Ryan Deto stories, Page 13
Robinson launches reelection bid in pivotal Pa. Senate district
State Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, on Thursday announced his reelection campaign in a pivotal Southwestern Pennsylvania district that could help determine which party controls the Senate. Robinson, a Marine veteran who served in the Gulf War following the September 11 attacks, said he is running for reelection in District 37...
‘It’s unconscionable’: Adda Coffee and Tea workers rally against Pittsburgh closures
Nearly a week after a local coffee chain abruptly closed all of its locations, former employees, union workers and supportive local politicians gathered Wednesday morning to demand severance pay and criticize ownership. Adda Coffee & Tea House abruptly closed all four of its locations Jan. 11, claiming it has been...
Librarian Nicole Ruscitto takes aim at flipping pivotal South Hills state senate seat
One of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s most crucial state senate districts has a challenger, as school librarian and local basketball coach Nicole Ruscitto announced her candidacy Tuesday. Ruscitto, a Jefferson Hills Democrat who works in the South Park School District, is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Devlin Robinson of Bridgeville for the 37th...
Top House Democrats endorse Rep. Summer Lee in contested primary
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, is gathering some major support ahead of her contested spring primary, as she hopes to hold on to her seat during what is likely to be an expensive and competitive election. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, endorsed Lee on Wednesday, her highest...
After a rough week, Astrobotic finds silver lining in Peregrine mission
After a disastrous wave of setbacks, Pittsburgh space company Astrobotic is seeing things through a new lens. Astrobotic confirmed Wednesday that an image of a curved sliver in space taken from its Peregrine lander was Earth viewed from tens of thousands of miles away. That photo seemed to turn spirits...
Pittsburgh’s Adda coffee chain abruptly closes all locations
A small coffee chain has abruptly closed all four of its Pittsburgh locations, and some critics are claiming it is a move to undermine labor organizing. Adda Coffee & Tea House announced late Thursday on social media that it is closing all of its locations, claiming it has been running...
West Mifflin Rep. Pisciottano announces run to replace McKeesport’s Brewster in PA Senate
Less than a day after longtime State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, announced his retirement, the Mon Valley district has attracted a would-be successor. State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin, announced Thursday that he is running for Pennsylvania State Senate District 45, which covers Allegheny County’s Mon Valley, as well as...
Allegheny County expands pilot child care program by $500K
More local families will see help with their child care expenses, thanks to additional funding from Allegheny County for a pilot program. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced Wednesday the county would be adding $500,000 this year to the Child Care Matters pilot program. The program, launched in 2022, provides...
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio 1st Democrat calling for resignation of Defense Secretary Austin
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has come under fire recently for failing to disclose a recent hospitalization, and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, is joining the chorus in calling for Austin’s resignation. Deluzio, a Navy veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, is likely the first Democrat in...
McCormick, Casey announce big campaign hauls in U.S. Senate race
Rivals in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race raised roughly $10 million combined in the past three months, setting the stage this year for yet another huge influx of cash into a legislative race in the Keystone State. In 2022, the clash for an open Senate seat drew more than $400 million...
State Sen. Jim Brewster retiring at end of 2024
A Mon Valley political fixture is stepping down from his state Senate seat, but he insists it won’t lead to a sea change in his district. State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, said Wednesday that he is retiring at the end of this year. He will not seek reelection. Brewster serves...
Faulty valve, ruptured tank thwart ‘soft landing’ on moon for Astrobotic’s PeregrineVideo
Pittsburgh-based space company Astrobotic theorized Tuesday that its lunar mission was undone by a malfunction in the lander’s propulsion equipment. Astrobotic sought to make history with the first commercial lunar landing, but a fuel leak on the spacecraft after launch scuttled any possibility of that. The lander, dubbed Peregrine, has...
Tech company Excelitas commits to moving global HQ to Pittsburgh’s Strip District
A tech company is poised to move its global headquarters to Pittsburgh’s Strip District, showcasing the region’s continuing success at attracting high-tech businesses. Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday that Excelitas Technologies has committed to occupying roughly 50,000 square feet of space at 2545 Railroad St. in the Strip. Excelitas, a...
Failing to reach the moon isn’t a total failure for Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic
They call it a moonshot for a reason. It’s exceedingly difficult. Only about half of all lunar missions have been successful, according to NASA’s database on moon missions. Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic was attempting to beat the odds Monday by sending its Peregrine lander to the moon to transport cargo for...
Allegheny County Council reelects Pat Catena president
Allegheny County Council on Tuesday reelected Pat Catena as its president. Catena, D-Carnegie, secured an overwhelming, and bipartisan, victory. The vote was 13-2, with 12 Democrats supporting him along with Republican Councilwoman Suzanne Filiaggi, of Franklin Park. Democratic Councilman DeWitt Walton of Pittsburgh’s Hill District nominated himself and also received...
Sara Innamorato inaugurated as 1st woman Allegheny County executive
Sara Innamorato made history Tuesday, becoming the first woman sworn in as Allegheny County executive, one of the region’s most powerful political positions. Innamorato, 37, of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood was inaugurated at 12:30 p.m. She took the oath of office in a music-filled ceremony at the Byham Theater in Downtown...
Woman dies after crash on Parkway West
A woman was transferred to a local hospital following a crash on the Parkway West on Sunday morning, and she was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Laurel Ann Cardillo was driving a gray SUV and entered I-376 eastbound in Robinson when she exited the...
Shake Shack eyes 2nd Pittsburgh location in city’s East End
A popular burger chain is looking to add a second site in Pittsburgh. Shake Shack will be moving into a new development in Pittsburgh’s East End, the second location announced in the city for the New York-based burger chain. O’Hara-based Echo Realty announced last week that Shake Shack will be...
Outgoing Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald reflects on 12 years
Many things make Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald swell with pride when discussing his 12 years as the county’s top elected official, but one accomplishment appears to connect them: no increase in property taxes. “We’ve been able to hold the line on the cost for the homeowner,” he said. “At...
The biggest Pittsburgh, Allegheny County stories of 2023
Pittsburgh is closing the chapter on another year. The year 2023 brought the city and Allegheny County closure on one its worst tragedies, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial. The Steel City’s main hub became the focus on dozens of stories — many tense and political, while others showed Downtown’s might...
Allegheny County looks to expand low-income transit program
Low-income transit riders could see permanent relief in fares in Allegheny County as local officials look to expand a successful pilot program. Allegheny County Rich Fitzgerald announced last week that the county has reached an agreement with Pittsburgh Regional Transit to fund a program that provides discounted transit fares to...
Covid, flu, RSV on the rise amid holiday gatherings
Covid-19 struck Beth Green just in time for Christmas, upending her annual holiday gatherings. She planned on hosting her extended family at her Derry Township home on Dec. 23. She was especially excited because it’s difficult to get two of her adult sons together with their hectic schedules. Green, an...
What $200M in expanded passenger rail service means for Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania is poised to add passenger rail service for the first time in decades, thanks to federal and state funding and a deal made with Norfolk Southern. PennDOT is investing $200 million for corridor upgrades that will allow Amtrak to run a second daily round trip between Pittsburgh and...
Prisoner swaps with Russia should include Oakmont man, delegation says
More than a dozen members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are calling on federal officials to include Marc Fogel in any potential prisoner swaps made with the Russian government. Fogel, a Butler County native who lives in Oakmont, has been detained in Russia for more than two years after he was...
Pittsburgh firefighters finalize new contract with city
The city of Pittsburgh and the union representing city firefighters announced a new contract Friday that includes wage increases, new parental leave and health insurance policies, and modernization upgrades to fire stations. The contract covers the next five years with members of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters, IAFF Local No. 1. IAFF...
