Pittsburgh news

• Consumer Warning: Personal Data Found On Used Phones

  17-02-2017 23:45
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – There’s an important consumer alert out for anyone who owns a cell phone.
  Millions of smartphones being purchased each year, which means millions of smartphones are being traded, sold, donated or discarded. Those phones hold lots of important data.
  It’s important to make sure those phones are wiped clean of information before they are turned over to someone else.
  Research at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, shows that not everyone is as careful as they shou
  
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• Maatta To Miss 6 Weeks; Schultz Suffers Concussion

  17-02-2017 23:24
  
  PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) – He has appeared in 54 games this year, recording one goal and six assists, but the Pens will be without him for the next six weeks.
  According to the Penguins, defenseman Olli Maatta suffered a hand injury that required surgery.Olli Maatta underwent successful hand surgery and is expected to be out of the lineup for six weeks. Details: https://t.co/RHBAjV8r0d pic.twitter.com/nqaarVRJh5
  — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 17, 2017
  Also according to th
  
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• Three charged in connection with man's death in McKees Rocks

  17-02-2017 23:20 via post-gazette.com
  
  Three people have been arrested after a McKees Rocks man was found dead inside his apartment this week, Allegheny County Police said Friday.
  
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• Man charged with abuse of corpse after body found in McKees Rocks

  17-02-2017 23:20 via post-gazette.com
  
  A McKees Rocks man has been arrested on a charge that he helped wrap up a dead man's body, which was found decomposing Thursday.
  
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• Uber Driver Testifies Against Passenger He Allegedly Watched Shoot, Kill Man

  17-02-2017 23:18
  
  CARRICK (KDKA) —  An Uber driver walked away from court on Friday after testifying against Derek Vasos, the man accused of fatally shooting Donald Ketter outside a Carrick club.
  The driver claims he was called to pick up Vasos outside the Carrick Lit Club. The victim had also left the club and was walking in front of the Uber car. Vasos was sitting on the passenger side when he reached over hit the horn asking Ketter to move.
  Ketter reportedly approached the car with a belt wrapped ar
  
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• Rally draws small crowd on Grant Street

  17-02-2017 23:04 via post-gazette.com
  
  About two dozen people gathered at the City-County Building this afternoon as part of a call from the National Lawyers Guild to stand in solidarity against the actions of the new administration in Washington, D.C.
  
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• River Rescue Searches For Possible Body In Allegheny River

  17-02-2017 23:00
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — River Rescue crews responded Friday after a possible body was found in the Allegheny River.
  Around 4:30 p.m., reports came in that a body was spotted in the water near the 9th Street Bridge, not far from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
  Police have been searching this area for missing Duquesne University student Dakota James
  Immediately boats were deployed to scour the waterway.
  Around 6 p.m., search crews cleared the area without finding anything.
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• Pirates Spring Training 2017: Feb. 17 News & Notes

  17-02-2017 22:54
  
  BRADENTON, Fla. (93-7 THE FAN) – Day 4 of Pirates Spring Training was also the first day of full workouts with all players present.
  While the highlights focused on seeing Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco swing bats in public for the first time since last fall, THE story was McCutchen’s meeting with the media before workouts that echoed much of what he wrote in The Player’s Tribune and published just minutes before speaking.
  While thoughts on Cutch will be sa
  
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• Police: Floppy Hat-Wearing Bank Robber Arrested, Charged

  17-02-2017 22:25
  
  ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Police have arrested a suspected bank robber who used a floppy hat to try and conceal his face.
  Ross Township Police say 43-year-old Brian Leach is now in custody in connection with the Thursday afternoon robbery at the Northwest Savings Bank on McKnight Road.
  “He was able to get a small amount of money from the bank and we were able to recover a good bit of the money back from him,” said Ross Township Police Det. Brian Kohlhepp.
  (Photo Credit: KDKA)
  Acco
  
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• Officials Close Penn State Frat Where Pledge Had Deadly Fall

  17-02-2017 21:52
  
  STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Authorities are shutting down a Penn State fraternity where a pledge was fatally injured in a fall down the stairs.
  The university said Friday it’ll be at least five years before the Beta Theta Pi chapter might be allowed to regain status as a recognized fraternity. The fraternity’s national office says it’s closing the chapter.
  The school is also maintaining an alcohol ban at social events at the main campus in State College for the rest of the
  
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• Police: Joey The Indoor Pet Squirrel Stops Burglar Breaking Into Safe

  17-02-2017 21:40
  
  MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) – Police in southwest Idaho say an indoor pet, a squirrel named Joey, has thwarted a burglary attempt.
  The Meridian Police Department says a juvenile entered a home last week and told police after later being arrested that a squirrel attacked him when he tried to break into a gun safe.
  Meridian Police Officer Ashley Turner says the juvenile received scratch marks on his arm but no bites. The teen is believed to have entered three or four unlocked homes in the area. The
  
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• Keidel: The Simmering Durant-Westbrook Feud

  17-02-2017 21:37
  
  By Jason Keidel
  During the interminable, snow-coated NBA season, it’s hard to keep the media and masses awake for 82 games. People don’t really pay attention until the fourth quarter of games and the fourth quarter of the season — the playoffs.
  But this season has been rife with soap operatic entertainment. Will LeBron James, on the wrong side of 30, endure the incessant pounding and endless minutes on his epic frame? Will Carmelo Anthony finish his wholly unfulfilled season (a
  
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• Jerry Sandusky’s Son Waives Hearing In Child Sex Abuse Case

  17-02-2017 21:17
  
  BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) – Jerry Sandusky’s adult son won’t be in court next week for a hearing on accusations he pressured a teen girl for naked photos and asked her teen sister to perform a sex act.
  Jeffrey Sandusky on Friday waived a preliminary hearing on charges that include solicitation of statutory sexual assault and solicitation of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He remained in a county jail near State College, with bail set at $200,000. Defense attorney Lance Marsh
  
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• Report: Men Attack Veteran Who Tried To Save Turtle From Being Tortured

  17-02-2017 20:53
  
  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (KDKA) — Three men were arrested in Florida this week for attacking a Navy veteran who asked them to stop torturing a turtle, police say.
  According to CBS affiliate WKMG, a woman was walking with her toddler in Daytona Beach when she saw three men “smashing up a turtle.” When she went home and told her husband, Gary Blough, he went outside to try and intervene.
  “The one had it over his head and he was smashing it down on the sidewalk,” Blough sai
  
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• FBI: White Supremacist Bought Gun For Dylan Roof-Style Attack

  17-02-2017 20:27
  
  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Authorities say a 29-year-old white supremacist and convicted felon bought a gun from an undercover FBI agent in South Carolina that he said he wanted to use in “the spirit of Dylann Roof.”
  The FBI arrested Benjamin McDowell shortly after he bought the gun Wednesday for $109 in Myrtle Beach. McDowell is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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• Execution stayed for killer of 3 Pa. police officers

  17-02-2017 20:16
  Richard Poplawski, center, is escorted by Allegheny County Sherriffs after being sentenced to death by lethal injection for the killing of three Pittsburgh Police officers Tuesday, June 28, 2011. A Pittsburgh man sentenced to die for the 2009 murders of 3 city police officers has been granted a stay of execution as he looks to overturn his conviction, media reports indicate.
  
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• Early Spring? Higher Than Average Temps Expected For Next 8 Days

  17-02-2017 20:10
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – I’m not ready to say that winter is over just yet, but we will be Spring’ing ahead this weekend with highs in the upper 50s.
  The warm weather actually sticks around for several days with highs expected to be at or just above 50 degrees for the next eight days.
  A weekend ridge will build in from the south bringing with it unseasonably warm weather for the region. Highs will be a good 15 to 20 degrees above the average for this time of the year. Lows will be 1
  
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• Ex-Wife: Georgia Dad Didn’t Mean To Kill Toddler In Hot Car

  17-02-2017 19:59
  
  ATLANTA (AP) – The ex-wife of a 36-year-old Georgia man convicted of murder for leaving their toddler son to die inside a hot SUV says she still believes “it was an accident.”
  Justin Ross Harris was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty in November. His son, 22-month-old Cooper Harris, died after being left for hours in the SUV outside his father’s workplace.
  Harris’ ex-wife, Leanna Taylor, told ABC’s “20/20” in an interview air
  
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• Report: Mandatory Random Drug Tests Considered For Butler County School

  17-02-2017 19:35
  
  SAXONBURG (KDKA) — A high school in Butler County is considering a new drug-testing policy.
  Under the proposed policy, the Butler Eagle reports Knoch High School students who participate in extracurricular activities or drive to the school and use the school’s parking lot would be subject to random drug testing.
  District Superintendent David Zupsic told parents that driver and kids who participate in extracurricular activities make up two-thirds of the school’s popula
  
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• Mandatory Random Drug Tests Considered For Butler County School

  17-02-2017 19:35
  
  SAXONBURG (KDKA) — Two-thirds of Knoch High School students will be subject to random drug tests, if the South Butler County School Board adopts a policy proposed by its superintendent, Dr. David Zupsic.
  “We’d be proposing a policy that tests students for drugs — students who participate in extracurricular activities or drive to school,” Zupsic told KDKA’s Jon Delano on Friday.
  Zupsic says parents want the school district to be pro-active about the drug crisis
  
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• Regional distilleries bringing home medals from Nashville

  17-02-2017 19:16 via post-gazette.com
  
  One regional distiller won a gold medal at the American Craft Spirits Association convention and trade show in Nashville, where the group announced that next year’s gathering will be held in Pittsburgh.
  
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• PWSA: Work on leaky pipe should not disrupt customers' water service

  17-02-2017 18:45 via post-gazette.com
  
  Workers will shut off water Monday on a leaking, 60-inch main, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority said this morning.
  
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• Judge: Ingrown Nail Won’t Get Hit-And-Run Driver Who Killed 9-Year-Old Out Of Jail

  17-02-2017 18:31
  
  HANOVER TWP., Pa. (KDKA) — A judge in Northampton County says an ingrown toenail is not enough to get a man convicted of killing a 9-year-old boy out of jail.
  According to the Morning Call, Royce Atkins, 23, is awaiting sentencing for fleeing the scene after hit hit and killed a 9-year-old boy crossing the street.
  On Friday, Judge Michael Koury denied Atkins’ lawyer’s request to have the man released on bail, due to an ingrown toenail that has become infected while in Northampt
  
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• Bomb squad investigates suspicious vehicle outside Amtrak station; nothing found

  17-02-2017 18:07 via post-gazette.com
  
  The bomb squad was called out to investigate a suspicious vehicle outside the Amtrak station in Downtown Pittsburgh this afternoon, but nothing was found.
  
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• Bomb squad investigates suspicious vehicle outside Amtrak station in Pittsburgh

  17-02-2017 18:07 via post-gazette.com
  
  The bomb squad has been called out to investigate a suspicious vehicle outside the Amtrak station in Downtown Pittsburgh this afternoon, according to police.
  
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• Suspicious Package Found At Downtown Amtrak Station, Bomb Squad Called

  17-02-2017 17:59
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Police have established a perimeter around the Amtrak station in downtown Pittsburgh.
  According to officials at the scene, a suspicious package was found and the bomb squad has also been called.
  No other details have been released at this time.
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• Suspicious Car At Downtown Amtrak Station Prompts Bomb Squad Response

  17-02-2017 17:59
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) –A suspicious car at the downtown Amtrak station prompted a response from Pittsburgh police and the bomb squad Friday morning.
  Amtrak officials initially contacted police about a car that had been parked overnight. When bomb-sniffing dogs checked out the car, something alerted them and the surrounding area was shut down.
  However, the vehicle was opened and nothing was found.
  The roads have since been reopened.
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• Beer Company Offers Paid ‘Paw-ternity’ Leave For New Dog Parents

  17-02-2017 17:54
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Being a new puppy parent is certainly tiresome, but should companies offer paid “paw-ternity” leave?
  Scottish beer company BrewDog is to offer employees a week of time off to bond with their new dogs.
  In a promotional video for the policy, BrewDog writes “this week, we introduced something our staff have been asking about for quite a while.”Dog days.
  Taking time out for paw-ternity leave! pic.twitter.com/JhntbnixFo
  — BrewDog (@BrewDog) Febr
  
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• How Do Americans Spend Their Tax Refund?

  17-02-2017 17:46
  
  CBS Local– It’s that time of year again: tax refund season. Whilst stressful, it’s a chance to get some money back into your bank account. If that happens, the first question is how do you spend your tax refund?
  Last year, the average tax refund was $2,860 according to GoBankingRates. Everyone could use an extra $2,860.
  In GoBankingRates’ survey, 41 percent of participants responsibly put the money into their savings account. Coming in a close second place at 38 perc
  
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• Pro wrestler from Monroeville makes a pro-Trump name for himself in Mexico

  17-02-2017 17:37 via post-gazette.com
  
  The professional wrestler Sam Polinsky decided to go bigly.
  
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• Andrew McCutchen: Until I’m Told Otherwise, I’m A Pittsburgh Pirate For Life

  17-02-2017 16:55
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen had a rough 2016 season, which led to a lot of speculation during the course of the winter months that the 30-year-old would be traded.
  While professional athletes like to tell you that they “tune out the outside noise,” that’s not always the case.
  In a letter to Pirates fans that was published on the Players’ Tribune, McCutchen details how he spent much of the offseason wondering, the same as the fa
  
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• City: Pittsburgh on track to have highest number of officers in 15 years

  17-02-2017 16:37 via post-gazette.com
  
  The Pittsburgh police bureau is poised to have its highest number of officers in 15 years, city officials said today.
  
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• Trump Weighs Mobilizing National Guard For Immigration Roundups

  17-02-2017 16:23
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is considering mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
  A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press outlines a Trump administration proposal under consideration to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.
  The 11-page document calls for the unprecedented militarizati
  
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• Trump Weighs Mobilizing 100K National Guard Troops For Immigration Roundups

  17-02-2017 16:22
  
  WASHINGTON (AP)  – A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press outlines a Trump administration proposal under consideration to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.
  The 11-page document calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana. If the proposal
  
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• Pittsburgh Blues Festival will return with new name, location and message

  17-02-2017 16:13 via post-gazette.com
  
  The Pittsburgh Blues Festival, which went silent last year after a 21-year run, will return July 22-23 as the Pittsburgh Blues and Roots Festival with a new location at the Syria Shrine Center in Harmar.
  
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• UpPrize finalists try to solve social problems

  17-02-2017 15:48
  Ten finalists have been selected for UpPrize, a competition that challenges organizations to come up with technologies and solutions to help the needy in the Pittsburgh region. A total 175 organizations entered UpPrize in October to solve one of two challenges: developing technology to improve how nonprofits deliver services; and developing products or services to increase healthy food access for underserved people and communities.
  
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• PTL Links: Feb. 17, 2017

  17-02-2017 14:59
  
  Visit the links below for more on today’s guest & topics:
  Hines Ward Wine Release Party
  North Side Mardi Gras
  Abandoned Pittsburgh
  Auctioneers/Bid Calling Contest
  Heinz History Center ‘ Presidents In Office ‘ Virtual Exhibit
  City Of Asylum Walking Tour
  North Park Ice Rink Snow Princess And Superhero Skate
  
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• ‘Dance Moms’ Star Gets OK To Travel Before Sentencing

  17-02-2017 14:31
  
  PITTSBURGH (AP) – “Dance Moms” reality TV star Abby Lee Miller has been allowed to travel overseas while awaiting sentencing in her bankruptcy fraud case.
  Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania objected to Miller’s trip because of the chance she won’t return before her next sentencing hearing on Feb. 24.
  Miller says her livelihood depends on traveling. The Los Angeles resident who was previously from Penn Hills went to England to film a movie.
  Prosecutors say Miller wa
  
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• Greensburg teen who took selfie after fatally shooting friend convicted

  17-02-2017 14:04 via post-gazette.com
  
  A Greensburg 18-year-old who authorities say shot a friend and then posed for a selfie with the dying teen has been convicted of a less serious charge.
  
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• NFL Star Darrelle Revis Turns Himself Into Police To Face Charges

  17-02-2017 13:59
  
  PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Darrelle Revis turned himself into police Friday evening to face charges for an alleged incident on the South Side.His former lawyer says Revis’ side of the story has yet to be told.
  Pittsburgh police say the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. Monday near the intersection of South 23rd and East Carson streets.
  “Darrelle came home for the weekend to visit family and friends and while he was at home he decided to go and hang out with a buddy of hi
  
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• Attorney: Revis ‘Should Be Afforded The Benefit Of The Doubt’

  17-02-2017 13:59
  
  PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Darrelle Revis is facing charges for an alleged incident on the South Side. However, his lawyer says Revis’ side of the story has yet to be told.
  Pittsburgh police say the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. Monday near the intersection of South 23rd and East Carson streets.
  “Darrelle came home for the weekend to visit family and friends and while he was at home he decided to go and hang out with a buddy of his on the South Side,” attorney
  
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• Primanti’s Creates New Sandwich To Celebrate Crosby’s 1,000th Point

  17-02-2017 13:13
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Sidney Crosby is 86th player in NHL history to rack up 1,000 career points.
  To help celebrate the milestone, Primanti Brothers has created a new sandwich.
  The name of the sandwich is The Captain. It features capicola, turkey and roast beef along with the usual toppings.Sid did it! Here’s to 1000 pts! Celebrate with #TheCaptain – capicola, turkey & roast beef available now! #CaptainSandwich pic.twitter.com/qiQKoDlbOS
  — Primanti Bros (@primantibros)
  
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• Police: Jewel Thief Used Rope To Rappel Into Costco

  17-02-2017 12:45
  
  UPPER MERION, Pa. (AP) – Police in Montgomery County are searching for a suspect who stole jewelry from a warehouse club using a complex maneuver.
  Upper Merion police say the burglar scaled a drainage pipe outside of a Costco around 1 a.m. on Feb. 6., then broke open a skylight and used a rope to rappel down to the sales floor of the store. Police say the suspect then stole several pieces of jewelry from a case and exited through a side door.
  Police did not disclose the total value of the
  
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• Pennsylvania Officials Link Earthquakes In Lawrence Co. To Fracking

  17-02-2017 10:11
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania environmental regulators are set to release the findings of their investigation into a series of minor earthquakes that took place near fracking operations by an oil and gas company.
  The temblors, all too weak to be felt by humans, were recorded last April in Lawrence County, about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh and three-quarters of a mile from a natural gas well owned by Houston-based Hilcorp Energy Co. No damage was reported.
  The state Department of Env
  
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• Wilkinsburg extends financing for women's shelter

  17-02-2017 06:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  Wilkinsburg council has taken a step to help the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh add more beds. 
  
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• West Mifflin schools to sell two playing fields

  17-02-2017 06:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  Two playing fields for sale by the West Mifflin Area School District could provide a financial injection at budget time.
  
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• School districts engaging parents, students on opioid dangers

  17-02-2017 06:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  School districts are reaching out to both students and their parents to address the opioid addiction problem.
  
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• Privatizing Pittsburgh's water system is not a good idea, officials say

  17-02-2017 06:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  Despite his scathing draft audit of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s water-supply operation and management, City Controller Michael Lamb still sees much to like about the publicly owned system and said recent talk about selling it is a bad idea.
  
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• PNC remaking 24 of 29 floors in One PNC Plaza

  17-02-2017 06:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  The former headquarters for PNC Financial Services Group is in the midst of its first major overhaul in more than 50 years.
  
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• Pittsburgh company wants to grow, process medical marijuana in McKeesport

  17-02-2017 06:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  In the new age of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, McKeesport could be the site of a cannabis cultivation and processing facility that, if approved, likely would be the only one in Allegheny County.
  
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