The suspicions were true. A city of Pittsburgh spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that a salt truck did sideswipe some cars in Lawrenceville, but it wasn’t the plow that caused the damage. According to the city, an auger motor used to spread salt from the back of the truck apparently malfunctioned and was not tethered to the truck.

It’s unclear why the driver didn’t report the accident until Tuesday and the city will determine if disciplinary action is warranted.
In the meantime, this has cut into the livelihood of the victims especially one that also drives for Lyft.

A spokesman for the city said she needs to file a claim with the city and they will likely cover the damages.

WEATHER, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019

TODAY: Cloudy this morning. A few snow showers developing during the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 18F

THURSDAY Cloudy. Snow likely in the afternoon. High 33F.

It was announced in November that Bayer would reduce 12,000 jobs globally by 2021. Now we know how that will affect us locally. Bayer will be closing its administrative site in Robinson Township.

This will impact 569 positions and 96 contractors.
The site will be closed over a two-year period to “provide ample time for employees and operations to transition smoothly.”

The statement is as follows:

“For more than 150 years, Bayer has stood for quality and trust, making innovative products in health and nutrition that improve lives and make a contribution to society. Our employees around the globe work every day to find solutions to a growing and aging population.
“With the acquisition of Monsanto completed last year, we doubled the size of our business in the United States to more than $16 billion in sales, and we now employ more than 20,000 people in 300 locations across the country.

“As part of the work to bring our companies together and significantly improve productivity and profitability, Bayer announced in November 2018 that it will reduce 12,000 jobs globally by 2021.

“In the United States, we are beginning to implement this by consolidating administrative functions to best support our agriculture business, which is headquartered in St. Louis, and our healthcare businesses, which are headquartered in Whippany, N.J.

“As a first step toward this consolidation, we are announcing that we will be closing our administrative site in Robinson, PA, and informed employees at this site today. This decision will impact 569 positions and 96 contractors.

“This is certainly a difficult decision given the impact it will have on our colleagues and their families, and the important role the site has played in our company’s history. We have an extremely talented workforce in Robinson and a proud and rich history. We thank our colleagues for their hard work and dedication over the years.
“We will transition the site closing in a thoughtful, orderly manner over a two-year period to provide ample time for employees and operations to transition smoothly and to ensure that we continue to serve our customers and businesses effectively. We are exploring options where key work at the site will be performed.

“We have the utmost appreciation for the employees and their families affected by this decision, and we are committed to treating each employee with dignity and respect throughout this process. We know that changes like this can be uneasy and even a bit stressful for our employees – and for the community. That is why we will honor our commitments and continue to support important groups like non-profits and other charitable organizations in the region at the same level in 2019 and 2020.”

Shell spokesman Joe Minnitte said Monday that a 4.5-mile pipeline will soon be constructed that will feed natural gas to the Shell Chemicals ethane cracker plant in Potter Township where it will be used to fuel gas turbines to generate power from a cogeneration power plant on the Shell site.

National Fuel Gas Supply Corp. is going to be building that pipeline.

The project is expected to break ground later this month or in early February, and the new pipeline should be in service by July.

In the permit approval, DEP said the pipeline project will include 80.5 acres of earth disturbance as well as impacts to 770 linear feet of streams.

Westmoreland County Court papers said a woman who was at the home of Elena Lovorn told police that Lovorn took her autistic son into the bathroom after he soiled his pants. She said she heard the boy screaming and when the door was opened the witness said the child’s lip was bleeding. He had a swollen black eye, and there were cuts and bruises on his neck. She took photos and contacted the police. Lovorn is facing assault and child endangerment related charges and is jailed on $100,000 bond with a hearing scheduled for next week.

A driver visibly plowed through a guardrail before plummeting over a hillside on Monday morning along I-376 in Churchill. Emergency responders made a miraculous rescue by strategically pulling the driver of the white SUV up the hillside to safety in a stokes basket. That person was then taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

It’s unclear how the driver ended up in the ravine.

State police are handling the investigation.

The burglary alarm at Henne Jewelers on Walnut Street in Shadyside went off about 3 a.m.

Surveillance video shows a man shattering the glass doors with a crowbar and walking inside the store. However, he left empty-handed. Why?

The store’s owner said all the jewelry was placed in a vault overnight.

Homicides in Pittsburgh last year were down by 5 percent to 55 victims, 11 of whom were killed in the Tree of Life Synagogue shootings. In 2017, there were 58 homicides in the city.
Pittsburgh has established a clear downward trend.
“Since 2014, every year we have now seen a decrease in the number of homicides that have occurred in this city. That includes last year and that includes the horrific events that happened at Tree of Life,” Mayor Bill Peduto said. Peduto praised what the city’s police bureau and the Department of Public Safety have done.

The staffing of more officers and use of better technology — including more surveillance cameras and expanded coverage for ShotSpotter — were being credited for the improvements shown in all of the statistics including the success rate in clearing or solving homicides which was 71 percent in 2018, vs. less than 5o percent the year before. .

While waiting for a school bus Monday morning, an 11-year-old boy and two of his siblings were struck by a vehicle. The 11 year old died and state police in Butler County said his 6-year-old brother was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with a “suspected major injury,” while his 9-year-old sister was taken to a local hospital.

“The location where the children were standing, the way the vehicle was positioned at the intersection — combine that with the glare from the sun.” Police said, “At this point in the investigation, we found no wrongdoing by the operator of the vehicle,” .

Butler Area School District Superintendent Brian White said in his statement:

“The way our school community pulls together to support one another in the face of an incredibly difficult situation never fails to amaze me. I’m grateful to the many people who stepped up today and will continue to do so to offer their support to all those in need.

“On behalf of the entire school community, we extend our deepest sympathy to the student’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

There was a shooting in Wilkinsburg late Monday night that left a man in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim later died.

Police Investigators said the motive in the shooting is unknown and ask that anyone with information call the Allegheny County Police Tipline at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous. Police also can be reached on their social media sites.