Here are some of the latest news this morning, Thursday, June 6th.
Pittsburgh's Triangle Tech school closes
A Pennsylvania statewide technical school is closing after 80 years in operation.
Pittsburgh-based Triangle Tech announced Wednesday it would close six campuses in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, DuBois, Sunbury, Bethlehem and Chambersburg.
The for-profit school currently teaches carpentry, electrical, welding, HVAC and other skills to more than 260 students. Triangle Tech schools employ about 110 staff members.
Triangle Tech Chancellor Emeritus Timothy McMahon said the COVID-19 pandemic, changing industry conditions and government regulations have made it difficult for higher education institutions like Triangle Tech to operate.
“As a result of these factors and declining enrollment, we have made the very difficult but necessary decision to close our school,” McMahon said in a statement.
Staff and students were notified of the decision to close on Wednesday. About 20 of the school's 110 remaining staff members will be affected immediately, and the school said it was working to support staff affected by the change.
McMahon said Triangle Tech intends to keep its promise to current students, with the remaining students on track to graduate with associate degrees by June 2025.
According to a press release, local educational nonprofit Worksmith Institute awarded each student a $1,500 tuition scholarship to help them complete their degrees.
Allegheny County Releases Update on Patton Street Bridge Project
The Patton Street Bridge in Wilmerding is undergoing renovation, and Allegheny County officials want to hear from the public about the final design.
Allegheny County officials are scheduled to hold an online meeting Thursday night to discuss the Patton Street Bridge renovation project, which is scheduled to primarily affect Wall, Wilmerding and North Versailles.
According to county officials, the goal of the project is to provide a sustainable crossing over Turtle Creek for all road users and to improve and extend the bridge's useful life.
According to officials, the Patton Street Bridge received a rating of five when it was last inspected in April 2022. Bridges with a rating of four or below are considered in poor condition.
“If deterioration continues at this rate, the bridge could quickly fall into poor condition and become unsafe for people traveling across it,” according to the news release.
Construction on the project is currently scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with the bridge scheduled to be closed for a year during the renovation period.
The meeting is scheduled to take place Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m.
Those interested in attending Thursday's meeting can register by filling out a form at http://alleghenycounty.us/pattonstreetbridge. Those who register will be emailed a link and phone number to attend the meeting.
Driver flees after rollover accident in South Park Township
According to the Library Volunteer Fire Department, a truck rolled over and was abandoned in South Park Township Wednesday night.
The fire department told TribLive's news partner WTAE that the driver fled the scene of the accident, which happened overnight Wednesday.
The accident happened at the intersection of Brownsville Road and Wallace Road.
As of early Thursday morning, it was unclear whether police had been able to track down the driver, WTAE reported.
Ryan Deto is a Triblive reporter covering politics and Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California's Bay Area, Deto joined the Trib in 2022 after more than six years covering Pittsburgh, including serving as editor-in-chief at Pittsburgh City Paper. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
