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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It’s been fairly the yr! The coronavirus pandemic dominated the headlines in 2020, however there have been different huge tales to start out the last decade.
Right here’s a glance again at a few of the tales that made headlines in Pittsburgh this yr.
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STEELERS GO 11-0
(Photograph Credit score: Joe Sargent/Getty Pictures)
In a season put into upheaval due to COVID-19 worries, the Steelers managed to go 11-0 earlier than being defeated in Week 13 by the Washington Soccer Crew. The profitable streak served as a very good distraction for followers because the pandemic worsened into the autumn.
For 12 weeks, the Steelers chased perfection.
The Steelers would defeat the Giants, Broncos, Texans, Eagles, Browns, Titans, Ravens, Cowboys, Bengals, and Jaguars en path to a 11-0 begin.
A fast and scorching begin didn’t come with out adversity.
A COVID-19 outbreak among the many Tennessee Titans pressured the group to have its bye week moved to Week 4 rather than Week 7.
That didn’t faze the Steelers, profitable 27-24.
Following the sport in opposition to the Titans, JuJu Smith-Schuster shared a copy of a letter from the NFL in a social media post, showing that he was being fined for not properly wearing his game socks. Smith-Schuster would share in the identical social media publish that working again James Conner was additionally fined.
As with each season, accidents turned a fear for the Steelers.
Two key items of the Steelers’ protection had been felled by accidents that may finish their seasons early.
Linebacker Devin Bush tore his ACL in Week 6 in opposition to the Browns and the harm required season-ending surgical procedure.
Similar as Bush, linebacker Bud Dupree would also tear his ACL just a few weeks later and he too can be out for the rest of the season.
The scheduling of the Steelers’ Week 12 sport vs. the Ravens examined the endurance of Steeler Nation, as the sport initially scheduled for Thanksgiving night time can be postponed various occasions on account of Coronavirus circumstances amongst each groups.
Ultimately, the 2 groups would play throughout a never-before-seen 3:40 p.m. begin time on a Wednesday afternoon, with the Steelers getting their eleventh straight win to start out the season.
The Steelers’ scorching begin can be adopted by a three-game shedding streak, shedding to the Washington Soccer Crew, Buffalo Payments and Cincinnati Bengals.
Throughout the three-game skid, a lot was manufactured from JuJu Smith-Schuster’s dancing on group logos whereas making TikTok movies.
Following the group’s third straight loss in opposition to the Bengals, Smith-Schuster said he was done dancing on the logos for the “betterment” of of himself and his teammates.
The Steelers would break the shedding streak after they beat the Indianapolis Colts in a Week 16 comeback, 28-24.
That win would additionally give the Steelers the AFC North Division title.
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THE ELECTION
(Photograph Credit score: Trump photograph: Photograph by SAUL LOEB/AFP by way of Getty Pictures/Biden photograph: Photograph by Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures)
“Battleground states” — it was a time period we heard so much in 2020. Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, however the highlight was pointed closely on Pennsylvania. Significantly on Western Pennsylvania.
President Donald Trump and now President-Elect Joe Biden made cease after cease, specializing in the Pittsburgh space and its outlying counties.
President Trump made a number of stops in Pennsylvania in the course of the fall when the campaigning kicked into excessive gear. 1000’s of supporters would collect as rallies had been held at Pittsburgh International Airport, in Butler County, and at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Westmoreland County.
“I’m not kidding, I actually imagine that Donald Trump was despatched by God.” Supporters of President Trump had been seen tenting out at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport forward of his rally tonight in Latrobe. https://t.co/TaZiKB2jNB pic.twitter.com/0XeHD2eDfd
— KDKA (@KDKA) September 3, 2020
Whereas making a marketing campaign cease in Western Pennsylvania in July, Vice President Mike Pence’s motorcade was involved in two separate accidents whereas touring to Greensburg.
Within the lead-up to Election Day, Eric Trump also made a surprise visit to Oakmont Bakery, the place a cookie “ballot” went viral and became the subject of heavy criticism.
Throughout a practice experience marketing campaign tour throughout Pennsylvania, then-Democratic presidential candidate Biden mentioned he had no regrets about telling President Trump to “shut up” throughout one in all their extremely contentious debates.
The Biden marketing campaign each began and completed their profitable run for the White Home right here in Pittsburgh. His first marketing campaign cease after asserting his candidacy final yr was held in Pittsburgh, and on Election Day Eve this November, the Bidens returned to the Metal Metropolis for a drive-in rally with the one and only Lady Gaga!
Delays with the mail, made the U.S. Postal Service a spotlight of the election, too. The story turned native when two Pittsburgh-area mail carriers had been federally charged with delay or destruction of mail by a postal worker.
Local politicians and political candidates noticed their workplaces and houses vandalized main as much as Election Day. Conor Lamb, Mike Doyle and Sean Parnell had been amongst these focused with such vandalism.
Ultimately, President-Elect Biden prevailed, re-taking Pennsylvania for the Democrats. Western Pennsylvania performed a giant half in his victory. Allegheny County Government Wealthy Fitzgerald estimated greater than 700,000 people in Allegheny County voted within the normal election.
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GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH SPARKS NATIONWIDE PROTESTS
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA)
Could 25 is a day that shook the nation and the world, and dropped at the forefront the difficulty of systemic racism in the USA and the lengthy want to deal with and take care of it. It’s the day George Floyd died whereas in police custody in Minneapolis.
The disturbing cellphone video was proven internationally, and touched off protests, rallies and marches.
Many had been peaceable, with activists calling for change; however as anger and frustration grew, unrest and violence started popping up. From Minneapolis to Atlanta to New York Metropolis to Los Angeles to proper right here in Pittsburgh.
On Could 30, what began as a peaceable march spun uncontrolled close to PPG Paints Area.
The protest officially turned violent round two hours into the demonstration. Protesters had been seen spray-painting a police automobile, throwing projectiles, smashing glass, attacking the information media and extra. Probably the most iconic picture from that day is the parked Pittsburgh Police cruiser set ablaze simply exterior of the Church of the Epiphany positioned at Washington Place and Centre Avenue.
Quite a few folks had been arrested and confronted prices for the violence, together with 43 adults and one juvenile on simply the day of the protest.
Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert expressed the assumption that these accountable weren’t there to protest the demise of George Floyd, however simply to create chaos and trigger hurt. Brian Bartels, 20, from the Allison Park space, was taken into custody June 1. Throughout a raid of a house in Shaler, investigators say they discovered proof that linked Bartels to the protests — weapons, spray paint and gloves.
Within the days and months after Floyd’s demise, there have been many protests all through town.
Cellphone video from a march downtown in September was reviewed by investigators. The viral video confirmed demonstrators and restaurant-goers clashing on Penn Avenue. An individual will be seen strolling over to a few, grabbing a beer off their desk and consuming it. One other video confirmed demonstrators chasing away a bunch of people that rode their bikes by means of the gang. One of many riders is seen within the video smacking a bullhorn that belonged to one of many protesters, then getting whacked over the helmet with a skateboard.
Additionally in September, simply forward of the Steelers’ opening sport of the season in opposition to the New York Giants, the team announced that it would be wearing Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on the back of their helmets.
Throughout the sport in opposition to the Giants, Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva selected to cowl up Rose’s identify, opting to put in writing within the identify of Alwyn Cashe, a navy veteran.
Villanueva’s determination stirred up controversy throughout the social media world and spurred discussion among teammates and management alike.
In tribute to George Floyd, Antwon Rose, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and extra, a Black Lives Matter mural painted alongside the Allegheny River over the summer season. The artist didn’t ask for permission earlier than portray the piece, however PennDOT, which owns the wall that runs alongside the Riverwalk downtown, allowed it to remain.
It was vandalized a number of occasions, however fastened and stood as a logo of hope in a summer season of turmoil.
In November, the unique artist painted over the mural with black paint in an effort to repair and redevelop the mural with different artists.
“We’re doing the bottom coat now and it’s going to be a gold bevel kind of really feel, to provide it that hip-hop tradition seems, and for the within of the letters, we’re leaving them hole so, within the spring, we’re going to provide alternative for a number of artists to come back and fill in and be part of the mural for an even bigger pageant,” artist Cameron Nesbit mentioned.
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THE O GOES OUT OF BUSINESS
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA)
For years, it was a staple in Oakland, not only for Pitt college students, however for all Pittsburghers.
The Original Hot Dog Shop shut its doors in April and introduced they’d not reopen.
Whereas many had been struck by the information, one Pittsburgh native initially expressed curiosity in shopping for the long-lasting restaurant and protecting it working – Mark Cuban.
Finally, Cuban didn’t buy “The O” and the new owners announced plans for two new restaurants to take the place of the Oakland basic.
“The O” was later mentioned as part of a New York Times feature on eating places that turned completely shuttered in the course of the pandemic.
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CHERON SHELTON TRIAL
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA)
Greater than three years after 5 folks and an unborn child had been killed in a yard barbecue taking pictures in Wilkinsburg, a jury discovered suspect Cheron Shelton not responsible of homicide.
They had been tasked with deciding if Shelton was harmless or responsible of first-degree homicide or third-degree homicide.
The trial started in February with two suspects, Shelton and Robert Thomas. Fees in opposition to Thomas can be dropped after a witness for the prosecution admitted to committing a homicide in a separate case.
There was additionally an ongoing back-and-forth between prosecutors and Shelton’s protection attorneys who claimed a witness told them he was paid to fabricate details about Shelton.
Then, in September, the case got here again into the highlight when John Ellis, one of many males wounded within the taking pictures, died from his accidents. He was shot a number of occasions and was paralyzed.
Earlier than his demise, Ellis mentioned he lived subsequent door to the place the taking pictures occurred and was invited to the cookout. It was a choice that modified his life ceaselessly. He mentioned one bullet prompted a spinal wire harm that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
On the time of Shelton’s acquittal, Ellis was livid and mentioned he couldn’t perceive what the jury didn’t see and that “any individual did one thing to us.”
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JUDGE MARK TRANQUILLI RESIGNS
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA)
In early February, profession prosecutor and Allegheny County Frequent Pleas Choose Mark Tranquilli was accused of making racially-charged remarks throughout a closed-door convention.
A memorandum obtained by KDKA laid out what Tranquilli allegedly mentioned behind closed doorways.
Within the closed-door assembly with a protection lawyer and an assistant district lawyer, Tranquilli is quoted as calling a black lady juror “Aunt Jemima” and mused about her having a drug-dealing “child daddy” at residence. There was no transcript of the convention, and no courtroom reporter or stenographer was current.
In his written assertion, Assistant DA Ted Dutkowski mentioned he was so sickened by the remarks that he wished to go away the decide’s chambers and was moved to put in writing a grievance detailing what was mentioned.
President Choose Kim Berkley Clark issued an order quickly re-assigning Tranquilli. Days later, he was assigned to administrative duties only.
The Pittsburgh chapter of the NAACP then took action, calling for an investigation into Tranquilli’s conduct. The chairman of B-PEP, or the he Black Political Empowerment Mission, known as for Tranquilli to be relieved of his duties.
“He shouldn’t be making any determination for anyone,” Tim Stevens, of B-PEP, mentioned.
In August, Tranquilli was suspended without pay. Then, in November, going through his personal judicial misconduct trial, Tranquilli resigned.
Had he gone ahead with the trial, Tranquilli would have confronted different witnesses and allegations of creating racially insensitive remarks.
In its report, the conduct board mentioned Tranquilli’s actions present “bias, prejudice and harassment,” “deliver the workplace into disrepute” and “undermine public confidence”. At trial, he confronted censure, suspension, fines or removing from workplace.
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THE ODD & UNBELIEVABLE IN AN ODD & UNBELIEVABLE YEAR
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA)
Nobody will look again on 2020 with out saying it was each an unbelievable and odd yr.
We should always have seen the indicators, particularly to start out the yr when there have been reviews of a wierd sound emanating all through the South Aspect. Individuals had been calling the police to report the sounds of a child crying however after they would arrive, the sound disappeared and no youngster may very well be discovered.
A meteor would gentle up the Pittsburgh skies in late September, causing quite the buzz on social media. When what gave the impression to be a fireball flew throughout the environment, many had been questioning what they simply witnessed. It turns out that a meteor that was significant in size was spotted in 15 states.
As so many people had been caught inside our houses all through many of the yr as a result of pandemic, it turned a time to take pleasure in chilly beer, however from the consolation of our couches slightly than a stool on the native bar.Nonetheless, as we had been warned, the aged inhabitants was most in danger for the COVID-19 pandemic, so 93-year-old Olive Veronesi went viral together with her signal saying she wanted extra beer.
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA)
Veronesi requested for extra beer and Molson-Coors wasted no time, delivering her 150 Coors Light beers.
“Received extra beer!”
Did she ever.
Previous to the pandemic, we noticed a former Nickelodeon star uncover some of the iconic firms in Pittsburgh – Large Eagle.
Josh Peck, the previous co-star of the 2000s Nickelodeon hit “Drake & Josh” discovered himself on the Robinson Township Market District Giant Eagle and was mesmerized.
Photograph Credit score: Josh Peck/Instagram
“I’m at a Pittsburgh-ian grocery store proper now,” he began. “What the… oh, I’m sorry, is there a sporting occasion taking place, as a result of I’m in an enviornment!”
Whether or not it was the packaging, discovering merchandise that reminded him of his childhood, or simply some crackers, Peck had one request on his Instagram story for his spouse.
“Paige, spouse, what are we doing in LA? We should always transfer!”
So far as we all know, Peck has not turn into a Yinzer.
Nearly one yr after a large sinkhole practically swallowed a Port Authority bus in downtown Pittsburgh, 10th Street reopened after extensive repairs and work.
(Photograph Credit score: KDKA Photojournalist Rob Hopson)
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A LOOK BACK AT THE PENGUINS & PIRATES SHORTENED SEASONS:
Whereas it could not have gone the best way the group wished, the Penguins had been a part of the NHL’s unprecedented playoff bubble.
In July, the Penguins made their option to Toronto for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers – a spherical that may decide the underside 4 seeds within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Penguins discovered themselves fifth within the Jap Convention, taking over the bottom-seeded Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens would shock the Penguins, beating them 3-1 in the best-of-five qualifying round, sending the Penguins out of the bubble in nearly per week.
In the meantime, a shortened season for the Pirates wouldn’t be a form one.
The Pirates would end with an MLB-worst 19-41 file, however there was a silver lining to a depressing season – they are going to have the first-overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
‘I Couldn’t Leave Him Behind’: Pennsylvania Man Jumps Into Action, Saves Police Officer From Burning Car (6/22/2020)
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto Says Protest Outside His House ‘Crosses A Line’ (8/19/2020)
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Now, get outta right here 2020! Usually, you had been terrible to us every person.
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