Pittsburg, PA

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court will weigh in on Pittsburgh's 'jock tax'

Published

2 years ago

July 24, 2024

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court will weigh in on Pittsburgh's 'jock tax'

Pennsylvania’s highest court will weigh in on the legality of Pittsburgh’s tax on out-of-town athletes and performers. In an order issued Monday, the state Supreme Court said it would hear arguments about whether lower courts misinterpreted a constitutional requirement that taxes be levied uniformly.

An appeals court this winter upheld a Common Pleas Judge’s ruling that struck down the city’s Non-Resident Sports Facility Usage Fee — the so-called “jock tax.” The tax is a 3% levy on the income earned by out-of-town athletes and performers when they use city-owned venues. The city appealed that ruling in February.

Pittsburgh officials say the tax evens the playing field between visiting players and home-team athletes: Those who live within the city pay taxes of 3% of their earnings to the city and its school district.

The city’s appeal argues that judges failed to properly apply earlier precedents to the matter. And on Monday, the state Supreme Court said it would hear the city’s appeal on that basis, while rejecting other arguments the city made.

Mayor Ed Gainey issued a statement Tuesday that said he was “pleased that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. … We believe that this tax is constitutional and will continue to collect it as we prepare to present our arguments to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.”

Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Ward had previously issued an injunction to halt collection of the tax, but the city has argued that it can collect the tax while its appeal is pending.

Lawyers who spoke privately with WESA said they were puzzled by that claim, but Stephen Kidder, a lawyer for the athletes, did not contest it Tuesday night.

“We look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that both the Commonwealth Court and the Court of Common Pleas correctly decided this issue,” he said.

Monday’s court order initially caused some confusion, with some media outlets, and one local official, interpreting the order as a blanket refusal to take up the issue.

City Controller Rachael Heisler has voiced concern about city finances and the fate of the “jock tax,” and on Tuesday afternoon posted a statement on social media that the city needed to be “honest” about its fiscal situation. But later in the day, she said that the post had relied “in part on news reports” and that she “was not correct relaying inaccurate reports about the complete dismissal of the appeal.”

Still, Heisler argued the city should prepare for a future without the tax: “I remain concerned about whether the city can continue to rely on revenue” from the jock tax, she said.

Gainey said Tuesday his administration is “doing all that we can to ensure the financial strength and security of our city.”

The city’s five-year financial plan estimates that the tax will bring in an average of $4.6 million per year. That’s a small sum in the context of an overall operating budget that runs well over half a billion dollars annually. But the impact could snowball if the city loses its legal battle: Those who’ve paid the tax would be eligible for refunds, and would have a three-year window to file a claim.

The uncertainty surrounding the jock tax is just one financial headache facing the city. Plunging property reassessments, especially among commercial properties Downtown, and the end of federal COVID aid also mean lean years ahead, and potentially a hotly debated budget season this fall.

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Pittsburg, PA

All Pittsburgh Steelers Picks 2026 NFL Draft | NESN

Published

47 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

All Pittsburgh Steelers Picks 2026 NFL Draft | NESN

No team in the league has more picks in the 2026 NFL Draft than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defending AFC North Champions are scheduled to make 12 picks in this year’s draft.

Pittsburgh has a selection in all seven rounds of the draft, which kicks off on Thursday, April 23rd, and concludes on Saturday, April 25th.

Round 1: Pick 21
Round 2: Pick 53
Round 3: Pick 76
Round 3: Pick 85
Round 3: Pick 99
Round 4: Pick 121
Round 4: Pick 135
Round 5: Pick 161
Round 6: Pick 216
Round 7: Pick 224
Round 7: Pick 230
Round 7: Pick 237

New Head Coach Mike McCarthy inherited a roster with more than a fair share of holes to fill. Perhaps none more so than wide receiver.

Trading for highly productive former Indianapolis Colts draft pick Michael Pittman Jr. to play alongside D.K. Metcalf certainly helped, but third-year receiver Roman Wilson is currently slotted as the team’s wide receiver No. 3 with only 164 career yards. The Steelers can go anywhere with their first-round selection, and if one of the big three receivers falls (Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, or Makai Lemon), don’t count the Steelers out.

The second most pressing need is safety, and the Steelers are in luck. There are at least three safeties with a consensus first-round grade in this year’s class. At 21, Pittsburgh is in a prime position to pick up a day-one starter if they go this route.

With 12 picks, McCarthy will hope to secure at least six starters/role players, and with three picks in the third round, they’ve got the draft capital to do just that.

More NFL: Colin Cowherd Explains Why Steelers Are ‘Slow, Outdated, Predictable’

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Pittsburg, PA

Ex-Steelers QB Fires Back at Adam Schefter Over Aaron Rodgers Rumor

Published

13 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Ex-Steelers QB Fires Back at Adam Schefter Over Aaron Rodgers Rumor

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the early months of the Mike McCarthy Era, and life has been good. A few roster questions remain, but there is a sense of trust building from the fanbase.

One of the most important unanswered questions is who will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026? The presumed answer remains Aaron Rodgers, but no contract has been signed, and the 2026 NFL Draft is just weeks away.

Recently, former Steelers quarterback and co-host of The Snap Count, Charlie Batch, shared his thoughts on the holdup. He believes it’s a financial dispute keeping things from moving forward, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter refuted that claim. Now, Batch continues to hold firm to his stance, reaffirming it in the most recent episode of his show.

“I will stand ten toes down on this,” he stated. “He deserves a pay raise. He’s not gona play on the number he had last year. For people to say, ‘He made a bunch of money,’ it’s not about money… This is about his services for this season.”

Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Could Money Be an Issue?

The reality is that there is no clarity regarding the situation. The Steelers have continued to present a positive front regarding the situation. McCarthy spouts off about how often he and Rodgers communicate. General manager Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II have both shared the sentiment.

That’s why many concluded that this waiting is just a formality, as the eccentric Rodgers takes his good ole time signing the deal. But that’s never been confirmed. Batch might be right on the money regarding the situation. And as he explained, the $13 million salary he played on last year is not commensurate with the rate quarterbacks are paid in the NFL right now.

“That number is not going to be $13 million,” Batch declared. “If you look at the rest of the league, he falls right into that $30 million range.”

Where does that leave things between the Steelers and Rodgers, then?

What Number Makes Sense for Rodgers?

If Rodgers wants to be paid like a top-25 quarterback in the NFL, that would require the Steelers to cough up some more dough than they anticipate. The recent free-agent market set a baseline of $22 million. That’s the average salary on the deal Malik Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins.

It seems that if Batch’s analysis is correct, the Steelers have to pony up at least $20 million to get Rodgers back. Despite the pushback from national media and conflicting information about the subject, Batch is standing firm in the assertion that money is a huge factor preventing the Steelers from knowing their starting QB in 2026.

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Plan ahead: Multi-day closures of Parkway East are coming up

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Plan ahead: Multi-day closures of Parkway East are coming up

PennDOT has announced several major construction projects on the Parkway East this year, including a significant 25-day closure for the Commercial Street Bridge project.”I think the biggest thing is for all folks, plan ahead. Know where you’re starting from and where you’re going to, and to best determine the route that you should take during the closure period,” PennDOT senior construction manager John Myler said.Crews are working to finalize preparations to move a new bridge into place. “It’s not like launching a cruise ship where you just cut some cords and it falls into the water. It will be a very slow process,” Myler said. “We’ll continue to monitor the bridge as we’re moving it, and it will take many hours to move the bridge.”Transportation officials also provided updates on current projects and a look ahead at future plans. Part of those plans addresses issues with the notorious “bathtub” portion of I-376 in downtown Pittsburgh.In 2027, drivers can expect an 11-day closure to the section, which is often prone to flooding. “Right now the bathtub floods at 25 feet,” PennDOT executive Jason Zang said. “This would get us five more feet, and we think it will drastically reduce how much the ‘bathtub’ floods.” PennDOT officials assure that, much like the Commercial Street Bridge project, the inconvenience will be worth it in the end.

PITTSBURGH —

PennDOT has announced several major construction projects on the Parkway East this year, including a significant 25-day closure for the Commercial Street Bridge project.

“I think the biggest thing is for all folks, plan ahead. Know where you’re starting from and where you’re going to, and to best determine the route that you should take during the closure period,” PennDOT senior construction manager John Myler said.

Crews are working to finalize preparations to move a new bridge into place.

“It’s not like launching a cruise ship where you just cut some cords and it falls into the water. It will be a very slow process,” Myler said. “We’ll continue to monitor the bridge as we’re moving it, and it will take many hours to move the bridge.”

Transportation officials also provided updates on current projects and a look ahead at future plans.

Part of those plans addresses issues with the notorious “bathtub” portion of I-376 in downtown Pittsburgh.

In 2027, drivers can expect an 11-day closure to the section, which is often prone to flooding.

“Right now the bathtub floods at 25 feet,” PennDOT executive Jason Zang said. “This would get us five more feet, and we think it will drastically reduce how much the ‘bathtub’ floods.”

PennDOT officials assure that, much like the Commercial Street Bridge project, the inconvenience will be worth it in the end.

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