February 17, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
U.S. Steel Clairton Plant in a file photo. (Mark Dixon, Blue Lens, LLC, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons)
Grants totalling $250,000 will be distributed to local health and welfare groups from a fund created as part of a settlement between Allegheny County and U.S. Steel Corp., officials announced.
And the public is being invited to weigh in on future rounds of funding at two meetings being held this week on Tuesday and Thursday.
The awards are being made from the Mon Valley Public Health & Welfare Grant Program, which was established as part of the settlement from the 2018 fire at the U.S. Steel Clairton Plant, said a spokesperson for Allegheny County Economic Development.
“ACED’s investment in these programs is a direct response to the voices of the Mon Valley community. By actively listening to constituents as we developed the application system, sought applications, reviewed submissions, and awarded funds, we are able to support projects that not only improve the environment but also protect the health and well-being of Mon Valley residents,” said Lauren Connelly, ACED director.
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February 17, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Arlene Harvey and JoAnne Rodgers will be honored Saturday during a Black History Month celebration at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center. (Submitted photos)
McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center and a group of alumni from historically Black colleges and universities will celebrate Black History Month with a program this Saturday honoring two local pioneers.
“Dare to Be the First” will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Heritage Center, 1832 Arboretum Drive, Renziehausen Park. The event is free and open to the public.
The guests of honor will be Arlene Harvey, who retired after a career at Carnegie Library of McKeesport, and JoAnne Rodgers, the first Black school nurse in the McKeesport Area School District, said Denise Sinker of McKeesport HBCU Vision.
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February 12, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Politics & Elections
The Allegheny County Elections Division today announced that nomination petitions are available online and in the office for candidates seeking to run in the May 20 municipal primary elections.
Voters throughout the county will go to the polls this fall to elect offices — depending on the communities — such as mayors, city and borough council members, Allegheny County council members, school directors, township commissioners, judges, and district justices.
Petitions, along with instructions, are available online. The nomination petitions must be printed or copied as duplex (double-sided, front-to-back, head-to-head) on plain white 8.5” x 11” (letter size) paper.
This requirement cannot be satisfied by printing each side of the nomination petition on a separate sheet of paper and affixing the sheets together.
Candidates for any of the court offices (Common Pleas, Commonwealth, Superior and Supreme) may obtain nomination petitions by contacting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation via phone at 1-877-868-3772, or online at the state’s Running for Office webpage.
Candidates may begin to circulate petitions and file nomination papers on Feb. 18. The last day to file these nomination petitions is March 11.
February 12, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Jeremy Renner and co-star Emma Laird in a publicity still from Season 3 of “Mayor of Kingstown” (Paramount+ photo via Instagram)
The Paramount TV series “Mayor of Kingstown” has returned to the Mon Valley and is shooting scenes in McKeesport, Port Vue and other nearby locations.
Crews were expected to be on the scene at multiple locations today (Feb. 12), Thursday and Feb. 18. A city spokesperson said that the producers have asked that filming locations be kept confidential to minimize disruptions.
Periodic street closures are possible, the spokesperson added. Locations will include both residential and commercial areas. The city will be reimbursed for police overtime, parking and other expenses, the mayor’s office said.
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February 10, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Plans to relocate the bike trail to the river’s edge in McKeesport have stalled. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A plan to move McKeesport’s section of the Great Allegheny Passage to the edge of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers has stalled, Mayor Michael Cherepko said Wednesday.
The cost of relocating railroad tracks and industrial operations is too expensive, and the city is looking for alternatives for the busy hiking-biking trail that forms part of a network between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., the mayor said in his report to council.
One of those alternatives would take the bike trail through the heart of the city’s central business district, which could provide an incentive for retail and restaurants to locate on the dormant Fifth Avenue corridor.
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February 10, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council will study the possibility of collecting trash using its own personnel, rather than an outside contractor.
At this month’s meeting, council voted unanimously to have City Manager Doug Sample develop estimates on bringing trash collection in-house.
Local municipalities have been struggling with the rising cost of using outside contractors to collect garbage and residents in many communities have complained about trash fee increases. Some nearby communities, including West Mifflin and Munhall, have their own sanitation departments.
Council Member Aaron Adams said the city has speculated that Duquesne would need two garbage trucks — one as a primary vehicle and the other as a backup — and enough employees to collect trash four days per week.
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February 10, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council has added another 23 vacant properties to the demolition list and could begin work as early as next month.
At a special hearing on Feb. 4, council voted unanimously to raze the buildings, which had previously been identified as dangerous structures.
Solicitor Myron Sainovich said letters have been previously sent out to the owners of record for the properties. He noted that the public hearing was advertised through City Manager Douglas Sample’s office, and not one of the property owners had appealed the verdict.
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February 08, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Former Steeler Russell Stuvaints signs his donated Steeler jersey for the sports wall at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Former Steelers defensive back Russell Stuvaints donated sports memorabilia to the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center to keep a promise to a longtime friend.
A member of the 2005 Steelers team that defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, Stuvaints was accompanied by his wife, son and mother. The family was greeted by Heritage Center board chair Jennifer Vertullo.
Vertullo said Stuvaints and State Rep. Matthew Gergely, a member of the heritage center’s board, were lifelong friends. Gergely had arranged for Stuvaints to make the donation prior to Gergely’s untimely death in January.
“The history center is making sure to fulfill Gergely’s wish to give Stuvaints his due honor on the sports wall with the other great McKeesport athletes,” Vertullo said.
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February 08, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District will vote to approve several expenses and fiscal measures during next Thursday’s regular board meeting.
On Feb. 13, school directors will decide whether to authorize the district to receive quotes and award work to repair two hot water circulation pumps at the high school for a cost not to exceed $19,500 per pump, according to President Mark Holtzman Sr.
School director Jason Pavlecic said the work is “much needed to continue the heat in the building.” In lieu of replacing faulty pumps, pursuing repairs at a total cost not to exceed $39,000, will save the district a “significant amount of money,” Pavlecic added during a Feb. 6 open agenda meeting.
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February 08, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two administrators who were accused of failing to properly report alleged sexual misconduct by a former security guard were terminated Thursday by McKeesport Area School Board.
Two other employees also were terminated by the board in connection with a different incident. Details were not released by the district, citing privacy concerns.
Following this week’s special board meeting, Solicitor Gary Matta described the circumstances preceding the board’s decisions.
Two of the firings relate to an incident involving a former security guard at the high school, who was charged with maintaining a sexual relationship with a former student. The other two employees were terminated for “acting inappropriately,” Matta said.
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