Julia Felton stories, Page 46
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Allegheny Co. Executive Rich Fitzgerald test positive for covid
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald tested positive for covid-19 Thursday, officials announced Friday. Gainey is experiencing only minor symptoms and is in isolation at home, his office said in a news release Friday morning. He will continue working from home while following guidelines from the...
Proposal would create formal partnership between Pittsburgh, school district
Legislation introduced to Pittsburgh City Council would form an official partnership between the city and Pittsburgh Public Schools in an effort to address the learning gap resulting from the covid-19 pandemic and the pre-existing racial achievement gap in the city’s schools. The legislation explains that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission...
Google says it will invest $15M in Pa. this year, including Bakery Square expansion in Pittsburgh
The tech giant Google said it will invest more than $15 million in Pennsylvania this year, including plans to add another floor at its Bakery Square campus in Pittsburgh’s East End. The company said it plans to invest $9.5 billion in offices and data centers across the country this year,...
Pittsburgh City Council condemns proposed Save Women’s Sports Act
Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to condemn efforts in the state legislature to ban transgender girls from competing in female youth sports. The council measure, known as a will of council, comes in response to the proposed Save Women’s Sports Act, which would bar transgender athletes in youth sports from...
Pittsburgh looks to partner with CommonWealth Press to create, sell official merchandise
The city of Pittsburgh is looking to partner with CommonWealth Press to design and sell officially licensed Pittsburgh merchandise. The city announced in September that officials were looking to partner with a company to create branded Pittsburgh merchandise. Officials at the time said this would not prohibit other companies from...
Pittsburgh to ban plastic bags next year
Single-use plastic bags will be banned in Pittsburgh, beginning next year. City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure to ban most single-use plastic bags, though there are exceptions for produce bags, meat packaging, pharmacy bags and bags used to wrap flowers or similar items. Garbage bags and pet waste...
La Roche University hosting Out of the Darkness Walk to raise awareness for suicide prevention
La Roche University is hosting an Out of the Darkness Walk to bring awareness to suicide prevention and raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The walk is scheduled for April 22 at 6 p.m. at the school’s McCandless campus. “The idea is to bring people together over...
Oakland Plan aims to bolster jobs, affordable housing, green space, other community needs
The Oakland Plan, a neighborhood project that has been in the works for more than two years, aims to address a variety of community needs, including housing, job opportunities, green space and improved mobility systems. Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission has been briefed on the plan over the course of their two...
Plans move forward for 254 apartments above former GNC headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission this week approved a plan to transform the former GNC headquarters in Downtown into an apartment complex. The commission approved a plan that would allow the developer, New York-based Victrix LLC, to convert the building on Wood Street into a 254-unit apartment complex. Development rights would allow...
Developer buys YWCA’s Downtown headquarters for $4M, plans apartment tower
The nonprofit YWCA has sold its Downtown headquarters to City Club Apartments, a developer looking to build an apartment tower atop the existing structure. YWCA said this week that it sold the Wood Street property for $4 million. It had put the building on the market in the summer of...
Proposal would expand inclusionary zoning to Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield, Polish Hill
A proposal before Pittsburgh City Council would expand inclusionary zoning into the city’s Bloomfield and Polish Hill neighborhoods. Inclusionary zoning requires that market-rate housing developments with 20 or more units incorporate affordable housing into the plans. In the case of Bloomfield and Polish Hill, developers would be required to earmark...
Morgan Overton, advocate for gender, racial and economic justice, joining Gainey administration
Morgan Overton, a longtime advocate for gender, racial and economic justice, is joining Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration, officials announced Thursday. Overton will join the Office of Management and Budget, working under Chiefs Kyle Chintalapalli and Lisa Frank. “Morgan brings a decade of experience in public service and leadership to...
URA says it has invested $12.8M in Pittsburgh’s food economy, creating 1,000-plus jobs, since 2014
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority reports that it has invested $12.8 million in the city’s food economy since 2014. The URA said in a report to Pittsburgh City Council that it has provided $11 million in loans to 152 food-related businesses and offered technical assistance to another 99 food businesses. The...
Pittsburgh poised to adopt ban on plastic grocery bags
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a measure to ban plastic grocery bags, after amending the legislation to drop the costs of paper bags for low-income individuals. The legislation, introduced by Councilwoman Erika Strassburger in November, would ban single-use plastic bags in most instances. Shoppers would instead have to bring...
Ross Township auctioning former police motorcycles
Ross Township is auctioning off two former police motorcycles, with the proceeds benefiting the township. The township is auctioning a 2014 Harley Davidson FLHTP former police motorcycle and a 2016 BMW R1200RT-P former police motorcycle. The online auctions are open to the public and end on April 11. Pennsylvania residents...
Martell Covington, Aerion Abney poised to replace Ed Gainey, Jake Wheatley in state legislature
Voters in two special election races Tuesday chose who would replace new Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and his chief of staff, Jake Wheatley, in the state legislature. Preliminary election results showed Aerion Abney and Martell Covington, both Democrats, with strong leads in the 19th and 24th legislative districts, respectively. Abney...
Former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto joining Carnegie Mellon University
Former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is joining Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy as a Distinguished Executive in Residence, the university announced Monday. Peduto will serve as a guest lecturer, and co-teach a course, university officials said. “We are proud to welcome former Mayor Peduto...
Pittsburgh nonprofits can apply for CBDG grant money through May
Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget announced last week that it has launched the annual Community Development Block Grant Public Service grant program. The CDBG program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Grants are intended for nonprofits serving low-income Pittsburgh residents. Nonprofit organizations can apply...
Special elections to determine Harrisburg replacements for Mayor Ed Gainey, Jake Wheatley
Two special election races Tuesday will determine who replaces new Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and his chief of staff, Jake Wheatley, in the state legislature. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the 19th and 24th legislative districts. Absentee and mail-in ballots must be returned by...
Retail incubator in Pittsburgh’s Hill District showcases minority-, women-owned businesses
A retail incubator is allowing local entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Gallery on Centre, part of the Avenues of Hope initiative, was launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. “The Gallery on Centre is something we should all be proud of and will serve as a model...
Redrawn Pittsburgh City Council district map would maintain 2 majority-minority districts
Proposed changes to Pittsburgh City Council’s district map would consolidate Oakland into two districts, move the Strip District and Polish Hill into new districts and maintain two districts where people of color make up a majority of the population. The nine-member Reapportionment Advisory Committee, formed in late September, drew up...
Alcosan moving ahead with tunnel project to reduce sewage overflow, part of $2 billion plan
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is moving ahead with a massive project aimed at curbing sewage overflow by creating a massive tunnel system under Pittsburgh and its rivers. Alcosan officials said the new system — along with other elements of their Clean Water Plan — will reduce sewage overflow by...
Construction of 3rd building at Hazelwood’s Mill 19 nears completion
Construction of a third building under the skeleton of a former steel mill in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood is nearing completion. The O’Hara-based Regional Industrial Development Corp. held an event at the Mill 19 development site Thursday to mark the third building’s final steel beam being put into place. Construction of...
NAACP, WPXI-TV program to focus on upcoming special election, primary
The NAACP Pittsburgh Branch and WPXI-TV are teaming up for a program Thursday night for a televised voter education event that will encourage people to cast their ballots in the upcoming special election and primary. Special elections on Tuesday will determine who finishes out terms for state House seats vacated...
Pressley Ridge receives $10 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
McCandless-based Pressley Ridge — a leader in providing mental health care, treatment foster care and specialized education services for youth and families — announced Tuesday it received a $10 million gift, the largest in the organization’s 190-year history. The unrestricted gift comes from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. “It’s an incredible gift,”...
