Adam Babetski

'Blood, sweat and tears': Sunny Days Arena in North Versailles readies to feed fighting fans' frenzy For Mixed Martial Arts promoter and Upper St. Clair resident Ryan Middleton, the grand opening of his first permanent fighting venue marks the end of a...

My profile piece for the @post-gazette.com Sunday print edition: The brand-new Sunny Days Arena in North Versailles is now one of the largest MMA venues in the Pittsburgh region, and its owners hope that it will be instrumental in growing the local fight scene.
www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...

Pirates' ‘Bucco Bricks’ are coming back in the form of bronze plaques at PNC Park Months after the Pittsburgh Pirates removed and demolished approximately 10,000 “Bucco Bricks” outside of PNC Park, the team announced that...

The Pittsburgh Pirates' "Bucco Bricks" fiasco is over -- for now -- as the team announced plans to replace the unceremoniously destroyed fan tributes with plaques at PNC Park. My report from today's SEA meeting: www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirat...

Record-setting furry crowd at Anthrocon 2025 set to deliver economic boost to Downtown Pittsburgh As Andrew McCutchen has proclaimed on X every summer for the past decade: “Furries”  Fursuit enthusiasts from all over the country...

Pittsburgh is about to get a whole lot furrier next week:
www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...

Many Strip District businesses remain strongly opposed to Penn Avenue overhaul Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure says it has considered stakeholder input — even if much of it is very negative...

"They’re ruining a perfectly incredible neighborhood.” Many Strip District businesses remain strongly opposed to plan to turn Penn Avenue into one lane www.post-gazette.com/business/dev... by @adambabetski.bsky.social

The NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh in 2026, and a select number of local businesses are competing for golden opportunities with the league's vendors. Read more: www.post-gazette.com/business/car...

Two highly visible changes coming to Acrisure Stadium ahead of 2026 NFL draft As the Steelers prepare for the 2026 NFL draft next April, the Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority approved the team’s proposals to overhaul...

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a brand-new turf field and video screen by the time the NFL Draft rolls into town next April:

www.post-gazette.com/sports/steel...

I'm about to cancel you out

Pittsburgh Job Corps to remain open – for now – after court order blocking Trump Administration Pittsburgh Job Corps Director Bob Gottschalk grabbed a microphone to make a special announcement to the hundreds of students and recruiters packed into...

Students are headed back to class at Pittsburgh Job Corps after a judge blocked the Trump Administration from shutting down 99 Job Corps facilities across the country. Read more:

www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...

Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge project to bring traffic restrictions in Oakland The intersection of the Boulevard of the Allies and Parkview Avenue in Oakland will have traffic restrictions through the summer as part of the city’s...

The intersection of the Boulevard of the Allies and Parkview Avenue in Oakland will have traffic restrictions through the summer as part of the city's $48.47 million project to rehabilitate the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge:

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

Riding for a cure: Pittsburgh cancer patients, doctors and families unite at ‘Rush to Crush Cancer’ For Mike Michna, completing an intense 15-mile bike ride at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s annual Rush to Crush Cancer event wasn’t just a physical...

More than 1,000 Pittsburghers participated in UPMC Hillman's "Rush to Crush Cancer" biking and walking event over the weekend:

www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...

Riding for a cure: Pittsburgh cancer patients, doctors and families unite at 'Rush to Crush Cancer' For Mike Michna, completing an intense 15-mile bike ride at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s annual Rush to Crush Cancer event wasn’t just a physical...

Riding for a cure: Pittsburgh cancer patients, doctors and families unite at 'Rush to Crush Cancer'

PennDOT begins work on $88.7 million interchange project in Westmoreland County The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has broken ground on an $88.7 million project to modernize Interstate 70’s Arnold City Interchange...

PennDOT begins work on $88.7 million interchange project in Westmoreland County

As Penguins' worst season in nearly 20 years ends, fans try to hold out hope for future In the lower bowl of PPG Paints Arena, lifelong Penguins fan Ray Andreoletti was soaking in the last game of a lackluster season. “It’ll be...

At the last game of another lost season, Pittsburgh Penguins fans were ready to turn the page:

www.post-gazette.com/sports/pengu...

TSA announces checkpoint changes at Pittsburgh International Airport Changes are coming to the security screening process at Pittsburgh International Airport. Beginning May 5, passengers who are enrolled in the Transportation...

TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport is now requiring passengers without PreCheck to use its alternate checkpoint and the comparatively smaller group of passengers with PreCheck to use the main checkpoint, potentially creating backups:

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

Strapped for cash, PRT announces potential new money-maker in Dormont development Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a business partner to transform two parking lots near Dormont Junction into a mixed-use development — a move...

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is looking for a business partner to develop a 2.5-acre parcel of land next to Dormont Junction, which would provide some income for the agency as it battles a $1.8 billion shortfall.

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

Pirates' Bucco Bricks controversy won't go away — not even at a regular SEA meeting The Pirates' PR problems continue to pile up like commemorative bricks in a recycling center. The Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority on Thursday...

Pirates' Bucco Bricks controversy won't go away — not even at a regular SEA meeting

Pittsburgh International Airport to change its handicapped parking policies Parking at any airport can be a hassle, and at Pittsburgh International Airport, some customers have been making a habit of taking handicapped spots without...

Pittsburgh International Airport is ending parking discounts for handicapped customers due in part to non-handicapped customers abusing the spaces -- a change that lawyers asked for their opinion believe is a potential ADA violation.

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

Yes to the Dress: At Dormont's Bridal Maven, unused wedding gowns are given a second life When Hannah Balash was sequestered at home with her newborn daughter during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she was struck by an idea — about...

At Bridal Maven in Dormont, Hannah Balash gives wedding dresses a second life and splits the profit with their former owners. Read:

www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...

Oakmont Candle Works overcame a challenging start to bring light to dark times Customers’ first impression of Oakmont Candle Works is the distinct aroma — a mixture of dozens of candle varieties that tends to drift out...

Oakmont Candle Works overcame a challenging start to bring light to dark times

Oakmont Candle Works overcame a challenging start to bring light to dark times Customers’ first impression of Oakmont Candle Works is the distinct aroma — a mixture of dozens of candle varieties that tends to drift out...

After surviving a burglary and a pandemic, Tabatha Flanick's small business, Oakmont Candle Works, produces thousands of candles per month:

www.post-gazette.com/business/car...

Facing a ‘crisis,’ Pittsburgh Regional Transit may eliminate 41 of 100 routes Pittsburgh Regional Transit said it is facing a 35% service cut that could take effect as early as February 2026 due to a lack of sufficient state funding. If...

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is facing financial devastation and could cut more than 1/3 of its bus routes as early as next February:

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

The very best of the wurst: Murrysville native brings the Wienermobile to Pittsburgh You’ve probably passed the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile on the road at some point in your life: The hot dog on wheels that has been visiting fans across...

You'd have a better chance of getting into Harvard than getting hired to drive the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile! Article here:
www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...

PRT is encouraging public transit etiquette — with a misbehaving pickle Pittsburgh Regional Transit is rolling out an ad campaign that aims to address rider etiquette with a salty main character: A pickle. PRT’s campaign...

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has recruited sentient pickles and perogies to keep riders on their best behavior:

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

‘People. Planet. Profit.’ — Wilkinsburg bow tie maker thrives on the fabric of community Nisha Blackwell looked up from a pile of fabric as the door to her small business — Knotzland Bespoke Bowtie Studio in Wilkinsburg — swung...

Knotzland in Wilkinsburg has become a premier destination for bow tie enthusiasts both in the Pittsburgh area and around the country:

www.post-gazette.com/business/car...

Steelers announce partnership with Aer Lingus ahead of 2025 game in Ireland The Pittsburgh Steelers are partnering with Irish airline Aer Lingus to promote a game in Ireland next season, the NFL’s first regular-season trip...

The Pittsburgh Steelers are partnering with Aer Lingus for their first-ever game in Ireland next season, but Western Pennsylvanians won't be able to book a direct flight to the Emerald Isle:
www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...

‘The B Hive’ beauty supply store generates buzz in Forest Hills Some of Brianna Johnson’s earliest memories are of her young mother practicing hair styling at the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy in Downtown. When she...

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, hairstylist Brianna Johnson has customers swarming to her new beauty supply store, "The B Hive," in Forest Hills:

www.post-gazette.com/business/car...

TSA intercepts loaded pink gun at Pittsburgh International Airport TSA officers discovered a loaded pink handgun during a routine security screening at Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday. The .380 caliber gun,...

The TSA caught a woman with a loaded pink handgun at Pittsburgh International Airport:

www.post-gazette.com/news/transpo...

SEA board approves slew of stadium upgrades for Steelers, Pirates, Penguins; Pittsburgh tourism reaches 2019 levels The Sports and Exhibition Authority board approved more than $10 million in venue upgrades for the city’s three major sports teams as they, and the...

Pittsburgh's tourism is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels and is expected to be bolstered by the upcoming U.S. Open and NFL Draft, VisitPittsburgh told the SEA board during its meeting at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Thursday morning.
www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...

At Lawrenceville's Party on Butler, every day is a celebration On a dreary Tuesday morning in Lawrenceville, Party on Butler CEO Melinda Durham gazed past the glittering disco balls in her window with a cellphone to...

Even from the outside, Party on Butler's bright pink facade in Lawrenceville epitomizes CEO Melinda Durham’s mission to make celebrations worth having.

www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...

For one of Pittsburgh’s iconic Black-owned jazz organizations, change is a familiar tune Jacqueline “Jaki” Young still remembers the flamboyant personalities that accentuated her first lessons as a 19-year-old student at the Jazz...

Jaki Young, a third-generation saxophonist and the director of The Jazz Workshop, Inc., is working hard to keep Pittsburgh's jazz tradition alive:
www.post-gazette.com/business/car...