Latest news with #SaraInnamorato
CBS News
7 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Energy Innovation Center hosts hundreds of local leaders working to combat youth homelessness
Hundreds of people gathered inside the Energy Innovation Center Thursday morning to talk about youth homelessness. Leaders say it's a growing issue locally, and some anticipate it will increase nationally as well. The Allegheny County Executive says over 3,400 young people are experiencing homelessness in the county. It's figures like these that are part of why the homeless children's education fund hosted a policy breakfast. The morning was more than just food. "We have a lot of service providers here – we have a lot of other elected officials," County Executive Sara Innamorato said. It's a call to action, with more than 200 people. It's an important time for people like AJ Jefferson. "Right now, we're experiencing a 17% increase in youth homelessness over the previous year's numbers," said Jefferson, the CEO of the Homeless Children's Education Fund. She says the reasons for that are largely economic. People like Congresswoman Summer Lee say there are deeper issues at play, too. "I think oftentimes, when we think about youth homelessness, we think about one issue at a time and not the snowball effect, not how we got here," Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District said. She was one of Thursday morning's speakers. "At least, my message was that we have to make better policy decisions – we have to think about this holistically…" Congresswoman Lee said. Politicians like Mayor Gainey and County Executive Innamorato also wanted to help find solutions. "We have open arms and open ears on how we can embrace the young people, but also listen to them and listen to the providers to make sure that we're delivering the best services possible," Innamorato said. There was Republican representation, too. State Senator Devlin Robinson wanted to listen to concerns he could take to Harrisburg. "Nobody is gonna check anybody's registration whenever they're homeless or in need of help," Robinson, who represents Pennsylvania's 37th district in Harrisburg, said. Jefferson says nearly 47,000 K-12 students in our state have been identified as experiencing homelessness. "With the federal government changing directions and support, we need to figure out in the state, how are we gonna secure the support," Jefferson said. It's support and work that her organization focuses on daily. "We stay in their lives from PreK all the way up to adulthood and career," she said. And now, she's calling on those in this room and beyond to do more to fight the rising problem. "We need to support them – invest your time, invest your resources," Jefferson said. Jefferson says the key to bucking the trend is for the state to allocate funding from its budget towards programs that help combat youth homelessness. She says a lot of that money is drying up from Biden-era COVID relief.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Marathon will continue with largest turnout ever after storms caused some concerns
Thousands of runners will take to the streets this Sunday for the annual Pittsburgh Marathon. The 26-mile course runs through many city neighborhoods, including the East End, where storms recently disrupted power and scattered debris along the route. On Friday, Channel 11 News spoke with organizers and city and county leaders who reported a collaborative cleanup effort. Marathon organizers held a joint news conference on Friday. 'This year's marathon is bringing visitors from 50 states and 24 countries, giving us a chance to showcase Pittsburgh,' said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. Advertisement More than 46,000 runners are expected to participate this year, making it the largest turnout in the event's history, according to P3R, the organization responsible for the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. 'I want to thank city employees, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and our utility workers. They did everything possible to make this weekend happen,' said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. Earlier this week, many expressed concerns after an unprecedented storm knocked out power, downed electric lines, and uprooted trees across the city just days before the race. Organizers have been monitoring the route daily. 'People are excited; they've invested a lot of time and effort into this journey, so we will make it work for them. We are not concerned about the course at this point,' said Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R. Advertisement On Friday afternoon, Channel 11 News drove along the route and observed that much of the 26-mile stretch had been cleared of debris, with crews actively repairing roads along Fifth Avenue. While power has not been restored in some areas of the city, organizers assured that this would not impact Sunday's race. 'All our generators power this event, so Duquesne Light and other power companies can focus on restoring service,' Schooley explained. While out-of-town visitors may be unaware of the storm's impact come Sunday, local runners are definitely aware. 'We were without power and had a chaotic week just trying to get everything done, but we finally got our power back the other day, which was a relief,' said runner Will Lovever. Lovever placed second in last year's marathon and lives just outside the city. Despite being without power for most of the week, he continued training. He placed first in the Philadelphia Marathon last year and hopes to cross the finish line in Pittsburgh this year, cheered on by his family and friends. 'It would be incredible to win and be the first Pittsburgh man to win the Pittsburgh Marathon,' Lovever said. Crews will begin towing any cars parked along the route starting Saturday night. Advertisement Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Axios
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Deadly storms leave thousands without power
Severe storms slammed Southwestern Pennsylvania on Tuesday, killing at least three people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Zoom in: The storms tore off roofs, ripped down power lines and damaged buildings and homes across the region. Three people were killed — two in Allegheny County and one in Greene County, per WPXI. One man was hit by a falling tree outside of his home, a second man was electrocuted by live wires and the third man died when a tree fell on his car. Winds hit 71.3 mph at Pittsburgh International Airport, the third-highest ever recorded, per the National Weather Service, with gusts reaching 90+ mph in some areas. The storm ripped the roof off of Fiori's Pizzaria in Brookline, damaged a hospitality tent for the U.S. Open at the Oakmont Country Club and destroyed homes in several neighborhoods. At the storm's peak, Allegheny County Emergency Services saw up to 1,000 calls per minute, overwhelming dispatchers and regional phone systems. The latest: Duquesne Light said Wednesday that full power restoration could take five to seven days — with roughly 150,000 customers still in the dark as of Wednesday afternoon. The company said on X that over 250,000 lost power at the storm's peak, calling it "one of the most unprecedented storms we've ever experienced." Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Mayor Ed Gainey both declared a disaster emergency on Wednesday, with Innamorato saying the move would "allow the county to bypass normal procedures and immediately deploy all available resources for emergency response and recovery." What they're saying: Gainey at a Wednesday news conference urged Pittsburghers to stay home if possible as cleanup efforts continue. "We are asking the people of the city to bear with us for a little bit," he said. "I know it's an inconvenience. We also acknowledge safety is paramount." Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Fiori's and surveyed storm damage on Milton Street in Regent Square, where uprooted trees crushed homes and cars.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Devastating:' Public officials, commuters attend first hearing regarding potential PRT cuts
Pittsburgh Regional Transit hosted its first public hearing to talk about proposed service cuts and fare increases. It was an opportunity for transit riders to share their concerns about the impact those cuts will have. The outcome will directly impact the lives of thousands of people who depend on public transportation in three counties. The hearing was held inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and was scheduled to be the first of several. PRT is proposing to make mass service cuts and increase fares due to a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. 'The proposed service cuts and rate hikes would be nothing short of devastating,' said Dormont Borough Councilor Chris Riegner. 'Devastating' is how community leaders described the proposed cuts during the hearing. PRT said it will be forced to cut service by 35%, eliminating 40 bus routes across 19 municipalities in three counties and the City of Pittsburgh. Access service, which is door-to-door transportation for the elderly and people with disabilities, would be cut by more than 60%. The T's silver line would be eliminated and all transit would stop at 11 p.m. Riders would see a 25-cent fare increase, bringing the base fare to $3 for a one-way trip. That's $6 a round trip and $30 for one week. Outside of the hearing, transit riders and local leaders expressed their frustrations. 'This is because of decades of chronic underfunding the state, rising costs, and the expiration of Act 89,' said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, 'Now we need Harrisburg to step up.' Governor Josh Shapiro has offered a 1.75% increase in transit funding but PRT leadership and union leaders said that would only account for $42 million, not nearly what is needed. PRT said they have already made cuts. 'We have cut all that is left of service and we need to keep every mile of that out on the streets, not just for the people who drive, but for the people who ride us, and for these kids that want us to stay here,' said PRT CEO Katherine Eagan Kelleman. Riders who rely on transit are running out of time and the state budget is due on June 30. 'Today, we gather as a rally to send a message to Harrisburg. Don't take our lifeline,' said Mayor Ed Gainey. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
12-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New pedestrian wayfinding system unveiled in Pittsburgh
A new system to make the city of Pittsburgh more navigable and connected for people walking and biking around popular neighborhoods is well on its way. It was a turning point in the city of Pittsburgh, as a kiosk was unveiled Tuesday on Liberty Avenue. The kiosk highlights nearby attractions and walk times. It's just the beginning for the Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding System, which is designed to make the city more walker friendly. "Wayfinding is more than just signage. It's a system that presents information in a unified and sequential manner for orientation, navigation and enjoyment," said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Around 34 street map kiosks and 98 directional signs will be installed in Downtown, Oakland, and the Northside. "Whether you're a commuter, a student, someone who's visiting Pittsburgh for the first time, this is going to help you navigate the city and find what good things are happening here in Pittsburgh and in our neighborhoods," said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which launched the initiative in 2014, celebrated the big step forward with project partners and elected leaders. "For all those ppl who are getting around without that GPS that's on their dash, tools like this are going to give them confidence and the independence to be able to move around in our city," said Kim Lucas, Director of the city's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. The system will also help visitors find the best Steel City spots as hundreds of thousands of people come to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft. "As the nation turns its eyes on us, we will get to showcase who we are in many different ways. It'll be the first time that we will ever have this level of a global audience to showcase turning from a Steel City to a technology one," said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's goal is to have all the pedestrian wayfinding signage in place by early July, and they hope to eventually take things a step further and expand the system. "To me, this is something that's going to bring our city up another notch. This is more than a sign, this just brings us into a world-class situation," said Jason Zang, PennDOT District Executive.
