Here are the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 29:
Traffic restrictions on Tarentum Bridge
Traffic will be restricted on the Tarentum Bridge for ramp inspections on Thursday, PennDOT announced.
There will be traffic shifts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the ramps from eastbound Route 366 to First Avenue, and the First Avenue ramp to westbound Route 366.
All ramps will remain open. Crews from Michael Baker International will be doing the work.
Crash closes Route 8 North in Shaler
Northbound Route 8 near Butler Plank Road in Shaler closed shortly before 6 a.m. because of a crash, according to PennDOT.
A bicyclist was taken to a hospital in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle, TribLive news partner WTAE reported. The driver remained at the scene.
Shaler Police said it was not known how long the closure will last.
The Shaler Area School District has been notified for delays, police said.
Reward offered in burning of McKeesport police cars
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward into what officials say is an act of arson targeting the McKeesport Police Department.
Four McKeesport police cars were set on fire, three and a half hours before dawn Wednesday in what Mayor Michael Cherepko called “an attack on police,” TribLive news partner WTAE reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call McKeesport Police at 412-675-5015.
Rib Fest begins at Acrisure Stadium
The five-day 2024 Kickoff and Rib Festival starts today at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday; noon to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and noon to 9 p.m. Monday.
The midway will be set up along Art Rooney Avenue filled with rib vendors, festival foods and beverages, games and rides. The FedEx Great Hall will be open for fans to view the Steelers’ Super Bowl trophies, Hall of Fame Museum, Steelers memorabilia and the Terrible Towel Wall.
Rib vendors are After Hours, Bad Azz BBQ, Carolina Rib King, Cowboy’s BBQ and Rib Co., Crews BBQ & Catering, Jim’s Smokin’ Que, Johnson’s BBQ, Mojo’s, Off the Bone BBQ, Pigfoot BBQ, Ribbins BBQ and Smokin T’s BBQ.
Pitt plays Kent State on Saturday, with kickoff scheduled at noon.
The festival was started in 1990.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.