Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Sept. 16:
Station Square restaurant closes
Joe’s Crab Shack in Station Square has closed — apparently without warning — less than two months after being hit by a gunshot during business hours.
A notice posted on the building said “we are grateful for the support of our community and encourage our guests to visit us at another (Landry’s Select Club) location nearby!”
Landry’s is a collection of restaurants, including several chains with a Pittsburgh-area presence, where members can earn rewards for dining.
School threats persist
The Seneca Valley and Brentwood Borough school districts will mostly operate as normal Monday after authorities determined threats of violence reported over the weekend to be unfounded.
In a letter to Seneca Valley School District staff and families, Superintendent Tracy Vitale said most of the threats surfaced on Snapchat, and one was connected to a spate of social media incidents impacting other districts.
As a precaution, Vitale continued, there will be an increased security presence at the secondary campus Monday.
Brentwood Borough police described their district’s threat as a “juvenile who was reported to have made threats to shoot someone.”
Amy Burch, superintendent of the Brentwood Borough School District, said in a letter law enforcement made contact with the family involved. School will proceed as planned.
Last week, the FBI released a statement acknowledging the recent threats in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia and said it remains in “close coordination” with local officials to identify and mitigate them.
The threats began appearing after four people were killed and nine others injured in a Georgia school shooting — a common phenomenon following a high-profile act of violence against a school, experts previously told TribLive.
Alcoa to offload stake in Saudi Arabian aluminum works
Alcoa will sell its interest in a joint venture with a Saudi Arabian mining company, the North Shore-based aluminum giant announced Sunday.
The foreign firm, Ma’aden, is purchasing Alcoa’s 25% share of the partnership for $1.1 billion in cash and stock. Alcoa will hold about a 2% stake in Ma’aden when the deal is done, and has agreed to keep the shares for at least three years.
Created in 2009, the joint venture is part of a push by the Saudi Arabian government to exploit natural resources other than just oil. The firms worked together to develop a $10.8 billion complex to mine, refine and smelt bauxite, the world’s main source of aluminum.
“The transaction simplifies our portfolio, enhances visibility in the value of our investment in Saudi Arabia and provides greater financial flexibility for Alcoa, an important part of improving our long-term competitiveness,” said William Oplinger, Alcoa’s president and CEO, in a press release.
The transaction is subject to approval from regulators and Ma’aden’s shareholders. It’s expected to close in the first half of 2025.
Shots fired in Aliquippa
Aliquippa police said they responded Sunday afternoon to reports of shots fired at children on a basketball court, TribLive news partner WTAE reported.
According to police, a man in a black Jeep approached the court at the intersection of Third Avenue and Jefferson Street and opened fire.
Police said doorbell camera footage shows children running from the area.
No one was hurt and, as of Monday morning, no charges have been filed, per police.
Jack Troy is a TribLive reporter covering the Freeport Area and Kiski Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on Penn Hills municipal affairs. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in January 2024 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at jtroy@triblive.com.