🍝 A gift for Pittsburgh pasta lovers

U.S. Steel Will Have a New Owner

Japanese conglomerate Nippon Steel Corporation is buying the U.S. Steel company, which will retain its local headquarters, for $14.9 billion. The deal is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2024. Steel prices quadrupled near the start of the pandemic, leading to more consolidation in the industry. Nippon says it will honor agreements with the U.S. Steelworkers Union, but leadership isn’t convinced. [90.5 WESA]

• Hear more on the sale in today’s podcast. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

New Bill Could Protect Kids From Lead

A report released earlier this year gave Pennsylvania an F on policies and regulations to keep lead out of drinking water in schools. Legislation introduced in the PA Senate aims to improve that grade. The legislation would require schools to install high-filtration water fountains by 2026. Even low amounts of lead can cause “behavioral and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, anemia, and slowed growth,” according to the CDC. [PennEnvironment / The Allegheny Front]

• More on kids' health: Nearly 6,000 kids in Allegheny County do not have health insurance. Pennsylvania is considering continuous Medicaid coverage for children from birth up until age 6, instead of requiring parents to enroll every year. [90.5 WESA]

Steelers’ Field Coming to Hazelwood

The Pittsburgh Steelers are renovating a 10,000-square-foot building for a recreation complex and building a community field for youth football, flag football, soccer games, and clinics with current and former Steelers players and coaches. Construction will start at the Hazelwood Green site next year, and it’s expected to open in 2025. [KDKA-TV]

It’s time for the last “Where Is It?” challenge of the year! Thank you to everyone who has kept their eyes peeled and played along with this Pittsburgh-wide game of I Spy.

Where can you find this photo? 👀

🌟 Shout out to Carrie I. for being the only reader to correctly guess last week’s challenge:

The new Wise County Cafe in Allegheny West is like walking into your grandma’s house. There’s vintage cake pans decorating the walls, a handmade quilt making it feel like home, a cozy floral couch… oh and homemade biscuits and gravy, grits, and eggs any way you’d like!

Has my local gift guide series helped you find goodies for people on your list? This week is your final chance to finish your shopping, so I’m going to focus on local experience-based gift ideas.

For the rest of the week, find classes, workshops, and other things to do so you can give the gift of quality time to your loved ones.

For The Aspiring Pittsburgh Pasta-Makers

Ravioli, tortellini, gnocchi, oh my! Istituto Mondo Italiano in Regent Square has all kinds of pasta-making classes that are just as fun as they are delicious. The 2024 in-person class calendar is coming soon, but you can always buy a gift certificate that is good for any upcoming event.

You can also cook and eat your way through different regions of Italy with a hands-on combo cooking class and dinner where you can discover local specialties every month.

Looking for a tangible gift? Shop at the market until Dec. 23.

Free Trash Cans, Hills To Die On & New Owners for U.S. Steel

Nippon Steel is paying $14.9 billion for Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, so what does that mean for the company that helped build the ‘Burgh? Penn Hills is getting new free trash cans, and not everyone is thrilled about it. And we’ve got a few ways to help your neighbors this holiday season.