Megan Swift stories, Page 12
Pittsburgh International Airport to adjust security checkpoints
Pittsburgh International Airport is making changes to its security checkpoints. Travelers who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck and are ticketed to fly out of Pittsburgh should proceed directly to the main security checkpoint starting May 5. There, they will receive expedited screening benefits as PreCheck members. The alternate security checkpoint...
‘I have not even stepped out of the house’: 2 Carnegie Mellon students testify to keep federal exchange status intact
Two international Carnegie Mellon University graduate students, whose ability to study in the U.S. was terminated under a crackdown by the Trump administration, testified Tuesday in federal court as they sought to restore their status and complete their education. The students said their appearance in a Downtown Pittsburgh courtroom marked...
Attorney suspended after embezzling $270K from Fort Pitt Block House fund
An attorney was suspended Monday after embezzling more than $270,000 from the historic Fort Pitt Block House, the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announced. The suspension is for a period of three years — retroactive to May 5, 2024 — on consent from the Pennsylvania Bar. Investigators...
April ‘pink moon’ returns this weekend as micromoon
The annual April “pink moon” is set to rise this weekend — and this year, it’s going to be a micromoon. The pink moon will reach peal illumination at 8:22 p.m. EDT Saturday in the United States, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. April’s full moon will rise when its...
Carnegie Mellon students tense and anxious amid visa revocations
Skand Vijay won’t attempt to visit his home in India until he graduates from Carnegie Mellon University. He’s too nervous about the possibility of not being allowed back into the United States. Vijay hasn’t done anything to jeopardize his visa. Still, as fellow international students are having their visas revoked,...
Big Fight Aht: Video shows brawl in stands of Pat McAfee’s Pittsburgh appearance
A fight broke out during Pat McAfee’s Pittsburgh show Wednesday night — and a video of the brawl is gaining traction on social media. The video of the fight was uploaded to the Steelers Depot account on the social media platform X, with the hashtags #Steelers and #NFL. As depicted...
Surprise Kevin Spacey appearance at Steel City Con draws social media ire
Many Western Pennsylvania comic enthusiasts reacted with disappointment to Steel City Con’s last-minute announcement that controversial actor Kevin Spacey would attend this past weekend’s event. CJ Gatsby, a loyal customer of Steel City Con, said he waffled on whether to attend this past weekend, but the Spacey announcement solidified it...
April snow showers: Cold front hitting Western Pa.
Snow is returning Monday to Western Pennsylvania. And local meteorologists say it’s still completely normal at this time of year. Sometimes it snows in April. Jeff Verszyla, meteorologist at WTAE-TV, said Pittsburgh receives on average about 1 inch of snow in April. “So seeing a few flakes in the area...
New study finds microplastics in chewing gum
Chewing gum fiends might want to think twice before popping in another piece of gum. A pilot study found that chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva. Specifically, gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece, which can potentially be ingested, according to the American Chemical Society. Microplastics...
Aldi shredded cheese recalled for metal contamination
If you’ve purchased shredded cheese from Aldi recently, you might want to double check the brand. The Happy Farms by ALDI Colby Jack (a blend of Colby & Monterey Jack finely shredded cheeses) that has best-buy dates listed as July 13 and 14 have been recalled by the U.S. Food...
What to know about ‘Hands-Off’ protests opposing Trump in Pittsburgh
Grassroots organizations are set to rally on Saturday in Pittsburgh — joining the Hands Off! National Day of Action centered on opposition of the Trump administration and its policies. Hands Off! is a pro-democracy, pro-worker movement against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, according to the Third Act website....
Panther Pit Bar property for sale in Oakland following closure
After being raided and shut down for operating without a liquor license, the Panther Pit Bar and Grill property in Oakland is now for sale. Keystone Real Estate Advisors President David Glickman said the property went on the market on March 1 with an asking price of $795,000. Located on...
Sen. Cory Booker’s marathon speech in protest of Trump breaks Strom Thurmond’s record
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker’s all-night speech that began Monday evening in protest of President Donald Trump’s agenda broke the filibuster record for longest speech on Senate floor over 24 hours later — with hundreds of thousands of viewers online. His livestream on the short-form video platform TikTok hosted...
Direct flights to Punta Cana will begin this winter through American Airlines
A direct route to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from Pittsburgh International Airport is launching this winter through American Airlines — for the first time in over a decade. The service will be once per week on Saturday only, and it will start Dec. 6, American Airlines said. The Allegheny County...
April Fools’ Day jokes permeate social media on popular accounts
With April Fools’ Day comes an onslaught of sometimes hilarious and sometimes pointless jokes online, and this year is no different. Pennsylvania’s own posted some jokes. The City of Pittsburgh Republican Committee shouted out Democrat Mayor Ed Gainey and mayoral challenger Corey O’Connor. “With over a decade each in public...
Pa. measles cases prompt CVS to push vaccine statewide
Following the confirmation of at least five measles cases in Pennsylvania, CVS Health reminded patients of its services that offer the measles vaccine to unvaccinated commonwealth residents. Pennsylvania’s first measles case of the year was reported in Montgomery County outside of Philadelphia on March 2, and the second was reported...
East Liberty appears on America’s coolest neighborhoods list
Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood has gained recognition on loveEXPLORING’s list of America’s coolest neighborhoods. Ranking 33rd out of 35, the list shouted out East Liberty’s up-and-coming Bakery Square area, saying the neighborhood has had somewhat of a makeover. “Restaurants, bars and boutiques have been springing up, while murals painted on...
PennDOT to pursue 57 new transportation projects in Pittsburgh region
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced this week that 57 new transportation improvement projects will begin this year in the Pittsburgh region. Approximately 551 miles of roadway and 43 bridges will be improved, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration. Within Allegheny, Beaver and Lawarence counties, PennDOT said it anticipates investing...
Morning Roundup: Rostraver Elementary boosts police presence amid weapons, fight threats
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, March 28: Rostraver Elementary boosts police presence amid weapons, fight threats Belle Vernon Area School District Superintendent Timothy Glasspool said there will be increased police presence Friday following weapons and fighting threats made by students at Rostraver Elementary....
Carnegie Mellon president addresses China-based ties
The federal government has requested information about Carnegie Mellon University’s international students and possible collaborations it has with China-based universities and research institutions. CMU President Farnam Jahanian said it was one of six American universities to receive a letter from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party regarding...
Morning Roundup: Bus driver shortage affects Hopewell schools
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, March 27: Bus driver shortage causes flexible instruction day The Hopewell Area School District announced it will have a flexible instruction day Thursday — due to a bus driver shortage. Located in Beaver County, the change applies to...
Pittsburgh Zoo’s oldest male gorilla dies suddenly
Harry — Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s oldest male gorilla — died Tuesday of a “sudden cardiac event.” At 33 years old, the Western lowland silver-back gorilla was a longtime zoo favorite as the eldest male in a troop of six. Male western lowland gorillas have a median life expectancy of...
Penn State commonwealth campus leader leaves for College of New Jersey
Penn State’s vice president for commonwealth campuses and executive chancellor Margo DelliCarpini is set to depart the university to accept a position at a different school. She will leave Penn State effective June 30 to take on a new position as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at...
Morning Roundup: Water main break hits Pitt campus; Pittsburgh foster parent facing sex abuse charges
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, March 26: Water main break impacts Pitt campus A water main break Tuesday night along O’Hara Street in Oakland resulted in several University of Pittsburgh dorms losing water overnight, according to Pitt’s emergency alerts. The break was announced...
Former UPMC Children’s Hospital doctor pleads guilty to child pornography charges
Ashok Panigrahy, a former chief radiologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, has pleaded guilty in federal court for knowingly possessing images and videos of child pornography. On Tuesday, the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the guilty plea, which took place before U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell...
