Megan Swift stories, Page 26
Western Pa. could break 100-degree record this week; residents cautioned
Pittsburgh’s temperatures could reach 100 degrees this week for the first time in almost 30 years, according to Matt Brudy, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. The last time the region hit 100 degrees was July 15, 1995, he said. It’s one of several records at stake amid...
Fire in McKeesport destroys 1 house, damages 4 others
An overnight fire in McKeesport destroyed one house and damaged four surrounding buildings Sunday — and fire crews are working to address the situation. Though the fire is no longer active, McKeesport Fire Department’s deputy chief, T.J. Perciavalle, said it’s still smoldering. A closer look at the McKeesport fire, which...
North Huntingdon police say missing 16-year-old girl has been found
North Huntingdon Township Police say a 16-year-old girl they were urgently searching for Saturday has been found. Police on Saturday had put out a plea for the public to help find Cassie Nowalk, who had left her home overnight. Police said Nowalk has a medical condition, which they did not...
Historic Hanna’s Town Frontier Court Days demonstrates women’s integral role in 18th century
Leah Ray has always had a love of history, but once she discovered reenacting, she said she fell down the rabbit hole. She portrayed “Private Lee” on Saturday at the Historic Hanna’s Town Frontier Court Days, which pays tribute to the site of the first English courts west of the...
Pa. state senator and Bridgeville man help FedEx driver after collapse
For Mark Macala, the past two days have been a whirlwind of emotions. He was working from his Bridgeville home Thursday and in the middle of a lunch meeting when his doorbell rang. It was FedEx with a large shipment he had ordered, but he wasn’t expecting it until next...
Pittsburgh cyclist in critical condition after overnight collision
A vehicle and an electric bike collided overnight at Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Ninth Street in Pittsburgh — leaving the cyclist in critical condition. Pittsburgh police, fire and EMS responded to the scene around 2 a.m. The vehicle involved was traveling through a green light on Ninth Street when the...
Pittsburgh to open cooling centers amid soaring temperatures
Due to forecasted high temperatures, CitiParks will open six cooling centers this coming week. A heat wave is headed to Western Pennsylvania — with temperatures at 90 degrees or higher predicted. Cooling centers will be open in the following locations from Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21:Beechview Healthy Active...
Murrysville Eat’n Park remodel includes pick-up window
Murrysville’s Eat’n Park location is set to undergo a full remodel over the next several months. Courtney Caprara, marketing manager, said the renovations include the return of the salad bar, a pick-up window for takeout orders and additional seating. The remodel of Eat’n Park, which is located off Route 22...
Peppi’s Old Tyme Sandwich Shop closes Point Breeze location
Peppi’s Old Tyme Sandwich Shop has officially closed one of its three locations in Pittsburgh. The Point Breeze location on Penn Avenue, near Braddock Avenue, shut its doors indefinitely last week, according to owner Lou Bosser. The Strip District and North Side shops remain open. Bosser said an offer for...
Pittsburgh leaders unveil Downtown revitalization plan ahead of NFL Draft
Pittsburgh leaders Wednesday proposed transformations at Point State Park and Market Square as part of a revitalization plan ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The plan, which also includes upgrades of a block of Eighth Street in the Cultural District, was released by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny...
Pittsburgh Pride weekend sets attendance record
Pride weekend in Pittsburgh set a new attendance record — over 260,000 people, officials said. The parade itself saw over 103,000 of those attendees, said Jim Sheppard, co-chair of the Pittsburgh Pride Parade and co-creator of QBurgh, Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ news source. “We worked with a crowd control and security consulting...
Trump joins TikTok: Which other politicians are on the platform?
After attempting to ban TikTok from the White House, former President Donald Trump created an account — just days after he was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in a hush money trial. His page, @realdonaldtrump, has 5.1 million followers as of Tuesday, and his first and only video...
Activist Richard Parsakian named Pittsburgh Pride Parade grand marshal
For Richard Parsakian, a queer activist and artist in Pittsburgh, Pride is a celebration. “I feel like it’s an expression for us to acknowledge that we are still here — we are part of everybody’s life,” he said. He’s been marching in the Pride parade for more than 25 years....
U.S. Steel-Nippon merger receives foreign regulatory approval
All regulatory approvals outside of the U.S. related to the proposed merger of U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel have been approved, the companies announced Thursday. The $14.9 billion merger deal was approved by 99% of U.S. Steel’s voting shareholders on April 12. The companies said the regulatory approvals were...
The Peach Truck brings fresh fruit to Pittsburgh this summer
The Peach Truck is coming to Pittsburgh this summer — and with it, a plethora of fresh, handpicked peaches. Based out of Nashville, Tenn., The Peach Truck usually stops at various locations around the country, said Joanna Mariani, vice president of marketing. It will be parked in the Pittsburgh area...
Here’s where you can celebrate Pride in Western Pennsylvania this June
LGBTQ Pride Month is almost here, and with it, numerous events and festivals are coming to Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. The yearly, monthlong celebration in June honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a tipping point in the Gay Liberation Movement, according to the Library of Congress....
9 new recruits join Westmoreland County Young Marines
Nine new recruits recently joined the Westmoreland County Young Marines — bringing the local group’s total to an even dozen. Though some may assume the group is a pipeline to the United States Marine Corps, Eric Friez, unit commander for the Westmoreland County Young Marines, said it’s unaffiliated. The program...
Casey steers $1M in federal funds to antisemitism fight at Tree of Life synagogue
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced Friday that the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill will receive $1 million in federal funding to help combat antisemitism through education. “I’m just so grateful that Tree of Life has embarked on this ambitious and noble project,” Casey said during a press conference...
Ex-Faison teacher tells jury he did not sexually assault student
A former Pittsburgh Public Schools elementary school teacher charged with sexually assaulting a student in a classroom denied the allegations Thursday while testifying in his own defense at trial. Asked by his attorney, Blaine Jones, if he committed the crimes of which he is accused, James Ziegler replied, “Absolutely not.”...
Pittsburgh region nears record high temperatures
Temperatures are running higher than normal in the Pittsburgh region. “High temperatures since the weekend have been in the 80s,” said WTAE meteorologist Jill Szwed. “Normal high temperatures for the end of May are in the low/mid 70s.” Szwed said currently, the Pittsburgh area is running 10 to 15 degrees...
Shake Shack opens Pittsburgh location, 2 more in the works
Emily Spooner turned 24 Monday. To celebrate her birthday, she headed to Shake Shack’s official opening day in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The New York-based popular chain is known for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries and desserts including custards and milkshakes. Pittsburgh’s new location will also serve beer and wine. Originally from...
Steelers fans anticipate Christmas game against Chiefs, speculate on Taylor Swift
Vern Hess welcomed news that the Steelers will play on Christmas Day this year. After the NFL schedule was released the Steelers fanbase had mixed reactions — and many weren’t positive. The team does not play a divisional game until Nov. 17 and opens the season with three out of...
Stuntpig parks food truck for permanent shop in Squirrel Hill
Stuntpig has announced it is trading in its food truck wheels for a more permanent location — a sandwich shop in Squirrel Hill. The announcement came this week on the food truck’s social media pages, eliciting many reactions from excited Pittsburghers. The shop will be located at the former Bull...
Furries snatch up hotel rooms within minutes for Pittsburgh convention
This summer’s furry convention in Pittsburgh — Anthrocon 2024 — is expected to be as big as ever, attracting potentially over 14,000 attendees to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. VisitPittsburgh said the hotel room block earmarked for Anthrocon guests sold out within 12 minutes after registration opened. Every summer,...
Social media reacts to upcoming Biden-Trump presidential debate
It’s official — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to take the debate stage together, and their first matchup is coming soon. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the two presidential candidates agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September, and the first will...

