Here are some noon headlines from TribLive, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.

• Madonna gets into the groove after late Pittsburgh concert arrival

Madonna certainly brought the electricity to Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on Monday night in her “Celebration Tour.”

The “Queen of Pop” performed a repertoire spanning her over-40-year career — all while sporting a knee brace.

Sean Stipp | Triblive  

• Study finds elevated levels of forever chemicals in rivers near Western Pa. wastewater plants

Wastewater treatment plants in Western Pennsylvania are dumping what’s known as forever chemicals into Pittsburgh’s rivers, a new study shows.

The study focuses on per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products. It found a higher concentration of the chemicals where wastewater is discharged from a plant into a river, compared with lower levels just upstream of the discharge sites.

“It’s confirmation of another source of exposure and contamination,” said Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, executive director of Women for a Healthy Environment, the nonprofit that released the study.

Courtesy Dave Tauch  

• Man pleads guilty to killing bald eagle

On Monday, Rodney Thomas, 51, of North Strabane admitted to causing the raptor’s death. He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of violating the Bald Eagle Protection Act before U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.

Thomas will serve two years probation and 50 hours of community service at a bird or wildlife organization.

Courtesy WTAE  

• WTAE hires news director

WTAE found a news director to fill the shoes of Jim Parsons, who will retire later this month.

Baylor Long, currently news director at sister Hearst station WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Ala., joins Channel 4 on March 4.

Photo by Diondre Jones  

• CBS’s ‘Watson’ will be set in Pittsburgh

Last month, CBS announced a straight-to-series order for “Watson,” a medical drama starring Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, who resumes his career a year after the death of his friend and crime-solving partner, Sherlock Holmes.

The writer/showrunner is Craig Sweeny, a Squirrel Hill native and 1992 graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School. Given that, might “Watson” be set in Pittsburgh?

Turns out, “Watson” will be set in Pittsburgh. It just won’t be filmed here.

Joyce Hanz | Triblive  

• Barcelona Wine Bar opens in the Cultural District

Pittsburgh, meet Barcelona Wine Bar.

“Our goal is to have a party every night in the restaurant,” says Barcelona general manager Autumn Williams. “And to have a party, you need people at the party.”

On that note, reservations are accepted, but not required.

The authentically Spanish-inspired wine tapas bar opened Jan. 14, making Barcelona in Pittsburgh the chain’s 22nd location nationwide.

Courtesy Station  

• Bloomfield’s Station restaurant set to close

Time is running out to dine at Station in Bloomfield.

After nine years, the restaurant is closing.

The reason? Chef Curtis Gamble is moving to Tennessee later this year.

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