Penguins Trade Up, Horcoff Shines; Juneteenth Celebrations, Rubber Duck Return to Pittsburgh

Good morning, this is Pittsburgh Local Pulse for Saturday, June 28th, 2025. We wake up to some breaking sports excitement: the Penguins have made headlines overnight by trading their 31st and 59th draft picks to the Los Angeles Kings, moving up to secure Michigan standout Will Horcoff as the 24th overall pick. Horcoff stands at six-foot-five and his mix of size and skill has fans buzzing about the team’s future up front. Turning to local news, police are investigating an early morning shooting on Churchland Street. A man was hospitalized after being found with a gunshot wound to the head. There’s also been a recent carjacking near East Liberty involving five teenagers and a chase, which ended in several arrests. In Downtown, a convenience store employee is recovering after being stabbed while preventing a theft. Local authorities remind us to remain vigilant while they step up neighborhood patrols. City Hall met this week and finalized an extension for the city’s wellness portal contract, allocating an additional eighty thousand dollars and ensuring expanded health services for municipal workers. Council also approved a plan revision affecting zoning in several neighborhoods, signaling more community input is coming soon. Weather will play a big role in our weekend plans. We can expect a mix of clouds and sun with scattered afternoon storms, so keep an umbrella handy if you’re heading to Oakmont for the U.S. Open, where the world’s best golfers are taking on a course that’s already living up to its reputation for challenge. There’s a festive feeling around the city as we continue the monthlong Juneteenth celebration with events downtown and in the Hill District, highlighting African American heritage and bringing families together with live music, food, and art. Also back, the World’s Largest Rubber Duck has returned to our rivers, drawing crowds and plenty of smiles. On the music front, the South Side is gearing up for a weekend of local bands and outdoor performances from Market Square up to the North Shore. In real estate, median home prices in the city have leveled off, hovering near three hundred thousand dollars, and new listings in neighborhoods like Lawrenceville and Bloomfield are drawing steady interest. Meanwhile, job opportunities remain strong as several tech firms announce expansions in Bakery Square, adding dozens of positions in IT, support, and administration. A quick shout-out to our Pittsburgh Public Schools: the district received a generous fifty thousand dollar donation from Pat McAfee, Wiz Khalifa, and Snoop Dogg to support student enrichment programs. And for a feel-good moment, three abandoned puppies rescued near the Five Star Trail are recovering and expected to be up for adoption soon, thanks to the tireless work of local volunteers. Looking ahead, community events abound: don’t miss the farmers market in Squirrel Hill Sunday morning, and be sure to check out tonight’s open-air movie in Schenley Plaza. This has This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.