduced a measure to bar the county from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as protests against ICE have erupted throughout the nation. “Basically, any entity that operates using county funds is not to give information to ICE, or cooperation,” Councilman Jordan...
Planning Commission approves new health sciences building for Duquesne University
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved plans for a new, $68 million health sciences building for Duquesne University. Situated at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Magee Street, the five-floor, 80,000-square-foot building will house the John G. Rangos Sr. School of Health Sciences and include classrooms, labs, office...
‘We have a lot of work to do’: Many Pittsburgh streets still covered in snow
A large amount of the snow that pummeled the region continued to blanket roads across Pittsburgh on Tuesday. “It’s still a bit of a mess, but I’m confident we’ll get through it,” Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, told TribLive. Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said snow removal efforts will continue overnight. He...
Pittsburgh City Council calls on Pennsylvania’s senators to reject ICE funding
Pittsburgh City Council is urging Pennsylvania’s senators to reject a bill that would provide funding for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Sponsored by Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, council on Tuesday approved a will of council calling on Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to vote against a federal bill that...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy looks to better connect Beltzhoover with McKinley Park amenities
Residents of Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood live next to the sprawling 80-acre McKinley Park — but it can still be tough to get to some of the amenities. Nestled between Beltzhoover, Bon Air and Knoxville, the park offers amenities such as a playground, skate park and basketball courts. However, the lack...
Control the uncontrollable: Here’s why people stock up before a snowstormVideo
People throughout the region expect their grocery stores’ parking lots to be packed, checkout lines to be long and milk coolers to be depleted right before a snowstorm. Worried that they’ll be snowed in, shoppers stockpile bread, eggs and toilet paper. People fill their fridges and pack their pantries. Many...
Allentown business owners request permanent light rail service for Pittsburgh neighborhood
Kelly Braden lives directly across from Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Fallowfield Station light rail stop in the city’s Beechview neighborhood. A recent detour sent the light rail system, better known as the T, through Allentown — dropping her off directly outside The Weeping Glass, the shop she owns. It eased her...
O’Connor says Pittsburgh preparing for snow with additional trucks, staffing
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor on Friday said the city is preparing for a major winter storm that could drop up to a foot of snow by preparing additional trucks and calling in extra workers. The mayor also is prepared to declare a state of emergency if needed. That would slash...
PETA proposes replacing Punxsutawney Phil with giant hologram
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is again advocating for retiring Pennsylvania’s beloved forecasting groundhog from his meteorology duties. And Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is not a fan. In a social media post this week, Shapiro seemed to reject PETA’s latest suggestion to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a...
Road restrictions expand across Pennsylvania as forecasters warn of dangerous winter storm
PennDOT and Turnpike officials have announced road restrictions ahead of this weekend’s projected snowstorm. The restrictions include prohibiting commercial vehicles, school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and cars towing trailers on major highways. Passenger vehicles including SUVs and pickup trucks will still be allowed to travel, but the...
Morning Roundup: Ohio Township turning golf course into park
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Friday, Jan. 23: Ohio Township eyes golf course as new park Ohio Township will purchase a golf course and turn it into the municipality’s second park. The township secured funding to buy about 138 acres of land along Lowries...
Plane departing Pittsburgh International Airport forced to turn around due to ‘aircraft issue’
An American Airlines plane that departed from Pittsburgh International Airport Thursday morning was forced to turn around due to an “aircraft issue,” according to an airport spokesman. American Airlines flight 1845 was headed to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, but returned to Pittsburgh “shortly after takeoff,” Pittsburgh International Airport spokesman...
Cold temps, heavy snow predicted for Western Pa. this weekend
The National Weather Service is warning that Southwestern Pennsylvania could get a snowfall of between 8 and 15 inches. The NWS Pittsburgh office in Moon issued a winter storm watch, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday and continuing through 1 p.m. Monday, meteorologist Colton Milcarek said. Bill Modzelewski, another weather service...
Morning Roundup: Police investigate graffiti; Parkway closures; car into Denny’s
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Thursday, Jan. 22: Police investigate graffiti with racial slur at Homewood South auto body shop Pittsburgh police are investigating after graffiti containing a racial slur was found at an auto body shop in Pittsburgh’s Homewood South neighborhood. The owner...
Pittsburgh City Council OKs appointments to Equipment Leasing Authority board amid fleet struggles
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday approved the first of a slew of nominees Mayor Corey O’Connor is looking to seat on various boards and commissions and in top posts within City Hall. Sharon Werner, who will be the city’s chief operating officer, and Sheldon Williams, the acting public safety director,...
Pittsburgh Council to interview Lando, department heads under oath
Pittsburgh City Council next week will use a new power to interview under oath the mayor’s picks to run city departments and bureaus. Council has previously conducted public interviews with a mayor’s pick for department heads and bureau chiefs before voting on whether to approve. But council members last year...
Health department installs free naloxone vending machine in Pittsburgh
The opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone is available for free at a new vending machine in Downtown Pittsburgh. The machine, outside the Allegheny County Human Services building at 1 Smithfield St., will provide around-the-clock access to the medication. Naloxone — often known by its brand name Narcan — is being...
Historic Downtown Pittsburgh buildings set to become mixed-income apartments
A pair of historic commercial and manufacturing buildings in Downtown Pittsburgh will be transformed into mixed-income housing, part of a broader effort to revitalize the Golden Triangle and attract new residents and businesses. Boston-based Beacon Communities on Tuesday announced the start of construction at 901-903 Liberty Ave., two buildings that...
East End Cooperative Ministry temporarily halts program offering free lunch
East End Cooperative Ministry this week announced it is temporarily halting its Community Meals program, which offered free lunch each day to anyone in the community. The East Liberty nonprofit said the program won’t be available “for the foreseeable future.” In an online announcement, the ministry said resources and funding...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit now offering sign language interpreters through app
Live American Sign Language interpreters are now available to riders of Pittsburgh Regional Transit through an app. Deaf or hard-of-hearing riders can launch the Aira ASL app to be connected with a professional interpreter within seconds, the authority said in a news release. The app uses the rider’s smartphone camera...
