Julia Burdelski stories, Page 18
From brownfield to crown jewel: Piatt’s $740M Esplanade project aims to spur Ohio River revival
When drivers emerge from the Fort Pitt Tunnel, they’re greeted by a majestic view of Pittsburgh’s dazzling rivers, the iconic Point State Park fountain and the city’s soaring skyline. And when Lucas Piatt glances left as he drives along the Fort Pitt Bridge, he can already envision the massive Ferris...
From brownfield to crown jewel: Piatt’s $740M Esplanade project aims to spur Ohio River revival
When drivers emerge from the Fort Pitt Tunnel, they’re greeted by a majestic view of Pittsburgh’s dazzling rivers, the iconic Point State Park fountain and the city’s soaring skyline. And when Lucas Piatt glances left as he drives along the Fort Pitt Bridge, he can already envision the massive Ferris...
Judge dismisses Pittsburgh Public Schools lawsuit aimed at forcing countywide reassessment
A judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit that Pittsburgh Public Schools had brought against Allegheny County in hopes of forcing a countywide property reassessment. The district filed the suit in April 2024 seeking to have the court retain jurisdiction throughout a reassessment process and to set a realistic timetable for...
Morning Roundup: Firefighters called to blaze in Jefferson Hills
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Feb. 14: Firefighters respond to Jefferson Hills blaze Firefighters were called to a home fire early Friday morning in Jefferson Hills. The blaze was reported juts before 1 a.m. along Village Green Drive, according to TribLive news partner...
O’Connor audit details how caseloads overwhelm Allegheny County public defenders
In an audit released Thursday, Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor raised concerns that public defenders’ heavy caseloads may make it difficult to provide effective representation. His audit recommended the county improve the way it analyzes and manages attorneys’ caseloads in the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender. According to...
Hill District’s only grocery store pauses operations
The Hill District’s lone grocery store is closing its doors as it looks to rework its business model, Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority announced Wednesday. Salem’s Market opened on Centre Avenue about a year ago, bringing fresh food access to the city’s Hill District neighborhood. “We know community members are disappointed...
Morning Roundup: Break leaves part of Reserve Township without water
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Feb. 12: Break leaves part of Reserve Township without water Water service will be cut off for the southern portion of Reserve Township Thursday morning as crews make emergency repairs. Township officials said water service will be turned...
Pittsburgh City Council to hold public hearing on Ragland
Pittsburgh City Council will host a public hearing to give residents a chance to share their opinions on acting police Chief Christopher Ragland before they vote on whether to confirm him as permanent chief. This comes after the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP asked city leaders to allow for a...
Marc Fogel expresses gratitude for support, calls Trump a ‘hero’ after returning from Russian prison
As an entourage led by President Donald Trump waited Tuesday night under an awning outside the White House, the newly freed prisoner walked forward through the snow. “Mr. President,” said Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy who had just completed a whirlwind roundtrip to Russia on a top-secret mission to...
With final approval, Market Square revitalization to start in April
Construction is set to start in April on a project that aims to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh’s Market square. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on Tuesday earned the Planning Commission’s approval for its proposal to reimagine the Downtown hub with limited vehicle traffic, more greenery and seating and semi-circular trellis canopy where...
Retired Pittsburgh police officer charged with attempted homicide
A retired Pittsburgh police officer was arrested Tuesday after allegedly shooting her grandson in the leg. Virginia Beck, 63, of Pittsburgh is retired from the city’s police bureau, public safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz confirmed. Pittsburgh police arrested Beck in connection with the shooting. She faces charges of criminal attempted homicide,...
O’Connor outpaces Gainey in campaign fundraising ahead of Pittsburgh mayoral primary
Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor is far outraising incumbent Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey amid a heated Democratic primary battle for the mayor’s office. O’Connor in January raised nearly $465,000, according to campaign finance reports. Gainey brought in about $24,000. Overall, the Gainey campaign has about $237,000 cash on hand, compared...
Pittsburgh NAACP seeks public input on police chief nominee
The Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP is calling on city leaders to slow the confirmation process for Christopher Ragland as police chief to allow for at least one public forum. In an email to Mayor Ed Gainey, City Council members and their staffers, the NAACP branch offered to coordinate with...
Pine-Richland custodian sold drugs and alcohol to students, police say
Police have accused a Pine-Richland School District custodian of selling drugs and alcohol to high school students. Keon Barrett, 23, of Saxonburg allegedly sold alcohol and a THC vape to students on school grounds, according to a criminal complaint. One student told police he paid Barrett $20 in November to...
Morning Roundup: Homestead man pleads guilty to gun, drug charges
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 11: Homestead man pleads guilty to gun, drug charges A Homestead man pleaded guilty in federal court to gun and drug charges and agreed to a 35-year prison term, Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced Monday. Erik...
Pittsburgh combats overtime costs with new measures amid warnings of budget crunch
In years past, Pittsburgh scheduled public works employees for overtime if snow was forecast overnight or on weekends. Road-clearing crews would sometimes spend an entire shift waiting for snow that wouldn’t fall until morning — and getting paid for it. No longer. Now, workers are assigned to be on call...
Morning Roundup: At least 13 injured in Crawford County explosion
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Feb. 10: Over a dozen injured in explosion in Crawford County At least 13 people were reported injured after an industrial fire and explosion Sunday morning at the Parker Lord Corp. in Saegertown in Crawford County. TribLive news...
Gainey’s choice of Ragland as Pittsburgh’s top cop irks some on City Council
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday nominated Christopher Ragland, the city’s acting police chief, to run the department on a permanent basis. The nomination will move to City Council for approval as the mayor seeks to steady a department buffeted by upheaval at the top and staffing woes. Ragland, 53,...
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust unveils Arts Landing, a $31M outdoor civic space DowntownVideo
A $31 million outdoor civic space is set to debut next year in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, part of an ongoing effort to enhance the Golden Triangle. The 4-acre site, to be known as Arts Landing, will bring 100 new trees, a band shell for outdoor performances, sprawling green space...
Scirotto fallout spurs Pittsburgh council to grill nominees under oath for top city posts
Candidates tapped to lead Pittsburgh’s departments and bureaus will now have to answer City Council’s questions under oath. Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the legislation, which Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, introduced. The bill was prompted by concerns that former police Chief Larry Scirotto might have dodged questions and provided untruthful...
Pittsburgh voters to decide referendums on Israel ties and water privatization
Pittsburghers will see at least three referendum questions on their ballots this spring, with two aimed at ensuring the city isn’t forced to divest from companies with ties to Israel and a third asking voters to bar the city from privatizing its water and sewer infrastructure. City Council on Tuesday...
Gainey, O’Connor talk budget, traffic in mayoral debate
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor laid out their plans on key issues such as traffic and city finances in a brief debate hosted Sunday by the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, with assistance from the 14th Ward Democratic Committee. The two will face off in...
D.C. plane crash killed ex-Johnstown woman, an IUP grad, and her family
An IUP grad and former Johnstown woman, her husband and two children were among the 67 people killed Wednesday when a plane collided with an Army helicopter approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Donna Smojice Livingston graduated in 1999 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a marketing degree,...
Summer Lee, Pittsburgh officials, advocates slam ‘deplorable conditions’ at region’s subsidized housing
Pittsburgh officials and housing advocates are grappling with how to address serious safety issues at privately owned, publicly subsidized housing complexes throughout the region. During a Wednesday City Council meeting, advocates painted a disturbing picture of babies living in apartments plagued by mold, families finding raccoons living in their ceilings...
Pittsburgh Planning Commission backs Gainey’s zoning proposal for affordable homes
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to support a zoning package Mayor Ed Gainey has presented in an effort to bolster affordable housing. The commission voted against a dueling proposal pitched by Councilman Bob Charland. Gainey proposed to expand inclusionary zoning — a zoning regulation requiring all large-scale developments...
