Julia Felton stories, Page 53
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County stories of the year in 2021
The covid-19 pandemic continued to dominate daily news cycles this year in Western Pennsylvania and beyond. But many other news events occurred in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County in 2021 — including the election of Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor and the arrests of dozens of Western Pennsylvanians after the riot at...
Another key official in outgoing Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration announces departure
The director of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget plans to leave his role with the city in January, Mayor Bill Peduto announced Wednesday. Kevin Pawlos is the latest official in the Peduto administration to announce their departure in advance of Mayor-elect Ed Gainey’s inauguration next week. Pawlos began working...
Pittsburgh bans traffic stops for minor violations
Pittsburgh police will no longer be able to conduct traffic stops for minor, secondary violations. City Council on Tuesday approved legislation banning such traffic stops, despite calls from residents and one councilman for a public hearing ahead of a vote on the measure. The legislation, introduced by Councilman Ricky Burgess...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey to be inaugurated in virtual ceremony
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey said Tuesday that his inauguration will be held virtually. He said he decided to hold his inauguration and swearing-in ceremony virtually “in accordance with guidance from public health officials.” The inauguration, scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, will be streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel, Comcast...
Pittsburgh to partner with University of Cincinnati researchers to improve emergency response
Pittsburgh is looking to partner with the University of Cincinnati researchers to analyze police department data so the city can respond better to emergencies. The proposal, approved this month by City Council, would allow Pittsburgh police and the city’s Office of Community Health and Safety to partner with the university’s...
Handling covid exposure around holidays depends on vaccination status, experts say
Attempting to return to normal life has come with a price during the pandemic. While many people opted to forgo large family get-togethers during the holidays last year as cases surged and the United States was still without an approved vaccine, many families seemed determined to gather this year. Inevitably,...
Strain of pandemic drives Americans to drink more
The strain of the coronavirus pandemic, now almost two years old, has contributed to a national uptick in alcohol consumption, experts say. People might not feel as isolated as they did during the height of the pandemic, when in-person activities were limited or shut down at many workplaces, schools and...
City of Pittsburgh begins disciplining unvaccinated employees
The city of Pittsburgh announced Thursday that it has begun disciplining employees who have yet to be vaccinated against covid-19. Mayor Bill Peduto in November issued an executive order requiring all city employees — except those with an accepted medical or religious exception — to be fully vaccinated by Dec....
Wilkinsburg severs ties with borough development group over annexation debate
Wilkinsburg Borough Council has voted to sever all ties with the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation, the organization calling for Pittsburgh to annex the neighboring borough. The Wilkinsburg CDC — which initially was tasked with revitalizing Wilkinsburg’s main business corridor when it was formed in 2008 — has “failed in its...
Zoning amendments in Pittsburgh curb number of parking spots for restaurants
Zoning amendments approved by Pittsburgh City Council this week will, among other things, limit the number of parking spots required at restaurants. The measure will require that restaurants — including fast food locations — must provide a transportation impact study to the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. The Zoning Board...
Proposal would add 6 parks, more than 300 acres to Pittsburgh park system
A proposal before Pittsburgh City Council would designate six greenways as city parks, adding more than 300 acres to the city’s park system. The measure would move the city closer to its goal of increasing the number of residents who live within a half-mile – or roughly a 10-minute walk...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey says covid-19 test was false positive
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey said Wednesday that his recent covid-19 test was a false positive. Gainey had moved an announcement regarding his transition team to a virtual format Monday after a rapid covid-19 test came back positive. Gainey, who is vaccinated and has received a booster, never had symptoms of...
Pittsburgh, Humane Animal Rescue extend partnership for more than $1 million
Pittsburgh City Council on Monday approved a measure to extend the city’s partnership with Humane Animal Rescue, a nonprofit that takes in stray animals and aids in the adoption process. The nonprofit has collaborated with the city’s Bureau of Animal Care and Control for about 15 years. The contract approved...
Pittsburgh’s URA to forgive $2.9M in small-business loans
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority said this week it would forgive more than $2.9 million in small business loans given through its Emergency Loan Fund program, in a move meant to help small businesses survive the covid-19 pandemic. As covid-19 restrictions forced many small businesses to close their doors or alter...
Churchill Council approves application for controversial Amazon warehouse
Churchill Council on Tuesday voted in favor of a controversial Amazon warehouse in their residential community. Council voted 5-2, with council members Adam McDowell and Norma Greco opposing the development. The vote comes after a 14-day public hearing that included more than 55 hours of testimony — and about a...
Pittsburgh City Council puts effort to create food justice fund on hold
An initiative to allocate about $1.8 million for a food justice fund has been put on hold, though the councilwoman who spearheaded the proposal said a revised version will likely be reintroduced early next year. Councilwoman Deb Gross last week introduced a measure that would allocate $1.8 million in federal...
Pittsburgh pauses vaccine mandate as officials negotiate with unions
Pittsburgh officials announced Tuesday that they will not enforce a city-issued vaccine mandate set to take effect Wednesday for at least the remainder of the week as they negotiate with unions representing the city’s police and firefighters. Mayor Bill Peduto announced Nov. 1 that all city employees without medical or...
Pittsburgh to direct parking tax to pension fund for 5 more years after accounting error
Weeks after extending the length of time Pittsburgh’s parking tax revenues are directed to the pension fund, City Council on Monday approved a measure to extend it by another five years. City Council recently removed a pension offset for nonunion city employees. In doing so, they dedicated an additional 10...
Pittsburgh establishes Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs
Pittsburgh will now have an office dedicated to the city’s immigrant and refugee populations. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs will help connect immigrants and refugees with resources and benefits offered throughout city, county, state and federal government and private organizations. It also will advise other city offices on...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $613 million operating budget
Pittsburgh City Council on Monday approved the city’s 2022 budget. The budget, compiled by Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration, was initially introduced in late September. Peduto formally introduced the $613.2 million operating budget and a $158.2 million capital budget to City Council during his final State of the City address in...
Pittsburgh council to vote on whether police can make minor traffic stops
City Council on Monday continued debate about a measure that would prohibit Pittsburgh police from pulling people over for minor, secondary violations. Though council was originally scheduled to vote on the legislation Monday, members delayed the final until next Tuesday at the request of Councilman Anthony Coghill, who has repeatedly...
Peduto Chief of Staff Dan Gilman to take on new role at Duquesne University
Dan Gilman, who served as Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff, announced Monday that he will be taking on a new role at Duquesne University when Peduto leaves office in January. Gilman will serve as a senior advisor to Duquesne University President Ken Gormley and will move into the chief...
Pittsburgh approves spending plan for $10.8 million parks tax fund
City Council on Monday approved the spending plan for the fund holding the money collected through the Pittsburgh’s new parks tax. This will be the first year the city has the dedicated fund to use for park projects. The trust fund is projected to contain $10.8 million at the start...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey announces transition team details
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey on Monday introduced new members to his transition committee as he prepares to take office next month. The announcement came virtually after he said he tested positive for covid-19 Monday morning. “This is a robust group of people that came together here,” Gainey said of his...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey tests positive for covid
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey announced during a virtual press conference Monday that he has tested positive for covid-19. Gainey said he tested positive after taking a rapid test in the morning. He was holding a virtual press conference to announce his transition team. Gainey said he was exposed to the...
