May 20, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
According to unofficial returns, Duquesne Mayor R. Scott Adams won the Democratic nomination for re-election to a second term by a substantial margin. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
A comeback attempt by the former mayor of Duquesne to reclaim the office has apparently fallen short.
Following Tuesday’s primary, unofficial but complete returns from the Allegheny County Elections Division showed R. Scott Adams leading Nickole Nesby for the Democratic nomination, 429 to 135 votes.
No Republican candidate filed, but there were 25 write-in votes on the Republican ballot. Barring a successful write-in campaign, Adams will be the only candidate on the ballot in the Nov. 4 election.
Adams was elected mayor of Duquesne in 2021, replacing Nesby, who made headlines as the city’s first Black mayor and first woman mayor following her election in 2017.
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May 20, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Unofficial returns showed Joe Pero with a substantial lead in the race for both the Democratic and Republican nominations in Magisterial District 05-02-13. (Submitted photo via Facebook)
McKeesport’s former police chief was on track Tuesday night to become the city’s next magisterial district judge.
With 32 of 32 precincts reporting, unofficial returns from the primary election showed Joe Pero leading Michael Cherepko on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
Allegheny County’s Elections Division showed Pero with a 59 to 41 percent lead on the Democratic side — 1,257 to 863 votes — and a 79 to 21 percent lead on the Republican side, 408 to 109 votes.
Judicial races in Pennsylvania are officially non-partisan, allowing candidates to cross-file.
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May 20, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
An unindentified man was in critical condition Tuesday morning following a shooting outside of UPMC McKeesport hospital, Allegheny County police said.
Detectives said the incident occurred after the victim attempted to force his way into a car in the parking lot and that there was no danger to the general public.
The emergency room was closed temporarily following the incident and a clinic inside the hospital was closed after sustaining damage, a UPMC spokesperson said.
In a prepared release, county police said the incident began just after 3 a.m. when the shooting victim attempted to force his way into someone’s car outside of the hospital.
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May 20, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: East McKeesport News
East McKeesport Council voted to purchase a second-hand police car for the department’s fleet, but not without some debate.
At borough council’s May meeting, members voted 5-1 to purchase a 2022 Ford Explorer Interceptor for $29,100 from Mosside Specialty Cars in Wall.
The vehicle has approximately 33,000 miles on it and will replace a 2017 Ford Explorer with approximately 140,000 miles on it in the department’s four-vehicle fleet. The purchase price includes a $2,000 trade-in on the 2017 vehicle.
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May 15, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Student Community Center at Penn State Greater Allegheny opened in 2003. (File photo taken by Ryan Kegel, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.)
A leaked report this week revealed that Penn State University’s nearly 78-year-old campus in McKeesport would survive a round of cuts that would lead to the closure of seven other regional sites.
The report, revealed by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA ahead of a planned Penn State board of trustees meeting, recommends the closure of regional campuses in Uniontown and New Kensington, as well as DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.
Two campuses in southwestern Pennsylvania would be spared — Penn State Beaver and Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport.
Local officials reacted with relief at the unofficial, though widely reported, news.
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May 13, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region
The Downtown McKeesport Rite Aid location closed in 2023. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
Pennsylvania’s attorney general is advising Rite Aid customers they have until June 6 to use any gift cards, coupons or reward points they have accumulated.
In addition, said state Attorney General Dave Sunday, the stores will stop accepting returns or exchanges on June 4.
Barely seven months after exiting federal bankruptcy protection, the Philadelphia-based pharmacy chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again last week.
Financial analysts have said that Rite Aid, like competing chains Walgreens and CVS, expanded too quickly and are now struggling with declining prescription reimbursements from insurance companies and the federal government.
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May 13, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne Mayor R. Scott Adams is running for re-election to his second term. He is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
R. Scott Adams believes that he has brought “stability back to the office” of mayor in Duquesne. As he enters his fourth year in office, he looked back at the progress he said the city has made.
Adams is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary. Former Mayor Nickole Nesby is challenging him.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Adams said. “But I’m proud of our work. We’ve improved the infrastructure and upgraded the water department. And the police department.”
In a recent interview, Adams used the word “stability” frequently. During Adams’ tenure as mayor, the city emerged from Act 47 financially distressed status, and is now moving toward a Home Rule Charter.
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May 13, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Nickole Nesby served as mayor of Duquesne from 2017 to 2021 and is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary. She argues that the city needs closer management of its finances. (Submitted photo)
Four years after losing a re-election bid, Nickole Nesby is back on the ballot to be mayor of the city of Duquesne. Nesby is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary.
After one term in office and breaking barriers as the city’s first Black woman mayor, Nesby lost the Democratic primary in 2021 to R. Scott Adams, who went onto win the November election. Adams is running for re-election this year.
Nesby has long criticized city leaders for what she calls “decades of neglect and corruption” and alleges that two of the people running against her in the primary in 2021 wouldn’t have been eligible to serve if they had won.
Nesby said that “concerned citizens” came to her recently and asked her to run again in hopes of improving the city’s financial accountability. Nesby said that when she took office in 2018, the city “had a deficit of $328,000” and when she left in 2022, Duquesne had a “$915,000 surplus.”
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May 12, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Entertainment
(Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Area School District)
This weekend, six students from McKeesport Area High School took the stage and performed alongside the prestigious Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as members of the Hamlisch-Page Student Choir.
The PSO’s student choir is composed of high school and collegiate singers from the greater Pittsburgh area and was created by the late Principal Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh Music Director Emeritus Robert Page.
Students performed at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh during the PSO’s “Clouds in My Coffee” Mother’s Day Weekend concerts, which featured the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon. Student chorists supported vocalists Morgan James, Bryonha Marie and Micaela Diamond.
"We’re so proud of these students and excited to see them represent McKeesport in such an amazing opportunity," said Beth Eger, choir and piano teacher at McKeesport Area High School.
Pictured from left to right are Michael Pfeffercorn, Elizabeth Nemes, Gianna Sotereanos, Phoenix Funk and Antoine Smith. Also joining them are choir director Christine Hestwood and accompanist Lorraine Milovac. (Not pictured is Lucas Sotereanos.)
May 12, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: Announcements
(Tube City Almanac file photo)
With the arrival of warm weather, spring and summer activities are ramping up in the McKeesport community, and the calendar is packed, volunteers and organizers said:
Renzie Market: The Renzie Market begins regular operations this week (May 15) and will continue on the first and third Thursday of each month through the summer. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. and admission is free.
Residents can browse fresh produce and food trucks and enjoy live entertainment. The marketplace will take place at the Tulip Drive lot behind the No. 2 fire station in Renziehausen Park.
Literacy Lunch with Bluey: On May 17, the AIU McKeesport Family Center, McKeesport SHIP and the City of McKeesport will host a Literacy Lunch with Bluey. Attendants will enjoy stories and music, and snacks will be available. Each child will receive a free book to take home. To register, call the McKeesport Family Center at 412-672-6970. This event will take place between 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the akomas Blue-Top Pavilion in Renzie.
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May 12, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
New efforts are underway to improve student safety and opportunities at McKeesport Area School District, school board members said.
During Thursday’s school board meeting, MASD school director Matthew Holtzman told attendees he and fellow School Director Jason Pavlecic — members of the safe schools committee — met with administrators and community members on May 1 to discuss the enhancement of district “security features.”
Apart from identifying specific tasks, such as updating a security vestibule and rekeying door hardware, Holtzman said the meeting was a chance to welcome McKeesport and White Oak fire chiefs and examine current procedures.
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May 11, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
* — CORRECTION: This story was corrected after publication. We regret the error.
(File photo by Adam Reinherz for Tube City Almanac)
Four seats are open on the McKeesport Area School Board and nine candidates — including two incumbents — are running in the May 20 primary election.
In Pennsylvania, school board races are officially non-partisan, and all candidates have qualified to run as both as Democrats and Republicans.
Candidates who finish in the top four positions in each party’s primary will be candidates for the general election, to be held Nov. 4.
Incumbents David Donato and Matthew Holtzman are running for re-election. School Director LaToya Wright, whose term expires this year, is not running again, while Dan Goughnour resigned after being elected state representative for the 35th Legislative District.
In addition to Donato and Holtzman, other announced candidates include Bob Boyle, Tom Filotei, Kevin Kovach, Arla Payne, Mike Shelly, Julian Thomas, and Tiffany Wampler.
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May 09, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo)
McKeesport Area School Board has filled a seat vacated by former school director Dan Goughnour, who resigned from MASD after winning last month’s special election to the state General Assembly.
Following a suggestion by School Director David Donato during the May 8 meeting, the empty seat will now be held by Josh Lefcowitz.
School directors, including Matthew Holtzman and Latoya Wright, praised Lefcowitz as well as Donato’s decision to put a name forward.
“Up until the last minute, even after the deadline, we were still getting people interested in applying, so we were thinking maybe just have the judge decide,” Holtzman said on Thursday. School Director David Seropian “brought up the point that we have a responsibility to at least try to fill the seat with people that put their names in.”
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May 08, 2025 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Audrey II sure has grown! Johnny Terreri as Seymour Krelborn and Carina Iannarelli as Audrey discuss Seymour’s success raising the mysterious plant. (Bonnijean Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
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“Little Shop of Horrors”
Where: McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St., 412-673-1100, www.mckeesportlittletheater.com
When: Friday, May 9, Saturday, May 10, Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. and matinees, Sunday, May 11 and Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for students available through the MLT website or www.onthestage.tickets/show/mckeesport-little-theater
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When Jeff Boles found out McKeesport Little Theater was looking for a director for “Little Shop of Horrors,” he let them know he definitely was interested.
“I love it,” he said prior to a recent rehearsal. “It’s one of those Top 5 musicals.”
This is the first time Boles has directed at MLT, with the show opening Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. “The theater is great and it has been a lot of fun,” Boles said.
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May 08, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Versailles Avenue Viaduct, which crosses Ravine Street, closed in 2022. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
McKeesport’s mayor is hopeful that an infusion of federal funding will help the city replace the closed Versailles Avenue Viaduct.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Michael Cherepko said city officials have had productive conversations with U.S. Rep. Summer Lee and are scheduling meetings with U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick.
“Up to this point, the only money that has come into this project has been from the state,” Cherepko said. Funding obtained by retired state Sen. Jim Brewster and the late Rep. Matt Gergely enabled engineering and design work to begin, he said.
“Once the engineering is done, we’re hoping additional funding will come with it, and much more quickly,” Cherepko said.
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May 07, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Tree Pittsburgh is holding an “adoption event” this Saturday (May 10) in McKeesport. For more information, visit the group’s website. (Photo courtesy Tree Pittsburgh)
Duquesne officials are looking forward to spring and summer months for several projects, including improving the city’s greenscapes and parks.
At this week’s meeting, council voted 5-0 to approve an agreement between the city and the non-profit group Tree Pittsburgh to explore community tree-planting efforts. There is no financial commitment at this time, city officials said.
According to its website, Tree Pittsburgh is an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to improving neighborhoods and communities “through tree planting and care, education, advocacy and land conservation.”
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May 04, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area School Board will vote on updated policies concerning the eligibility of nonresident students and the use of generative artificial intelligence during Thursday’s school board meeting.
Both policies received first readings during the April 10 meeting.
Policy 202, the eligibility of nonresident students, was last updated Jan. 23, 2013, according to district records.
The new policy’s purpose ensures the board operates “district schools for the benefit of students residing in this district who are eligible for attendance.” Additionally, according to the policy, “the Board reserves the right to verify claims of residency, dependency or guardianship and to remove from school attendance a nonresident student whose claim is invalid.”
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