Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor and partners like America250PA, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Heinz History Center announced Independence Day plans on Thursday at a press conference. 

A big week-long celebration is in the works, followed by what O'Connor called the largest fireworks display the city has ever had. Fireworks will shoot off of six barges on all three rivers, and even off of some buildings, too, O'Connor said. 

It comes after USA Today readers voted Pittsburgh's Fourth of July celebration the best in the nation. The festivities usually kick off in the afternoon, with entertainment, food trucks and family-friendly activities. The night culminates with a fireworks display from Pittsburgh Three Rivers, with some of the best viewing spots up on Mt. Washington, looking down at the city. 

This comes as problems with e-bikes have taken place in communities all over the area.

Center Township Police Department took to social media, saying they received multiple complaints regarding the reckless riding of the e-bikes. At their township park, children have been riding bikes over the new basketball court, other sports courts, and all over the sidewalks, leaving black skid marks. The new park with millions of dollars of upgrades to amenities just opened this year.

"They invested in the community, and now there's damage to the park itself and damage to the courts," said Center Township Police Chief Aldo Legge.

But it's not just damage that's concerning; the park itself has seen a lot of traffic, and e-bikes are known to pose safety concerns for the riders and people around.

"The thing with these e-bikes is increased speed, and then there's an inherent risk for serious injury," said Chief Legge.

Chief Legge says they have now installed cameras over the park to keep an eye out in hopes of decreasing concerns. He also says they are hoping to spread awareness and education throughout the community and to parents in hopes of keeping things safer.

"Please talk to your children, have that talk with them. Explain to them to slow down. We encourage the use here because this is a safe place, but in remembering it's a safe place for everybody, even walkers," said Chief Legge. 

The last thing the police department wants to do is have any kind of enforcement. The department is reminding everyone that no e-bikes or bicycles are permitted on the tennis, basketball, or any court within the park. They also ask that families and children learn how to ride responsibly and respectfully within the park.

Mansfield City Council unanimously approved a plan to develop a Buc-ee's, CBS affiliate WBNS reported. The vote puts Buc-ee's one step closer to having a second location in Ohio, though it's not expected to open until 2028, according to WBNS. 

This Buc-ee's would be built on nearly 38 acres of land near the Interstate 71 and Route 39 interchange, the TV station reported, putting it within a 3-hour drive from Pittsburgh. 

Buc-ee's, which officially bills itself as a "chain of large format travel centers," has amassed quite the cult following on social media. It sells gas, snacks and merchandise featuring the Buc-ee's mascot, plus it boasts the title of cleanest restrooms in America. 

Buc-ee's opened its first Ohio location in April. The 74,000-square-foot travel center in Huber Heights has 100 fueling positions, 24 EV charging stations and food like Texas barbeque, homemade fudge and the famous Beaver Nuggets. That location is about 4 hours from Pittsburgh.

A company representative told Mansfield City Council the new Buc-ee's location will serve 100,000 customers a week and plans to employ between 175 and 225 people, WBNS reported. 

The Texas-headquartered company has been expanding, though in a press release last month, Buc-ee's said rumors that it plans to open a location in Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania, near Allentown, are unfounded. Still, there are more than 50 stores across states like Texas, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Colorado, Mississippi and Georgia. 

"I was being accused, I was being intimidated, my hands were being held without my permission," sixth-grade teacher Lori McDowell said. 

The teacher's testimony addressed one of the grounds revealed in a charging document two weeks ago, which said Maluchnik had touched a female teacher in a closed-door meeting "in a manner that made her feel uncomfortable."

At Thursday's hearing, the second held in the past month, McDowell said Maluchnik had sent another teacher out of her classroom so they could have a private conversation.

In the conversation, Maluchnik accused McDowell of telling community members and stakeholders that "you hate me," she recounted, saying she responded, "I don't hate you."

A tense back and forth followed with McDowell and Maluchnik standing a foot apart. She said she told him that she found his "vision" for the district confusing and that they hadn't seen him around at the junior high. 

She said Maluchnik looked angry and responded, asking if she "had an ounce of empathy for him," explaining how the district was large and he'd only been on the job a few months.  

McDowell then explained she talks a lot with her hands.

"At that point he reached out, and he took my hand, and then he put my hands together, and he put his hand over my hand and held my hand," McDowell said. 

During the hearing, McDowell and a lawyer for the district visually reenacted what that looked like, showing how Maluchnik grabbed her hands that she'd been using to talk with and held those hands together. 

"It was an uncomfortable amount of time, about 15 seconds," McDowell said. "He just stood there with an odd angry grin on his face, holding my hands." 

At no point did she try to pull her hands away, she said.

"I was shocked and growing unsettled and scared," McDowell said. "I felt like his grip was so tight on my hands that I didn't want to struggle."

On the advice of her union, she emailed Maluchnik saying his visit to her classroom made her uncomfortable, but not directly mentioning him holding her hands. 

Maluchnik would later respond, McDowell said, claiming she was exaggerating their interaction. 

On cross-examination, Maluchnik's lawyer Manning O'Connor asked McDowell if at any point, with her hands held together, she told him to release them.

"I did not," she said, explaining she was in a room alone with an authority figure. 

The lawyer pointed out that despite the other teacher being sent out of the room, she did not stop the conversation to request a union rep be present or that the conversation be held at a later time, which is her right. 

"I was in a freeze mode," McDowell responded. 

The lawyer also pointed out that McDowell didn't go to the district's Title 9 officer, with her saying she didn't know they had one, and her union representative did not advise her to speak to them. 

"That is a concern if it did happen," said parent Tamisha Cauley of Maluchnik's grabbing her hands. "We have to hear both sides. It's just like in the court system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty." 

If true, she said it could be a fireable offense. She added that when she heard the district planned to present evidence that a teacher was touched uncomfortably, she assumed it was going to be about sexual harassment. 

Overall, she felt the charges had not been substantiated against Maluchnik.

"It's still a lot of he says, she says, this is how I felt. I'm not comfortable with the changes he's making," Cauley said. 

She pointed to another witness, the district's special education director, who was also a witness for the district in the meeting. 

Leah Sylvis said Maluchnik ignored many of her emails about the need to have a discussion district having too few school psychologists. She recalled receiving pushback, saying she was told to look at alternate avenues to fill the positions.

She also spoke about how Maluchnik changed the hiring process, and would not engage in a dialogue about it. Sylvis had previously had more autonomy, she said. 

Syvlis said Maluchnik sent a mass email about them needing to have an additional staff member in IEP meetings, rather than discussing it with her first and giving them a chance to correct it.

On cross-examination, Maluchnik's lawyer pointed out she wasn't singled out in that email.

During the cross, Sylvis said she recognized that ultimately, Maluchnik is the Superintendent, adding she feels a collaborative process is important. 

Sylvis said she felt she was treated in the way she was because she is a woman. 

Cathy Welsh, a community member who volunteers within the district, said it's become apparent to her that Maluchnik may be engaged in a pattern of behavior. She felt the charges had been sustained due to how so much had been hostile toward the educators during the hearings, with Maluchnik's lawyer and crowd outbursts. 

Asked what she specifically heard on stage that led her to the same conclusion that there was a hostile work environment for teachers, Welsh said Maluchnik made "women employees feel like they weren't valued or that their opinion didn't matter, that was what really made me feel like he created a work environment where they didn't feel included."

Educators who had been acting as witnesses for the district released a joint statement to KDKA-TV during the meeting, saying their focus has always been on their students and families. 

"We are not here to litigate our experiences in the press. We have lived them. We came forward, despite the fear of retaliation, because a workplace should be defined by safety, integrity, fairness, collaboration, respect, and inclusion — and ours was not.

We remain concerned for the well-being of our students and for the staff who support them every day. The conditions that harm the adults in a building do not stay contained to the adults; they reach the classroom. That is why this matters beyond any one of us.

Our hope is a simple one: a fair process and a school environment where every student and every employee can do their best work, free from hostility and discrimination. That is where our attention is, and where it will stay."

The statement was issued jointly by "Lori McDowell, Jill Regan, Leah Sylvis, and Dr. Pamela White.

The hearing appeared a lot like a trial. There were lawyers, cross-examinations, and objections. 

However, different from a traditional court, the agency bringing the charges — in this case, the school board — is also the jury.

Maluchnik's lawyer, Manning O'Connor, has said Maluchnik was hired to establish accountability, but staff were not on board. He said several people engaged in a concerted effort to smear his reputation based on feelings and suspicions. 

Cameras were not allowed to film the hearing. 

The hearing will reconvene next Wednesday. 

An official channel dedicated solely to the beloved program will offer viewers of multiple generations the chance to watch full episodes, livestreams, clips, and compilations all in one place. 

"With its timeless messages of care and kindness, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is as relevant now as when it first aired. We're excited to make the series more available for families and fans with this official YouTube destination," said Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer and executive producer, Fred Rogers Productions. "We think parents will connect with the authenticity of Fred Rogers' messages. He was someone who really understood the big feelings and big questions of children—and of their grown-ups."

Fred Rogers Productions partnered with the digital media agency Little Dot Studios to bring the vision to life, and as of June 4, that vision has officially become a reality. 

"We hope this channel will become a place where families can slow down together," added Kristin DiQuollo, creative director, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood YouTube Channel, Fred Rogers Productions. "We're thoughtfully curating playlists and compilations around classic segments like the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and factory visits. We'll also have rarely seen full episodes, livestreams of special theme weeks, visits with beloved neighbors, and lots of playful and musical moments. Most of all, we hope the channel will help remind everyone how unique and special they each are."

The new channel debuts with five full-length episodes, including the first one that premiered nationally in the United States in 1968. One additional episode will be added each week, with 10 full episodes available at all times. Along with full-length episodes, the channel will also include clips, playlists, and other features that will bring new life to the legendary series. 

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood aired across the United States from 1968 until 2001, with the final episode airing 25 years ago. In total, there were 895 episodes, 200 songs, and 14 characters. 

The channel can be found here, and episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood can still be found on PBS stations across the country, and select episodes are available to stream on the PBS KIDS Video app. 

I have noon temperatures right at 80 degrees. Winds will be out of the west this afternoon at around 5 mph.

Looking ahead, Friday is looking just as nice as today. I have Friday hitting the upper 80s with humidity levels starting to climb.  It won't be as comfy, but it should still be nice. 

Saturday's storm chance is going up, with severe storms being possible. Frequent lightning, downpours, and gusty winds should be expected around any storms that roll through our area on Saturday, with the highest storm chance coming in during the afternoon to evening. 

While still a bit up in the air, there appears to be a shot at seeing the Northern Lights both tonight and tomorrow night. The Space Prediction Center reports that three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) occurred on June 2nd. These "solar storms" should impact the Earth both tonight and tomorrow. The Space Prediction Center says that its confidence is high that the storms will interact with the Earth.  

They are less certain about its intensity.  At this point, the forecast is for a G3-level storm with the potential for a storm as strong as G4. 

A G3 storm is described as a 'strong' storm by the Space Prediction Center. These storms are known to have been seen as far south as Illinois or the 50° geomagnetic latitude. That puts Pittsburgh solidly in the area where seeing the Northern Lights will be possible. For the best chance of seeing the lights, go north. Find places where there is not a lot of light, and obviously look to the north.  Sometimes the best bet to see the Northern Lights is through your phone, turning your phone's camera setting to "night mode." 

I have heard stories of people not seeing anything until taking a picture on their phone and then getting spectacular pictures. The K level is forecast to be between 7 and 9 tonight and maybe also on Friday night. It should translate to a solid chance to see the lights. 

PennDOT will be shutting down Route 19 between Boyce Road and McLaughlin Run Road starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday so that the Country Club Drive Bridge can be demolished. 

The bridge that spans Route 19's four lanes is not only narrow, but it has also come to the end of its repairable life, so it will succumb to gravity this weekend.

Given the essential nature of Route 19 for drivers in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, the contractor that's handling the demolition of the bridge has been given an extremely tight window.

Crews will have 40 hours to demolish the bridge, clear the debris, and get Route 19 reopened.

"We don't give them a lot of time because it's urgent, so they have to bring out more resources, you know, more equipment to tackle it and get it done quicker," said PennDOT's Doug Thompson. 

Southbound drivers who are routed around the closure will face a seven mile detour as they will need to exit Route 19 and turn left onto McLaughlin Run Road and make a left exit out of a roundabout and onto Lesnett Road.

A left turn onto Mayview Road will eventually bring drivers to a left turn onto Boyce Road, which will bring them back to Route 19, only about a half mile beyond the bridge. 

"We're working with the local police to try to keep things flowing as best as we can, but the message you get out to people too is if you can really try to avoid the area this this this weekend," Thompson said.

Upper St. Clair Township said that restrictions could be lifted earlier than 10 p.m. on Sunday if the work is completed earlier than expected, but it's unknown if that will actually happen.

This weekend's closure of Route 19 won't be the only one that takes place as at least one more disruption is expected before the new bridge is up and ready in September. 

A full detour for both cars and trucks have been posted on the township's website. 

According to the criminal complaint provided to KDKA-TV, Colton Stennett of Jeanette was identified as the suspect and taken into custody. 

Just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Murrysville police were called to the trail near the Premier Automation facility in Murrysville for an attempted rape. Dispatch had informed police that a man wearing black clothing and red shoes had pinned the 24-year-old woman down and attempted to rape her. 

The woman told police she was out for a walk on the trail with her dog when she stopped to take a break and noticed a man coming toward her and touching his genitals over his pants. Police said he grabbed the woman's pants and tried to push her to the ground while still attempting to take off her pants and his own. Investigators said the woman fought back, kicking the man and biting him. Two bicyclists were approaching, which police said caused Stennett to flee. 

After he fled, police said he took the woman's cell phone. 

As the bicyclists got to the woman, she told them what happened and asked them to call 911, which they did. 

Police said they observed red marks around the victim's neck as a result of the attempted assault. 

Once police began to search the area, they said they found a man in a wooded area near the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitation building on Meadowbrook Road who matched the description of the suspect. 

Stennett was taken into custody and told police that he and his girlfriend had an argument earlier in the day in Trafford, and he decided to walk the trail back to Jeannette, but also told them he did not recall the incident because he "blacked out," according to the criminal complaint. 

"I can't believe it," said Jason Sturm, whose house is along the trail. "It's so well-traveled. There's so many people. Everybody is smiling. There's families."

Murrysville Police Chief Tom Kusinsky called the case "very unsettling." 

"This is the town that we patrol," Kusinsky said. "We take pride in what we do here, and this community takes pride in what they have here."

For parents whose children use the trail, these allegations are alarming.  

"I don't want to have to prepare her, give her mace to come down here," Sturm said.

It's recommended anytime you go on a trail, go in a group or with a pet and be aware of your surroundings. 

The complaint says Stennett is being charged with attempted rape, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault, harassment, and aggravated indecent assault. He was denied bond.  

A university spokesperson confirmed to KDKA-TV on Wednesday that Pitt "will conclude its temporary leasing arrangement at the Hampton Inn in the summer of 2026."

Last summer, Pitt announced it had leased space at off-campus apartments and the Hampton Inn to address a housing shortage with a record number of students descending upon Oakland. 

"The demand for a Pitt education has never been higher and we are actively exploring housing options to meet it, including recently announced plans for a new residence hall at Fifth and Ruskin avenues, ensuring we remain well positioned for the future," a statement from the spokesperson read.

Students were notified by the university on Tuesday night of the ending of the lease arrangement coming to an end, notifying those who had been placed at the Hampton Inn of what their options will be for the 2026-27 school year.

The university said that students who do nothing will be assigned to housing at Irvis Hall and their existing housing pairing will be honored,

Students can also enter a special housing selection process where they will be able to choose from the current inventory of undergraduate housing. 

PRT said it's working to roll out its new ReadyFare system and has started to install the new machine at some of its light-rail stations.

The new machines recently were installed at PRT's Gateway station in Downtown Pittsburgh. 

PRT said that as it prepares to roll out the new system, current ConnectCard holders will receive a card in the mail with instructions on how to request a ReadyFare card.

The new ReadyFare cards will be able to be purchased at the new machines for $1. 

PRT said that riders will be able to transfer any balances they have on a ConnectCard to the new ReadyFare cards using an online balance transfer form. 

The Fine Family Apiary in Forward Township said it was contacted on Wednesday about a swarm of bees clustered on the stage scaffolding. The apiary put the swarm in a "nuc box" and took them home before moving the bees into full-size equipment.

Owner Al Fine estimates the swarm weighed about 4 to 5 pounds and consisted of 12,000 to 15,000 bees. All said, it took less than two hours to get the job done. 

Why do bees swarm? 

Swarming is how honeybees propagate, Fine explained. According to Penn State Extension, during swarming, the queen and about half the workers leave their home to establish a new nest. The bees will form a temporary cluster, hanging out while scouts search the surrounding area for a more permanent home in hollow spaces like tree cavities or, occasionally, the walls of a home. 

Swarms can stick around for several hours or days until they're ready to move, Penn State Extension says. Meanwhile, the colony left behind is temporarily without a leader until a new queen is established. 

With the swarm at Acrisure Stadium removed, Morgan Wallen's show is ready to go on. The country music megastar will bring his I'm The Problem Tour to Pittsburgh on June 5 and June 6, along with multiple acts like Brooks & Dunn and Ella Langley. 

Yordan Alvarez had four hits and two RBIs for the Astros. Smith and Paredes had two hits and three RBIs apiece, and Jeremy Peña went 2 for 3 with a double.

AJ Blubaugh (3-2) pitched the eighth inning to get the victory. Josh Hader made his season debut and worked a scoreless ninth for the save, ending the Pirates' winning streak at four.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti, who went 4-1 in five starts with a 0.93 ERA in May, allowed four runs in four innings.

Henry Davis hit his first career grand slam in the fourth inning for Pittsburgh. Nick Gonzalez had a homer, double and three RBIs.

The Pirates have scored nine-plus runs in four consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors this season, and has struck out at least nine batters in eight straight games.

Pittsburgh's Gregory Soto (4-1), who faced four batters, allowed three runs and three hits and walked one.

Pirates RHP Jared Jones (0-0, 10.48 ERA) was set to start Thursday against RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.57) in the series finale.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler first reported the news of the contract extension for Washington on Wednesday night, adding that the $42 million deal includes $21 million in guaranteed money. 

Washington's new reported deal comes one day after Nick Herbig reportedly agreed to a $100 million extension with the Steelers. 

Last season, Washington recorded 31 receptions for the Steelers for 364 yards and one touchdown and was used in numerous blocking roles with the Pittsburgh offense through his first three years with the team. 

Earlier this week, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy spoke highly of Washington, noting how he's been impressed with the 6'7", 300 pound tight end while preparing for his first year at the helm of his hometown team. 

"Year 1, as you get to know your players, there's certain schemes you may tilt one way or the other, variations of schemes," McCarthy said. "And definitely we've been doing that with our tight ends, and he's a big part of that reason."  

The Steelers are holding their third day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday with additional organized team activities set to resume next week. 

According to a spokesperson with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, a contractor was pressure washing a reservoir tank, but he was using a pump and hose that were not properly disinfected, creating the potential for contamination of the finished drinking water source and prompting the boil water advisory from the Municipal Authority of Belle Vernon.  

The authority said on Wednesday that test results found no contamination. The advisory was lifted around noon on Wednesday after being issued on Sunday. 

Denise Stasko, vice president of the borough council, said she has received phone calls from concerned residents. 

"I'm shocked, especially when I started getting phone calls," she said. "They were scared."

She said she knew about the work going on.

"They put an unclean hose into this tower, purified water that people drink in this community," Stasko said. "I was scared for myself and for our residents because there are people with underlying conditions."

Cliff Gorski, president of the Municipal Authority of Belle Vernon and borough council president, was not available for an interview on Wednesday, but he directed KDKA to a comment from plant manager Gerald Jackson. 

"The contractor was given permission to enter the reservoir area to do routine maintenance work and our Board was made aware of their work, which started last week. Testing revealed there was no contamination of the water supply. Our board has called for a review of our protocols and procedures."

Now, Stasko is calling for answers.   

"Our residents need answers," she said. "How did this happen, why did it happen, who gave authority to go and clean this and do what they did, and not worry about consequences?"

Wilson made the news official on Wednesday. He announced in a video on social media tha he's retiring from the NFL after 14 seasons.

"As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and 'The NFL Today,' I'm so blessed to continue doing what I love most -- being around the greatest game in the world," he said in the video.

Wilson played for 14 NFL seasons -- most notably for Seattle, where he led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls and one win in the 2013 season. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner.

He was traded to Denver after the 2021 season and spent two rocky years with the Broncos before playing one season in Pittsburgh and another for the New York Giants. 

Wilson threw for 46,966 yards, with 353 touchdown passes and 114 interceptions. He joins Peyton Manning and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to throw at least 20 touchdown passes in each of their first three seasons and is one of seven quarterbacks to be selected to 10 Pro Bowls.

Wilson is the only player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and fewer than 15 interceptions in four straight seasons. He also had three seasons with at least 30 TD passes and 500 yards rushing, which is the most in NFL history.

In the video, which was about three minutes long, he thanked his teammates, friends and family and gave special thanks to former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

"Thanks for taking a chance on a young, 5-11 Black kid from Richmond, Virginia, that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL," Wilson said.

Wilson is the shortest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Wilson will replace Matt Ryan, who joined the Atlanta Falcons as president of football after two seasons on "The NFL Today." Wilson had considered returning for a 15th season, telling the New York Post last month that he was mulling an offer to join the New York Jets and back up Geno Smith.

His video featured highlights from his career and footage of him visiting patients at Seattle Children's Hospital. It ended with him thanking his wife, Ciara, and the sport he dedicated his life to.

"I thank you, football. ... I am forever grateful," he said.

"While the District cannot comment on individual personnel matters, the Pennsylvania State Police has advised the District that all investigations are complete, and there was no evidence of any misconduct by District staff," the district said in a statement on Wednesday. "We appreciate the prompt attention by our law enforcement partners tasked with the investigation of this matter. "  

Police on Tuesday confirmed an investigation at the school district but declined to provide any more details, saying only that no charges have been filed.

After police confirmed their investigation, the school district acknowledged what it called "rumors" of "inappropriate relationships" between students and staff, but the administration also declined to comment further on Tuesday. 

KDKA reached out to the Pennsylvania State Police and is waiting to hear back.