Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) held a media event to discuss work zone safety and the $19.85 million Route 51 (Clairton Boulevard) Coal Valley Road to Lebanon Church Road Interchange project as the construction season kicks off.

While construction work occurs year-round in District 11, the major construction season has begun, and drivers should expect to see construction pick up in the greater Pittsburgh region. The department reminds drivers to remain cautious when traveling through work zones, not only for the safety of the workers, but for their own safety as well.

Drivers cited by police for driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in active work zones will automatically lose their license for 15 days per state law. Fines for certain traffic violations, including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices are doubled for active work zones. Drivers can also receive up to five years of additional jail time if convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.

PennDOT District 11 Executive Jason Zang discussed the many challenges of keeping work zones safe for everyone and how the motoring public can work together with PennDOT to achieve this goal. He also reminded drivers to slow down and avoid distractions when behind the wheel. This comes as April marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

According to PennDOT data, in 2024 there were 1,250 work zone crashes, resulting in 22 fatalities statewide.

• Casino Drive (from Sproat Way)
• North Shore Drive (to Chuck Noll Way)
• Reedsdale Street (to Tony Dorsett Drive)
• Chuck Noll Way
• Tony Dorsett Drive
• I-279 Southbound Exit 1B ramp to Reedsdale Street
• Reedsdale Underpass

MONACA, Pa. — Penn State Beaver Athletics announced the hiring of Sam Sharpless as the new head coach of the women’s soccer program.

A Beaver County native and Penn State Beaver alumnus, Sharpless brings a strong blend of local ties, collegiate experience and a passion for student-athlete development to the role.

Sharpless is a graduate of Freedom High School who continued his academic and athletic career at Penn State Beaver, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. He then completed a master’s degree in higher education administration from Louisiana State University.

“I’m excited to come in and rebuild a program that has the capacity to compete for championships under the right circumstances,” Sharpless said. “Being an alumnus myself, there is a lot of passion and pride that I have for Penn State Beaver athletics, and I want to see this team thrive on and off the pitch.”

Sharpless brings a diverse coaching background to the position. He currently serves as the head coach of the Ellwood City High School boys/co-ed soccer team, a role he has held since 2024. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as the goalkeeper coach for North Catholic High School’s girls’ program and four years as the goalkeeper coach for the Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team.

As a player, Sharpless competed for four years at Freedom High School before continuing his career at Penn State Beaver, where he was a four-year member of the men’s soccer program. He also gained experience at the semi-professional level, playing three years in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) with Pittsburgh City United.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Sharpless currently works at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) as an office and compliance manager in Human Resources. He previously served as an enrollment team lead at CCBC through 2024, further demonstrating his commitment to student success both inside and outside of athletics.

“I want to give young players the opportunity to thrive in both school and sport,” Sharpless added. “I truly believe Penn State Beaver can offer a lot to potential student-athletes, and I’m excited to help build something special here.”

Penn State Beaver Director of Athletics Andy Kirschner said the program’s new leadership under Sharpless is poised to lead the team into an exciting new era.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sam back to Penn State Beaver as our head women’s soccer coach,” Kirschner said. “His connection to this campus, combined with his coaching experience and passion for student-athlete development, makes him a tremendous fit. We’re excited about the direction of the program under his leadership and look forward to what the future holds.”

SCOTT TADY

PITTSBURGH — Twirls, frills, sharp lyrics, pretty vocals and potent guitar.

That recipe, from The Last Dinner Party, stirred up a tasty night of alternative-rock Wednesday at a jam-packed Stage AE.

The youthful crowd numbered a few dozen fans in not-quite-cosplay, yet goth-Victorian-inspired attire, reflecting the Last Dinner Party’s visual vibes.

The female-powered English band, in its Pittsburgh debut, connected immediately with the audience, led by frontwoman Abigail Morris’, in a long black dress, commanding attention with her lovely singing and graceful stage spins with ballerina-like arm stretches.

To her right stood Emily Roberts, who proved to be a powerhouse on electric guitar.

Roberts’ rapid mandolin strumming elevated to epic level “I Hold Your Anger,” a song with forceful percussion, intricate time changes and the emotional lead vocals of keyboardist  Aurora “Rora” Nishevci, who introduced the ambitious song by saying it reminded her of Albanian folk music. Imagine if The Tamburitzans tried prog-rock.

Nishevci said the “I Hold Your Anger” lyrics have taken on a wider meaning amid the current political landscape, asking the crowd to consider her personal view as a foreigner that one of the most beautiful things about America is its long-standing embrace of immigration. It’s important and enriching to explore other cultures, she said.

Earlier in the show, Morris thoroughly enjoyed immersing herself in western Pennsylvania culture when she said hello to all the “Pittsburgh-ians” there, then asked if there was a more common term to describe the locals.

Cue a lesson on the word “Yinzer.”

Hearing the crowd collectively yelling that unfamiliar Y word, a perplexed Morris handed her microphone to a front-row fan for elaboration.  That female fan did a spot-on job explaining the origins of “yinzer”.

Two songs later, a laughing Morris circled back, and asked for more details on the word “yinzer.”

“What’s the etymology?” she wondered, ultimately concluding yinzer must stem from Scottish or Irish roots.

She harbored an even deeper fascination with Pittsburgh, through the lens of one of its native sons, noting how it’s the birthplace of Andy Warhol. Since the age of 15, Morris has carried in her wallet a small photo of Warhol taken in Andy’s high school days — when he was still a “Warhola.” Morris credited her Warhol obsession not so much for his soup can and Marilyn Monroe pop art, but his aloof and entertaining style when interviewed — a style she’d try to impersonate as a teenager to the chagrin of her mom.

The breezy stage banter added to Wednesday’s fun, but musicality carried the night, as The Last Dinner Party straight-up rocked in a way that transcended their image as a baroque art-pop act.

There was a sweeping elegance with a lyrical bite to “The Feminine Urge,” a song Morris has said references the pressures put upon women to conform to roles. An almost metal textural punch of drums and bass supplied the ammo to “Rifles.”

“Sinner” featured keytar, because why not?

The set opener “Agnus Dei” brought enchanting four-part vocal harmony.

The quintet was minus bassist Georgia Davies, who’s recovering from a back injury. The fill-in bassist performed admirably.

The band’s pre-encore song pick, “Nothing Matters,” presented the irresistible chance for fans to sing along gleefully to The Last Dinner Party’s 2023 breakout hit complete with languid melody and laden with the queen mother of dirty words.

A total delight live in concert.

Here’s hoping the Last Dinner Party returns to Pittsburgh again and again.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and America250PA announced the lineup for the Commonwealth Concert Series, a free, five-city concert tour celebrating Pennsylvania’s historical significance as the birthplace of the nation.

The tour will run from May 23 through June 27 with performances by Lady A, Nelly, The Avett Brothers, Third Eye Blind and more. The series will make stops in State College, Erie, Hershey, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittsburgh and is free to attend, giving all Pennsylvanians the chance to celebrate.

“America’s story started right here in our Commonwealth and Pennsylvanians have played a key role in shaping our nation. My Administration is committed to ensuring everyone can take part in celebrating our history – and this concert series will bring together Pennsylvanians from all across the Commonwealth, giving them an opportunity to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday,” said Governor Shapiro. “I’m proud that we secured funds in the 2025-26 budget to put on these free concerts – and I’m confident the Commonwealth is ready to put on a once-in-a-lifetime show.”

Last week, Governor Shapiro announced $675,000 to support the Commonwealth Concert Series through the Marketing to Attract Marquis Events (MTAME) program, working across the aisle to secure $50 million in his 2025-26 budget to establish the program. MTAME offers grants that can support operations, security, event infrastructure, shuttle and transportation systems, community engagement, programming, marketing, talent, and other essential costs related to executing these events.

“Pennsylvania’s deep-rooted cultural history and national significance will be on full display this year as we celebrate 250 years of America ― a tremendous opportunity for the Commonwealth,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. “Millions of visitors are expected to visit Pennsylvania this year to attend events like the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, and FIFA World Cup—providing a huge boost to our tourism and hospitality industry. The Commonwealth Concert Series adds to this great lineup of events that will fuel Pennsylvania’s economy and strengthen our communities.”

Pennsylvania is set to be the epicenter of some of the biggest events this year, as the Commonwealth celebrates the semi-quincentennial of American independence and democracy. Pennsylvania will welcome a major slate of events honoring our shared cultural heritage and history including the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, America250PA, and MLB All-Star Game, alongside the Commonwealth Concert Series.

The concert series, joined by the other national events, is an opportunity to showcase Pennsylvania’s hospitality, diversity, and communities. Together, these events are expected to bring millions of people from across the nation, boosting local economies and demonstrating why Pennsylvania is the “Great American Getaway.”

“Pennsylvania is the Keystone State for a reason,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA. “Our role in the founding of this nation is unmatched. The Commonwealth Concert Series honors that legacy by bringing people together in communities across Pennsylvania to celebrate a shared pride in who we are and where we come from. We are thrilled to welcome world-class artists for this series, and we cannot wait to share this moment with our neighbors across the Commonwealth this summer.”

Commonwealth Concert Series Tour Schedule

Saturday, May 23: Bryce Jordan Center, State College

●      Performers include Cole Swindell (headliner), Gabby Barrett, and the Benny Havens Military Band.

Saturday, June 6: Erie Insurance Arena, Erie

●      Performers include The Fray (headliner), and First to Eleven.

Saturday, June 13: Hershey Park Stadium, Hershey

●      Performers include The Avett Brothers (headliner).

Saturday, June 20: Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre

●      Performers include Lady A (headliner), and En Vogue.

Saturday, June 27: Point State Park, Pittsburgh

●      Performers include Nelly (co-headliner), and Third Eye Blind (co-headliner).

Additional supporting artists will be announced on a rolling basis. Attendees will be required to have a free ticket for admission to the events and are encouraged to visit America250PA.org to sign up for email alerts regarding ticket release dates.