Pittsburgh All Local

It's a special day in the Strip District with the ribbon cutting for Pittsburgh's Walk of Fame. Michael Keaton is one of the first ten inductees. Other inductees include: musician George Benson; journalist Nellie Bly; industrialist Andrew Carnegie; environmentalist Rachel Carson; baseball legend Roberto Clemente; children’s TV host Fred Rogers; medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk; artist Andy Warhol; and playwright August Wilson. Each have bronze stars embedded in the sidewalk at the Terminal on Smallman Street.

Thousands are expected in Downtown Pittsburgh this weekend as the 'No Kings' protest movement returns.

In response to what organizers call a growing drift toward author-i-tarianism under President Trump, Pittsburgh will again be a focal point in nationwide protests this Saturday. Demonstrations have drawn criticism from Republican leaders, who say these “Hate America” rallies deepen divisions. Organizers, however, say their goal is to defend democracy, labor rights, and vulnerable communities. At least eight counties in Western Pennsylvania are holding events, with Pittsburgh expecting over 5,000 attendees. Extra police and EMS will be on standby, and transit delays are likely.

Three teens are facing charges for a shooting outside Ross Park Mall last month. One teenager was wounded in the exchange of gunfire near Dick's Sporting Goods. Ross Township Police say video surveillance shows three of the people involved in the incident has guns and fired shots at each other. 16-year-old Myshawn Scott is being charged as an adult with aggravated assault and weapons violations. The other teens are being charged as juveniles.

A Pittsburgh City Council member is proposing a partial hiring and spending freeze to avoid a tax hike. Councilwoman Teresa Kail-Smith says this move could prevent a future tax increase—something many residents can’t afford and to avoid potential layoffs.

While the mayor’s 2025 budget avoids a tax hike, Kail-Smith says early action could prevent bigger problems. Her proposal includes a hiring freeze for most roles, tighter spending controls, and limits on travel—though it hasn’t been formally introduced citing a need for more talks with council members and city leaders.

A man who set fire to the governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea today for the April fire that caused millions of dollars in damage to the residence. Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were inside and had to evacuate. Authorities say Balmer planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer, who has a history of mental health problems, was sentenced to a term of 25-50 years in prison.

A Pittsburgh man is charged with biting a city police officer outside of a bar. According to a criminal complaint, a highly intoxicated 39-year-old Almir De Barros of Brighton Heights bit a police officer's leg when police attempted to arrest him for refusing to leave the premises. The incident allegedly happened at the Tequila Cowboy bar on the North Shore. Barros was taken to jail without incident. He's charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, and other charges.

The Gainey administration announced today a big boost in affordable housing. This comes at the same time negotiations with City Council on affordable housing legislation have collapsed. Mayor Ed Gainey announced funding for six housing developments across neighborhoods like Hazelwood, Carrick, and Brighton Heights — thanks to nearly $9.6 million in low-income housing tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Gainey says in a news release "quote: These projects are about more than bricks and mortar — they’re about building stronger neighborhoods and restoring opportunity.” end quote" The developments will create over 300 affordable units — part of a broader effort to revitalize communities and ensure safe, stable housing for all Pittsburghers. Councilwoman Erika Strassburger plans to introduce an amendment to overhaul Gainey’s bill.

It's happened again. Two troopers were wounded and a suspect killed Wednesday in a shootout in Franklin County, PA. One of the wounded officers was in critical condition and the other in serious condition.

A cow on loose on I-79 delayed the morning commute for thousands of drivers in Butler County. It was an unusual scene on I-79 this morning—just after 7 AM, drivers began calling 911 about a cow wandering in the median near mile marker 81. State Police, Cranberry Township officers, and New Sewickley firefighters responded, working for hours to safely corral the animal. State Police confirmed to KDKA Radio that the cow was loaded and taken to a local farm where its being temporarily housed. The incident caused major traffic delays, but luckily, no injuries were reported. Officials say the cow appeared unharmed, but local farmers say it’s not theirs—and so far, no one has claimed it. For now, the big question remains: where did the cow come from?

The President of Allegheny County Council denies there will be a tax increase when the 2026 County budget is released today. Pat Catena says there have been rumors swirling for the past month and a half about a tax hike, which he has repeatedly said would not be the case. Federal cuts and the state budget uncertainty will impact the county's spending plans, but what's been put together is a flat line budget that is consistent with prior years.