September 24, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(File photo courtesy state Sen. Nick Pisciottano)
State Sen. Nick Pisciottano will welcome constituents and community leaders to the official grand opening celebration for his district office on Lysle Boulevard during a drop-in open house event.
Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 25), a spokesperson said. The office is located on the ground floor of the McKeesport Public Safety Building, 201 Lysle Blvd.
A former state representative, Pisciotanno, a West Mifflin Democrat, was elected to the 45th Senatorial District seat last year, following the retirement of longtime state Sen. Jim Brewster of McKeesport.
Read More
September 24, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
(Almanac file photo)
City, state and federal officials will hold a public hearing Wednesday (Oct. 1) to discuss the upcoming replacement of the Versailles Avenue Bridge.
The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in city council chambers, Public Safety Building, 201 Lysle Blvd.
Officials from the state Department of Transportation and the federal Highway Administration are scheduled to attend.
The bridge closed in February 2022 after an inspection concluded the nearly 300-foot-long span across Ravine Street was no longer safe. According to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which studies regional transportation needs, the estimated cost of replacing the bridge is $14.2 million.
Read More
September 23, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
National Alliance on Mental Illness McKeesport Support Group will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Penn State Greater Allegheny in Frable Building, Room 122, a spokeswoman said.
The meeting is open to families and friends of loved ones living with mental illness. The NAMI chapter meets on the first Wednesday of every month.
A “care and share” session will be held at the October meeting. This opportunity offers understanding and support unique to those who are affected by mental health conditions of loved ones.
For more information about the McKeesport meeting, call (412) 527-6600. For the NAMI Helpline, call (412) 366-3788 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
September 23, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region
Measles cases in the United States plummeted after vaccines became available in the 1960s. The disease was considered all but eradicated in the U.S. until recently. (Graphic by Julius Senegal via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)
Doctors are worried about a new analysis that showed that Pennsylvania’s childhood vaccination rates have slipped again.
For the second year in a row, kindergarten immunizations fell below the 95 percent target set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Becky Ludwick, vice president of public policy for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said state data show a steady decline over the past seven years, even before COVID-19. The report highlighted a decline in vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella, otherwise known as MMR vaccines.
“In the most recent school year available, we saw that there were almost 8,000 kindergartners who weren’t up-to-date on their MMR vaccine,” Ludwick said. “That has doubled since the 2017-2018 school year.”
Read More
September 22, 2025 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Musicians and color guard gathered in show attire before their first competition. (Photo courtesy Serra Catholic High School)
For its 2025 competition show, the Serra Catholic High School Marching Band is looking to the Far Fast and into the past, with music and costuming inspired by Japanese culture and the world of the samurai.
“Bushido: The Way of the Warrior” tells a story of a girl who wants to become a samurai, band director Jesse Bush said. The band performed it for the first time in competition at Penn-Trafford on Sept. 6, and again Sept. 13 at East Allegheny, where Serra placed first of three schools in Group 1-A.
The band is next scheduled to compete Oct. 4 at Jeannette and Oct. 11 at McKeesport.
“The 2025 band camp was absolutely successful,” Bush said, noting it was during some of the hottest days of the summer. “We’re off to a nice start. I’m excited to see and hear where this show goes.
Read More
September 18, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was corrected after publication.
The sixth-annual* “Taste of Serbia” festival will be held 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3 and 12 noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 901 Hartman St., a spokeswoman said.
Rain or shine, patrons may dine inside the church hall or outside under the courtyard tent, she said. Take-out orders are available. No pre-orders. Spirits and soft drinks will be sold at the kafana bar outside.
Orkestar Pobeda will entertain from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4. The multi-talented musicians from the greater Pittsburgh area perform a variety of ethnic music for listening and dancing.
Favorite menu items include the famous award-winning hand-breaded haddock filet sandwich, available Oct. 3 only, and the boneless slow-roasted sliced lamb sandwich, available both days.
Read More
September 18, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(File photo “Fly a Kite” by Ben Dickson via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 2.0.)
The Carnegie Library of McKeesport will host a kite-making workshop for all ages from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, a spokeswoman said.
A team from the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse will provide all materials and will instruct both kids and adults on how to design, build and fly a kite. No experience is necessary.
Pre-registration is suggested. Call (412) 672-0625 or visit www.mckeesportlibrary.org.
September 16, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Eighteen people face charges and several have been jailed following a recently completed “Summer Suppression” initiative across several Mon-Yough communities, including McKeesport, state Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Tuesday.
At a press conference Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Sunday said the arrests came following a months-long program designed to get drugs and illegal weapons out of neighborhoods in the city as well as Clairton, Jefferson Hills and West Mifflin.
Sunday said that investigators seized 17 weapons, along with $40,000 worth of cocaine and quantities of heroin, fentanyl and marijuana.
Read More
September 15, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
As Pennsylvanians await passage of a new state budget, McKeesport Area School District directors are remaining calm. The nearly three-month delay has prompted billions of dollars potentially headed toward public education to remain in limbo.
Pennsylvania public schools already missed out on $1.75 billion in expected payments in July and August, according to Pennsylvania State Education Association. Spotlight PA puts the number at more than $2 billion.
During Thursday’s school board meeting, during a public comment period, retired state Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin noted the state budget, as well as changes to the federal Department of Education, before asking directors what efforts, if any, are underway to stem fiscal shortfalls.
School Director David Donato pointed to state legislators as bearing responsibility.
Read More
September 11, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: State & Region
With additional reporting from Tube City Almanac Editor Jason Togyer
State Rep. John Inglis (third from left) and state Sen. Nick Pisciottano (fourth from left) met with teachers and students at South Allegheny High School during a tour in February. (Submitted photo)
Pennsylvania’s budget was due on June 30 — over 10 weeks ago. But for the fourth year in a row, the state General Assembly and the governor have come to a stalemate.
While Gov. Josh Shapiro and legislators are still working to reach an agreement on spending, public schools are missing millions in payments.
According to Spotlight PA, the stalemate has caused a delay of more than $2 billion in education funding.
“We have allowed partisan fighting to get in the way of achieving a budget that works for all Pennsylvanians, and without consequences to missing the deadline, we will continue to see missed deadlines that hurt the many people and organizations that depend on the state for funding,” State Rep. John Inglis, Democrat of West Mifflin, told Tube City Almanac.
Read More
September 10, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Members of Noise Makers Motorcycle Club, in a picture from Facebook. City officials are leery of granting the organization to turn a former bar on Ringgold Street into a clubhouse and meeting space. (Photo via Facebook)
A request from a motorcycle club for planning commission approval to open at the site of a former Downtown bar has been tabled by McKeesport City Council after Mayor Michael Cherepko and others asked for reassurance that the facilty wouldn’t become a nuisance.
Noise Makers Motorcycle Club is seeking a conditional use variance to turn the former Bubba’s Bar & Grill on Ringgold Street into a private club. According to Allegheny County Health Department records, the bar was closed in 2019.
Noise Makers Vice President Tiffany Wilson of McKeesport, who attended this month’s council meeting wearing a club jacket, said she and other members have done extensive work to repair the building and correct code violations.
“The whole building has been revamped,” she said. “It is not Bubba’s. I know the headaches and drug activity that went on there.”
Read More
September 05, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
A proposal to upgrade the board room at McKeesport Area School District was met with reservations by school directors during Thursday’s agenda meeting.
After a proposal for audio and visual improvements to the board room, totaling $70,232, with work to be completed by Horizon Information Services, was placed on the agenda, several school directors questioned the costs.
“Some type of upgrades need to occur to this board room. I’m not sure to what extent,” school director Jason Pavlecic said. What should be addressed, he said, was the ability of school directors to participate in meetings remotely.
In the event that a school director is not present, that person has to call in and another school director holds a phone to a microphone in order for the absent school director to participate.
Read More
September 04, 2025 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Antoine Smith returns as drum major for the second year. (Photos by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Tiger Band 2025 competition schedule:
Sept. 6 at Penn-Trafford
Sept. 13 at East Allegheny
Sept. 20 at Norwin
Sept. 27 at Yough
Oct.11 at McKeesport (Home Show)
Oct. 18: TOB Region 8 Championships at Penn-Trafford
Nov. 2: TOB Atlantic Coast Championships at Hersheypark Stadium
Note: Performance times are announced prior to each competition. McKeesport is scheduled to compete at 7:50 p.m. at Penn-Trafford on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Noah Crawford said he wanted his inaugural show as McKeesport Area Tiger Band’s director to be fairly straightforward for students and audiences to understand while providing lots of energy and a chance to showcase his students’ talents.
After months of planning, the result is “Sparked,” which the group will perform in its first Tournament of Bands competition of the season on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Penn-Trafford High School.
Music is by Randall Standridge and Mo Longo, with the drill by Armon Raygani. The band director said he taught Standridge music at other schools (and McKeesport Area shows have featured his compositions in the past) and with other ensembles with great success.
Read More
September 03, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News
The Duquesne zoning hearing board will meet at 1 p.m. Sept. 8 to consider a request for a variance, city officials said.
The request was made by Carolyn Thomas, who wants to operate a day care at 1050 Grant Ave. The property is in a commercial zoning district.
The home rule government study commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
September 03, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Veteran Duquesne police officer Patrick Vroman was unanimously promoted to detective sergeant at Duquesne City Council’s first general meeting back since July. The promotion does not include a pay increase, according to Mayor R. Scott Adams.
Council also introduced the city’s new code enforcement officer, Dave Sabo. Sabo’s phone number is (412) 466-4746, ext. 2118 and his email is dsabo@duquesnepa.us for residents who need to contact him.
During his Public Safety report, Mayor Adams said they are still working on a proclamation for former Duquesne City Council Member Eugene “Gene” Capristo, who died in June at the age of 97.
Council also unanimously approved the appointment of Council Member Denise Brownfield as a delegate to the Steel Rivers Council of Governments. The meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at various locations.
Read More
September 02, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
A juvenile is in custody after carrying a firearm outside of Duquesne City School around dismissal on Tuesday.
Duquesne assistant police Chief Karra Vance told city officials about the incident at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Speaking via Zoom, Vance said school personnel spotted the unidentified male on security cameras walking up and down the street outside the school, just before students were to be let out around 3 p.m.
School security and city police arrived and questioned the suspect. He is described by sources as a 13-year-old former student at Duquesne who now lives in West Mifflin.
“It could have been a bad situation,” said Duquesne police Chief Tom Shaw after the general meeting. “None of the kids were in immediate danger.”
He also noted that on the heels of a shooting at a Catholic church in Minnesota last week, “this isn’t a Duquesne thing. It’s everywhere.”
Read More
September 02, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp. is among the recipients of a group of state grants totaling $445,000 recently announced by State Sen. Nick Pisciottano.
Most of the grants are for police or fire departments in the state senator’s 45th District. The North Versailles grant, however, is one of two recreation grants among those announced.
The grant for $50,000 is for playground equipment which replaced outdated equipment at Washington Road Park. The new equipment has already been installed and only grass reseeding remains in the renovation of the park, according to a borough official.
Read More
