Pittsburgh Police Graffiti Squad Ask For Help + Weather Closes Schools

Hey, Pittsburgh. I'm here in your inbox this chilly morning to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town. In this issue, you'll learn about...

• Pittsburgh Police Graffiti Squad asking for public's help identifying 'prolific tagger'
• Reopening Fern Hollow Bridge will clear some headaches for businesses, customers
• Dozens of school closings and delays as wintry mix hits parts of the Pittsburgh area

Rain; breezy this afternoon. High: 41 Low: 36.

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Here are the top stories in Pittsburgh today:

1) Pittsburgh Police Graffiti Squad detectives are asking for the public's help identifying a "prolific tagger." Police said his name is "AChizz" and he has been hitting the South Side and Oakland areas with graffiti work. Detectives are hoping his distinctive walk in the video below will help identify him. Police have provided a video and image references at the link below.

(WPXI Pittsburgh)

3) The Fern Hollow Bridge, which made national news when it collapsed last year while a bus and other vehicles were traveling on it, will be reopening soon. With the Jan. 28 collapse of Fern Hollow Bridge, an important artery connecting the Squirrel Hill and Regent Square neighborhoods and points beyond, traffic jams and detours — and the stress that comes along with that — have become the norm. The good news is that the new span through Frick Park could open this month, according to PennDOT. "We are anticipating a reopening by the end of the year, and perhaps before Christmas," said Steve Cowan, spokesman for PennDOT. Still, he noted there is work that needs to be completed before the bridge is open for traffic, "including bridge and pedestrian railing installation, lighting installation, and line painting."

(TribLIVE)

4) More than four dozen school closings and delays were announced on Thursday morning as a wintry mix was hitting parts of the Pittsburgh area. With temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, there were concerns about ice in some parts of the area. Most of the districts affected were north and east of the city. The Butler Area School District, for example, was on a two-hour delay, while the United School District in Indiana County announced it would be closed on Thursday. A complete list of school closings and delays can be found here.

(WTAE Pittsburgh)

5) A local man is facing felony assault charges following a fight involving police outside of a North Shore bar that sent a first responder to the hospital. Police were first called to McFadden's bar for a large fight, but when they arrived it was over. A city cycle medic told police he was standing with his motorcycle outside the bar when a drunk man, identified as Ronald Snoe, grabbed him and attempted to pull him over the parked motorcycle. Police eventually caught up with Snoe while he was at another bar nearby. That's when officers say they tried to arrest him but he resisted and eventually kicked one officer in the chest and another in the face. The officer says this caused his head to snap back, his nose to bleed and, as the officer describes, a severe headache that caused him to almost lose consciousness. The officer was treated at the hospital for his injuries and has since been released. Police said the entire encounter was caught on city cameras. Snoe will appear before a judge this month.

(WPXI Pittsburgh)

Today in Pittsburgh:

• Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh (5:30 PM)
• The Beatles: From Liverpool to Abbey Road (6:00 PM)
• Christmas Concert - Plum Community Library (6:30 PM)
• Mystery Lovers Book Group* - Northland Public Library (6:30 PM)
• Crazy for Comics - Mount Lebanon Public Library (6:30 PM)
• Last Thursday of the Month Evening Book Discussion (7:00 PM)
• Friends of the Avalon Public Library Meeting (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: "Some Penguins on Parade fun! 🐧 Learn more about this event ➡️ https://bit.ly/3rko4ly" (Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium via Facebook)
• Visit Pittsburgh: "Get into the great outdoors with day 8️⃣ of our 10 Days of #LovePGH Giveaways! 🚴🛶🥾 Enter for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind outdoor tour or excursion to explore the beautiful sights of Pittsburgh. 😍 HOW TO ENTER: ➡️ " (Visit Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA: "--Ice Storm Warning-- No significant changes have been made to the Ice Storm forecast. If you're in an area that's expecting ice/freezing rain, plan on impacts to the morning commute. " (US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA via Facebook)
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: "Are you unable to attend our Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden? Don't worry! You can now take a virtual tour at your convenience from your very own home!" (Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back 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