Megan Trotter stories, Page 7
‘He choked him to death:’ North Fayette man to stand trial in dog killing
A North Fayette man will stand trial on charges of choking a dog to death last month. Ricky Fields, 36, was charged June 27 with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal and another misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals. After a preliminary hearing Monday, the charges were...
Carnegie Mellon president reopens The Fence, says Trump visit angered many on campus
Carnegie Mellon University’s president on Monday lifted the temporary prohibition on painting its iconic campus fence and acknowledged that last week’s visit to campus by President Donald Trump “angered and hurt” members of the school community. University President Farnam Jahanian shut down The Fence last Thursday in response to messages...
$5,000-per-plate dinner with McCormick at Carnegie museum spurs backlash
A private event billed as a dinner and fireside chat featuring U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and his wife at the Carnegie Museum of Art has generated backlash and raised concerns about the propriety of the museum offering space for such a gathering, which cost $5,000 to attend. The dinner occurred...
Carnegie Mellon temporarily shuts down The Fence in wake of anti-Trump message
Tensions over free speech continue to mount at Carnegie Mellon University as President Farnam Jahanian on Wednesday announced he was temporarily forbidding any new messages from being painted on an iconic campus fence that has served for a century as a student billboard. The decision was prompted by controversy over...
Fence fight: CMU orders students’ anti-Trump message painted over ahead of president’s visit
Hours before President Donald Trump was scheduled to arrive at Carnegie Mellon University for an energy summit, the school administration early Tuesday ordered the painting over of a provocative anti-Trump message written by student Democrats on The Fence, a century-old campus landmark that serves as a free speech message board....
Families clash at Downtown Pittsburgh DMV, person flashes gun
Pittsburgh police responded to a fight Friday afternoon at the PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services on Smithfield Street. Emily Bourne, a city public safety spokeswoman, said the fight broke out around 2:30 p.m. between two separate families who were in line at the DMV. Bourne could not identify how many...
Historic buildings vie for spot in Carnegie Science Center miniature village
Sometimes the smallest things can have a huge impact — just ask the people whose buildings were nominated for inclusion in the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad and Village model. Voting is open once again as the science center looks to add another model to its collection of iconic Pittsburgh...
Lane closures at Squirrel Hill tunnel begin Sunday
Motorists planning on taking the Squirrel Hill Tunnel should prepare to alter their routes, because starting Sunday night the tunnel will be down to one lane. The single-lane closures will begin at 10 p.m. and last through 5 a.m. Friday morning, while inspections take place, according to a Pennsylvania Department...
Here’s the backstory to the tradition of The Fence at Carnegie Mellon
In the early hours before sunrise, a group of Carnegie Mellon University students once again gave a fresh coat of paint to The Fence, one of the campus’s most beloved and recognizable landmarks. The final brushstrokes served as the beginning of what is expected to be a long week for...
Trump’s scheduled summit at Carnegie Mellon meets backlash
Carrie McDonough was appalled upon learning that President Donald Trump would appear at a summit hosted by Carnegie Mellon University. She immediately began formulating an open letter to the administration, condemning what she saw as a dangerous legitimization of the Trump administration’s values. “Trump is a harmful person,” said McDonough,...
Riders rally to save Pittsburgh Regional Transit from drastic cuts
Nicolas Penailillo, 33, danced and cheered on the corner of West Liberty and Biltmore Avenue as red Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses rolled by. A Dormont resident of two years, he called public transit one of his favorite parts of Pittsburgh — but said that could soon change. “I just love...
Dormont rally aims to alert public to proposed Allegheny County transit cuts
A rally planned for next week will bring together South Hills residents and officials united in support of long-term, sustainable funding for Pittsburgh Regional Transit in the state’s 2026 budget. The Monday rally comes in response to proposed severe service cuts and a fare increase for mass transit users in...
What’s open, closed in Pittsburgh on Fourth of July?
Get ready — the Fourth of July weekend is arriving with holiday hours and service shakeups in tow. All City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed on Friday with normal operations set to resume on Monday. Trash, recycling and bulk waste collection services will be delayed by a day. Pittsburgh...
Stache bash and facial hair phenoms coming to Pittsburgh for contest
Downtown will be full of hairy happenings next week, as Pittsburgh hosts the 2025 World Beard and Moustache Championships. Mad Viking Beard Club Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together facial hair enthusiasts, and the World Beard and Moustache Association have joined forces to put on the three-day event....
What do new flu vaccine standards mean?
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) upheld recommendations for the fall flu vaccination to be administered to anyone 6 months and older, as long as the shots are completely mercury-free. While some Western Pennsylvania doctors say the new recommendations won’t change...
ICE arrests 14 at Marshall Township Mexican restaurant
Community activist Jaime Martinez rushed to Tepache Mexican Kitchen & Bar’s Marshall Township location after learning 14 people had been arrested by immigration agents. Martinez and eight other members of Casa San Jose, a nonprofit that works to support Pittsburgh’s Latino community, arrived at the restaurant Wednesday afternoon. “I see...
Pittsburgh cancels International Parade as immigration anxieties remain
Pittsburgh has canceled its International Parade & Festival and the Pittsburgh World Cup amid concerns over a federal immigration crackdown. The International Parade, typically a multicultural affair containing vendors and music, was declared a potential target for ICE immigration raids. The Pittsburgh World Cup was intended to be a community...
Play about ‘Jaws’ actors bickering on set extends run in Braddock
As the iconic 1975 blockbuster “Jaws” marks its 50th anniversary this week, the stage play “The Shark Is Broken,” which dives into the behind-the-scenes drama of the movie’s actors stuck on a boat with a constantly malfunctioning mechanical shark, enters its fourth week of a sold-out run in Braddock. Since...
Hound Haus café and dog park opens in East Liberty
For many dog owners, their pets are considered family. This idea that led local dog lovers, Tom and Danielle Lafe, to open an all-in-one coffee shop, bar and dog park in East Liberty earlier this month. Hound Haus, located on Broad Street, had its grand opening on June 7, revealing...
Group of Girl Scouts safe after flash flooding near North Park cabin
Emergency crews rescued a group of Girl Scouts and counselors Tuesday after flash flooding near their cabin in North Park, police said. Police and fire departments arrived at 1:20 p.m. to a cabin near Kummer Road after a nearby stream started overflowing, police said. “They were in no immediate danger,”...
2 people rescued after vehicle travels over Highland Park hillside
Two people in a Jeep SUV were injured after it careened over a Highland Park hillside and into the woods Monday afternoon, police said. The accident scene was at Reservoir Drive and Farmhouse Drive. First responders found an adult female driver and an adult male passenger trapped in the SUV...
Influencer builds community for Pittsburgh’s new young professionals
Navigating life post-college graduation can be trying for many people in their early 20s, as emerging adults face a whole new set of challenges — acclimating to a new city, starting a career and creating a community. Social media influencer Arjun Manjunath is using his platform to create a space...
Pittsburgh officials aim to ensure peace at No Kings protests
Pittsburgh officials are preparing for No Kings Day demonstrations against the Trump administration and hoping to work with protesters in maintaining peace. Director of Public Safety Lee Schmidt on Thursday said officers are communicating with protest organizers to coordinate the best way to “protect their First Amendment rights and ensure...
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain stalls, stranding riders on hill
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain came to a complete stop with riders onboard Saturday after the roller coaster’s safety sensors were triggered mid-ride. Social media posts showed photos of 24 riders stuck on the lift hill as the coaster sat motionless on the tracks. Kennywood spokeswoman Lynsey Winters said the Steel Curtain...
Medical experts slam Kennedy’s dismissal of CDC vaccine advisers
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to remove every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee has sparked major outcry among the health care community. Some medical experts, including doctors in Western Pennsylvania, say he has created a hostile environment for vaccines. On Monday,...
