Vehicle Crashes Into Home + Veteran Benefits From Community Project

Hi all. It's me, Rachel Tasker, your host of the Daily. Let's get this day started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's going on these days in town, including updates on:

• Pittsburgh veteran receives new roof through community project
• Vehicle crashes into Pittsburgh home
• Pittsburgh City Council makes several changes to city's proposed budgets

Let's go!

Mostly cloudy. High: 43 Low: 35.

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Here are the top stories today in Pittsburgh:

1) The budget for Pittsburgh Public Schools in 2023 looks to stabilize the district for another year, though future funding is still uncertain. After initially projecting a fund balance depletion by the end of next year, the Pittsburgh Public School District is now preparing to pass a budget that will keep them afloat at least through 2023 without a tax increase. Propping it up, though, is approximately $61 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief. But this will soon dry up, leaving tough choices ahead for school officials. "The true cost of charter schools did go up. We've had escalating mandated costs at the state level, such as our retirement reimbursement that has increased. We have rising costs everywhere and our costs are rising at a higher rate than our revenue rises," CFO Ronald Joseph said. The PPS 2023 preliminary budget of $675.9 million was released to the public on Nov. 23. It projects an operating deficit of $9.2 million, which will draw down the unreserved fund balance to $59.1 million by the the end of 2023.

(PGH City Paper)

2) Aurora Innovation and other Pittsburgh robotics companies are on the search for technicians to make their upcoming business plans, reality. Aurora specifically plans to start selling its autonomous trucking system in two years, but before the trucks hit the market, the company needs more workers to maintain the fleet. In 2020, it partnered with Pittsburgh Technical College near Robinson Township to create an associate degree in robotics and autonomous engineering technology. The 18-month program prepares technicians to perform routine maintenance, unexpected repairs and new upgrades. Only five students enrolled when classes launched this fall. Four more are signed up for the winter, but the school aims to have 25 begin each term. Aurora has taken steps to encourage participation. It has committed to funding $65,000 worth of scholarships through 2024, according to an Aurora spokesperson. The degree costs between $28,000 and $40,000 per student annually, but a Pittsburgh Tech spokesperson said students could receive up to $20,000 in financial aid over the 18 months it takes to complete the program.

(90.5 WESA)

3) One person was injured following an SUV crash into a home in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood. The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. last night at the intersection of Apple and Stranahan streets. As of this morning, the vehicle was still on the scene. Police have reported that the driver of the vehicle suffered a head injury and was rushed to a hospital in serious condition following the crash. Inspection crews were also called to the scene to evaluate the structural integrity of the home, which is abandoned.

(WTAE Pittsburgh)

4) A local veteran is enjoying a generous gift Tuesday morning: a new roof. The construction was part of a roof deployment project through the company Owens Corning. Doing It Right Roofing, Siding, and Remodeling LLC and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh teamed up in Pittsburgh's Elliott neighborhood. "I've always got a soft spot for the veterans. Without them, where would our country be? It's an awesome thing for us to be able to do for them," said Bob Jermalowski, owner of Doing It Right. The project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served our country and the families who support them. Since its inception in 2016, more than 400 military members have received new roofs.

(WTAE Pittsburgh)

5) Pittsburgh City Council made several changes to the city's proposed budgets for 2023 on Tuesday. Changes included amendments to refund the Land Bank, keep the city's cable bureau and print shop out of the mayor's office and nix plans for several new positions. Council preliminarily voted to move $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from a proposed LED streetlight initiative to instead fully fund the Land Bank and provide cash for a program that aims to alleviate medical debt for low-income Pittsburgh residents. The medical debt relief program — which Councilman Bobby Wilson introduced to council Tuesday — would get $1 million in ARPA funding. The Land Bank would get the remaining $3 million being taken from the LED streetlight project, which now has been defunded. The Land Bank initially was earmarked to receive $10 million in ARPA funding. The mayor's office later proposed to give it only $7 million, freeing up $3 million for a food justice fund that had garnered widespread support. Tuesday's amendment attempted to strike something of a compromise by bringing the Land Bank's budget back to $10 million without cutting cash from the food justice fund. City Council Budget Director Peter McDevitt said the LED streetlight project had already lost a portion of its initial funding for other projects, including paving and demolitions, and several council members noted that the scope of the project had already been reduced.

(TribLIVE)

Today in Pittsburgh:

• Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh (5:30 PM)
• Gateway Radio Club - Plum Community Library (6:00 PM)
• Medicare Made Simple - Northland Public Library (6:00 PM)
• Polar Express Storytime - Andrew Bayne Memorial Library (6:00 PM)
• Chess Club - Mount Lebanon Public Library (6:30 PM)
• Zoning Hearing Board Meeting - Ross Township Community Events (7:00 PM)
• Readings in Alternative Everything - Northland Public Library (7:00 PM)
• Teen Anime and Manga Night - Brentwood Library (7:00 PM)
• Regina Carter Performs "Gone in a Phrase of Air" at AWAACC December 14 (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "The results of our Holiday Cookie Challenge are in! Check out the 12 finalist recipes, meet the winners, and (one of our favorite parts) read the origin stories that make these sweets extra special. Link to story in bio. ✍️: @gtmckay " (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via Instagram)
• Visit Pittsburgh: "Lucky number 7️⃣! Today's 10 Days of #LovePGH Giveaways is dedicated to family fun! 🤩 Enter to win tickets and passes to Pittsburgh museums and attractions for the whole family. HOW TO ENTER: ➡️ Like this post & follow our page! ➡️ Tag us!" (Visit Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh: "What's wiggly, fluffy, and silly? It's got to be puppies! Check out this adorable litter of poodle mix pups at Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh. The five adorable siblings were surrendered to our shelter along with their parents." (Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
• Pittsburgh Public Schools: "Are you looking for some fun winter activities to do? The Pittsburgh Penguins invite all PPS families for a morning of ice skating! December 17th from 8:00 AM-10:00 AM at the Highmark Hunt Armory Skating Rink, 324 Emerson St, Pittsburgh" (Pittsburgh Public Schools via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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