Year In Review: 2023's Biggest News Stories
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Before we turn the calendar to 2024, let's take a look back at a few of the biggest stories in Pittsburgh over the past year.
From multiple police officers killed in the line of duty, the East Palestine fiery and toxic train derailment, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, and a deadly house explosion in Plum Borough, it's been a year full of headlines.
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JANUARY: Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire shot and killed in the line of duty
The small and quiet community of Brackenridge became a massive crime scene just one day after the calendar turned to 2023 as the borough's police chief was ambushed, shot, and killed while pursuing a wanted suspect.
Justin McIntire was named Chief of the Brackenridge Police Department in 2018 and his watch came to an end that January afternoon when he was shot and killed during a shootout with Aaron Swan, who police had been searching for over a several day period. Tarentum Police officer Jordan Schrecengost was also wounded in the shooting.
Swan was eventually killed in Homewood after getting into another shootout with police.
Following in his father's footsteps, McIntire served his community for decades as a patrolman before being sworn in as chief. His father recalled driving his son around in his patrol car when he was little and allowing him to sound the siren and flash the lights.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers descended on New Kensington to mourn the fallen hero, with some coming from as far away as Texas and even from Canada.
Mount Saint Peter Church was filled to capacity and silent as clergy and fellow officers gave eulogies.
JANUARY: Damar Hamlin's scary on-field collapse in Cincinnati
It was Monday Night Football in Cincinnati with playoff positioning on the line when the whole world came to a stop as a scary moment involving one of Pittsburgh's own came face-to-face with a medical emergency on the field.
A routine tackle of Tee Higgins from the McKees Rocks native and Central Catholic and Pitt standout became anything but routine when he collapsed to the Cincinnati field.
The stadium fell quiet as medics rushed onto the field. CPR had to be performed and an AED was used on Hamlin to restart his heartbeat after he had gone into cardiac arrest.
Hamlin was rushed to the hospital and remained in critical condition for several days.
As Monday night turned to Tuesday morning and uncertainty about Hamlin's health and future on everyone's mind, the world jumped into action and helped raise millions of dollars for the foundation toy drive that the McKees Rocks native had helped launch.
Donations towards the foundation's drive surpassed $6 million less than 12 hours after Hamlin collapsed on the field in Cincinnati.
For Hamlin, getting back onto the field was a long road to recovery.
He would see his first action of the year on special teams before taking his first defensive snaps in November, making a tackle against the Denver Broncos in that game.
Other News in JANUARY:
- Former Pope Benedict XVI, first pope in centuries to resign, dies at age 95
- Catholic Diocese of Greensburg honors late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI with special mass
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FEBRUARY: East Palestine, Ohio train derailment leads to massive fire, evacuations
A train derailment on a Friday night just across Pennsylvania's border into Ohio would make national headlines as the fiery and toxic crash would threaten the entire East Palestine community and raise several questions surrounding the safety of the entire area for months to come.
The derailment of the Norfolk Southern train started a massive fire with orange flames lighting up the sky in the village with a population of just under 5,000 people.
First responders from nearly 70 emergency agencies from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania quickly mobilized.
Over 48 hours after the derailment, the fire continued to burn and evacuation orders were issued ahead of a potential explosion.
The condition of one of the derailed train cars carrying vinyl chloride had degraded, leading to much higher concern for an uncontrolled release and explosion of the car.
A controlled release of the toxic chemicals from the rail cars took place in the days following the derailment. The controlled release was deemed 'successful,' by officials.
In the weeks and months following the derailment, numerous Pennsylvania school districts filed lawsuits against Norfolk Southern.
A permanent health clinic opened in East Palestine that aims at taking care of primary care needs as well as perform tests and examinations for those worried the historic derailment is making them sick.
The NTSB is investigating the the derailment and said in a preliminary report that an overheating bearing on one of the railcars was the likely cause. A final report from the investigation has yet to be released.
FEBRUARY: McKeesport Police officer Sean Sluganski shot, killed during domestic incident
The close-knit McKeesport community became the second Allegheny County area to suffer a loss of one of their own first responders this past year when Officer Sean Sluganski was shot and killed in the line of duty.
The officers were responding to a domestic call on Wilson Street when they encountered the suspect on Grandview Avenue. Allegheny County Police said the suspect, Johnathon Morris, pulled out a handgun and opened fire.
Officer Sluganski was killed in the shooting. Fellow officer Chuck Thomas was wounded, but survived. Sluganski had served on the force in McKeesport for two years after joining the department in 2020 and was promoted to full-time in 2021.
During a funeral mass following the deadly shooting, Sluganski was remembered with laughs, smiles, fond memories and tears -- but, most of all, he was remembered as a hero.
A procession from the funeral mass to the cemetery traveled through McKeesport with more than 100 cars from friends, family, and officers around the region as Sluganski's body made one final trip around the city he served.
On the sidewalks, some waved American flags. Others had signs offering thanks while many stood by in solemn reverence. It was a chance for the community to begin healing.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Morris in the charges related to Sluganski's killing.
Other News in FEBRUARY:
- 4 students shot outside Westinghouse Academy
- Sen. John Fetterman receiving care for clinical depression at Walter Reed Medical Center, spokesman says
- Suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down off South Carolina coast
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MARCH: Central and Oakland Catholic High Schools become the center of a series of hoax swatting calls
Two schools in the heart of Pittsburgh were the target of a series of hoax phone calls made about active shooters, prompting lockdowns and a massive amount of police converging on the city.
Law enforcement swarmed upon the Oakland area of the city where both schools are located.
The schools were evacuated and cleared of any active shooters.
A number of other schools in the state received similar calls that appeared to be computer-generated swatting calls.
Less than two weeks later, Pitt's campus became the center of a similar scenario as an active shooter hoax call was made at the Hillman Library, sparking panic and raising questions about the university's emergency alert system and how officials use it.
The reports of an active shooter turned out to be unfounded and the library was cleared a short time later.
The FBI has said that it's an around-the-clock job working to combat hoax swatting calls.
Other News in MARCH:
- Route 837 reopens after giant boulder falls on road
- Multiple people hurt after second-story apartment floor collapses near IUP
- Memorial grows at The Covenant School as Nashville mourns shooting victims
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APRIL: Fire at abandoned Century III Mall investigated as arson
A fire that broke out inside the abandoned Century III Mall in West Mifflin was the first in several chapters of what has seemed like a never-ending saga regarding what was once the third biggest mall in the world.
The fire was investigated as an arson after investigators said they found accelerant present on some of the debris collected at the scene.
Borough leaders eventually voted to condemn the building citing the multitude of safety concerns for the structure.
In the months following the fire and the condemning of the building, several social media influencers and YouTubers were charged with trespassing for entering the abandoned mall and filming content.
in June, a teenager fell through the roof of the mall while filming a TikTok and was hospitalized.
Moonbeam Capital, which owns the mall, have been fined several hundreds of thousands of dollars for various code and ordinance violations.
Other News in APRIL:
- Former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto involved in altercation outside of Shadyside bar
- Tractor-trailer dangles from overpass in Washington County
- Shell says its working to eliminate odor from Beaver Co. cracker plant
- PNC Park ushers union avoids strike after reaching tentative agreement with Pirates
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Making the News in MAY:
- Larry Scirotto confirmed as Pittsburgh's next police chief
- Student shot, killed outside Oliver Citywide Academy; another student faces charges
- Tina Turner, "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," dies at 83
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JUNE: Taylor Swift's two-sold out shows highlight a busy series of summer concerts in Pittsburgh
It was a busy summer in Pittsburgh for sold-out concerts. With artists like Luke Combs, Ed Sheeran, Pink, Guns N' Roses, and Morgan Wallen packing fans in for their shows, no one did it as big in the Steel City this year as Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift weekend broke records on June 16-17 with her Eras Tour as the international pop star surpassed Acrisure Stadium's previous attendance record when 73,117 were there for Saturday night's show.
The sold-out concerts left a lot of people very happy, including one little girl from Jeannette, who walked out with something any fan would want -- Taylor Swift's hat.
While Taylor Swift may have been the biggest star to grace the stage in Pittsburgh, she wasn't the only music star to pack the crowds in this summer.
Country music sensations Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen each played shows in the city, both bringing Pittsburgh favorites out to the big crowds.
In April, Luke Combs rocked a sold-out show at Acrisure Stadium, endearing himself to tens of thousands of Yinzers by wearing a Steelers hat and jacket and even bringing Kenny Pickett on stage to shotgun a beer together.
Later in the summer, Morgan Wallen played back-to-back sold out shows at PNC Park, bringing Wiz Khalifa out to play his signature song, 'Black and Yellow.'
Wiz Khalifa surprises the crowd on second night of Morgan Wallen show at PNC Park https://t.co/IJJFJN4cir
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (@PittsburghPG) September 1, 2023
After Wiz Khalifa came out, Wallen played his encore songs while wearing a throwback Troy Polamalu jersey.
It was a big year for both country artists as Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen tied for songwriter of the year last month at the annual Country Music Awards.
JUNE: Smoke from Canadian wildfires makes for extremely unhealthy air quality throughout Western Pa.
Air quality became the topic of conversation in Pittsburgh this summer as smoke from Canadian wildfires made its way to the East coast with health concerns taking center stage.
From concerts being moved indoors and events being delayed and postponed, all eyes were on the air quality after a Code Red was issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The smoke blanketed the Pittsburgh area, creating hazy skies and a smell in some areas.
The hazy conditions would dissipate after several days.
JUNE: Robert Bowers found guilty on all counts in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial
Nearly five years after Robert Bowers shot and killed 11 worshippers inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, all eyes would turn to the Joseph Weis Federal Courthouse as the gunman would be convicted of all charges in the case and be sentenced to die for his crimes.
In the first phase of the trial in June, Bowers was found guilty of all 63 federal charges in the attack when he shot and killed 11 worshippers from three different congregations, Tree of Life, Dor Hadash and New Light, on Oct. 27, 2018. It was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
The deceased victims were Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Daniel Stein, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Irving Younger, Melvin Wax, and Rose Mallinger.
The jury then recommended the death penalty in the final phase of the trial.
U.S. District Judge Robert Colville formally imposed the sentence of death by execution after victims gave impact statements.
The gunman is now being held on death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terra Haute, Indiana.
Other News in JUNE:
- WVU's Bob Huggins resigns as head basketball coach following DUI arrest
- South Park High School student helps classmate with autism during graduation: 'Can't thank her enough'
- Debris from OceanGate sub found 1,600 feet from Titanic after "catastrophic implosion," U.S. Coast Guard says
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Making the News in JULY:
- Sharpsburg pet store takes in missing snake after Ross Township Police find it near ball fields
- Pa. State Police investigating deadly stabbing onboard Greyhound bus traveling from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
- Bye-bye birdie: Twitter jettisons bird logo, replaces it with "X"
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AUGUST: Six people killed when house explodes in Plum Borough's Rustic Ridge neighborhood
A quiet Saturday morning in Plum Borough brought a community to its knees when a home in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood exploded, destroying numerous nearby homes and damaging dozens of others, leaving five adults and one child dead in the aftermath of the blast.
Three nearby homes were destroyed and a dozen other homes were damaged in the blast.
Multiple other people were critically injured and dozens of firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
A prayer service and numerous fundraisers to support the community were held in the wake of the blast.
The investigation into the explosion has not yet been completed and could take years before being finalized.
AUGUST: Six-hour standoff turns into deadly shootout with police in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood
An eviction notice turned into deadly hours-long standoff and shootout with police in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood in August.
When Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies attempted to service an eviction notice at a home near Broad Street and North Mathilda Streets, gunfire rang out from inside the home with shooter William Hardison.
Deputies returned fire with a lengthy gun battle ensuing.
Following the exchange of gunfire, officers from a number of different departments and agencies responded, including from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, ATF and the FBI.
In the final hours of the standoff, police endured a volley of gunfire from inside the home. Police then flew a drone over the house and located the suspect. SWAT officers concentrated fire on that part of the house and Hardison was hit.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
State Police were put in charge of the investigation into the incident and will be sending a report to the District Attorney's Office for review.
Other News in AUGUST:
- 5 shot at Middle Hill District bar
- EF-1 tornado touches down in Washington County
- Company volunteers to remove large hornet nest from vacant Wilkinsburg townhouse
- Larry Rudolph, Pittsburgh-area dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari, sentenced to life in prison
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SEPTEMBER: 15-year-old Serra Catholic High School student killed in violent bus crash in Dravosburg
A violent school van crash in September left the Serra Catholic community shaken and demanding change.
The crash happened along Richland Avenue in Dravosburg as the school van was attempting to turn left from Third Street when it was struck by another vehicle.
Samantha Kalkbrenner, 15, was killed and three other students were taken to the hospital with injuries.
Since then, several steps have been taken to improve safety along that road, including an announcement on Wednesday that a new traffic light will be installed in May 2024.
The traffic light will be at the intersection of Richland Avenue and Fifth Street after a traffic study was completed by PennDOT.
Since the accident, some left-hand turns are now illegal onto Richland Avenue, and drivers' speed is now being monitored.
Two men have been charged in connection with the crash. Police say one of the men was driving more than 100 miles per hour leading up to the crash.
Other News in SEPTEMBER:
- Pittsburgh Promise says class of 2028 will be last to receive financial help
- Possible shooting outside Pittsburgh school thwarted with help of alert citizens, police say
- Dianne Feinstein, California senator who broke glass ceilings, dies at 90
- WGA ends strike, releases details on tentative deal with studios
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Making the News in OCTOBER:
- "It's just a really tragic thing:" Life at IUP continues as investigation into mass shooting develops
- Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey walks Downtown with KDKA-TV
- Former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson's death under investigation by police in England
- UAW ends historic strike after reaching tentative deals with Big 3 automakers
- Pennsylvania leaders issue statements condemning Hamas attack in Israel
- What happened during the Maine shooting? A timeline of the tragedy in Lewiston
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NOVEMBER: Sara Innamorato and Stephen Zappala win key elections in Allegheny County
Two hotly contested elections came down to the wire in Allegheny County this November, with two candidates for different offices making history, each in their own way.
Sara Innamorato defeated Joe Rockey, winning the race for County Executive. She will be the youngest person and the first woman to hold the office.
After thanking those who helped support her campaign and elect her to the office, Innamorato highlighted her desire to continue making Allegheny County one that is for everyone.
Innamorato will take over for Rich Fitzgerald and will now oversee the county budget that surpasses $3 billion.
In the race for District Attorney, incumbent Stephen Zappala defeated Matt Zugan and was elected to his 7th term in the race that focused heavily on crime and public safety.
After being defeated by Dugan in the Democratic primary, Zappala won enough write-in votes on the Republican ticket and ran as a Republican.
NOVEMBER: Steelers fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada after offense struggles through first half of season
Elections weren't the only big November headlines in the city, however, as the Steelers organization made an historic change of their own when the team's offense was struggling through the first half of the season.
After the team lost to the Browns in Cleveland in Week 11, the Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada. It was the first time that a coach lost their job with the franchise in the middle of a season since 1941.
While in charge, Canada's teams never gained 400-plus yards of offense in a game.
They failed to reach 400-plus total yards in 58 consecutive games, which was the second-longest such streak in NFL history.
In the team's first game without Matt Canada running the offense, the Steelers beat the Bengals, crossing the 400-yard mark for the first time since 2020.
Other News in NOVEMBER:
- Slain Beaver County native turned Colorado police officer remembered as a hero
- SAG-AFTRA reaches tentative agreement with Hollywood studios in a move to end nearly 4-month strike
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Making the News in DECEMBER:
- Suspect in critical condition after being shot by Pa. Attorney General agent at Greyhound station
- Contractor working on furnace of Sewickley Heights carriage house severely burned in explosion
- Japanese steel company purchasing Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel in deal worth nearly $15 billion
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Now we get ready to turn the page to 2024. Here's to a bright year ahead!