It’s been a weird, snowy, and somewhat chaotic 24 hours in the Steel City. If you woke up and headed toward Shadyside this morning, you probably saw the flashing lights and the yellow tape. Honestly, it’s the kind of thing you don't expect to see on your morning coffee run: a minivan literally embedded in the side of a medical building.
But that’s just the surface. Between a major policy reversal in Coraopolis and the Penguins finally finding the back of the net after what felt like a lifetime of silence, there is a lot to catch up on regarding what happened in pittsburgh today.
The UPMC Shadyside Crash: What We Know
Around 1:30 a.m. Friday, a minivan slammed right into a UPMC Shadyside hospital medical building. It wasn't just a fender bender. The vehicle went through the wall. Early reports are still coming in about the driver’s condition, but the visual of a van halfway inside a hospital structure is something that’s going to be talked about at water coolers all over the city today.
Traffic in the area has been a bit of a nightmare since. If you're heading that way, basically just don't. Or at least expect to sit for a while. It’s a mess.
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The Coraopolis ICE Reversal
While the crash was the biggest visual shock, the biggest political headline involves a massive local policy shift. Last night, the Coraopolis Council voted to terminate its 287(g) agreement with ICE.
This is a huge deal.
The partnership, which basically allowed local police to act as an extension of federal immigration enforcement, had only been signed in late December. It didn't even last a month. The meeting was reportedly packed—standing room only—with residents who were frankly fed up. While some locals argued for "law and order," the majority of the public comment was focused on the fear these agreements create in the Latino community. Council President Mike Harris, who voted for the termination, noted that the division caused by the agreement just wasn't worth it.
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Why this matters for the region
- Trust: Local immigrant communities often stop reporting crimes if they fear the police.
- Precedent: Coraopolis follows a trend of other local municipalities backing out of federal partnerships after seeing the community backlash.
- Economy: Advocates argued that the fear of ICE was discouraging new businesses from opening in the borough.
Sports: The Penguins Finally Wake Up
It’s been a rough week for the Pens. They went three straight games without scoring a single goal. That is almost impossible to do in the modern NHL. But last night at PPG Paints Arena, they took all that frustration out on the Philadelphia Flyers.
A 6-3 win.
Sidney Crosby came back and immediately looked like himself, putting up a goal and an assist. The power play, which has been pretty much "dead on arrival" lately, actually scored three times. It’s one win, but against the Flyers? That feels like more than just two points in the standings. It’s a vibe shift.
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The Mess on the Roads (and the Weather)
If you’re looking for what happened in pittsburgh today in terms of your commute, the word is "delays." A multi-vehicle crash shut down I-79 Northbound in Marshall Township earlier today, and three people had to be rushed to the hospital.
The weather isn't helping. We’ve had these annoying snow showers on and off all day. It’s not a blizzard, but it’s just enough to make the bridges slick and everyone drive about 10 miles per hour under the limit. The forecast says the steadiest snow will hit later this evening, so if you're planning on heading out to Emo Night at the Squirrel Hill Sports Bar or the "Soul Glo" night at Spirit, give yourself an extra twenty minutes.
Quick Hits: Other Local News
- Crumbl vs. Doughnuts: In a move that has sugar-obsessed Pittsburghers divided, Crumbl is testing doughnuts. Yes, you read that right.
- Point Shaving Scandal: There is some heavy news coming out of the college sports world. A former Robert Morris University basketball player, Markeese Hastings, has been charged in a massive point-shaving scheme. It apparently involves Duquesne University games as well.
- Mayor O’Connor’s "Clean and Lien": The new mayor is moving fast. He just launched a campaign to attack blight and get more families into homes that have been sitting vacant for years.
How to Navigate the Rest of Your Friday
If you are out and about, watch for "stray voltage." Seriously. There was a report today of a woman and her dog being shocked by a streetlight in the Strip District. It’s one of those weird city maintenance issues that pops up when the ground gets salty and wet.
Honestly, it's a lot to take in for a random Friday in January. Whether you're tracking the I-79 cleanup or just wondering if the Penguins can keep this momentum going, stay safe out there. The combination of black ice and distracted drivers near the Shadyside crash site means you should probably just stay home and order a pizza if you don't have to be out.
Next Steps for Pittsburgh Residents:
- Check the PennDOT "511PA" app before hitting I-79 or I-80 this evening.
- If you live in Coraopolis, keep an eye on the council's next steps for community outreach following the ICE vote.
- Keep your pets away from metal grates and streetlights in the Strip District until the city clears the "stray voltage" reports.