Megan Swift stories, Page 26
Ex-Faison teacher tells jury he did not sexually assault student
A former Pittsburgh Public Schools elementary school teacher charged with sexually assaulting a student in a classroom denied the allegations Thursday while testifying in his own defense at trial. Asked by his attorney, Blaine Jones, if he committed the crimes of which he is accused, James Ziegler replied, “Absolutely not.”...
Pittsburgh region nears record high temperatures
Temperatures are running higher than normal in the Pittsburgh region. “High temperatures since the weekend have been in the 80s,” said WTAE meteorologist Jill Szwed. “Normal high temperatures for the end of May are in the low/mid 70s.” Szwed said currently, the Pittsburgh area is running 10 to 15 degrees...
Shake Shack opens Pittsburgh location, 2 more in the works
Emily Spooner turned 24 Monday. To celebrate her birthday, she headed to Shake Shack’s official opening day in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The New York-based popular chain is known for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries and desserts including custards and milkshakes. Pittsburgh’s new location will also serve beer and wine. Originally from...
Steelers fans anticipate Christmas game against Chiefs, speculate on Taylor Swift
Vern Hess welcomed news that the Steelers will play on Christmas Day this year. After the NFL schedule was released the Steelers fanbase had mixed reactions — and many weren’t positive. The team does not play a divisional game until Nov. 17 and opens the season with three out of...
Stuntpig parks food truck for permanent shop in Squirrel Hill
Stuntpig has announced it is trading in its food truck wheels for a more permanent location — a sandwich shop in Squirrel Hill. The announcement came this week on the food truck’s social media pages, eliciting many reactions from excited Pittsburghers. The shop will be located at the former Bull...
Furries snatch up hotel rooms within minutes for Pittsburgh convention
This summer’s furry convention in Pittsburgh — Anthrocon 2024 — is expected to be as big as ever, attracting potentially over 14,000 attendees to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. VisitPittsburgh said the hotel room block earmarked for Anthrocon guests sold out within 12 minutes after registration opened. Every summer,...
Social media reacts to upcoming Biden-Trump presidential debate
It’s official — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to take the debate stage together, and their first matchup is coming soon. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the two presidential candidates agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September, and the first will...
Canadian wildfires pose threat of smoke to Western Pa. once again
Pennsylvania skies could be clouded by wildfire smoke again this summer, according to meteorologists. Canada’s wildfire season has begun, and air quality alerts have spread across the United States. Air quality alerts are in effect across northern Iowa, and as the smoke spread southward and eastward Monday, parts of Minnesota...
If it seems like more tornadoes are striking Western Pa. — they are
A spate of tornadoes have spun up in Western Pennsylvania with unprecedented frequency this spring. The National Weather Service in Moon’s coverage area, which includes Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia, has already seen 14 tornadoes in 2024, which is more than double the annual average of six...
Show’s over for northern lights in Western Pennsylvania
The northern lights put on a show over the weekend in Western Pennsylvania — but that could be the end of it. Shannon Hefferan, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said as of now, there’s nothing projected around here in the future. Late Friday and early Saturday, residents...
New sushi to-go restaurant to open in Bakery Square
Golden Gai, a to-go sushi restaurant, has announced its grand opening day — May 28 — in Bakery Square. Its intention is to bring the taste of Japan to Pittsburgh’s East End and redefine the authentic sushi experience. Golden Gai To-Go will just be a sneak peek of what’s to...
Galley Group takes over Mindful Brewing Company in Castle Shannon
Mindful Brewing Company in Castle Shannon will soon have a new name: Chimera Brewing. Galley Group announced on Mindful Brewing’s Facebook page Friday that it is the new owner of the brewing company located on Library Road. The Facebook post garnered more than 370 likes and hearts within the first...
American river otter returns to Pa. watershed after 100-year absence
An American river otter has been spotted in the Ridley Creek watershed after more than a century of absence. Ridley Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Chester and Delaware counties near Philadelphia. The otters have returned to the headwaters of the creek in southeastern Chester County. “This...
‘Oh, Baby!’: Millie’s ice cream flavor celebrates Mother’s Day, women’s health
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream has unveiled a new flavor just in time for Mother’s Day. Partnering with Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, a portion of sales from the “Oh, Baby!” flavor will fund women’s health research. This collaboration celebrates motherhood and highlights the need for advancements in women’s healthcare. It...
Met Gala draws reactions from fashion enthusiasts online
Fashion’s biggest show — the Met Gala — was Monday night, and per usual, social media users have a lot to say about this year’s red carpet looks. The gala, for which invite-only tickets cost $75,000, took place at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and this year’s theme...
‘Questioning my whole existence’: Runners reflect after Pittsburgh Marathon weekend
The last time Nate Platt ran anything was in elementary school in the late 1980s. Over the weekend, he completed his first 5K race. Platt and over 42,000 other participants have been reflecting on their experiences and recovering after the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend. The 5K race was...
‘You just gotta go through it’: Pittsburgh marathoners prepare for mental, physical test
For Ron Brown, waiting for marathon day is like waiting for Christmas morning: Sunday will be his 60th time racing all 26.2 miles. “You get apprehensive,” said Brown, 55, of West Deer, days before the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. “But once you get across that starting line, that goes...
Look up! Weekend peak of Eta Aquarid meteor shower expected
Stargazers this month could be in for a celestial display. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which lasts until May 27, is expected to peak on Sunday and Monday nights, according to Space.com. The best time to view it is during the pre-dawn hours, according to WTAE meteorologist Jill Szwed. All...
Tim McGraw draws country music fans to Pittsburgh for ‘Standing Room Only’ tourVideo
Pittsburgh’s country music fans were out in full force Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena — all for 56-year-old singer Tim McGraw’s “Standing Room Only” tour. Sporting a V-neck maroon T-shirt and skinny jeans, McGraw entered from under the stage following a sequence of silhouettes that were projected on the...
Norwin Senior Citizens Dinner provides service opportunity for students
Norwin High School’s cafeteria was transformed into a disco on April 21 for the 35th annual Senior Citizens Dinner — hosted by members of student council. Kailey Resnik and Carlie Goretzka, student council members, chaired the event with a “Disco Fever” theme. About 300 senior citizens attended. “It’s definitely really...
‘Kites for Gaza’ event draws families to Point State Park in support of Palestine
Kites of all shapes, sizes and colors could be seen flying in the air at Point State Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday — or at least trying to fly — as part of a Kites for Gaza event. Emily De Ferrari was one of the organizers of the pro-Palestine event,...
Cornel West speaks at pro-Palestine encampment in Oakland
Professor, philosopher and activist Cornel West spoke Thursday at the encampment in Oakland where pro-Palestinian demonstrators are demanding that the University of Pittsburgh divest from any war-related investment in Israel. West, who is also running for president as an independent, showed up at Schenley Plaza to speak during a rally...
Pro-Palestine encampment with Pitt students enters 3rd day in Oakland
University of Pittsburgh students and others entered a third day of a pro-Palestine demonstration Thursday morning with a growing encampment at Schenley Plaza across from the Cathedral of Learning. The encampment included over 30 tents. They were surrounded by small Palestinian flags and banners reading, “Stop The Genocide” and “Ceasefire...
We reviewed every song on Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was released Friday. But, surprise, it wasn’t just one album. She released a double album. Swifties, who thought they were getting 17 new songs, actually received 31. No torture at all to Taylor Swift fans. But did we need 31 songs?...
Man arrested for firearm possession without license in Spring Garden
A man was arrested Friday in Spring Garden for possessing a firearm with an altered serial number, police said. Pittsburgh detectives observed James Kendrick with a heavy, weighted object in his pocket, which was believed to be a firearm, when they were patrolling the area of Rhine Street and Buente...
