Community Corner
🌱 Officer Charged With DUI + Fish Fry Season + Tax Increases
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Pittsburgh.
Hello, hello! It's me, Rachel Tasker, your host of the Daily. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town, including...
- Pittsburgh officer charged with DUI
- It's almost fish fry season. What you need to know to get your permit
- Two Pittsburgh-area school districts under audit for tax increases
Morning flurries; cloudy. High: 35 Low: 33.
🏠 If you're a real estate agent in Pittsburgh, of course you're looking for a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. We can help you do that with an exclusive sponsorship in the Pittsburgh Patch newsletter. Click here to learn more.
Here are the top stories today in Pittsburgh:
1) A Pittsburgh police officer has been charged with a DUI. The incident occurred while Aaron Spangler, 42, was off duty. An on-duty officer initiated Spangler's traffic stop on Route 130 and smelled alcohol, based on a complaint received earlier about an erratic driver. "He did not complete the field sobriety tests as instructed, the officer said, and a blood draw was performed." Pittsburgh Public Safety officials report that Spangler is currently on paid leave.
2) The Christian season of Lent is a little under one month away — and so is the start of Pittsburgh's popular 'fish fry' season. The Allegheny County Health Department is looking to get ahead of organizations who are planning to hold or host fish fry dinners. They are advising organizations who do not already have a valid food permit to complete a temporary application, which is due no later than Feb. 8. "For-profit organizations pay $50 for the permit fee. That fee is $45 for nonprofits."
3) A Pittsburgh-native was featured on Monday's season premiere of ABC's 'The Bachelor.' Cara Ammon made her debut with a little screen time but was not selected as rose recipient and therefore has been eliminated from the reality competition. A 2013 North Allegheny High School graduate, Ammon shares that she made the decision to be part of the show following the end of a long-term relationship of many years. "I wasn't looking to get into reality TV," she said. "I was just looking for a husband."
(TribLIVE)
4) Of the 12 Pennsylvania schools being audited for mishandling taxpayer funds, two of them are local. North Allegheny School District and Canon-McMillan School District are under investigation for allegedly raising property taxes, despite having millions of dollars stockpiled. It is believed that the district's used loopholes to move money around to meet the threshold for a tax increase, even though data shows that the schools had enough funding in the bank. Limits for how districts can tax are decided by the Pennsylvania School Code and Taxpayer Relief Act. However, if and when taxes are raised above set limits for various reasons, it is required for districts to request permission from voters, or ask the Department of Education, to make an exception.
5) A Pittsburgh native is going to space. Warren "Woody" Hoburg, a 2004 North Allegheny High School graduate, will earn his 'space wings' in a SpaceX flight scheduled for Feb. 26. Hoburg, along with the rest of his crew, will spend six months aboard the International Space Station doing maintenance work as well as a wide variety of scientific research. "Hoburg earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley."
Today in Pittsburgh:
- Winter Reading Challenge — Community Library of Castle Shannon (All Day)
- Small Loom Weaving — Mount Lebanon Public Library (10 AM)
- Songs & Stories — Avalon Public Library (10:30 AM)
- Bingo for Adults — Community Library of Castle Shannon (11 AM)
- Book Club — Plum Community Library (1 PM)
- Yoga — Penn Hills Public Library (2 PM)
- Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District (5:30 PM)
From my notebook:
- Allegheny County Sheriff's Office: "Good news! Below is the 2023 schedule for satellite events to obtain or renew a license to carry concealed permit." (Allegheny County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: "While our shows have been chugging along, we want to remind you that our Garden Railroad: Our National Parks is still open!" (Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens via Facebook)
- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: "Explore landscapes through the eyes of Rick Landesberg at The Crest of the Ridge, a solo exhibition of paintings on view at 707 Gallery. On display through Feb. 19. Free and open to the public Wednesdays-Sundays. Learn more at TrustArts.org/707" (The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust via Facebook)
- Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: "Interested in building, sewing, clay sculpture or making your own book? Don't miss this weekend's workshops! ⚙️ Saturday, Jan. 28 1. How Big is a Building? 🏢 (Grades K-2)" (Children's Museum of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
- Pittsburgh Regional Transit: "Come work for us! Visit rideprt.org/careers to see our open positions. We're looking for operators🚌, maintenance🔧, and more!" (Pittsburgh Regional Transit via Facebook)
Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around.
— 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
