🌱 Missing Child + Richard King Mellon Foundation + School Closures

Hey, everybody! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Pittsburgh Daily. Let's get this day started off right with a quick guide to the most important things going on around town, including updates on...

• Richard King Mellon Foundation is moving to the Strip District
• Winter weather leads to more than 150 school closings and delays in Pittsburgh area
• 14-year-old girl reported missing after failing to return home to Wilkinsburg

Here we go!

Snow, 1-2 in, then rain. High: 45 Low: 32.

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Here are the top stories in Pittsburgh today:

1) A 13-year-old is in police custody based on a connection to the robbery and abduction of a pizza delivery driver in Pittsburgh's Elliott neighborhood earlier this month. A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman says the unidentified juvenile, who is being charged with robbery, aggravated assault and kidnapping, will not be charged as an adult. "A male pizza delivery driver told officers on Jan. 3 that three males with guns demanded his money, keys, wallet, phone and shoes. They allegedly beat him and put him in the trunk of his car before driving an unknown distance. They then abandoned the car." No other arrests have been made at this time.

(WPXI Pittsburgh)

2) The Richard King Mellon Foundation, the city's largest philanthropy, is moving its office to q historic building the Strip District. There, the organization will convene large group meetings with community members and its grantees in order to get feedback and input about the projects and initiatives it funds. Its new home will be on the second floor of the Produce Terminal Auction House at 21st and Smallman streets. The foundation wanted a location that "allows us to be a bit more connected to the community," says Sam Reiman, director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation. "The Strip District feels like a natural extension of Downtown," he says.

(NEXTpittsburgh)

3) Snow and ice forecasted to hit Pittsburgh early this morning led to more than 150 school closings and delays in the area. Many schools, including the Penn Hills School District, have opted for flexible instruction days. A complete list of school closings and delays can be found here.

(WTAE Pittsburgh)

4) The City of Pittsburgh's Planning Commission recently approved the Penguins' bid to build a $110 million concert venue and parking garage in the Lower Hill District. The parcel on which the properties will be located — known as Block E — is part of a 28-acre site owned by the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Sports and Exhibition Authority. During its meeting Tuesday night, the planning commission approved final plans for a Block E. The music venue is slated to hold 4,500 people, alongside the 910-space parking garage. A $2 surcharge on each ticket sold for Live Nation events at the venue will be diverted to the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund.

(90.5 WESA)

5) Wilkinsburg police are asking for the public's help in their search for a missing 14-year-old girl. Police report that Denaejah Waller didn't return home from her school, Sci-Tech Academy in Oakland, yesterday afternoon. Waller is described as being five feet, two inches tall and 120 pounds and was last seen wearing torn jeans and a blue leather coat with an "8" ball design on the back. Anyone with information should call police.

(WTAE Pittsburgh)

Today in Pittsburgh:

• Hero Appreciation Wednesday (8 AM)
• 55 Live! - Food specials for guests 55+ (9 AM)
• Craft Corner - Plum Community Library (10 AM)
• Taps & Apps Happy Hour (5 PM)
• Friends of the Library board meeting (7 PM)
• Teen Karaoke Night - Brentwood Library (7 PM)

From my notebook:

• Pittsburgh Bureau of Police: "MISSING: SVU detectives are requesting information to help find 72-year-old Melvin Wilson. Wilson was last seen at 4:10 p.m. on 1/24 on the 500 block of S. Negley Avenue. He was wearing black pants, a black jacket and black shoes." (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police via Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA: "Snow is expected to begin across the area this morning. The snow will mix with sleet, before changing to rain from south to north as temperatures warm through the day. " (US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA via Facebook)
• Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh: "Today is Change a Pet's Life Day! Pets provide us with unconditional love, solace, and support every day of the year, but today is our opportunity to give back to them by improving the life of an animal in need." (Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• Bike Pittsburgh: "The Mon Wharf Connector will be temporarily closing to pedestrian & bicycle traffic to complete the Great Allegheny Passage improvement project at Point State Park. Construction starts 2/1." (Bike Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History: "New exhibition opening February 4! Apsáalooke Women and Warriors celebrates the stories and traditions of the Apsáalooke women of America's Northern Plains." (Carnegie Museum of Natural History via Facebook)
• The Andy Warhol Museum: "This Saturday at 3 p.m., join artist educators for Dandy Andy, a monthly tour that focuses on Warhol's queer history: https://bit.ly/38i83p1" (The Andy Warhol Museum via Facebook)
• Pittsburgh Regional Transit: "When the new schedules go into effect on February 19, you may notice that some bus stops have been removed from the schedules. This was done to streamline & condense the schedules. Service to those stops will not be affected." (Pittsburgh Regional Transit via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Rachel Tasker

About me: Rachel is a native Pennsylvanian with stops in Erie and State College before making Pittsburgh her home in 2020. She's got a background in a little bit of everything... from working in media newsrooms and public health to the 2016 Presidential election in Washington, D.C. and the 2019 Super Bowl where (surprise!) Tom Brady won... AGAIN. She loves good coffee, bad reality T.V., attending local events and trying new food in the 412. She resides in the South Hills.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Pittsburgh Daily? Contact me at pittsburgh@patch.com