Julia Felton stories, Page 34
Safety improvements planned along Pittsburgh’s Stanton Avenue
A project in Pittsburgh’s Stanton Heights will bring traffic-calming measures, pedestrian safety improvements and a dedicated uphill bicycle lane to Stanton Avenue. The city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure said Tuesday that one lane of Stanton Avenue will be closed to traffic because of the project. Flaggers will help direct...
Pittsburgh City Council looks to streamline process of creating new housing in Golden Triangle
Pittsburgh City Council is looking to make it easier to create new housing in the Golden Triangle. Legislation introduced Tuesday would streamline the process to convert existing space Downtown into residential units. The Planning Commission has recommended the proposed zoning changes. The zoning code now requires proposed residential units in...
Vehicle crashes into pole in Derry Township
A portion of Pizza Barn Road in Derry Township was closed Tuesday morning as crews responded to a vehicle that had crashed into a pole. When responders arrived after the 4:30 a.m. call, there was no one around the vehicle in the single-car wreck, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said....
No injuries reported in house fire in Pittsburgh’s Esplen neighborhood
A fire broke out early Tuesday at a home in Pittsburgh’s Esplen neighborhood. Crews responded to the single-alarm fire in the 3000 block of Oregon Street around 2:25 a.m., according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher. No injuries were reported. The dispatcher could not provide details about what may have...
McKeesport police dog dies after medical emergency
The McKeesport Police Department’s K9 unit announced the death of a police dog. The dog, Stryker, died unexpectedly after a medical emergency early Saturday, the unit wrote in a social media post. The unit did not provide additional details. The canine had served the police department since 2015. “K9 Stryker,...
No injuries reported in garage fire that spread to house in Fox Chapel
No one was hurt Monday night after a fire broke out in a detached garage in Fox Chapel and spread to the house in front of it. Crews from Aspinwall, Sharpsburg, Dorseyville and Blawnox responded to the fire in the 100 block of South Pasadena Drive, according to the Aspinwall...
Penn Township motorcyclist killed in Hempfield crash
A motorcyclist was killed Monday in a crash in Hempfield, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The victim was identified as Ethan Nicastro, 21, of Penn Township. The crash was reported at 9:18 p.m. on College Avenue. State police said the victim lost control of his 2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide motorcycle...
Pittsburgh Public Schools students encouraged to explore career options without leaving city
Freshmen from six Pittsburgh Public high schools visited the City-County Building last month to meet with representatives from the district’s Career and Technical Education program and city employees from various departments to learn about potential career paths. Students had the opportunity to talk with students and teachers from 16 Career...
Finleyville shooting victim identified as Monessen man
A Monessen man was found dead of a gunshot wound in Finleyville early Monday, according to the Washington County Coroner. First responders were called to the 3600 block of Washington Avenue around 2:40 a.m. to respond to the incident, 911 dispatchers said. Police found Jaisen A. Irwin, 29, of Finleyville...
Audit cites ‘concerning’ decline in Pittsburgh crossing guards
In an audit of Pittsburgh’s school crossing guards, City Controller Michael Lamb highlighted a decrease in the ratio of crossing guards to students and urged a pay raise for crossing guards. Housed within the Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Administration, school crossing guards are tasked with helping students and...
Pittsburgh no longer requiring new police recruits have 60 college credits to join academy
Pittsburgh will no longer require police recruits to have completed 60 college credits before entering the city’s police academy, according to Mayor Ed Gainey’s office. “Now, we’ve giving recruits the opportunity to earn those credits as they go through the academy class,” said Maria Montaño, Gainey’s spokesperson. Recruits will not...
Planning Commission recommends 412 Boulevard of the Allies for historic designation
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously recommended 412 Boulevard of the Allies for historic designation. Construction on the building was completed in 1927, according to the historic nomination. The site originally housed a hospital, then a pharmaceutical research, manufacturing and sales company, said Sarah Quinn with Pittsburgh’s Department of City...
Planning commission again rejects Citizens Bank’s plans for East Liberty branch
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission this week unanimously voted against a proposal to tear down and replace the Citizens Bank in East Liberty. Citizens Bank — which opened a branch at the site in 2002 and later closed it in March 2020 — proposed tearing down the existing structure and replacing it...
Legislation could allow Pittsburgh to fine residents, businesses for excess trash, uncut lawns
Legislation introduced to City Council Tuesday would allow Pittsburgh to fine residents or businesses for quality of life violations, like an accumulation of garbage, tall weeds or improperly stored garbage cans. The measure, sponsored by Councilman Bruce Kraus, aims to tackle issues surrounding properties that are not properly maintained. Such...
Pittsburgh City Council gives members access to $400K for grants to athletic, community groups
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved giving its members access to more than $400,000 to grant directly to athletic associations and community organizations in their districts. The legislation, sponsored by Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, will move $410,000 from the Office of Management & Budget and Parks & Recreation to the...
Pittsburgh accepting gingerbread house entries for annual holiday display
Pittsburgh’s annual Gingerbread House Display and Competition will return to a fully in-person event this winter, after two years of online and hybrid activities because of the covid-19 pandemic. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the event is open to individuals, schools, communities, nonprofits and professionals. Online registration opened Saturday and will...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey appoints manager for new financial empowerment office
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said Monday he is appointing Sharon Watkins as the city’s financial empowerment manager. The new office, funded through a grant from The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, was announced in July. Watkins, of the city’s East Allegheny neighborhood, will work with city leaders and Cities for...
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County recognize Friday as Roberto Clemente Day
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders recognized Friday as Roberto Clemente Day to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the baseball legend’s 3,000th career hit. To mark the event, leaders unveiled a marker where home plate was located at the former Three Rivers Stadium, now a parking lot near Heinz Field and...
Abstinence not ‘expected norm’ in updated Pittsburgh Public Schools sex education policy
Pittsburgh Public Schools updated its sexuality education policies and will no longer teach that abstinence is the “expected norm.” The school board unanimously approved the changes this week. “It is in the public’s best interest to ensure that young people are equipped with medically and scientifically accurate, developmentally appropriate information...
Mayor Ed Gainey releases preliminary 2023 Pittsburgh budget with no tax increase
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday unveiled his first preliminary budget, which does not propose a tax increase. The $657 million operating budget and $147 capital budget include cash from the American Rescue Plan and aim to fund key areas important to Gainey’s administration, like safe neighborhoods, infrastructure, housing, the...
Pittsburgh to spend an extra $2M to cover gas costs for city vehicles
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday approved allocating an extra $2 million to cover the cost of gas and vehicle maintenance for the city’s fleet this year. The city is expected to spend about $5 million on gas this year — about $2 million more than last year — to keep...
Pittsburgh looks to allocate $400K to award grants directly to community groups
Pittsburgh City Council members are considering a measure that would give them over $400,000 that could be sent directly to athletic associations and community groups in their respective districts. Sponsored by Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, the legislation would reallocate $410,000 from the Office of Management & Budget and Parks &...
State auditor general finds minor issues in audit of Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company Relief Association
An audit of the Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company Relief Association found three minor issues. Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor Sept. 27 announced the findings of volunteer firefighters’ relief associations in 18 counties throughout the commonwealth. “Relief associations provide vital support to Pennsylvania’s dedicated first responders,” DeFoor said in a...
Kennywood to add chaperone policy, security protocols after shooting
Kennywood Park officials said Wednesday they will add new security protocols and a chaperone policy before reopening this weekend after a triple shooting inside the park. The chaperone policy requires anyone under 17 to be accompanied by an adult 21 or older at all times. Masks are banned after 6...
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County leaders vow to close digital divide in 5 years
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Tuesday they want to close the region’s digital divide within five years, increasing access to the internet and other technology for those who don’t have it now. “While Pittsburgh in general has a very high digital quotient, there are...
