June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: State & Region
David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers union, addresses its constitutional convention in April. (Photo courtesy United Steelworkers)
The president of the union representing production employees at U.S. Steel called the so-called “golden share” awarded to the federal government “startling” and said his organization will hold the company’s new owners accountable for their promises.
David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers International, said that when media scrutiny of the Nippon Steel takeover wanes, the union will remain vigilant.
“As the sale concludes, it seems likely that attention will dissipate,” McCall said in a prepared statement. “U.S. Steel’s PR machine will power down, and the majority of elected officials will turn their attention elsewhere.”
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June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: State & Region
UPDATED: Adds comments from Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1873 and forms the nucleus of what is now called the Mon Valley Works. (Mark Dixon photo via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons)
Japan-based Nippon Steel and Pittsburgh’s U.S. Steel announced Wednesday morning that they have agreed to a deal that will preserve the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh and commit to $11 billion of investment in American steel-making and mining facilities.
The almost $15 billion deal also gives the federal government a seat on U.S. Steel’s board of directors. In addition, it will require consent from the President of the United States on certain operating decisions, including moving jobs out of the U.S. Both sides are calling the agreement a “golden share” for the government.
Trading of U.S. Steel shares was halted at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange, and the stock will be delisted from the exchange June 30.
The final listed market price of U.S. Steel stock was $54.84 per share, roughly double the price in September 2024, when the Nippon Steel takeover seemed to be in jeopardy. Both then-President Biden and Donald Trump, running for re-election, had vowed to stop the deal.
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May 30, 2025 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
The “big beautiful bill” passed by Congressional Republicans may not seem so beautiful to more than 800,000 Pennsylvania residents who rely on local community health centers for health care — including in the Mon-Yough area.
A report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates more than 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on local Community Health Centers could face new barriers to care if proposed Medicaid cuts in the bill — which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives — are signed into law.
Locally, there are Community Health Centers on Lysle Boulevard in the city, as well as Miller Avenue in Clairton, Braddock Avenue in Braddock and West Street in Homestead.
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May 30, 2025 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
Staff at Philadelphia’s New Kensington Community Development Corp. greet visitors during a gun-violence prevention event in 2024. The organization is one of many across Pennsylvania whose work is threatened by a loss of federal funding. (Photo courtesy New Kensington Community Development Corp.)
A mass shooting on Memorial Day in Philadelphia marred the solemn holiday and also was an aberration — gun-related homicides across Pennsylvania are down 38 percent this year.
But violence prevention advocates are warning that federal funding cuts threaten key programs designed to curb gun-related crimes.
In Philadelphia, the Cure Violence program run by New Kensington Community Development Corporation is one of 350 groups learning their Justice Department grants would end early.
Amy Perez, vice president of programs for the group, said the cuts affect their entire outreach effort, from a youth basketball league to housing services and nutrition programs.
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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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April 25, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and State Sen. Nick Pisciotanno greet Mary Esther Van Shura of AARP during an event last week at Penn State Greater Allegheny. Officials have kicked off a statewide tour to promote “age-friendly” communities for senior citizens. (Submitted photo)
Pennsylvania officials are traveling across the state to encourage communities to expand and improve services for senior citizens to make them more “age-friendly.”
Last week, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis joined Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich and local elected officials at Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport to kick off the first in the series of events designed to highlight programs to keep older adults in their homes and connected to their communities.
Pennsylvania is the fifth-oldest state in the nation by population. State officials said that one in four Pennsylvanians is over the age of 60, and that number is expected to rise to one in three by 2030.
“Older adults in Allegheny County and here in my hometown of McKeesport are the backbone of our communities,” Davis said in a release. “They are our family, friends and neighbors who have made great contributions in our lives that benefit all of us.
“The organizers of age-friendly communities here in southwest Pennsylvania are making a positive impact, and I applaud their work and dedication as we welcome new faces to the table to expand these initiatives,” he said.
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April 23, 2025 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
The state branch of the AARP is voicing concerns about plans by the Trump Administration to cut 7,000 jobs from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
The move is being spearheaded by the temporary office known as the “Department of Government Efficiency” as part of the White House’s efforts to trim what it calls “waste and fraud.”
According to AARP, more than one in five Pennsylvanians — or about 3 million residents — get monthly Social Security payments.
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April 09, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: State & Region
Michael B. Carroll, state secretary of transportation, delivered the keynote address at the annual legislative luncheon sponsored by the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
Pennsylvania is serious about the need to replace, repair and upgrade the commonwealth’s many bridges, the state’s transportation secretary told Mon-Yough area business leaders last week.
But Secretary Michael B. Carroll cautioned: “The price tag is pretty steep.”
Carroll delivered the keynote address at the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon, held at the Georgetown Centre banquet hall in Pleasant Hills.
Guests at the luncheon included members of local borough and city councils as well as state Sen. Jay Costa.
Several candidates for Allegheny County Council also attended. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chamber presented lifetime achievement awards to McKeesport real estate executive Robert “Bob” Baum and retiring District 9 Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey.
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April 07, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region
Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly applaud newly sworn-in State Rep. Dan Goughnour, his wife, Lauren, and their children, Gavin, Gannon and Gracelynn. (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania photo)
Dan Goughnour took the oath of office at the state Capitol on Monday to become the new representative for Pennsylvania’s 35th Legislative District.
Goughnour was joined by his wife Lauren and their children, Gavin, Gannon and Gracelynn, along with McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, City Administrator Tom Maglicco and other guests and Mon-Yough area officials.
“Swearing in a new member is always a special occasion in the state House of Representatives,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton said.
“I know that Rep. Goughnour will leverage his 16 years of experience as a public servant and local elected official to work on policies that will help his Mon Valley neighbors and communities across the state thrive,” she said.
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April 02, 2025 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
Pennsylvania school support staff and their allies met with lawmakers last week at the State Capitol, asking for their support of a bill to raise their wages to at least $20 an hour. They estimate House Bill 777 would benefit more than 41,000 workers. (Photo courtesy PSEA)
Amid a severe teacher and staff shortage, school support workers and their union allies rallied last week in Harrisburg for what they called a living wage.
More than 100 people gathered on the Capitol steps and met with lawmakers to gauge their support for House Bill 777, which they said would raise wages for more than 41,000 school staff members.
The bill was introduced by State Rep. Dan Miller, Mt. Lebanon Democrat, and currently has 24 co-sponsors, including two from the Mon Valley, State Rep. John Inglis of West Mifflin and State Rep. Brandon Markosek of Monroeville.
Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said that if enacted, the law would raise the pay for support staff in public schools to a living wage of at least $20 per hour.
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