Tuesday, Dec. 16: Mine Safety + Tech Expansion + Housing Market
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Enlow Fork mine silica levels exceeded limits; rule stalled.
A coal mine just southwest of Pittsburgh is among dozens in Appalachia where miners were repeatedly exposed to hazardous levels of silica dust, according to a new investigation by the Post-Gazette. At the Enlow Fork Mine, federal inspectors initially reported safe working conditions, but follow-up tests later found silica concentrations more than twice the legal safety limit. Silica, a toxic component of coal dust, has been linked to a surge in severe black lung disease, especially among younger miners. Despite this, enforcement of a new federal silica rule remains stalled in court.
You can read more in the investigation in the Post-Gazette *
Springdale approves massive data center amid noise, power worries.
Springdale Borough Council voted yesterday on a controversial plan to allow a massive data center at the former Cheswick Generating Station. Developer Allegheny DC proposes a 565,000-square-foot facility, raising concerns among residents about noise, power outages, water use, and environmental impacts. Opponents argue the permitting process lacks transparency and fails to address broader issues like rising electricity rates and quality of life. The company insists the center will meet noise standards and limit water usage, but many remain unconvinced.
Pittsburgh home values down 13.2% from peak, Zillow says.
Pittsburgh is among the metro areas most experiencing sharp declines in home value, with average prices down 13.2% from their peak. That’s according to new data from Zillow. The report highlights widening disparities in U.S. housing markets, as 53% of homes nationally lost value over the past year — the most since 2012. Cities in the South and West, including Austin and Phoenix, saw the largest drops. In contrast, Midwest markets like Cincinnati had just 1% of homes listed below previous sale prices. Zillow calls this a “normalization,” not a crash.
Catholic sisters’ weekly ICE vigils press for immigrant justice.
Every Friday morning, Catholic sisters and community members gather outside Pittsburgh’s ICE field office on Sidney Street for a prayer vigil. Organized by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Casa San Jose, and Pax Christi, these interfaith gatherings aim to support detained immigrants and call for systemic change. Sister Janice Vanderneck, a founder of Casa San Jose, says the vigils reflect the moral authority of religious women long active in Pittsburgh’s hospitals, schools, and social causes. Despite aging and declining numbers, sisters say their commitment to justice and mercy remains strong.
Grants fund youth, signage, pollinators to boost Pittsburgh greenways.
Three Pittsburgh nonprofits are launching pilot projects aimed at revitalizing the city’s little-known greenways, thanks to a new partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and the Trust for Public Land. Friends of the Riverfront, Landforce, and the Student Conservation Association each received grants to improve public access and awareness. Projects include training local youth, adding wayfinding signs, and expanding pollinator habitats. Officials say the initiative could shape future green space policies and funding. The effort is part of a national program aiming to ensure all residents live within 10 minutes of a quality park.
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