Julia Felton stories, Page 48
Winter’s last gasp? Here is the latest snow forecast
The Pittsburgh region will likely see between three and five inches of snow Friday night into Saturday, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service. National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks said they anticipate the precipitation will begin as rain Friday, then change over to a mixture of rain and...
URA set to invest $2.5M in affordable housing in Hazelwood, East Hills, East Liberty
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is poised to invest more than $2.5 million in new construction and rehabilitation of 144 affordable housing units in the city’s Hazelwood, East Hills and East Liberty neighborhoods. The URA board is scheduled to vote Thursday to authorize using a $620,000 grant to build four new...
Pittsburgh mayor appoints new economic opportunity manager
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said Tuesday he is appointing Ricardo Williams to be the city’s economic opportunity manager. “One of my priorities as mayor is ensuring that every one of our residents has access to economic opportunity,” Gainey said in a statement. “Williams and his team will be laser-focused on...
Pittsburgh Public Schools police officer injured in Homewood crash
A Pittsburgh Public Schools police officer was injured in a crash Thursday morning in the city’s Homewood neighborhood, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher. The crash happened on Bennett Street around 7:50 a.m. PPS spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said the injured officer, who was driving a school SUV, was conscious...
2 Western Pa. pets make finals to be next Cadbury Bunny
One of two Western Pennsylvania pets could become Hershey’s next Cadbury Bunny. The animals are vying for the title in the annual competition to find a furry or feathered friend to star in a Hershey commercial for Cadbury Creme Eggs, one of the more popular Easter candies. In addition to...
Pittsburgh’s proposed 1% tax on college tuition, medical bills met with opposition
A proposal to impose a 1% tax on college tuition and medical bills in Pittsburgh is facing opposition and potential legal problems. Councilman Ricky Burgess introduced the measure Tuesday. Students seeking higher education in colleges, universities and advanced technical schools would be assessed a 1% tax on their tuition before...
Temperatures drop, snow returns — more expected this weekend
Winter isn’t over quite yet. A cold front moving across the region Wednesday morning has dropped temperatures into the 30s and brought a morning snowfall, said Myranda Fullerton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. “We’re not expecting anything significant in terms of snowfall accumulation with this,” she...
Pittsburgh police say gunshot victim flees pursuit, later dies in hospital
Police are investigating after they say a gunshot victim fled from them and later died in a hospital Tuesday night. Police said they responded to a reports of a shooting at the 500 block of Frayne Street in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood just after 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. They said they found...
Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess proposes 1% tax on higher-ed students, medical patients
A proposal introduced to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday would impose a 1% tax on people seeking higher education and receiving medical care in the city, with the proceeds going toward a new fund for repairing the city’s aging infrastructure. “The strongest part of our economy is the educational and...
Mayor Gainey says Pittsburgh will reinspect all city-owned bridges in poor condition
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said Tuesday that the city will work with PennDOT to reinspect every city-owned bridge that is rated in poor condition. “If any of those bridges are deemed unsafe to travel on, they will be closed immediately,” Gainey said during a news conference at the site of...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $2.5M in repairs for 30th Street Bridge
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved allocating $2.5 million to repair the 30th Street Bridge, which connects Herr’s Island and River Avenue. The money is coming from two funds designated for bridge improvements. The deck of the bridge that people drive on is rated in poor condition, according to Councilman...
Crews respond to fire in North Braddock
Crews responded to a fire in North Braddock on Tuesday morning. The fire was reported at 6:19 a.m. in the 500 block of Stokes Avenue, an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. The dispatcher said no one had been taken from the scene with injuries, though crews were still battling the...
Family asks community for support after Harrison motorcycle crash
A local family is seeking support from the community after a serious accident in Natrona Heights left a member of their family in critical condition. A GoFundMe page launched by Katie Stivers is raising money to support the family after her father, Jim, was injured in a crash on March...
Early-morning fire breaks out in Reserve apartment building
A fire broke out early Monday in a Reserve apartment building. Reserve Volunteer Fire Department said on Twitter that crews battled a one-alarm residential fire in the area of 1900 Mt. Troy Road. The fire began around 4:30 a.m., Reserve Fire Chief Dave Moore said. Everyone was out of the...
Former Brentwood councilwoman challenging state Rep. Jessica Benham for Democratic nomination
Former Brentwood Councilwoman Stephanie Fox is challenging first-term state Rep. Jessica Benham for the Democratic nomination in the 36th State House District. The district encompasses Brentwood, Mount Oliver and several Pittsburgh neighborhoods, including Brookline, Beechview, Bon Air, Carrick, Overbrook, Mt. Washington, Arlington, the South Side Flats and the South Side...
Pittsburgh’s Art Commission wants more public input on Fern Hollow Bridge rebuild
Pittsburgh’s Art Commission has raised concerns that the process to replace the collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge might not include enough public input or consideration of the new bridge’s design. Because the work is being done under an emergency declaration, officials can bypass the Art Commission and other elements of public...
Pittsburgh City Council proposal would require mayor to make sure budget proposals are legal
Pittsburgh City Council is considering legislation that would require the mayor’s office to make sure budget proposals comply with federal, state and local laws and the city’s home rule charter before they are introduced to council. This comes after former Mayor Bill Peduto proposed a major pay raise for council...
Former trolley trail to be revitalized as walking, biking path in Pittsburgh’s West End
A former trolley trail connecting Crafton with Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood is going to be transformed into a walking and biking path. Pittsburgh City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said she’s been working to revamp the trail since before she took office in 2009. The West End Trolley Trail will begin...
Pittsburgh City Council honors Michelle Gainey, Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday recognized First Lady Michelle Gainey and the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition for their contributions to the city. While reading a proclamation honoring Michelle Gainey, Council President Theresa Kail-Smith acknowledged Gainey’s work to bring local Black artwork into City Hall and her efforts to “promote...
Shadyside’s poorly rated South Negley Avenue Bridge in ‘sufficient operating condition,’ mayor says
Pittsburgh’s poorly rated South Negley Avenue Bridge is in “sufficient operating condition,” according to Mayor Ed Gainey. Some residents have expressed concern about the bridge because wooden posts underneath the deck appear to be supporting the structure. Gainey said the wooden posts do not support the full weight of the...
Pittsburgh City Council approves 2 department heads appointed by Mayor Ed Gainey
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved two more appointments to city departments by Mayor Ed Gainey. Gainey appointed Heidi Norman as director of the Department of Innovation & Performance and Karen Abrams to head the Department of City Planning. City Council interviewed both before approving their nominations. In her interview...
Pittsburgh adopts measures intended to strengthen focus on city’s infrastructure
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved several measures intended to improve the way the city investigates, reports on and provides funding for its infrastructure needs. The measures come in the wake of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park in January, which has brought heightened awareness to the...
Pittsburgh’s rental registration program to begin in May
Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections said Tuesday that the city’s rental registration program will go into effect May 29. The program, approved by City Council in November, will allow city officials to inspect rental properties in an attempt to ensure they meet “the minimum standards for safe living...
Pandemic-related rental assistance program winding down in Allegheny County
Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh announced Tuesday that the joint Emergency Rental Assistance Program is winding down, with the last payments going out in May as federal and state funding for the program comes to an end. New applications for assistance will be accepted until March 31. The...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey announces 3 appointments to administration
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Monday announced his appointments to three positions that manage neighborhood and constituent services. Gainey named Melvin Hubbard El as community advisor to the mayor, Rebekkah Ranallo as neighborhoods services manager and Chrisarah Johnson as community liaison. “These individuals all bring a wealth of knowledge and...
