🌱 Pitt Men's Basketball + Road Closure + Comedian Taylor Tomlinson

Hello, Pittsburgh. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including news on:

• Right mix of transfers has Pitt men's basketball pointed in upward direction
• Rockslide causes Allegheny County road closure
• Comedian Taylor Tomlinson to perform in Pittsburgh

Let's go!

Mostly cloudy and cooler. High: 50 Low: 34.

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Here are the top stories in Pittsburgh today:

1) The U.S. House of Representatives remained an inactive body Thursday morning as the historic impasse over the speaker's position entered its third day. Although Republicans hold a majority in the House, GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California has failed to win the speaker's job. His bid been thwarted by a Republican faction of ultra-conservatives. McCarthy needs 218 votes to be speaker. Democrats in the House have voted exclusively for Hakeem Jeffries of New York, so McCarthy must persuade members of his own party to break the deadlock. Here's how Pennsylvania's representatives have voted thus far: Brendan Boyle: Jeffries, all votes; Matt Cartwright: Jeffries, all votes; Madeleine Dean: Jeffries, all votes; Chris Deluzio: Jeffries, all votes; Dwight Evans: Jeffries, all votes; Brian Fitzpatrick: McCarthy, all votes; Chrissy Houlahan: Jeffries, all votes; John Joyce: McCarthy, all votes; Mike Kelly: McCarthy, all votes; Summer Lee: Jeffries, all votes; Dan Meuser: McCarthy, all votes; Scott Perry: Andy Biggs of Arizona, first vote; Jim Jordan of Ohio, second and third votes; Byron Donalds of Florida, fourth, fifth and sixth votes; Guy Reschenthaler: McCarthy, all votes; Mary Gay Scanlon: Jeffries, all votes; Lloyd Smucker: McCarthy, all votes; Glenn Thompson: McCarthy, all votes; Susan Wild: Jeffries, all votes.

(Patch)

2) January marks a busy event schedule in Pittsburgh. Starting tonight and running through Jan. 8th, Cirque du Soleil performs their show full of acrobatics and allure at PPG Paints Arena. For movie lovers, check out the Januscary Film Festival at the Harris Theater through Jan. 11th highlighting contemporary and classic takes on the ever-popular horror genre along with under-appreciated cult flicks and overlooked cinema. Feeling post-holiday kitchen fatigue? Pittsburgh's top chefs are here to cook for you during Pittsburgh's Restaurant Week spanning from January 9th through the 15th. For seven days, popular restaurants will have fixed-price multi-course meals, special $20.23 entrees and new surprises. The foodie fest explores the theme of New Dishes for the New Year. Foodies will also love the Food Truck A Palooza at the Monroeville Convention Center on Jan. 14. Guests will munch their way through a kaleidoscope of food trucks, including favorites like Revival Chili, Brew Wagon, Pittsburgh Crepe Truck, Country Mountain Moonshine and Hoshi.

(NEXTpittsburgh)

3) The right mix of transfers amidst a pivotal season has Pitt men's basketball pointed in an upward direction. Two of the transfers who have been instrumental in Pitt's current run of good fortune are point guard Nelly Cummings and 6-foot-7 forward Blake Hinson. Cummings has an impressive stat line that includes 10.7 points per game, 5.1 assists per game, remarkable accuracy from the foul line (24 of 25) and a team-high average of 32.7 minutes played. Hinson leads the Panthers in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (7.0) while trying Capel's patience with his shot selection. He has attempted more overall shots (177, 48%) and 3-pointers (88, 35.2%) than any of his teammates, but he has yet to hinder the cause. Pitt didn't have an encouraging start to the season, losing by 31 to Michigan (presently unranked) among three defeats in its first four games. The only time Hinson didn't score in double digits was the West Virginia game Nov. 11, when he managed only five in a 25-point loss. Now, Pitt has a chance to vault Michigan and West Virginia in its climb toward national relevancy. "Early in the season, we were figuring each other out," Cummings said. "Now, we're to the point we're really locked in with each other and trying to do everything we can to help each other."

(TribLIVE)

4) A road is closed in Allegheny County this morning due to a rockslide. The incident was reported a little before 5:30 a.m. near the intersection with Bascom Avenue. A video from a local news station captured large boulders scattered cross Brighton Road in Ross Township. The road between Bascom Avenue and Jacks Run Road is closed to traffic. Fire trucks are on the scene. North Hills School District posted about the road closure on social media, stating high school bus routes were impacted.

(WPXI Pittsburgh)

5) Comedian Taylor Tomlinson is coming to perform in Pittsburgh. Focusing exclusively on Taylor's old-soul clarity is tempting, but what makes Taylor stand out isn't just that she seems too young to understand youth so well. It's that she combines that vision with on-the-nose immediacy that can only come with still living in the moments being lampooned. "I think that's what comedians do: We're funny in the moment," Taylor says. "We're just so self-reflective and narcissistic." She laughs, then adds, "But I've always felt older than I am." Taylor Tomlinson LIVE! will take place at the Benedum Center on both February 4th and 5th at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.

(Uniontown Herald Standard)

From my notebook:

• Allegheny County Sheriff's Office: "Our office has been advised that there is currently a GoFundMe page for Chief Justin McIntire that has been listed by a Michael McIntire." (Allegheny County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh: "Check out some of our adoption ready foster pets below and experience unconditional love and lifetime friendship. You'll find pets of all types and personalities awaiting adoption! https://humaneanimalrescue.org/meet-fosters/" (Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: "In cooperation with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, we collected 5,536 pounds of food and $486.50 during last week's Donation Day! We appreciate this amazing support from the Pittsburgh community." (Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium via Facebook)
• Tree Pittsburgh: "Another great way to recycle your Christmas tree!" (Tree Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• City of Pittsburgh: "The City of Pittsburgh Office of Special Events is pleased to announce this year's People's Choice Award winner after receiving thousands of votes." (City of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History: "Learn about Ceratopsian dinosaurs at our next free R.W. Moriarty science talk. Join us at noon on January 9 in the museum's Earth Theater or online via Zoom to hear from Eric Morschhauser, Associate Professor of Biology at Indiana University." (Carnegie Museum of Natural History via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with 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