🎡 Ferris wheel approved along the Ohio

🎡 ‘Esplanade’ Gets Another Green Light

Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission approved a plan to transform 15-acres along the Ohio River in Chateau into a housing, entertainment, and shopping complex — including a 200-foot Ferris wheel. Developers with Piatt Companies hope to begin work on the $740 million project in the spring; more meetings are needed to approve each building. [TribLive / 90.5 WESA]

🏥 UPMC Announces Layoffs, Cuts

The health giant is laying off 100 employees and removing 200 vacant positions; UPMC cut another 1,000 jobs earlier this year. The nonprofit’s leaders say it lost $313 million in the first six months of 2024. [TribLive]

🌟 Fet-Fisk Gets More National Acclaim

Six weeks after making NYT’s annual list, Fet-Fisk in Bloomfield is one of EATER’s best restaurants, too. Make a reservation to enjoy scandi-modern dishes and creative cocktails in what feels like a “vibey basement party at grandma’s house.” [EATER]

• 🐟 It all started as a pop-up. Hear how chef Nik Forsberg built a seasonal menu with sustainably-sourced fish, meats, and veggies. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

🇺🇸 New Veterans Place Opens in Larimer

The nonprofit Veterans Place unveiled a new three-story facility that’ll support veterans with housing, health care, and wellness services. In addition to apartments, the $5.6 million space has a medical office to serve people ineligible for care through the VA. [Union Progress]

While we’re used to experiencing all four seasons in a day, we all know the best way to survive winter in Pennsylvania is to expect the unexpected. We might wake up to a balmy morning that tricks us into thinking spring has arrived only to get a few inches of snow by evening. Knowing what to expect is the best way to prepare for winter in Pennsylvania. The Farmer's Almanac Winter Forecast for Pennsylvania for 2024-25 has been released, and it looks like Pennsylvania’s in for a little bit of everything. But what you'll see depends on where in the state you live.

Unlike the rest of the state, we're going to deal with lower-than-usual temperatures. The Farmer's Almanac winter forecast for Western Pennsylvania predicts the coldest part of winter will run from the end of January until early February. January will have the lowest daily average temperature at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.