GOVERNMENT

PennDOT District 11 is announcing slide repair work on Route 88 (Library Road) in Castle Shannon Borough, Allegheny County will begin Monday, July 22 weather permitting. Slide repair and shoulder reconstruction work will occur on Library Road between Havelock Street and Killarney Drive through early August. To allow the work to occur, the southbound lane on Library Road will close to traffic at Killarney Drive. Southbound traffic will be shifted into the center turning lane. A single-lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction during this work.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The city of Pittsburgh honored a local legend on Saturday.Gus Kalaris of Gus and Yayia's Ice Ball Cart died earlier this month at the age of 92.Several people and city officials gathered to celebrate his legacy at Allegheny Commons Park.Mayor Ed Gainey says Gus' memory goes well beyond his product."It's hard to replace a legend, Mayor Gainey said, "but it's really not about the product that they serve that makes them. It's the love that they pour out. The one thing that people will tell you about Gus is that when they came here, he made them feel special."The mayor says city officials already have plans to name a street after Gus in Allegheny Commons Park so his kindness will live on forever. 

The perpetual problem of the South Side once again begs a call for some sort of redress. I submit a couple ideas that might be fruitful. The time has come to ban public urination during daylight hours. The ban could be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the winter. It could take effect around the time change in early November and extend to the spring equinox (St. Patrick’s Day?). The ban could be extended to 9 p.m. over the summer months. This would bring a dose of civility for residents and guests alike.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A relatively new non-profit organization in Pittsburgh is creating a safe and vibrant space for people on a journey of sobriety to connect, socialize and learn.  At the Teetotal Initiative, organizers plan unique activities and experiences at different locations around the city. It's all free of charge and free of alcohol. President Jackie Slaugenhaupt says Teetotal is marking its one-year anniversary. "We provide social space for people to go to that's sober-focused, so they can meet other like-minded people and have fun and be out and about in the community and just kind of have a good time and live life to the fullest." It's been life-changing for participants like Brett Hammon. "It's been really cool getting to meet people in a similar stage of life who are professionals and don't drink and want to go do something fun," Hammon said. "Just being out and about doing cool things with people is a big win for me."Mocktails replace cocktails at events like yoga sessions, bingo games, crafting, cooking and golf. There was even a comedy night featuring sober comedians. 

There’s a concept in housing called the “missing middle,” which partially explains why finding adequate, affordable housing seems like such a struggle. It’s because the kinds of houses we need most don’t really exist, unless they were built in the 1940s or earlier. The “missing...

Large crowds filled Downtown Pittsburgh enjoying day two of Picklesburgh Friday.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Friday marked day two of Picklesburgh in Downtown Pittsburgh. Pickle fans from all over flocked to the Steel City for the annual festival. Picklesburgh is in its ninth year, and it is a very big dill. "I came here, and I couldn't believe that there were this many people here to celebrate pickles," Tyler Emerick said.The festival has so many food options with a pickle twist. "Pickle watermelon sorbet," Enid Jame said."We have the pickle pizza, the spicy version," Kendall Brown said. "It is pretty good. Ten out of 10.""Pickle potatoes were also really good," Emerick said. "I was surprised...

This story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from across Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. Harrisburg, Pa. — Under a little-noticed provision in the new state budget, Pennsylvania municipalities will be forced to allow rodeo events to take place in their borders even if local lawmakers have voted to restrict them. Only one place in the commonwealth...

Mosquitoes in Highland Park, Homewood, Point Breeze, and Wilkinsburg tested positive for West Nile Virus. ACHD will spray Zenivex E20 on July 24th to reduce risk. Report breeding sites to ACHD. For more info, visit the CDC’s West Nile Virus webpage.

Share Share The Heinz pickle balloon is soaring in Pittsburgh, and that means it's time for the annual Picklesburgh festival downtown. "It tastes like a mix," said 7-year-old Luke Swanson, who didn't expect the sweet and briny mixture of pickle lemonade. The young visitor from Chicago says he liked it. "We drove from Chicago, and I wanted to stop in Pittsburgh because I just think (Market) Square is really pretty and then it just happened to be picklefest," said Erika Swanson of Chicago. "I've already had the pickle ice cream, had the pickle lemonade. I've sampled everything. I'm super excited. I'm like, bonus, pickles and Pittsburgh, so I'm really happy." Vendors at the festival say it takes them weeks to prepare for the four-day event. Some business owners say it is their biggest money maker of the year. "We have dill pickle popcorn, bread and butter, kettle corn. We also are making pickleade," vendor Addio Fiordigigli said. "We have whole pickles on a stick," said Wyatt Olson, of The Brinery. "Those are our super crunchy dill this year, as well as Mexican street corn pickles, and we have the pickle flight as well." How do you make Mexican street corn pickles? "It's four dill spears with Tajin seasoning and Cotija cheese," Olson said. "If there's one thing you should get, you should try that. They are fantastic." Some high school students are also learning from those vendors. "Being your own boss, it's a lot of freedom, it's flexible," student Agnes Salao said. "I learned a lot of college students volunteer here, and it's great opportunities for them," Salao said. The taste of pickles is drawing thousands to the Boulevard of the Allies in downtown Pittsburgh. People are sampling pickle snow cones and even some pickle flights for adults who want a beverage. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 spoke with festivalgoers from all over the country, and even the Czech Republic, who were making a stop in the city for the pickle-flavored international cuisine. Picklesburgh has added a bonus fourth day this year. The event ends on Sunday.

It's crunch time for pickle enthusiasts as Downtown Pittsburgh transforms into a veritable shrine for the brined delicacies. Celebrating its ninth year, Picklesburgh drew massive crowds yet again with estimates suggesting another record-setting turnout. Eating their hearts out, pickle fans are having a juicy time as festivities continue through July 21, WPXI reports.

Beginning Monday, July 22, drivers navigating through the area of Highland Bridge will need to prepare for detours and potential delays, as construction teams move in to repair the vital piece of infrastructure. According to a recent announcement by the City of Bethel Park, available on their website, these repairs are scheduled to take approximately 50 days, temporarily disrupting the flow of Southbound traffic in particular.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - It's Picklesburgh weekend and while that's the biggest "dill" in town, it's not all that's going on in our region. We're going to let you know about what else Western Pennsylvania has to offer this weekend! The Monster Bash in CranberryHorror fans, this one is for you! The Monster Bash celebrates all things sci-fi and fantasy - and it's taking over the Marriot Pittsburgh North in Cranberry starting today and going through Sunday. There will be hundreds of vendors, moving screenings, and of course, celebrity guests. Check out the details on the Creepy Classics' website at this link. CCBC Community DayThe Community College...

Fighting to make more casinos smoke free is like chipping away at a boulder, Bronson Frick says. Small cracks here and there eventually yield success. Advocates of a proposal to ban smoking from Pennsylvania’s gaming floors, one of the state’s last public areas or workplaces where it’s allowed, hope they made a chip with a small rally Thursday outside Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, site of the Summer Meeting of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS).

PennDOT District 11 is announcing a portion of Route 837 in Dravosburg Borough, Allegheny County, will close to traffic Monday through Wednesday, July 22-24 weather permitting. A portion of Route 837 between the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge and McClure Street will close to traffic from 7 a.m. Monday continuously through 5 p.m....

More mosquito samples in several Allegheny County neighborhoods have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Thousands of people biking, walking, running, and rolling will take to Pittsburgh’s streets on Saturday, July 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for OpenStreetsPGH presented by UPMC Health Plan. Produced by Bike Pittsburgh, this event opens 2.5-miles of car-free streets in Homewood and the East End. This is the third and final OpenStreetsPGH event of the year, celebrating active transportation and people-centered places in Pittsburgh with a day of free community fun.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Overdose deaths are dropping in Allegheny County, according to the county's medical examiner. They've been on the decline the last couple of years after a decade-high mark in 2017.Overdoses impact communities of all backgrounds and social statuses. Shaler Hampton EMS Chief Eric Schmidt sees this far too frequently with his department."We see it across all social economic backgrounds. We see it in all the communities we serve," Chief Schmidt said.Sometimes, it's even the same people they have had to treat. The data from the medical examiner's office says 2023 saw a total of 666 deaths, down from 689...