Wednesday, Dec. 17: Storm Response + Health Outreach + Education Spotlight
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Snowplow shortage delays side-street clearing after Pittsburgh storm.
Pittsburgh’s snow removal efforts over the weekend were hindered by a major shortfall in available snowplows, as a winter storm dumped up to seven inches across the city. Just 67% of the city’s snowplow fleet was operational during the storm, down from 85% earlier in the season. Public Works officials say the shortage—along with subzero temperatures and aging equipment—delayed service to side streets, drawing criticism from residents. While most major roads were treated by Sunday, crews are still working through residential areas. Warmer temperatures are expected to help with melting.
Allegheny County expands dementia outreach with CDC grant.
The Allegheny County Health Department is ramping up efforts to fight Alzheimer’s and related dementias, thanks to a $450,000 grant from the CDC’s “BOLD” initiative. The funding supports local outreach and education programs aimed at prevention, early detection, and caregiver support. More than a quarter of Allegheny County residents are over 60, making this initiative especially timely. The department will expand training for healthcare workers, improve resource access for at-risk communities, and promote brain health across all ages. Officials stress that early intervention is key.
Pittsburgh King podcast captures daily school struggles, small triumphs.
As Pittsburgh Public Schools grapple with budget pressures and possible closures, one school offers a closer look at what’s at stake. Pittsburgh King PreK-8, nestled in Allegheny Commons Park, serves a diverse student body, including many from subsidized housing and English learners. Over the 2024–25 school year, WESA followed staff and students navigating daily struggles—burnout, behavioral challenges, and academic gaps—but also moments of resilience and joy, like a Halloween parade or second-graders chanting compound words. “Those kids need me,” says school project assistant Destiny Hoffman. “They’re all of the adults’ responsibility.”
La Roche receives major campus donation from founding order.
La Roche University has received its second-largest donation in school history—a gift of the Providence Heights Motherhouse and 15 acres from the Sisters of Divine Providence. The McCandless campus expansion strengthens a six-decade relationship with the Catholic order that founded the university in 1963. University leaders say the property, which includes Ketteler Hall and a fully-equipped X-ray facility, will support growth in nursing, intercultural engagement, and lifelong learning. La Roche will maintain the property and collaborate with the Sisters on community programming and shared revenue events.
Rep. La’Tasha Mayes’ CROWN Act bans hair discrimination.
Pennsylvania has become the 28th state to ban race-based hair discrimination with the passage of the “CROWN” Act. Sponsored by State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes of Pittsburgh and signed into law by Governor Shapiro, the law amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include hair texture and protective styles—like locs, braids, and afros—under racial discrimination protections. The bipartisan legislation is hailed as landmark civil rights progress, especially for Black Pennsylvanians. Advocates say it affirms cultural identity and workplace equity.
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