Pittsburgh All Local

The first cyclospora contamination lawsuit in Western Pennsylvania has been filed in federal court in Pittsburgh. Attorney Robert Pierce told KDKA's Marty Griffn his law firm filed the suit on behalf of Heather Kebert [KEY burt] who was sickened in July after eating a meal from a Taco Bell location in Meadville. The nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell by Taylor Farms. Pierce says his team intends to determine how the lettuce became contaminated and what steps the companies can take to stop it from happening again.

Pittsburgh Public Schools is helping families get ready for the new school year with its 14th annual back-to-school event. The celebration at Acrisure Stadium offered free haircuts, hairstyles and manicures. Families also picked up free school supplies and other essentials through a drive-through. Esther from Natrona Heights was first in line. The event was supported by the Steelers, Penguins Foundation, Pirates, U-P-M-C and other community partners, helping students head into the 2026-2027 school year prepared for success.

A new exhibit at Acrisure Stadium looks back at the city's record-setting NFL Draft, as Pittsburgh’s mayor looks ahead to its lasting impact. The Steelers Hall of Honor is now showcasing the NFL Draft ’26 exhibit, featuring a look back at the three-day event that drew a record 805-thousand people. Mayor Corey O’Connor spoke at the exhibit’s opening Thursday — and says the Draft also opened the eyes of potential investors to what Pittsburgh has to offer. O’Connor says the goal now is to keep that momentum going and get those decision-makers to visit Western Pennsylvania.

AI startup Hellbender announced Thursday it is relocating to Hazelwood Green. The company's global headquarters will be in the Roundhouse and expanded manufacturing will be based inside Mill 19. RIDC President Don Smith telling the Big K Morning Show it's great news for the economy with up to 500 jobs in the next five years. Smith said we can expect announcements in coming weeks from some name-brand companies looking at Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Public Schools Chief of Staff Lamar Blackwell has resigned. A statement from the district says Blackwell submitted his resignation today due to "ongoing media coverage and... public scrutiny" of assault and strangulation charges against him. In his letter of resignation, Blackwell says "stepping aside is in the best interests of the District." In April, he was accused of grabbing his girlfriend by the wrist and choking her and when officers spoke to the woman, they said she had redness on the left side of her neck. Blackwell's preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 10th.

The Chief of Staff for the Pittsburgh Public Schools faces a court hearing in September on assault and strangulation charges. The incident happened back in April....when Lamar Blackwell allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by the wrist and choked her. Police say when they arrived, she was gone and Blackwell denied anything happened adding she was trying to ruin his career. When officers spoke to the woman, they said she had redness on the left side of her neck. In a statement to KDKA TV, the district said Blackwell remains on the job....adding he's complying with the legal process. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for September tenth.

Parkway East drivers could be back on the road Monday evening — a week earlier than expected. The closure between the Edgewood-Swissvale and Squirrel Hill interchanges was expected to last 25 days — but the Parkway East is set to reopen a week early. The new Commercial Street Bridge is now in place after crews worked around the clock to demolish the old bridge, slide the 22-million-pound replacement into position and complete roadway improvements. Because the work is being completed before July 28th, the contractors will receive a two-million-dollar bonus. PennDOT says Commercial Street, underneath the new bridge, could reopen as early as next Monday.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging the state House to quickly pass new sentencing laws after Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ruled mandatory life-without-parole sentences for second-degree murder are unconstitutional. Sunday told KDKA's Marty Griffin the high court gave the legislature 120 days to enact a new statute. Sunday also said resentencing violent offenders could take place without proper input from their victims

The state's Secretary of Transportation is reiterating what we heard Monday about reopening the Parkway East. At a news conference, Mike Carroll said that should happen ahead of schedule, by the middle of next week. The Parkway has been closed since July 10th for the replacement of the Commercial Street Bridge.

Demolition of the Commercial Street Bridge on the Parkway East came suddenly this morning. The explosion happened a few minutes after 8 a.m. followed by a large cloud of dust obscuring for a time what was left of the old bridge. PennDOT's Jason Zang updated reporters about the replacement project at a 10:30 news conference. The closure was expected to last 25 days through August 3rd.