Local stories category, Page 2
Feds OK settlement between Shapiro, grid manager to control electricity prices
Federal regulators approved a deal between Gov. Josh Shapiro and PJM Interconnection to limit some electricity price hikes. PJM is a regional transmission organization, which works to secure generation capacity for utility companies within its 13-state network. It holds annual auctions in which the lowest bidder earns the right —...
News media hail Google ‘monopoly’ ruling
News media organizations applauded a federal judge’s ruling Thursday that Google, the premier internet search engine, illegally monopolized the lucrative online advertising market. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google, a $348 billion behemoth owned by Alphabet Inc., created a monopoly over advertising software used by publishers. “This ruling...
Delay in ‘silica rule’ leaves some miners’ advocates worried
After the announcement by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration of a four-month delay in enforcement of the “silica rule,” some in the region are worried about what that delay signals for miners’ safety. The rule, issued last April, gave mine operators a year to upgrade respiratory protection programs...
Covid pandemic exposed vulnerabilities but brought lessons in preparedness
Ordinary shopping trips became a scavenger hunt five years ago. Shoppers who felt fortunate enough to find toilet paper quickly filled their carts. Demand soared for items such as masks, lumber, liquor and computer chips. As covid-19 swept across the United States, empty store shelves spurred anxiety, heightened tensions and...
Yes, Western Pa. pays more for gas. You might be surprised how much more
If you feel like Western Pennsylvanians pay more for gasoline, you’re right. You can blame geography, experts say. Within the state — already home to the nation’s ninth-most expensive gasoline and the country’s third-highest gas tax — fuel costs more in the Pittsburgh region than almost anywhere, including the Philadelphia...
Wilkinsburg rising: Scrappy suburb sports signs of long-sought revivalVideo
One late January morning, Dontae Comans pushed his two youngsters in a shopping cart down the tidy aisles of Wilkinsburg’s new Aldi supermarket, the latest success story in the tattered borough’s ongoing revival. Moments earlier, Comans, Wilkinsburg’s first-term mayor, had presided over a grand-opening ceremony before joining scores of his...
Burghers Brewing to open new flagship location in Millvale
After more than a year of work, Burghers Brewing Co. is poised to open next week what co-owner Neil Glausier calls a “stainless steel cathedral” as its flagship location in Millvale. The brewery, located at 400 Grant Ave., will take over as the primary brewing location for the local beer...
From brownfield to crown jewel: Piatt’s $740M Esplanade project aims to spur Ohio River revival
When drivers emerge from the Fort Pitt Tunnel, they’re greeted by a majestic view of Pittsburgh’s dazzling rivers, the iconic Point State Park fountain and the city’s soaring skyline. And when Lucas Piatt glances left as he drives along the Fort Pitt Bridge, he can already envision the massive Ferris...
Longtime physical therapy business in Scottdale sold to regional group
George Hoffman can only speculate about how a new ownership group will run his former business, Scottdale Rehabilitation. But he’s pretty sure about one thing — they won’t be making deals with patients where payment comes in the form of a pie or cake. “My wife used to make fun...
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport bleeds cash as leaders pin hopes for brighter future on terminal project
Westmoreland County directs $2.6 million annually to support Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe, but a drop in commercial flights over the past five years has left the facility “bleeding” money. Today, the once-thriving airport loses money every month it operates. As the new year gets underway, the county airport...
2050 look-ahead: Developments in Pittsburgh driven by tech hubs, housing demands
Editor’s note: One-fourth of the way through this century, TribLive is looking ahead to the next 25 years, using the events of the past 25 as a roadmap of what possibly is to come. This installment of the occasional series looks at Pittsburgh. Where mills once sat along the Monongahela...
What’s so great about Wegmans? We went to the Erie store to askVideo
Wegmans is coming. Wegmans is coming. Wegmans executives said they are eyeing late 2027 as the target date to open their recently announced Cranberry location and hinted there could be more stores coming to the Pittsburgh area. So, why the hoopla? A TribLive journalist drove to the Erie store this...
Cardinal Coffee opens cafe in Jeannette, continues legacy of owner’s deceased son
The past 15 years of Robert Zollinger’s life would undoubtedly look different if it weren’t for the dream of his son, Jason. Jason Zollinger envisioned running his own coffee roastery — a vision he put into motion through Cardinal Coffee Co. in 2010. Inviting his dad to join in on...
Consol merger with Arch: Well-positioned for global sales
Pennsylvania’s largest coal company on Tuesday completed its merger with the nation’s second-largest coal producer, creating an industry giant with 25 million tons of annual exporting capacity at a time when global coal use remains strong, according to industry observers. Consol Energy Inc. of Cecil and Arch Resources Inc. of...
Wegmans looks to open Cranberry location in late 2027, hints at further expansion in regionVideo
Wegmans executives said they are eyeing late 2027 as the target date to open their recently announced Cranberry location and hinted there could be more stores coming to the Pittsburgh area. The store still has to get final approval from Cranberry Township and enter the permitting process for the proposed...
Amazon: $20M upgrade at Findlay warehouse to displace 432 workers
Online retailer Amazon said Monday it will displace 432 of 500 workers at its Findlay sorting center in March as the company makes more than $20 million in improvements at the facility over six to eight months. The package and delivery giant filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or...
‘Steel is all around us:’ Despite uncertain future locally, U.S. Steel’s connection to this region and its people endures
President Joe Biden’s decision to thwart a Japanese firm from buying U.S. Steel doesn’t pen an obituary for the Pittsburgh-based industrial titan whose decades-long fall from grace has been inextricably linked to the city where it was born. But it does portend an uncertain future for an industry that built...
U.S. Steel, Nippon say Biden’s decision to block sale was ‘political’
President Joe Biden on Friday blocked a nearly $15 billion sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp., throwing the local future of the country’s once-dominant steelmaker into question. In a move signaled months ago, Biden cited national security concerns surrounding the deal despite pledges from Nippon to...
U.S. Steel, Nippon say Biden’s decision to block sale was ‘political’
The U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works Clairton plant in Clairton is shown on Feb. 26, 2024. by JACK TROY...
UPMC sees $371 million operating loss in first 9 months of 2024
UPMC in its most recent financial disclosure blamed a $371 million operating loss on increased medical utilization and rising pharmacy costs. The Pittsburgh-based health care giant reported a $371 million operating loss in the first nine months of 2024. That’s up from the $177 million loss reported during the same...
New jazz-themed wine bar and restaurant to open in Sharpsburg
It’s almost time to step back into the 1920s. Uncorked, the Pittsburgh region’s newest jazz and blues-themed wine bar and restaurant, is set to officially open Nov. 9 at 703 Main St. in Sharpsburg. The public event will showcase an evening of old-school jazz glamour with gourmet small plates, curated...
Who is better for economy, Trump or Harris? Here’s how their policies compare
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series examining where presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump stand on the biggest issues. Today’s segment focuses on the economy. Former President Donald Trump, never shy to borrow from Ronald Reagan, asked supporters at a recent rally in Unity a simple...
These men are credited as being founding fathers of AI — and 2 are from Carnegie Mellon
Pittsburgh may not be the birthplace of AI, but it served as a cradle. And the technology is older than you probably think. Carnegie Mellon University is one of the places where AI was being developed more than 50 years ago. Tom Mitchell, who has taught at Carnegie Mellon since...
Biden to block U.S. Steel sale to Nippon, newspaper reports
President Joe Biden will formally block Nippon Steel’s proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. The newspaper quoted anonymous sources for the article. The proposed acquisition has been under investigation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a U.S. body. Nippon...
Inflation explained: It seems everything is more expensive than 5 years ago. Here’s why.
As she walked the aisles of Walmart in Frazer, Ashley Williams of Pittsburgh’s Morningside neighborhood wanted to know the “mathematics behind” the rising cost of milk, eggs and other staples. Terry Riehle of Greensburg struggled to understand why Land O’Lakes cheese costs more per pound than most cuts of meat...
