🚗 Rialto Street's closing again

Mobile ICE Jails in PA

Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to open "mobile detention facilities" around the country, including here in PA. In Pittsburgh, ICE plans to establish two transport teams and a “hub” site to guard people who are arrested, potentially overnight, before they’re transported to another facility. [🔒 PennLive]

• Immigration enforcement has reportedly been more active in recent weeks around Beechview, which has the densest Latino population in our region. One agent allegedly told a member of the family that owns the Las Palmas grocery store: "All of you are illegal, I’m going to come back and pick everybody up from this store.” [Public Source]
• Know your rights if you see ICE activity. [City Cast Pittsburgh]

$11M For EV Charging Stations

An eternal struggle for electric car owners is when to plan your next charge, but drivers rejoice! New charging stations are coming to 26 of PA’s central counties with funds from the state Department of Transportation. The charging station buildout comes from a Biden-era goal to build them every 50 miles on interstate highways and major corridors. [🔒 Post-Gazette]

Short-Term Rental Vote Delayed

If a new bill gets approved in City Council, owners would have to register their Airbnb and VRBO rentals and live on the property if it's in a residential area. Pittsburgh’s planning commission recommended the city’s legal department take a look before a vote. Rental-tracking website AirDNA says Pittsburgh has about 2,500 short-term rentals. [WESA]

Rialto Street Closed For 2 Months

From Ley Street to Route 28, the steep road that connects Troy Hill to the highway will close to cars starting Monday while the city repairs the Lowrie Street Bridge above. The goal is to complete masonry repairs before temperatures hit freezing, which means Rialto should reopen in time for snowboarding season. 🏂 [WTAE / Instagram]

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, when hijackers killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. Western PA was directly affected: one of the hijacked planes crashed into a field in Shanksville — around 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh — killing 40 passengers and crew members.

Venues in and around Pittsburgh are hosting musical performances, public art displays, memorials, and other events honoring those who lost their lives.

25th Observance Special Events

Flight 93 National Memorial

The official Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County will host an observance starting at 8:30 a.m. with a reading of the names of all passengers and crew members. A ceremony at 1:00 p.m. includes remarks, music, and wreath-laying. Forty candlelit lanterns will be placed at the Wall of Names at 7:30 p.m., and a column of light will illuminate the night sky until midnight. Visitors can observe sidewalk chalk portraits of every passenger and crew member throughout the day. All events will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Moments of Remembrance

Carnegie Mellon University

A single bagpiper will play at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:36 a.m., and 10:03 a.m. — the times at which planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the field in Shanksville. The performance is at the 9/11 Memorial Tree on Carnegie Mellon’s campus, planted in remembrance of the seven CMU alumni who died.

9/11 Remembrance Stair Climb

University of Pittsburgh

Pitt students, faculty, and staff can meet at the on-campus Recreation and Wellness Center for a stair climb from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Working in waves, participants will climb a total of 2,200 steps to symbolize the approximately 110 stories first responders climbed in the Twin Towers.

Honoring Our First Responders

Forest Hills

The borough is hosting a commemoration starting at 4 p.m. at Westinghouse Lodge. It coincides with the Friday farmers market and includes a picnic, award ceremony, and concert featuring local high school musicians and the Balmoral Highland Pipes and Drum Band.

Behind the Lines: A 9/11 Story

Byham Theater

On Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m., the Cultural District will host a live music, storytelling, and theatrical performance called Behind the Lines: A 9/11 Story. Hear Bill Spade, an FDNY first responder, and Jaymes Poling, a combat veteran of the War in Afghanistan, relive their experiences of the attacks and the war that followed — accompanied by a jazz band and visual elements.