June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New McKeesport police cadets currently attending the Allegheny County police academy include Ronnell Hunt, Devin Webb, Jaison Mikelonis, Francis Aguirre, Dontae McCarthy and Matthew Hurst, shown with interim police Chief Josh Alfer and McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko. (Tube City Almanac photo)
McKeesport has promoted a longtime police officer to the department’s command staff and added two new officers from other departments.
In addition, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said six people interested in attending the Allegheny County police academy have been named as cadets and will join the department following the successful completion of their education.
At this month’s meeting, Cherepko asked council to approve the elevation of Sgt. Josh Byers to lieutenant. Byers became a full-time McKeesport police officer following nine years with the Liberty Borough police department.
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June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: State & Region
David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers union, addresses its constitutional convention in April. (Photo courtesy United Steelworkers)
The president of the union representing production employees at U.S. Steel called the so-called “golden share” awarded to the federal government “startling” and said his organization will hold the company’s new owners accountable for their promises.
David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers International, said that when media scrutiny of the Nippon Steel takeover wanes, the union will remain vigilant.
“As the sale concludes, it seems likely that attention will dissipate,” McCall said in a prepared statement. “U.S. Steel’s PR machine will power down, and the majority of elected officials will turn their attention elsewhere.”
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June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: State & Region
UPDATED: Adds comments from Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1873 and forms the nucleus of what is now called the Mon Valley Works. (Mark Dixon photo via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons)
Japan-based Nippon Steel and Pittsburgh’s U.S. Steel announced Wednesday morning that they have agreed to a deal that will preserve the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh and commit to $11 billion of investment in American steel-making and mining facilities.
The almost $15 billion deal also gives the federal government a seat on U.S. Steel’s board of directors. In addition, it will require consent from the President of the United States on certain operating decisions, including moving jobs out of the U.S. Both sides are calling the agreement a “golden share” for the government.
Trading of U.S. Steel shares was halted at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange, and the stock will be delisted from the exchange June 30.
The final listed market price of U.S. Steel stock was $54.84 per share, roughly double the price in September 2024, when the Nippon Steel takeover seemed to be in jeopardy. Both then-President Biden and Donald Trump, running for re-election, had vowed to stop the deal.
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June 17, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
An unidentified teen-ager is in critical condition after being struck by a car Tuesday night on Lysle Boulevard, Downtown.
Allegheny County police said the victim was attempting to cross the boulevard near the Coursin Street intersection in front of a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus when he was struck by a car traveling in the left lane.
The accident happened just before 7 p.m., police said. The driver of the car remained at the scene and was questioned by police. The victim, 15, was taken to the hospital by ambulance, emergency personnel said.
The Allegheny County homicide and collision reconstruction team is investigating, police said. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
June 17, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
An anonymous call to a police tip line led to the arrest of a Duquesne man in connection with a fatal shooting in a local bar on Friday night.
Marvin P. Harpool, 51, is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond pending a preliminary hearing June 27 after Allegheny County police charged him with shooting to death Tywone McClain, 26, of Duquesne inside a club in the 700 block of Grant Avenue.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Allegheny County night court, just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, McClain was arguing with another bar patron when a man identified by police as Harpool allegedly intervened.
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June 17, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements
I really hate asking for money, but we’re at a critical point.
Here’s the bottom line: Look at the readership figures above.
If everyone who reads our website had given us $1 last year, we would never need to run advertising. But in reality, only a small percentage of people ever donates — usually as a thank-you for posting a death notice.
If it wasn’t for support for a few faithful donors — among them, the G.C. Murphy Co. Foundation, the Bill Persson family, the Flynn Family Foundation, Larry and Rikki Berger, and Eric and Judy Wisniewski — we’d be in big trouble.
As it is, we’ve taken two big financial hits recently. Our advertising revenue has dropped by about $100 per month after we responded to complaints by limiting the number of ads you see. And one of our longtime donors says they need to cut back their support by about $100 per month.
At the same time, our expenses have gone dramatically up. We are working to move our websites to a new server and as a result, our webhosting cost has already increased $1,200 — and we haven’t moved yet.
Royalties for playing music have gone up about 40 percent. We also now must pay for a service to file reports with the royalty-collecting organizations — that’s costing us $50 per month. (You may have noticed that several local Internet radio stations have gone out of business because they can no longer afford the costs.)
Add all of that up — we need to raise another $500 a month or so, or we’re not going to be able to continue. We have a small reserve fund right now but it’s not going to last.
If you are financially able, and would like to make a gift, please consider doing so.
Donations may be made by check or money order to:
Tube City Community Media Inc.
P.O. Box 94
McKeesport PA 15134
Or via PayPal at: http://www.tubecityonline.com/contact/
I think what we do is important. I think that other people do, as well. Last year, we were honored by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania with the “Service to Journalism” award. Two of our reporters received separate awards for their work.
Five years ago, we were singled out by Columbia Journalism Review and asked to contribute monthly pieces about local news coverage, which were later collected into a book called “American Deadline.”
If you think this is important — even if you just visit our obituaries page every day — we very much could use your support. We pay reporters $50 to $100 per story. Your $50 or $100 gift goes directly to paying for their work — I don’t take any kind of payment from this website, and neither do any of our board members or officers.
If we could raise an extra $5,000 to $10,000 this year, we’d be OK.
We are recognized as a tax-exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service, so your gift may be tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.
If you have a business that is looking to make a contribution, or if you have a charitable foundation that could donate money to help us, please reach out.
Thank you for your continued support of our organization.
June 16, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Superintendent Don MacFann and students Lucas Sotereanos and Michael Pfeffercorn during the June 11 McKeesport Area School District regular board meeting. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area School District recognized two students and hired a police chief during Wednesday’s school board meeting.
Superintendent Don MacFann congratulated Lucas Sotereanos and Michael Pfeffercorn on participating in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Chorus. Held on April 12 at Kalahari Convention Center in Pocono Summit, the concert featured student vocalists and musicians from across the Commonwealth.
Sotereanos and Pfeffercorn, MacFann said, are the first representatives of McKeesport to “qualify for the state choir in over 30 years.”
MacFann presented each teen with a certificate of accomplishment from the district.
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June 13, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, East McKeesport News
A Penn Hills man died after being shot in East McKeesport, Allegheny County police said.
Keith Pelmon III, 20, was pronounced dead early this morning at the scene, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. His death has been ruled a homicide.
County police said that 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call just before 12 midnight that there had been a multiple vehicle accident in the 500 block of Pittsburgh Street near Park Avenue.
First responders found a vehicle had crashed into parked vehicles at Pittsburgh Street and Walnut Alley, police said. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered an adult male with a gunshot wound to the chest.
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June 10, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
At the 2021 Good Neighbor Day, young and old alike loved feeding and patting the farm animals in the mobile petting zoo. (Tube City Almanac file photo by Vickie Babyak)
More than 70 vendors are expected to participate in the city’s 61st annual Good Neighbor Day festival, a spokeswoman said.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday (June 11) along Fifth Avenue, Downtown, between Market and Locust streets.
The festival will include a children’s area complete with a petting zoo, games, rides and crafts. Other vendors will provide free community information, access to services, food and entertainment.
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June 10, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Darla Poole has been named the new chief executive officer of McKeesport-based Auberle. She replaces John Lydon, longtime CEO, who will move to an emeritus role on July 1. (Both photos: Courtesy Auberle)
The longtime chief executive officer of McKeesport-based Auberle will move to an emeritus role as the non-profit agency implements a multi-year succession plan to ensure continuity and stable delivery of human services.
In the move, Darla Poole, who currently serves as chief operating officer, will become CEO, replacing John Lydon, who has been named director of strategic projects and chief executive officer emeritus, a spokesman said.
Aimee Plowman, currently director of young adult services, has been named COO, succeeding Poole. The changes are effective July 1.
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