Julia Burdelski stories, Page 12
Little turbulence at Pittsburgh International as Real ID rules take effect
Tracy Moffat experienced only a minor hiccup with her Real ID as she used it for the first time Wednesday to fly from Boston to Pittsburgh. The identification requirement, which went into effect Wednesday, mandates anyone 18 or older present a Real ID or other acceptable identification — like a...
Allegheny County Council approves tax diversion for proposed Esplanade development
The developer looking to build a Ferris wheel, housing, entertainment space and other amenities to a sprawling riverside property in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood cleared a major hurdle Tuesday as Allegheny County Council provided the last needed approval for a critical tax diversion. Cecil-based Piatt Companies has now earned approval from...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh man turns himself in after firing gun near recreation center
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 7: Pittsburgh man turns himself in after firing gun near recreation center A man who fired a gun Monday near Pittsburgh’s Brookline Recreation Center turned himself in to police, officials said. Joseph Drewery, 35, of Pittsburgh faces...
Pittsburgh council, despite reservations, will let developers build on smaller lots
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved letting developers build housing on smaller lots than they now can. It may seem like an esoteric issue, but the move to shrink minimum lot size requirements is seen as an important step to unlock more land for residential development in the city and...
PNC Park employee suspended after fight with fan
A PNC Park employee was suspended after fighting with a fan after Sunday’s Pirates game. As fans were leaving the North Shore ballpark, an argument broke out between two male fans and a female food and beverage employee, said Brian Warecki, senior vice president of communications for the Pittsburgh Pirates....
Morning Roundup: Woman shot in Rankin; gunshot fired at Brookline Recreation Center
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, May 6: Woman shot in Rankin A woman was shot multiple times in Rankin early Tuesday morning, according to Allegheny County Police. County 911 was notified at 12:39 a.m. of a shooting in the 200 block of 4th...
Lawsuit claims West Mifflin cops left hurt New Kensington man in holding cell without medical care, leading to death
West Mifflin police officers left a visibly injured assault victim untreated in a holding cell for more than nine hours after arresting him last summer, leading to his death three days later, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Monday. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh,...
Wrong-way detection project starting on Route 28
PennDOT is set to begin installing wrong-way detection technology along Route 28 on Monday. The technology will be added to off-ramps in Pittsburgh, Millvale, Sharpsburg, Etna, Aspinwall, Shaler, O’Hara and Harmar. Shoulder restrictions will occur weekdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Millvale exit through Friday. Officials will...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh police take man into custody after standoff
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, May 5: Pittsburgh police take man in custody after standoff On Sunday morning, Pittsburgh police took a man into custody following a SWAT situation in the city’s Lincoln Place neighborhood. Police reported SWAT activity in the 5700 block...
Community group sets public meeting on Pittsburgh Zoo’s proposed giraffe barn
The Highland Park Community Council will hold a public meeting Thursday on the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s proposal to build a new giraffe barn, part of a 20-year makeover unveiled in the fall. The zoo will seek approval from Pittsburgh’s Public Art and Civic Design Commission for the structure, which...
After storms, will Pittsburgh marathon route be ready to go?
Pittsburgh’s marathon route has been cleared of downed wires and debris from this week’s storms, officials said Friday, and runners this weekend can look forward to “optimal” conditions and a massive public safety presence. The Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend, which is expecting record-breaking attendance, will draw tens of...
Pa. State Police charge 2 with aggravated animal cruelty in Fayette County
Pennsylvania State Police on Thursday announced charges in an animal cruelty case in Fayette County. Police have charged Ryan Murphy and Paige Miske with aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect of animals and several other charges. Troopers responded two weeks ago to a home in the 800 block of Clover Street...
PennDOT announces weeknight Parkway East closures
PennDOT announced nearly a month of weeknight closures of the Parkway East eastbound in Pittsburgh, set to begin Monday night and run through late May. The overnight closures on Interstate 376 will last Mondays through Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the Birmingham Bridge. An additional overnight closure...
More storms possible Friday as crews continue restoring power
Another round of storms could hit the region Friday even as crews work to restore power to thousands who have been in the dark since Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Moon says there is a chance of damaging wind, large hail and heavy downpours in the Western Pennsylvania region...
Pittsburgh controller portrays city’s fiscal situation as serious but not dire
Pittsburgh is facing concerning but manageable financial challenges amid declining revenues, an end to federal pandemic relief money and broad economic uncertainty, city Controller Rachael Heisler said Thursday. “I am very concerned about where things are headed,” Heisler said as she released the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which outlines...
Some fear effort to aid developers in Pittsburgh will doom broader housing reform
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a bill to shrink the minimum size of lots for residential development, casting further doubt on the future of a broader housing reform package that has been stalled for months. The measure, sponsored by Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, would allow developers to build...
Tax diversion for Esplanade project approved by Pittsburgh Public Schools board
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board on Wednesday approved a tax diversion for the sprawling Esplanade development, which plans to bring a Ferris wheel, housing and other amenities to the city’s Chateau neighborhood. The developer, Cecil-based Piatt Companies, has now secured approval from the city and school district for the tax...
More storms expected in Western Pennsylvania
Another round of storms is expected to hit Western Pennsylvania on Thursday, even as communities are still reeling from severe weather that knocked down trees, ripped roofs from buildings and left thousands without power on Tuesday. A threat of thunderstorms — some severe — will return Thursday afternoon and evening,...
Pa. Sen. Costa pitches regional, multi-county transit authority for Southwestern Pa.
Pennsylvania Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, is pitching the idea of a regional, multi-county public transit authority as Pittsburgh Regional Transit braces for a fare increase and drastic service cuts. In a memo, Costa said he plans to introduce legislation “in the near future” to create such a transit agency....
Morning Roundup: 2 firefighters injured in Brookline blaze; police find body in Uptown
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, April 30: 2 firefighters injured in Brookline blaze Two firefighters are in stable condition after becoming trapped on the second floor of a building on fire Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood. In a social media post, the union...
Thousands remain without power in Western Pa. after destructive storms
Widespread power outages are still impacting thousands throughout the region after strong storms toppled trees, damaged buildings and knocked down power lines Tuesday evening. Duquesne Light reported more than 213,000 customers without service around 6:14 a.m., including about 197,000 in Allegheny County. At the same time, an online tracker showed...
Democrats, Republicans outline visions for Pittsburgh in mayoral forum
The candidates seeking to lead Pittsburgh as mayor outlined their positions on key issues like public safety and affordable housing in a pair of debates held at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse Downtown. Tuesday’s mayoral forum included all four candidates, separated into two separate debates, one for the Republicans and...
Chatham University names interim president
With Chatham University President Rhonda Phillips set to leave at the end of May, the school on Monday announced a new interim president. The Board of Trustees has appointed Lisa Lambert, provost and vice president of academic affairs, to take on the lead duties, effective June 1. Phillips is leaving...
Allegheny County sends out mail-in ballots, announces over-the-counter voting ahead of May primary
The Allegheny County Elections Division on Monday announced the first batch of mail-in ballots are being sent to voters ahead of the May primary. Voters who requested mail-in ballots can expect them to arrive in the coming days, county officials said. Ahead of the May 20 primary, county officials announced...
Hail, wind and tornadoes possible in Western Pa.
The National Weather Service warned of potentially severe storms throughout the Western Pennsylvania region Tuesday, with a threat of large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Pittsburgh’s National Weather Service office predicted the greatest threat for severe storms would be across eastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, with the worst hazards...

