Bob Bauder stories, Page 13
Sen. Toomey resolution would stop presidents from banning frackingVideo
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey on Friday said he felt duty-bound to introduce a resolution that would prevent presidents from banning fracking on state and private land. Toomey, who outlined his resolution to media at Peoples Gas headquarters on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, said three Democratic presidential candidates have stated they would...
Road closures, delays expected as Pittsburgh Christmas tree heads from Springdale to Downtown
A Pittsburgh public works crew will be hauling the city’s annual Christmas tree from Springdale to Downtown between 8 and 9 a.m. on Saturday, and the city is warning drivers to expect rolling closures and delays along the route, according to the Mayor’s Office. The route from Garfield Street in...
Pittsburgh URA approves purchase of former Hill District grocery complex
The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority board of directors Thursday approved the $1.6 million purchase of a former grocery store complex in the Hill District. Board members unanimously voted to buy Dollar Bank loans on the 2.6-acre property along Centre Avenue. The URA plans to negotiate with the city, Allegheny County...
Free meditation offered inside giant inflatable bubble at Schenley Plaza
Uptight Pittsburghers can find relief on Friday and Saturday in “The Dot,” a giant inflatable bubble at Schenley Park featuring free mindful meditation programs designed to make people feel happier and less stressed out. Headspace, a company that features a mindful meditation app and online programming, is partnering with the...
Peduto charts new economic development strategy for Pittsburgh with URA hiresVideo
Pittsburgh officials on Thursday hired a Kansas City economic development specialist to head the Urban Redevelopment Authority in a refocused effort to rebuild the city through neighborhood and workforce development, equity and affordable housing. Mayor Bill Peduto and URA board Chairman Sam Williamson announced the hiring of Greg Flisram, 57,...
Pittsburgh International expanding cargo facilities with federal grant
The Allegheny County Airport Authority is using an $18.7 million federal grant to expand its air cargo business at Pittsburgh International Airport, an official said Wednesday. Bryan Dietz, the authority’s vice president of air service development, said the authority would use the federal BUILD grant to help construct a $30...
URA to vote on $1.6 million purchase of former Hill District grocery property
The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority is moving to acquire a former grocery store complex on Centre Avenue in the Hill District. URA directors are scheduled to vote Thursday on purchasing the 2.6-acre property from Dollar Bank for $1.6 million. The complex previously housed a Shop ’n Save. The Hill House...
Peduto promises new police substations next year in Homewood, South SideVideo
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday announced the city next year would create new police substations in the South Side and Homewood and provide round-the-clock staffing in a third Downtown substation while planning a seventh police station to patrol the North Shore stadium district. Peduto, who made the announcements during...
Mayor Peduto calls for state oversight of Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday called for state takeover of Pittsburgh Public School District finances, saying the district should be able to balance its annual budget within current revenue levels. The mayor was responding to a question about the district’s proposed 2.3% tax increase that Superintendent Anthony Hamlet has...
Former Pittsburgh regatta promoter charged with DUI
A Ross man blamed for the cancellation of this year’s Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta is facing charges of public lewdness and drunken driving, according to a criminal complaint. Ross police charged Derek Weber, 44, after receiving a report of a man urinating outside of a vehicle at a parking lot...
Unidentified man robs Bloomfield drug store
An unidentified man robbed a Bloomfield drug store Thursday evening, Pittsburgh police said. Police said the suspect walked into the store in the 4400 block of Howley Street around 8:30 p.m., made a motion to indicate he had a gun and snatched cash from a register. The suspect never displayed...
Pro athletes, players’ unions seek to halt Pittsburgh ‘jock tax’
Two professional hockey players, a former baseball player and players unions are challenging Pittsburgh’s so-named “jock tax” and seeking a court injunction that would prevent the city from collecting it. The plaintiffs are former Penguin Scott Wilson, now in the Buffalo Sabres’ minor league system, Kyle Palmieri, a right winger...
Plans moving forward on development of Pittsburgh’s Garden Theater Block
After more than 20 years of starts and stops, an effort to redevelop an eyesore on Pittsburgh’s North Side known as the Garden Theater Block is moving forward with a $17 million plan for an apartment building and repurposed movie theater. Downtown-based Trek Development hopes to secure Pittsburgh zoning and...
Heinz Endowments approves $500K grant for Pittsburgh parks
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has secured a $500,000 grant toward a goal of raising $10 million annually in private donations to match a tax increase approved Tuesday by city voters for park improvements. The Heinz Endowments approved the grant before the vote, according to spokesman John Ellis. Ellis said the...
Pittsburgh ethics board fines Darlene Harris, Leon Ford alleging campaign violations
The Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board is seeking court approval to levy fines against Councilwoman Darlene Harris and former council candidate Leon Ford, alleging they violated a campaign finance reporting ordinance during the spring primary. Board members in September fined Harris, 66, of Spring Hill $4,150 and Ford, 26, of Larimer...
Pittsburgh’s North Side has new city council representative
Residents of Pittsburgh’s North Side will have a new city council representative in January for the first time in 13 years. Democrat Bobby Wilson of Spring Hill, who ousted longtime Councilwoman Darlene Harris in the May primary, won a three-way race for a District 1 seat. With 37 of 39...
Pittsburgh voters approve 0.5-mill tax increase to fund city parksVideo
Pittsburgh voters on Tuesday approved a ballot referendum that will result in a 0.5-mill property tax increase next year to generate money for improvements in city parks. With 392 of 402 precincts reporting, the referendum passed with 51.6% of votes counted, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Jayne Miller,...
Heinz pickle pin among surprises found in 113-year-old cornerstone of former Tree of Life synagogueVideo
Heinz pickles were apparently as popular in Pittsburgh 113 years ago as they are today. A Tree of Life Congregation member included a Heinz pickle pin among the mementos and documents placed in the cornerstone of the Oakland synagogue when it was built in 1906. The building, which became part...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $10M purchase of police body cams
Pittsburgh police will be getting new body cameras and Tasers under a $10 million purchase request approved Monday by City Council. Under the proposal, the city will buy 950 cameras and 950 Tasers from Arizona-based Axon Enterprise Inc. The equipment includes a “signal sidearm” sensor that will not only immediately...
Pittsburgh voters will be asked for tax increase to fund city parks
Pittsburgh voters Tuesday will be asked to approve a half-mill property tax increase that would exclusively fund improvements to city parks. Proponents say the measure is necessary to fill a $400 million funding gap in deferred park maintenance and improvements and an annual $13 million shortfall in maintenance funds. Critics...
Search for cash turns into sale of Pittsburgh’s iconic Kaufmann’s Building
The owner of Pittsburgh’s iconic Downtown Kaufmann’s building needed money to finish prolonged renovations and received an offer it couldn’t refuse from a Florida developer with close ties to the region, the company founder said Friday. Philadelphia-based Core Realty, which purchased the building at Fifth and Smithfield for $15 million...
Pittsburgh building code chief taking job with Amazon
Pittsburgh’s building code chief, who is credited with moving the department from the Dark Ages to the computer age over the past five years, is heading to Washington, D.C., for a job with Amazon. Maura Kennedy, 38, chief of the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections, said she will serve...
Pittsburgh plans to equip police with $10M in new body cams, Tasers
Pittsburgh is poised to equip police officers with $10 million worth of high-tech Tasers and body cameras that will begin recording immediately after an officer pulls his or her gun or Taser. City Council is set for a final vote Tuesday on the purchase of 950 cameras and 950 Tasers...
Open North Side seat, independents create crowded Pittsburgh City Council race
Three Pittsburgh City Council seats are up for grabs during Tuesday’s general election with independent candidates challenging two incumbents and vying for an open seat in the North Side’s District 1. Two council representatives – Democrats Corey O’Connor of Swisshelm Park and Deb Gross of Highland Park – are running...
Pittsburgh officials plan to appeal court’s gun ordinance rulingVideo
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Wednesday that he considered the city’s first court challenge on a package of controversial gun ordinances akin to a “preseason in sports.” He and other city officials said they figured the city would lose. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Joseph James a day earlier struck...
