Julia Burdelski stories, Page 15
Pittsburgh controller portrays city’s fiscal situation as serious but not dire
Pittsburgh is facing concerning but manageable financial challenges amid declining revenues, an end to federal pandemic relief money and broad economic uncertainty, city Controller Rachael Heisler said Thursday. “I am very concerned about where things are headed,” Heisler said as she released the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which outlines...
Some fear effort to aid developers in Pittsburgh will doom broader housing reform
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a bill to shrink the minimum size of lots for residential development, casting further doubt on the future of a broader housing reform package that has been stalled for months. The measure, sponsored by Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, would allow developers to build...
Tax diversion for Esplanade project approved by Pittsburgh Public Schools board
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board on Wednesday approved a tax diversion for the sprawling Esplanade development, which plans to bring a Ferris wheel, housing and other amenities to the city’s Chateau neighborhood. The developer, Cecil-based Piatt Companies, has now secured approval from the city and school district for the tax...
More storms expected in Western Pennsylvania
Another round of storms is expected to hit Western Pennsylvania on Thursday, even as communities are still reeling from severe weather that knocked down trees, ripped roofs from buildings and left thousands without power on Tuesday. A threat of thunderstorms — some severe — will return Thursday afternoon and evening,...
Pa. Sen. Costa pitches regional, multi-county transit authority for Southwestern Pa.
Pennsylvania Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, is pitching the idea of a regional, multi-county public transit authority as Pittsburgh Regional Transit braces for a fare increase and drastic service cuts. In a memo, Costa said he plans to introduce legislation “in the near future” to create such a transit agency....
Morning Roundup: 2 firefighters injured in Brookline blaze; police find body in Uptown
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, April 30: 2 firefighters injured in Brookline blaze Two firefighters are in stable condition after becoming trapped on the second floor of a building on fire Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood. In a social media post, the union...
Thousands remain without power in Western Pa. after destructive storms
Widespread power outages are still impacting thousands throughout the region after strong storms toppled trees, damaged buildings and knocked down power lines Tuesday evening. Duquesne Light reported more than 213,000 customers without service around 6:14 a.m., including about 197,000 in Allegheny County. At the same time, an online tracker showed...
Democrats, Republicans outline visions for Pittsburgh in mayoral forum
The candidates seeking to lead Pittsburgh as mayor outlined their positions on key issues like public safety and affordable housing in a pair of debates held at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse Downtown. Tuesday’s mayoral forum included all four candidates, separated into two separate debates, one for the Republicans and...
Chatham University names interim president
With Chatham University President Rhonda Phillips set to leave at the end of May, the school on Monday announced a new interim president. The Board of Trustees has appointed Lisa Lambert, provost and vice president of academic affairs, to take on the lead duties, effective June 1. Phillips is leaving...
Allegheny County sends out mail-in ballots, announces over-the-counter voting ahead of May primary
The Allegheny County Elections Division on Monday announced the first batch of mail-in ballots are being sent to voters ahead of the May primary. Voters who requested mail-in ballots can expect them to arrive in the coming days, county officials said. Ahead of the May 20 primary, county officials announced...
Hail, wind and tornadoes possible in Western Pa.
The National Weather Service warned of potentially severe storms throughout the Western Pennsylvania region Tuesday, with a threat of large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Pittsburgh’s National Weather Service office predicted the greatest threat for severe storms would be across eastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, with the worst hazards...
Morning Roundup: Water main break in South Hills leads to truck crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, April 29: Water main break in South Park A truck crashed into a hole in the road caused by a water main break in South Park Township early Tuesday morning, according to Broughton Volunteer Fire Department. No one...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit to start public hearings
Pittsburgh Regional Transit on Tuesday will begin hosting public hearings about a proposal that would increase fares and drastically cut services. The first public hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 3 until 7 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s Pittsburgh Ballroom. People can sign...
Morning Roundup: Woman shot in Wilkinsburg; 2 dogs abandoned at Dollar General
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, April 28: Woman shot in Wilkinsburg A woman was shot in Wilkinsburg Sunday evening, according to Allegheny County police. Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, Allegheny County 911 was alerted to shots fired in the 1500 block of Park...
Plan for Pittsburgh: GOP mayoral candidates Moreno, West detail visions ahead of primary
Editor’s note: On Sunday, TribLive profiled the policy positions of the two Democrats running in the May 20 primary election for Pittsburgh’s mayor. Here, we look at the two candidates in the Republican primary. Pittsburgh hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in about 100 years, but the candidates competing for the...
Cheesehead U: Pittsburgh leaders mine Green Bay’s playbook for NFL Draft wisdom
There might not be any love lost on the football field between the black and gold and the green and gold. But, for several days last week, Green Bay Packers backers went the extra yard to give Pittsburgh Steelers supporters advice on how to host the perfect NFL Draft. A...
Plan for Pittsburgh: Gainey, O’Connor detail their visions ahead of primary
As Pittsburgh’s mayoral primary draws near, Mayor Ed Gainey is making the case for a second term while his Democratic challenger, Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor, tries to unseat him. Gainey, 55, of Lincoln-Lemington is a former state representative who portrays his first three years in office as a success...
Pittsburgh official’s ‘horrible’ social media posts raise ire of police union ahead of contract talks
The union representing most Pittsburgh police officers says it will not negotiate a new contract with a top city official who has posted on social media comments about defunding the police. In a letter dated Wednesday, union President Bob Swartzwelder told Mayor Ed Gainey he should appoint someone else to...
Was O’Connor’s debate story true about ambulance breakdown?
As the ambulance climbed hilly Madeline Street last week in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, racing to a man in cardiac arrest, a dashboard coolant light blinked on. The driver for Medic 12 requested a backup ambulance out of an “abundance of caution,” according to Emily Bourne, a Pittsburgh public safety spokesperson....
Doing the math: Spat over affordable housing data frames Gainey vs. O’Connor race
A day after clashing with his Democratic rival in a televised debate, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Wednesday doubled down on his claim that he’s “delivered” 1,600 units of affordable housing during his city hall tenure. Gainey has recited the statistic on the campaign trail time and again. He referenced...
Shapiro reveals he spoke with Trump about arson attack, U.S. Steel
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro revealed Monday he spoke with President Donald Trump two days earlier, nearly a week after authorities said an arsonist set fire to the governor’s residence while Shapiro and his family were inside. Shapiro, appearing at the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department to unveil $30 million in grants...
Gainey, O’Connor spar over affordable housing, city finances, public safety in televised debate
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor sparred over affordable housing, public safety, city finances and who accepted money from Republican donors in a televised debate Thursday. The two are locked in a tightly contested Democratic primary race. The 30-minute debate hosted by WPXI did not include...
Pittsburgh controller warns city could end year $15M over budget for overtime
The City of Pittsburgh has already spent about 39% of its budget for holiday and overtime pay, reigniting concerns that its spending plan this year may not be feasible. Controller Rachael Heisler projects Pittsburgh will likely end up about $15 million over budget in premium pay if expenses continue at...
Gainey, Lee call for ‘unprecedented unity’ in battling Trump administration
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and U.S. Rep. Summer Lee vowed Wednesday to do what they can to protect constituents hurt by President Donald Trump’s administration — but warned they can’t go it alone. Standing up to the White House will take advocacy from labor unions, activists and civil liberties organizations,...
ACLU sues Pitt alleging free-speech violations against pro-Palestine student group
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania on Tuesday sued the University of Pittsburgh in federal court alleging the school violated the First Amendment by targeting a student organization advocating for Palestine. The university in March placed Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt on an indefinite, interim suspension in...
