Pittsburgh category, Page 56
Gainey, O’Connor trade barbs over campaign money from GOP donors
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Monday slammed his opponent in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary race for accepting campaign donations from Republicans. But Gainey acknowledged he’s taken money from GOP contributors, too. His challenger, Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor, said he’s proud to have gathered a diverse array of voters...
Uncertainty swirling for university researchers impacted by proposed NIH cuts
Democrats and university officials say uncertainty is rampant after proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health, and fear the move could cost the region thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars. About 21,000 jobs are supported by NIH funding in the state, according to figures cited by...
10 Japanese exchange students to attend Shaler Area High School classes in March
Hailing from Niigata High School on Japan’s western coast, 10 Japanese students attended three days of classes at Shaler Area High School. The students, mostly third-year high schoolers, sat in on science, technology, engineering and math classes from March 10-12 in an effort to learn more about American STEM education....
‘Lifting Liberty’ exhibition documents Black life in East Liberty
Njaimeh Njie’s “Lifting Liberty” exhibit at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater is a tribute to the beauty of East Liberty and a love letter to Black culture in Pittsburgh past, present and future. The installation looks at Black-led spaces in conversation with urban renewal. Through Njie’s research, she depicts expression and...
UPMC reports $339 million operating loss in 2024
UPMC lost $929,000 a day last year amid a spending spree on new and expanded facilities. In its end-of-year financial report, the hospital and health insurance giant placed its operating losses at $339 million, up 71% from the previous year, when losses hit $198 million in 2023. UPMC attributed $128...
Morning Roundup: Man shot in Homewood North; 4 injured in Ross crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, March 3: Man shot in Homewood North Police said a man was shot late Saturday night in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood after several blocks were hit with a barrage of gunfire. Officers were dispatched just before midnight to...
Creative Hive brings Black artists together to shape Pittsburgh’s cultural future
Black artists in Allegheny County are making their mark in the creative world, using their work to inspire and connect with their community. Among them is Dominique Swift, a 23-year-old multimedia artist whose passion for storytelling through art has led her to develop a 16-part painting collection and a film...
CCAC Homewood Brushton Center celebrates Black Excellence
The CCAC Homewood Brushton Center honored Black excellence in style at its second annual Black Excellence Gala on Wednesday night, marking the end of Black History Month with a powerful celebration. The evening also featured a special tribute to Dr. Ralph Proctor with the dedication of the African American Heritage...
‘It’s life and death’: Advocates fear dangers of any Medicaid cuts
Erin Gabriel for the last 15 years has relied on Medicaid to cover the costs of doctor’s appointments, medications, physical therapists and tests to help her daughter Abby navigate life with disabilities. Abby is autistic and non-speaking and uses a wheelchair. Doctors are still learning more about a rare, progressive...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Feb. 28-March 2
We’re all ready to put winter in the rear view, and there’s some hope now that March is here. But there’s still a chill in the air, so here are some fun things to do on (hopefully) one of the last winter weekends for a while. Jurassic Quest For the...
Is Pittsburgh a future Hollywood powerhouse? Possibly, with more investment
About 20 years since its inception, and three years since its last funding boost, the Pennsylvania film tax credit is ready for a close-up, according to industry experts. The timing might not get any better, they said. Wildfires in Southern California, industry strikes and disruptions from the covid-19 pandemic have...
After slow start, Pittsburgh Land Bank finds affordable housing success in Hazelwood
Standing outside a blue house built on a once-blighted site in Hazelwood, Pittsburgh officials on Thursday trumpeted an all-too-rare success story for the city’s land bank — one they hope becomes more frequent. Mayor Ed Gainey and others were showing off a newly constructed home on Flowers Avenue, one of...
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership unveils plans for newest city festival, The Thaw
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on Wednesday unveiled plans for the newest addition to its festival lineup, a celebration called The Thaw to mark the transition from winter to spring. It will be held in Market Square on eight days over three weekends next month. The Thaw will include family-friendly activities...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus strikes pedestrian in Oakland
A woman was hospitalized after being hit Wednesday by a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Fifth Avenue at McKee Place, according to Andrew Carr, a transit agency spokesperson. Carr said a route 75 Ellsworth bus hit the pedestrian, who suffered...
Banana Republic on Walnut Street in Shadyside to close
The Banana Republic store on Walnut Street in Shadyside is set to close after being open for more than 30 years. Two signs posted in the store’s windows say “We’re Closing: March 2025.” A specific date has not been announced. The two-story store is located at 5542 Walnut St., at...
Penn Hills resident publishes book of poetry inspired by 15 years of riding bus to work
Michael Frachioni has been riding city buses for years. Unlike most who use the commute to zone out, listen to music or close their eyes for a moment, Frachioni uses that time to observe his fellow riders to find the subject of his next poem. A lawyer for PNC Bank...
Snowplow woes force Pittsburgh officials to explore asking for help clearing roads
With nearly a third of Pittsburgh’s snowplow fleet out of commission, some city officials want to ask their neighbors for help. Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, said neighboring municipalities often seem to treat roads more efficiently than Pittsburgh. She wants to explore paying them to treat Pittsburgh roads after they’ve...
Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders recommend closing 14 schools
After years of discussion and potential closures, Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders this week released recommendations for the district’s restructuring — including the shuttering of 14 schools. Because of declining enrollment, underutilization and aging infrastructure, the feasibility report advised the district to close the following schools:Allegheny 6-8Arsenal PreK-5Fulton PreK-5King PreK-8Linden PreK-5Manchester...
Groups battle anew over Pittsburgh referendum effort targeting ties to Israel
Pittsburgh’s business ties to Israel are once again stirring controversy. In November, pro-Palestinian group Not on Our Dime tried to let voters decide whether to ban the city from doing business with companies linked to Israel. But a challenge to the signatures sunk that effort. Now the group is trying...
Fixes not fines: Pittsburgh wants to aid, not punish, poor homeowners with crumbling sidewalks
Pittsburgh will consider expanding a program to help poor homeowners fix dilapidated sidewalks outside their houses rather than slapping them with fines for failing to make pricey repairs. City Council in 2023 authorized a pilot program for the city to repair sidewalks at a discounted rate for low-income homeowners. Homeowners...
Settlement in Fern Hollow Bridge case collapses amid finger-pointing
The City of Pittsburgh is blaming everyone but itself for the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse. In recent court filings, lawyers for the city have faulted the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the private engineering firms who conducted annual inspections — even the victims driving across the bridge in 2022 when it...
Archers killed 199 deer as part of Pittsburgh culling program in parks
Nearly 200 deer were harvested as part of Pittsburgh’s deer management program over the 2024-25 archery season. A city harvest report said 92 of those deer were donated to local food banks, which provided 3,980 pounds of venison and 14,720 meals to residents. Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety said the...
Nippon to meet with federal officials in bid to salvage U.S. Steel deal
Nippon Steel plans to meet with federal officials to work out a solution to the U.S. Steel takeover, and will use the existing merger agreement as a starting point in negotiations. The Japanese steelmaker’s chief operating officer, Tadashi Imai, unveiled the plan to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. Imai’s stance...
Pittsburgh council OKs tax incentive for Esplanade development
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a critical tax diversion for Esplanade, a sprawling $740 million development planned along the Ohio River. The developer, Cecil-based Piatt Companies, will now turn its attention to seeking similar approvals from Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools. If the measure is approved by...
Police: Man dies in Route 28 crash after appearing to jump from moving vehicle
A man who police believe jumped from a moving vehicle was struck and killed along Route 28 in a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Connell Nihei, 50, of Pittsburgh. The crash near Etna was reported shortly before 7 a.m., according to...
