Pittsburgh news

• Pittsburgh Playgrounds Reopen With Extra Safety Precautions, Including Staff Members Handing Out Masks If Needed

  15-06-2020 23:40
  
  PITTSBURGH, PA (KDKA) – The playgrounds and ballfields across the city are no longer roped off and closed to the public.
  A week after entering the “green” phase, the city made the decision to reopen outdoor recreation facilities.
  “I was elated. I was glad the courts were going to open back up. I was going to get to go outside and have a somewhat normal life,” said Montez Newsome.
  On Monday, families headed out to the more than 150 parks in the city to experience wha
  
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• Pittsburgh Parks Reopen With Extra Safety Precautions, Including Staff Members Handing Out Masks If Needed

  15-06-2020 23:40
  
  PITTSBURGH, PA (KDKA) – The playgrounds and ballfields across the city are no longer roped off and closed to the public.
  A week after entering the “green” phase, the city made the decision to reopen outdoor recreation facilities.
  “I was elated. I was glad the courts were going to open back up. I was going to get to go outside and have a somewhat normal life,” said Montez Newsome.
  On Monday, families headed out to the more than 150 parks in the city to experience wha
  
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• ‘Historic Decision’: Supreme Court Ruling That Protects LGBTQ Workers From Job Discrimination Will Impact Many Employees And Employers In Pennsylvania

  15-06-2020 23:31
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — In a major decision on Monday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court held that employers cannot discriminate against gay or transgender employees in the workplace.
  One was fired for playing gay softball, another for telling his boss was gay and a third for saying she was a transgendered woman.
  On Monday, the Supreme Court said all three firings were illegal under the civil rights law that bans discrimination.
  “This is really a historic decision,” says Megan Stanley
  
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• Red tape, lack of funding limit public’s oversight of Pa. police through body cameras

  15-06-2020 23:18 via post-gazette.com
  
  Hailed as a tool to better protect people from violent police officers, their use and effectiveness have been limited. Gov. Tom Wolf says it’s time to revisit the issue.
  
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• Butler Health System Laying Off Nearly 60 Positions Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

  15-06-2020 23:12
  
  BUTLER COUNTY (KDKA) — Butler Health System is letting go of nearly 60 positions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  On Monday, BHS announced 57 positions were laid off and 10 positions were furloughed.
  Sixty vacant positions were also eliminated and will not be filled, the release said.
  “Positions impacted are across the entire health system, and include the pending closure of BMH’s skilled nursing facility, or Transitional Care Facility,” the release said.
  “Increased
  
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• T-Mobile Says Engineers Are Working To Resolve An Issue As Customers Report Countrywide Cell Phone Carrier Customers

  15-06-2020 23:04
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon customers are reporting widespread outages across the country.People in major cities like New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles are reporting outages on the website Down Detector.According to maps on the website, there have been very few reports in the Pittsburgh area. A small cluster of Verizon customers in Bethel Park have reported outages.The president of technology at T-Mobile says on Twitter: “Our engineers
  
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• Allegheny County Emergency Services Says T-Mobile Outage Has Been Resolved

  15-06-2020 23:04
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – T-Mobile, one of the three largest mobile carriers in the U.S., has fixed a widespread network issue.
  The company’s president of technology, Neville Ray, tweeted Monday afternoon at around 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time that T-Mobile engineers hope to fix the “voice and data issue” soon. At 6 p.m., Ray tweeted that data services were back up, but that calls and texts were still having problems. He recommended customers use WhatsApp, iMessage and other
  
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• Allegheny County Emergency Services Says 911 Center Has Been Informed Of T-Mobile Outage

  15-06-2020 23:04
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon customers were reporting widespread outages across the country Monday.
  People in major cities like New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles are reporting outages on the website Down Detector.
  According to maps on the website, Pittsburgh-area customers were impacted very little compared to other cities. A small cluster of Verizon customers in Bethel Park have reported outages.
  The president of technology at T-Mobile says o
  
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• Allegheny County Emergency Services Says 911 Center Has Been Informed ‘All The Major Cell Phone Carriers’ Are Experiencing Outages

  15-06-2020 23:04
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon customers are reporting widespread outages across the country.People in major cities like New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles are reporting outages on the website Down Detector.According to maps on the website, there have been very few reports in the Pittsburgh area. A small cluster of Verizon customers in Bethel Park have reported outages.The president of technology at T-Mobile says on Twitter: “Our engineers
  
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• State Police Investigating After Human Remains Found In Elk County

  15-06-2020 22:31
  
  ELK COUNTY (KDKA) — State police are investigating after a set of human remains were found near the Twin Lakes Recreation Area in Elk County.
  On Monday in a release, the police said no danger exists to the surrounding communities.No other information was released.
  pic.twitter.com/Mnq96CBzfb
  — Troopers Chewning and Morris (@PSPTroopCPIO) June 15, 2020Stay with KDKA for more on this developing story.
  
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• Coronavirus Outbreak Grows To 28 Cases At W. Va. Church

  15-06-2020 22:27
  
  CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says a coronavirus outbreak at a church has grown to 28 cases.
  The outbreak that occurred last week at the Graystone Baptist Church in Lewisburg has led to additional available testing for the public in Greenbrier County.
  Justice says the National Guard conducted decontamination efforts at the church Sunday. The church says the source of the outbreak is unknown.
  The church has closed for two weeks and canceled Sunday services.
  In a st
  
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• 2020 ‘BET Awards’ To Feature Alicia Keys, John Legend; Hosted By Amanda Seales

  15-06-2020 22:09
  
  (New York, NY) – BET has announced the first group of performers for the 20th annual BET Awards including Alicia Keys, Chloe X Halle, DaBaby, D Smoke, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend,  Jonathan McReynolds, Kane Brown, Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, SiR, Summer Walker, Usher, Wayne Brady and more. BET Amplified Artists, Masego and Lonr. are set to take the BET Amplified Music Stage, a platform for emerging artists.
  
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• State senators rip Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission decision to eliminate 500 toll collection jobs

  15-06-2020 21:49 via post-gazette.com
  
  Senate Transportation and Labor and Industry Committee members say the Turnpike Commission broke a promise to keep the workers through 2021.
  
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• State senators rip Pa. Turnpike Commission’s decision to eliminate 500 toll collection jobs

  15-06-2020 21:49 via post-gazette.com
  
  Senate Transportation and Labor and Industry Committee members say the Turnpike Commission broke a promise to keep the workers through 2021.
  
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• 13-, 14-Year-Old Girls Killed When Bricks Fall On Hammock

  15-06-2020 21:25
  
  CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) — Authorities are investigating Monday after two girls died when they became trapped on a hammock by some falling bricks.
  The hammock was tried to a tree and a brick pillar, police said. The pillar collapsed and fell on the 13- and 14-year-old on Sunday night, according to police.
  Officers freed the girls, who were taken to a hospital, where they later died of their injuries.
  No names have been released.
  (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
  
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• 80-Year-Old Somerset Co. Man Arrested In Shooting Death Of Grandson

  15-06-2020 20:59
  
  BOSWELL, Pa. (AP) — State police say an 80-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting death of his grandson over the weekend in western Pennsylvania.
  The shooting occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday after 80-year-old Ray Edward Supanick got into an argument with his wife in their Boswell home, the (Somerset) Daily American reported.
  Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas said the man went into the living room to reach for a long gun, while the woman sought aid from their grandso
  
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• Pa. House Judiciary Committee Unanimously Approves 2 Police Reform Bills

  15-06-2020 20:39
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two bills to change how police are hired and trained were approved unanimously on Monday by a Pennsylvania House committee.
  Action on the proposals was taken a week after black state representatives commandeered the speaker’s dais and disrupted House business to pressure majority Republicans to take action on stalled bills involving how police interact with people.
  The Judiciary Committee voted for a measure that would mandate thorough background checks for law
  
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• ‘I Hope All Actors Get The Chance To Experience This’: Melissa L. Williams On Tyler Perry, BET’s ‘The Oval’ & ‘Ruthless’

  15-06-2020 20:34
  
  (CBS Local)– Actor Melissa L. Williams holds an important place inside Tyler Perry’s BET universe.
  Williams is one of the breakout stars of “Tyler Perry’s The Oval” where she plays twin sisters Denise Truesdale and Ruth Hartman and she’s also the star of “Ruthless,” as Ruth Truesdale. Whether it’s being at the center of drama in the White House or with a scandalous religious cult, Williams has proven she’s one of the most versatile
  
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• Pa. advances reforms to create confidential police disciplinary database, as NY, NJ take steps to make records public

  15-06-2020 20:30 via post-gazette.com
  
  Democrats hailed the move as a long-awaited first step after seeing similar legislation languish. But transparency in officer discipline still lags behind New York and New Jersey.
  
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• Pa. advances reforms to create confidential police disciplinary database

  15-06-2020 20:30 via post-gazette.com
  
  Democrats hailed the move as a long-awaited first step after seeing similar legislation languish. But transparency in officer discipline still lags behind New York and New Jersey.
  
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• ‘They Need To Be Celebrated’: Pittsburgh CAPA Students Get Their Diplomas, Although It’s Not The Graduation They Imagined

  15-06-2020 20:12
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Hundreds of Pittsburgh Public Schools 2020 graduates received their diplomas today. For many, it’s not the graduation they envisioned but it’s one they’ll always remember.
  There was joy and excitement at Pittsburgh Public Schools Creative and Performing Arts School Monday. There were 138 students who received their diplomas, and for most of them, it hasn’t been an easy change.
  “It’s very different, it’s not what I expected throu
  
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• Pittsburgh Artist Constructs Giant Chimpanzee Sculpture Out Of Recycled Cardboard, Glue And 150 Hours Of Quarantine Time

  15-06-2020 19:49
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A Pittsburgh artist is trying to find a home for a giant chimpanzee sculpture created from cardboard during quarantine.
  Tyler Gedman shared a photo of the sculpture on Reddit and Instagram.View this post on InstagramGlad this big guy is finally done. Started him back in April and finished today. I’m estimating a total of around 150 hours of work. This is the biggest and most time consuming project I’ve ever worked on. He’s completely constructed of rec
  
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• Son in custody, father at large in New Castle man's killing; body still not found

  15-06-2020 19:28 via post-gazette.com
  
  Amari Wise, 19, was last seen June 5. Police say Connor Henry, 20, killed him in his garage, and his father, Todd Henry, moved the body.
  
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• Son in custody, father at large in New Castle man's killing

  15-06-2020 19:28 via post-gazette.com
  
  Police say Connor Henry, 20, killed Amari Wise, 19, in his garage, and his father, Todd Henry, moved the body.
  
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• New Castle Police: Second Suspect Arrested In Case Involving Missing New Castle Man Amari Wise

  15-06-2020 19:18
  
  NEW CASTLE (KDKA) — New Castle Police say they have taken a second suspect into custody in connection with the missing person case involving 19-year-old Amari Wise.
  New Castle Police report on their Facebook page that 47-year-old Toddy Henry is being held at their police station.
  (Photo Credit: New Castle Police Department/Facebook)
  Henry is charged with criminal conspiracy to commit homicide, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence.
  The other suspect, 20-year-old Connor Henry,
  
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• New Castle Police Arrest Second Suspect In Case Involving Missing New Castle Man Amari Wise

  15-06-2020 19:18
  
  NEW CASTLE (KDKA) — New Castle Police say they have taken a second suspect into custody in connection with the missing person case involving 19-year-old Amari Wise in Lawrence County.
  New Castle Police report on their Facebook page that 47-year-old Todd Henry is being held at their police station.
  (Photo Credit: New Castle Police Department/Facebook)
  He is charged with criminal conspiracy to commit homicide, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.
   
  The other suspect, 20-y
  
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• Kenny Chesney Sets Date For Rescheduled Concert At Heinz Field

  15-06-2020 19:04
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – After postponing his entire tour, Kenny Chesney has set a new date for his stop in Pittsburgh.Great news!
  The @kennychesney #Chillaxification Tour has new dates set!: June 12, 2021
  The tour will visit 18 venues with the same lineup of special guests: Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
  : https://t.co/5C0j2HYCNn pic.twitter.com/W1C5dQG1Nh
  — Heinz Field (@heinzfield) June 15, 2020He will be in Pittsburgh on June 12, 2021.
  
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• WVU Football Player Tests Positive For Coronavirus

  15-06-2020 18:42
  
  MORGANTOWN (KDKA) – A WVU football player has tested positive for coronavirus.
  The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced a Mountaineer football player has been infected with COVID-19.
  The player will self-isolate for the next 14 days, while other football players who could have been exposed are identified. Those players will also have to self-isolate.
  Voluntary workouts for WVU football players began Monday.
  The university has not identified the player.
  
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• ‘Black Activist And Organizer Collective’ Delivers List Of Police Reform Demands To City, County Officials

  15-06-2020 18:31
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The “Black Activist and Organizer Collective” hand delivered a list of 12 demands for police reform to City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials Monday.
  The group of organizers and activists, standing on the steps to the City-County Building, say they are not satisfied with Mayor Bill Peduto’s plan for police reform here in the City of Pittsburgh. They also voiced disapproval with the response from Allegheny County officials as well.
  “We
  
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• State Expanding Coronavirus Testing In Northern Pa., New Sites Coming To New Castle And Grove City Walmarts

  15-06-2020 18:26
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — More free coronavirus drive-through testing sites will open in Walmart parking lots across northern Pennsylvania as Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration seeks to expand testing to areas where there is little available.
  The administration said the nine new sites will open Wednesday at Walmart parking lots in Sayre, State College, Edinboro, New Castle, Grove City, Coal Township, Selinsgrove, Lewisburg and Mansfield.
  That brings the total number of free coronavirus driv
  
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• Pa. Health Dept. Says Statewide Coronavirus Cases Grow To 79,121, Death Toll Reaches 6,243

  15-06-2020 18:06
  
  HARRISBURG (KDKA) — The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 323 new cases of Coronavirus on Monday, as well as 28 additional deaths.
  The statewide total number of cases has risen to 79,121 since Sunday’s report.
  The Health Department says all 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Current patients are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.
  The statewide death toll has reached 6,243.
  Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older,
  
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• Officials Look To Identify Alleged Vandal And Man Accused Of Shoving Police Horse During Protests Downtown

  15-06-2020 17:28
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The FBI is asking the public for help identifying a man accused of vandalizing a federal building while Pittsburgh Police seek to identify another accused of pushing a police horse during riots downtown.The FBI released photos of the vandalism suspect Monday morning. They say he’s accused of spray painting “Free Us” and “BLM” on the William S. Moorehead Federal Building downtown on the Sunday following George Floyd’s death.
  #FBI Pitts
  
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• Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 7 New Coronavirus Cases, Bringing Countywide Total To 2,086

  15-06-2020 17:04
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Allegheny County Health Department is reporting seven new Coronavirus cases Monday and no additional deaths for the fourth day in a row.
  The number of cases county-wide now totals 2,086 since March 14. This includes 1,953 confirmed cases and 133 probable cases.
  Officials report that 357 patients have been or are presently hospitalized among all cases, with no increase in new patients since Sunday’s report.
  The death toll remains steady at 173, with 161 co
  
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• 2020 BET Award Nominees Announced, Ceremony To Air On CBS

  15-06-2020 17:00
  
  New York, NY  – Today, BET announces the BET Awards 2020 nominees with Drake leading the pack with six nominations. This year’s nominees reflect an abundance of creative expression and black excellence across music, television, film, sports, and philanthropy. The BET Awards 2020 will simulcast LIVE at 8 pm ET across ViacomCBS networks including BET, BET HER, and will make its national broadcast premiere on CBS on Sunday, June 28th at 8:00-
  
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• Kennedy singer/songwriter, 12, on 'America's Got Talent'

  15-06-2020 16:29 via post-gazette.com
  
  Season 15 of the NBC show is broadcasting the audition rounds. 
  
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• Coraopolis singer/songwriter, 12, on 'America's Got Talent'

  15-06-2020 16:29 via post-gazette.com
  
  Season 15 of the NBC show is broadcasting the audition rounds. 
  
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• PTL Links: June 15, 2020

  15-06-2020 16:18
  
  Visit the links below for more on today’s guests & topics:Andy Amrhein of Evey True Value Hardware
  Knock About Coffee
  Staying Mentally Strong with Aimee Kimball, PhD
  CDC Information on Coronavirus
  Pa. Health Dept. Information on Coronavirus
  Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Information on Coronavirus
  CCI Puppy Cam!
  PTL Puppy Penguin on Facebook
  PTL Puppy Penguin on Twitter
  Canine Companions for Independence on InstagramPittsburgh Today Live On Social Media:Facebook
  Twitter
  Instagram
  
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• California Univ. Of Pa. Planning To Resume In-Person Classes For Fall Semester

  15-06-2020 15:25
  
  CALIFORNIA, Pa. (KDKA) — California University of Pennsylvania is planning to resume in-person classes and on-campus living for the upcoming fall semester.
  Students will start the fall semester one week earlier than planned.
  Classes will start on August 17, 2020 and will end before Thanksgiving.“At this critical moment, the actions of one individual can ripple outward to affect the entire community,” University President Geraldine Jones said in an email to Cal U students, facul
  
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• 24 Hour Fitness Files For Bankruptcy And Closes 100 Gyms

  15-06-2020 14:07
  
  (CNN) — National gym chain 24 Hour Fitness has filed for bankruptcy, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced its facilities shut for months.
  24 Hour Fitness said Monday in its Chapter 11 filing that it has secured $250 million in funding to help reopen some of its clubs and expects a majority of locations to be open by the end of June.However, it’s emerging as a smaller chain: It permanently closed 100 US locations in 14 states with roughly 300 clubs remaining.
  “If it were not for C
  
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• Man Cut During Attempted Robbery In East Liberty

  15-06-2020 12:46
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A man was cut during an attempted robbery in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood.
  Dispatchers confirmed that a male was cut in the back of the neck during a robbery attempt on North Highland Avenue.
  The victim was taken to an area hospital.
  Officials say that the suspect fled the scene on foot.
  Stay With KDKA.com For More Details
  
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• Pittsburgh Weather: Temperatures Warming Up, Wet Start To 2020

  15-06-2020 12:45
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It will be another mild start to your day today with morning low temperatures in the mid-50’s.
  High temperatures today will be in the mid-70’s with cloudy morning skies.
  (Photo Credit: KDKA Weather Center)
  Partly cloudy skies will move in for the afternoon.
  There will be a chance for rain today, but the overall chance is low.
  If you do see some rain, it won’t last very long.
  (Photo Credit: KDKA Weather Center)
   
  Speaking of rain, it’s been a
  
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• Synagogue member lives through a second trauma in as many years

  15-06-2020 12:42 via post-gazette.com
  
  Highland Park woman who narrowly avoided the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack tells of encounter with police at protest in East Liberty.
  
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• ‘Black Activist And Organizer Collective’ To Deliver List Of Police Reform Demands To Pittsburgh Officials

  15-06-2020 12:31
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Happening in just a few hours, the “Black Activist and Organizer Collective” is set to deliver a list of demands to City of Pittsburgh officials.
  This list comes after Mayor Bill Peduto has endorsed a new campaign for police officers.
  KDKA’s Royce Jones explains the collective and why they are demanding their voices be heard.
  The group of organizers and activists is not satisfied with Mayor Peduto’s plan for police reform here in the City of Pitt
  
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• ‘Black Activist And Organizer Collective’ Delivers List Of Police Reform Demands To Pittsburgh Officials

  15-06-2020 12:31
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The “Black Activist and Organizer Collective” is delivering a list of demands to City of Pittsburgh officials.
  This list of demands comes after Mayor Bill Peduto endorsed a new campaign for police officers.
  The group of organizers and activists say they are not satisfied with Mayor Peduto’s plan for police reform here in the City of Pittsburgh.
  Peduto announced his for support the “8 Can’t Wait” ​campaign, which is aimed at decr
  
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• A new roof and maybe a bidet? Home improvements surge after shutdowns end

  15-06-2020 12:21 via post-gazette.com
  
   
   
  
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• Everybody wants a backyard pool, but the line is long

  15-06-2020 12:02 via post-gazette.com
  
  With many public pools closed this summer, the only families getting backyard pools were those on a waiting list before COVID-19 struck.
  
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• Walkabout: Hill District neighbors gather in prayer for a more just America

  15-06-2020 12:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  “The path has already been laid. All we gotta do it walk it out with care and kindness. It isn't hard." -- Maurice Hickman
  
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• City Of Pittsburgh Park Amenities Becoming Available As Allegheny County Is In ‘Green’ Phase

  15-06-2020 11:53
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — As Summer keeps rolling along, park amenities in the City of Pittsburgh have been opening on a rolling basis during the pandemic.
  The city says that most park amenities are supposed to be open by today.
  In the ‘green phase,’ parks will be much cleaner.
  The City says that the Department of Public Works will be regularly cleaning playgrounds.
  During the reopening, the City says organized sports are allowed to resume.
  Organizers must follow safety guidelines as
  
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• Long-term care centers are strained by changing rules, costs in the pandemic. Then there’s the push to do all those tests.

  15-06-2020 11:30 via post-gazette.com
  
  “I can’t get testing equipment. What they’re saying is just do it and you all just figure it the hell out. Everybody is just covering their butts.”
  
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• Photojournalist Who Says He Was Banned From Protest Coverage Announces He’s Leaving Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

  15-06-2020 11:18
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photojournalist who says he was banned from protest coverage announced he is leaving the newspaper.
  Michael Santiago says that the newspaper no longer allowed him to cover protests after he openly supported his colleague Alexis Johnson.
  Johnson says she was pulled from protest coverage because of a tweet.
  Santiago tweeted that he opted to take a buyout that the Post-Gazette offered to staffers last month.Update on my situation. Thank you #Pitts
  
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