Pittsburgh Local Pulse: Christmas Tragedy, Tech Boom, and Community Resilience

Good morning, this is Pittsburgh Local Pulse for December 27, 2024. We start with some breaking news from the past few days. A woman tragically died after being hit by a car on Christmas night in Peters Township, Washington County. This incident serves as a reminder to be cautious on the roads, especially during the holiday season. In other news, hundreds of people in Verona came together on Thursday to support families who lost everything in a fire last week. The community's generosity and spirit are truly inspiring. Let's take a look at the job market. Pittsburgh's tech scene is booming, with a 203% growth in tech investments to $3.12 billion in 2023. Software Engineering, especially in AI and robotics, is the most in-demand job for 2024. Companies like Google, Apple, and Uber have set up shop in Pittsburgh, investing big bucks in research and development. According to the Allegheny Institute, these major players helped create over 18,000 new tech jobs in the city between 2018 and 2022. In real estate news, construction is taking off at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Additionally, a Pennsylvania Turnpike exchange is planned for Penn Township. While we don't have the latest weekly median home prices and inventory levels, we'll keep an eye on these developments for you. From city hall, we have updates on decisions that affect daily life. The Pittsburgh Regional Transit recently disclosed a ransomware attack, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Weather-wise, it's a chilly morning, but we're expecting a relatively calm day. Make sure to check First Alert Meteorologist Ray Petelin's forecast for the latest updates. In business news, D&G Pizza owner Ken Levato announced that the final day of business will be December 21, marking another closure in Pittsburgh's Station Square. On a brighter note, American Airlines will soon add nonstop service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Looking ahead to community events, we have a lot to look forward to in the new year, including a major entertainment project by PNC Park. For those who missed it, Mariah Carey's holiday concert at PPG Paints Arena was unfortunately canceled. In local sports, the Steelers are gearing up for their next game, and we wish them the best. The University of Pittsburgh's women's volleyball team had a tough loss against Louisville in the NCAA tournament. On a feel-good note, a motorcycle club donated a truckload of toys to spread holiday cheer to pediatric patients at UPMC Mercy Burn Center. It's heartwarming to see such kindness in our community. In crime news, a man is accused of holding up the Subway restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh with a pellet gun. Additionally, two guns were stopped at security checkpoints at the Pittsburgh International Airport this week, according to the TSA. This has been Pittsburgh Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.