Julia Felton stories, Page 44
McCandless cemetery involves community, becomes part of Eagle Scout project
A community effort is under way to clean up and revitalize the abandoned Duncan Heights Cemetery in McCandless, and a student at North Allegheny Senior High School has made aiding the restoration his Eagle Scout project. The cemetery, which spans between 4 and 6 acres along Duncan Avenue, was established...
2 Republicans seeking nomination for state House 30th District, 1 Democrat running uncontested
Two Republican candidates are vying to run for state House of Representatives in the 30th District, which encompasses the Allegheny County communities of Ben Avon, Emsworth, Franklin Park, Kilbuck and McCandless and parts of Hampton Township. On the Democratic ballot, Dr. Arvind Venkat, an emergency room physician, is running unopposed...
Mayor Gainey launches bridge repair and infrastructure funding program
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Thursday outlined plans to investigate the city’s infrastructure needs and make provisions for the repair and upkeep of bridges. “We’re known as the city of bridges, and for far too long, we’ve let our bridges be underfunded,” Gainey said. In the wake of the Fern...
Developer looks to expand Baum Boulevard project in Pittsburgh with 198 residential units
The developer behind the Baumhaus apartment complex on Pittsburgh’s Baum Boulevard is aiming to launch a second phase of the project, which will include a new building housing an additional 198 residential units. Pittsburgh-based Laurel Real Estate broke ground on the original 127-unit Baumahus apartment complex in Pittsburgh’s Friendship neighborhood...
North Allegheny 1 of 2 local schools in final round of international debate contest
A team of five students from North Allegheny traveled to New York City April 30 to compete in the final round of an international debate competition they’d been participating in since October. The team — consisting of William Sun, Daksh Goyal, Vikram Nagarajan, Srivatsa Bellamkomda and Adi Mallik — was...
Legislation aims to eliminate several Pittsburgh business licenses
Legislation before Pittsburgh City Council may eliminate certain business licenses that the city’s Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections recommended nixing. “PLI is proposing the elimination of several business licenses that we find are duplicative,” PLI Director Sarah Kinter said. She said the licenses that would be removed are repetitive...
Self-driving car company Argo AI expands Strip District headquarters
Argo AI, a self-driving car startup, is expanding its headquarters in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The company will take over three additional floors at the 130,500-square-foot office building. “Argo AI was founded in Pittsburgh and the city will always be home to our global headquarters,” Argo AI wrote in a statement....
Pittsburgh City Council approves $1.2 million in funding for Urban Redevelopment Authority
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved a measure to allocate $1.2 million to the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority to fund several programs throughout the city. Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said she would advocate for ensuring the money was used throughout the city, including neighborhoods in the southern end of the...
Alcosan looks to build new chemical storage building along Ohio River
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is looking to construct a 2,700-square-foot chemical storage building at their treatment plant along the Ohio River. In a presentation before Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission Tuesday, Rulison Evans, the project engineer, said the plan is to tear down two existing storage buildings at the site and...
Planning Commission recommends Troy Hill Fire House for historic designation
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission on Tuesday formally recommended the Troy Hill Fire House for historic designation. The nomination has also earned the recommendation of the Historic Review Board, though City Council will ultimately make the final decision. The building, which dates to the 1890s, is a centerpiece of the Troy Hill...
Pittsburgh to get 5 new electric garbage trucks
The city of Pittsburgh is set to purchase five new electric garbage trucks — and related electric charging infrastructure — using grant funds. The city will receive $2.8 million from the Allegheny County Health Department for the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 Targeted Airshed Grant. Pittsburgh City Council on...
Pittsburgh region could gain $14.5M a year through payments from nonprofits, report says
A program designed to receive payments from the area’s largest nonprofit entities could raise a “baseline” of $14.5 million per year, according to a report released Tuesday by Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb and Allegheny County Acting Controller Tracy Royston. As of 2021, almost 10% of all property in Allegheny...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey signs inclusionary zoning expansion for Bloomfield, Polish Hill
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Monday signed legislation that expands inclusionary zoning into the city’s Bloomfield and Polish Hill neighborhoods. The measure earned City Council approval two weeks ago, after community advocates had pushed for the measure for years, said Councilwoman Deb Gross, who represents the neighborhoods. Community groups in...
2 Democrats, 3 Republicans vying for outgoing U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s seat in Congress
Two Democrats and three Republicans are vying for their parties’ nominations in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb in the 17th Congressional District, which includes Beaver County and parts of Butler and Allegheny counties. Lamb, a Democrat from Mt. Lebanon, is vying for a seat in the U.S....
Affordable housing still a problem for some in Pittsburgh area despite remedy efforts, experts say
Sarah Murphy said she’s struggled to find decent housing for most of her life. Now, as a mother, Murphy said she’s trying to find housing that is safe for her son, but also affordable. She said that’s a challenge in Allegheny County, particularly as a renter with poor credit who...
Pittsburgh celebrating Arbor Day with event in Mellon Park
Pittsburgh will celebrate Arbor Day with a variety of activities in the city’s Mellon Park on Saturday. This year marks a milestone for Arbor Day, with the national initiative celebrating its 150th anniversary. Mellon Park became Pittsburgh’s first designated arboretum in 2021, receiving accreditation from the Morton Arboretum at the...
Hot, in-person lunches returning to CitiParks senior centers in Pittsburgh next week
Hot, in-person lunches will again be served at CitiParks Healthy Active Living Senior Centers in Pittsburgh starting Monday, after not being offered for two years because of the covid-19 pandemic. “Supporting our seniors is integral to building a welcoming, thriving and safe Pittsburgh,” Mayor Ed Gainey said. CitiParks and other...
Pittsburgh in ‘very healthy’ fiscal position, city controller says
Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb said Friday in his annual comprehensive financial report that the city is in a “very healthy” fiscal position as it continues to rebound from the covid-19 pandemic. The report shows that the city ended last year with a surplus, thanks in large part to the...
Pittsburgh scraps plans for guaranteed basic income program
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is scrapping plans to use American Rescue Plan funding for a guaranteed basic income pilot program in the city. Former Mayor Bill Peduto had proposed using $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding for a pilot program to offer $500 monthly payments to 200 low-income Pittsburgh...
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority could receive $1.2M in city funding
Pittsburgh City Council is poised to allocate $1.2 million to the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority to fund several programs. “They’re investments back into neighborhoods, which we’d gotten away from for the last couple decades,” Councilwoman Deb Gross said. The investment would include $150,000 for the Pittsburgh Task Force on Employee...
Bradford Woods Conservancy sponsors talk by retired geologist who hiked the Appalachian Trail
A retired geologist and author is slated to share stories of his experiences hiking the Appalachian Trail as part of an ongoing speaker series hosted by the Bradford Woods Conservancy. Craig Eckert, a retired geologist and author, will present a talk, “Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes” at Bradford Woods Community Church...
North Allegheny students place 2nd in Stellar Xplorers National Space Design Competition
A team of five North Allegheny High School students placed second in the finals of the Stellar Xplorers National Space Design Competition, a national contest organized by the Air Force. The North Allegheny Air Force Junior ROTC team was one of 10 finalists — whittled down from 350 teams —...
Plans for Pittsburgh’s Juneteenth celebration unveiled
Community leaders and local officials on Tuesday outlined plans for Pittsburgh’s annual Juneteenth celebration, which this year will include a parade, sports, a music festival and 100 minority-owned business vendors. The city’s Juneteenth celebration is organized by Stop the Violence Pittsburgh and the organization’s founder and CEO, B. Marshall, in...
Pittsburgh partners with CommonWealth Press to sell official city merchandise
The city of Pittsburgh is partnering with CommonWealth Press to sell the city’s first officially licensed merchandise. Officials with the Peduto Administration announced in September that they were looking to partner with a company to create branded Pittsburgh merchandise. On Wednesday, City Council approved a measure to partner with Pittsburgh-based...
Proposed Esplanade development on Pittsburgh’s North Side receives $10M boost
The Washington County-based developer planning a $600 million project that would bring a massive Ferris wheel, splash park, marina, ice skating rink and housing project to Pittsburgh’s North Side received $10 million in state funding for the project. Millcraft Investments purchased the 5.5-acre property along the Ohio River from the...
