Compared to Uber’s ugly, contentious one-week test of self-driving cars in San Francisco , the ridesharing company’s nine-month-old self-driving program in Pittsburgh has been rather peaceful. But after a number of broken promises, some city leaders are reportedly regretting this arrangement. [More]
pittsburgh
Bank Branches, NFL Player, Random Strangers Keep Paying Off Layaway Tabs
By 12.15.16
Stories of layaway angels, or ordinary shoppers who pay off strangers’ layaway tabs in the weeks before Christmas or the beginning of the school year, proliferate in the news at this time of year. They make the legend of Santa Claus—someone who gives gifts while asking for nothing in return—literally come true. [More]
The ‘Legendary Franchisee’ Who Invented The Big Mac Has Died
By 11.30.16
While you might want to believe that Ronald McDonald cooked up the first Big Mac, McDonald’s signature sandwich was in fact created by a Pittsburgh-area franchisee who had the earth-shattering idea of stacking two patties and buns into a single sandwich that would fill the bellies of his super-hungry customers. Now we bring you the sad news that this visionary franchisee has passed away. [More]
Uber’s Self-Driving Pickups Start Today In Pittsburgh
By 9.14.16
The next time Pittsburgh residents hail an Uber, they could have a new option: the company is kicking off its self-driving car pickup service in the city today. [More]
Do Not Try To Parkour Across A Bruegger’s Rooftop To Impress Your Date
By 8.23.16
Emergency responders had to work for hours overnight to free a Pittsburgh-area man trapped between two buildings. He was not there due to some accident of architecture or building collapse, though; he was there because he’d tried to execute a rooftop maneuver he shouldn’t have been doing, and failed. Badly. [More]
Man Claims Burger King Sandwich Was Covered In Ants
By 1.5.16
It wasn’t a dead mouse or a dishrag, but a Pittsburgh Burger King customer claims to have found something just as disgusting on his burger: ants.
[More]
Pittsburgh Mayor: Verizon Broke Agreement To Provide FiOS To Entire City
By 10.9.15
Earlier this week, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was one of a dozen city leaders who signed on to a letter demanding that Verizon finish building out the FiOS TV/Internet/phone network it promised. And Mayor Peduto is continuing to speak out about his city’s particular gripe with Big V. [More]
Update: Faux Burger King Resurrected As Actual Burger King
By 2.13.14
A quick update to last week’s story about the Pittsburgh fast food joint with the Burger King sign, Burger King menu, Burger King uniforms, but not Burger King food. It is apparently set to rise from the ashes and be reborn as… an honest-to-goodness BK. [More]
Former Burger King Still Used BK Sign, Menus, Uniforms After It Stopped Being A Burger King
By 2.7.14
Fast food lovers in one Pittsburgh neighborhood have been confused about the eatery that had a Burger King sign outside and whose employees were wearing Burger King uniforms, but which was definitely not serving Burger King food. [More]
Rite-Aid Delivery Guy Saves Elderly Customer's Life
By 3.5.12
Automated prescription refills and deliveries have probably saved patients’ lives by insuring that they got their medication on time. But this time, it wasn’t the pills in the bottle that saved a Pennsylvania woman; it was the man who delivered them. [More]
Two Men Charged For Stealing Entire Steel Bridge
By 10.17.11
Two men have been arrested after they were accused of stealing the 50 foot steel Covert’s Crossing Bridge from North Beaver Township, Pennsylvania, using a torch. [More]
Entire Steel Bridge Stolen From Township
By 10.7.11
An all points bulletin is out in North Beaver Township, Pennsylvania for a 50 foot steel bridge that has gone missing. [More]
Theft Of Pittsburgh's Iron Trash Cans Allegedly An Inside Job
By 5.31.11
After a police investigation, the mystery of where fifty of the city of Pittsburgh’s metal trash cans ran off to has been solved. The culprit wasn’t who Consumerist readers suspected. The cans were installed through a partnership with Lamar Advertising, and the man arrested for trying to recycle them just happens to work for Lamar. [More]
City Paid $1,000 For Iron Trash Cans, Thieves Sell Them For Scrap Metal
By 5.26.11
Back in 2009, the city of Pittsburgh paid $250,000 for 250 elegant iron trash cans weighing more than 200 pounds each. Critics of the mayor called it a waste of city funds at the time, but they are very nice-looking. Now 20% of them are missing, and it took police and the public works department four months to figure out where they’ve gone. They were hauled off and sold for scrap. Update: Theft Of Pittsburgh’s Iron Trash Cans Allegedly An Inside Job [More]
Pop-Up Bookstore To Temporarily Take Over Empty Borders Store
By 5.2.11
Like a hermit crab taking up residence in the shell of a deceased snail, a former Borders store in Pittsburgh will soon see its shelves lined with books — if only temporarily — when it briefly becomes the home of an independent bookseller. [More]
Pittsburgh Man's House Gets Demolished By Accident
By 1.6.11
A Pittsburgh man came back home after the holidays to find his house was completely gone. Where it stood was an empty lot, covered in hay. It turns out the city had demolished it, by mistake. They really meant to tear down the house next door. Whoops! [More]
Art Institute Of Pittsburgh Sees Our Post, Fixes Student's Billing Issue
By 4.19.10
Last month, Daniel wrote in to complain that the Art Institute Online, which is part of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, had completely jacked up his final semester with them. When he wrote to us, he had no diploma, and he was being charged nearly $3,000 for undisclosed course requirements that the school had promised to comp. Fortunately, he’s written back with some good news. [More]
Art Institute Of Pittsburgh Decides You Need To Buy One More Class To Graduate… After Graduation
By 3.22.10
Update: The school saw our post and has been in touch with Daniel. Here’s what happened. [More]
