Pittsburgh All Local

There's a new cell phone policy for Pittsburgh Public Schools. In the fall of 2026, students are prohibited from using cell phones and electronic devices on district property, including school buses. On the Big K Morning Show, school board President Gene Walker said it is both an educational and safety issue. Previously, cell phone policy was left up to individual schools.

Tens of thousands of people are headed to Acrisure Stadium tonight for a frigid Steelers/Dolphins game. David Schallenburger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service recommends they dress in layers. He says temperatures will be around 16 degrees for kickoff and then by the end of the game, he says it'll dip into the mid teens, and a wind child in the single digits. So bundle up! He says it doesn't take much wind in conditions like this to knock that feel-like temperature way below what the actual temperature is.

Incoming Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando is not being investigated a second time over disparaging text messages sent to a former officer. The profane texts, reportedly traced to Lando’s home, were sent to former Frederick officer Dan Sullivan from multiple burner phones, calling Sullivan a "loser and a joke." Lando tells me he did not harass Sullivan and says he asked to be left alone, claiming Sullivan had been harassing him. At one point, Lando says Sullivan requested GPS information for his police cruiser. In a statement sent to KDKA Radio Lando says quote "law enforcement leaders are frequently criticized for failing to hold bad cops accountable. Unfortunately, doing the right this is rarely the easy thing, and sometimes comes with negative consequences. end quote" The Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor reviewed the case and found no criminal violations.

Pittsburgh International Airport will soon offer direct flights to Ireland for the first time. News Radio KDKA's Timira Rush has the details. With Aer Lingus officially adding nonstop service from Pittsburgh to Dublin, state leaders say the route strengthens both economic and cultural ties with Ireland. State Senator Devlin Robinson tells KDKA Radio the Commonwealth played a key role in securing the airline.

Dublin will also give travelers easy connections to major European cities like Paris, Rome, and London. The first flight takes off the evening of Memorial Day 2026.

A sudden shake-up at UPMC: the longtime head of neurological surgery is out. A UPMC spokesperson confirmed to KDKA Radio that Dr. Robert Friedlander, a high-profile figure in neurological surgery, is no longer affiliated with either UPMC or the University of Pittsburgh. Both institutions have removed him from their websites, an unusual move for a high-profile clinician. In 2023, Dr. Friedlander’s compensation was nearly 1.8 million dollars, making him one of the health system’s top earners. UPMC didn't offer any additional details about Friedlander’s abrupt departure from his position but says Dr. Edith Tzeng will serve as interim chair of the department.

Pittsburgh is throwing a championship rally Downtown this hour as the Riverhounds celebrate their first-ever USL title. Fans like Joanne from Verona is there and is excited to meet the players and coaches and snap photos with the championship trophy. The championship is nearly three decades in the making for the Riverhounds, who finally lifted their first United Soccer League Cup after a dramatic playoff run.

Driverless taxis are a step closer to reality in Pittsburgh. Waymo says it will begin manual tests of its vehicles in Downtown Pittsburgh this week. Waymo plans to get a better feel for how its technology works in the Golden Triangle over the coming months while working towards a future public launch.

This morning's heavy snowfall has tapered off, but AccuWeather's Joe Lundberg says what we get will stay with us. Lundberg says most areas will get 1-3 inches of snow, but others could wind up with 4 to 4 and a half inches.

The first significant snowfall of the season is expected during tomorrow morning's commute. Liona Lupo with the National Weather Service says as much as 3-4 inches of snow is possible and temperatures will remain mostly in the the low 30s for the remainder of the work week. A winter weather advisory will be in effect from midnight to 1 p.m. tomorrow.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools board voted last night against a plan calling for wide-ranging changes including closing nine buildings. On Tuesday, the board voted 6-3 against the district's Future-Ready Facilities Plan, which had been years in the making and would have reorganized the district. A motion to table a decision failed 5-4, leading to the final decision. Superintendent Dr. Wayne Walters tells KDKA Radio's Rob Taylor he felt the plan showed how it would benefit the community. The vote came after nearly 100 parents and community members spoke out against the plan, calling it rushed and unfair to students.