Pittsburg, PA
Pirates Taking Careful Approach With Returning Pitcher
The Pittsburgh Pirates will have some difficult decisions to make with their starting rotation in 2025.
One pitcher who could vie for the fifth spot in the rotation is right-handed pitcher Johan Oviedo. Oviedo is returning from Tommy John surgery last November and made 32 starts for the Pirates in 2023. While the 26-year-old right-hander may very well work his way into becoming Pittsburgh’s fifth starter, manager Derek Shelton said his team will take an abundance of caution with Oviedo next season.
“Oviedo, we’re going to have to be thoughtful because he’s coming off Tommy John,” Shelton said at the Winter Meetings. “So there is going to be some sort of innings that we have to benchmark and watch for.”
Oviedo was acquired in a rare division trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 after he spent the first half of the season going back and forth between the Major Leagues and Triple-A Memphis. In his seven starts for Pittsburgh in 2022, he went 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA. Oviedo asserted himself in the starting rotation in 2023 and had a solid yet unspectacular season, going 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA over 32 starts and he struck out 158 batters in his 177.2 innings pitched. His control was detrimental throughout the season, though, as he posted a 1.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Oviedo had 15 outings where he walked at least three batters and led baseball with 13 hit-by-pitches hit in 2023. The right-hander showed signs of turning things around in the second half, as he went 6-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 77.1 innings pitched over 14 starts.
Oviedo’s path to the starting rotation is much less clear with the emergence of 2024 Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. Bailey Falter also proved to be a solid option and Mitch Keller has been the Pirates’ most consistent pitcher over the last two seasons. Along with the four pitchers who already appear to be entrenched in the rotation for 2025, Pittsburgh also boasts three top-100 prospects in MLB Pipeline’s rankings, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington.
All three right-handed pitching prospects reached Triple-A Indianapolis last season, so their debuts could be right around the corner in 2025.
Oviedo’s experience in the bullpen could come in handy, especially with the Pirates wanting to manage his innings in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Oviedo has made 14 appearances out of the bullpen in his career. The Pirates bullpen more than needs the help, as they had the fourth-highest ERA in baseball last season.
Whether it’s as a starting pitcher or a reliever, how the Pirates manage Oviedo’s innings will be among the topics of discussion entering 2025. If he can assert himself as one of the Pirates’ five best starting pitchers in Spring Training, an already strong rotation could be even deeper next season.
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Ohio black bears
A third sighting of 2026 confirms black bears are back for good in Ohio.
If you see a black bear near Pittsburgh, give it space, and don’t let your pet bother it.
That’s the advice Allegheny County’s parks department gave locals after a bear was spotted in a lake north of Pittsburgh, with the department issuing a warning in partnership with Allegheny County Police Department on June 16.
Here’s what to know about the bear sighting and bears around the Pittsburgh area.
When, where was black bear spotted near Pittsburgh?
A black bear was spotted in North Park Lake in McCandless Township in Allegheny County just north of Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County Parks didn’t say when the bear was seen, but they posted about the sighting on Facebook on June 16, saying the Pennsylvania Game Commission had been notified and was monitoring the situation.
What should you do if you spot a black bear in Pittsburgh area?
After a black bear was spotted in North Park Lake, Allegheny County Parks and Allegheny County Police Department put out a joint statement warning residents not to bother bears.
If you see a bear, you should use caution and give it “plenty of space,” according to the county parks department. Don’t approach it, and don’t try to interact with it. If you have a pet with you, keep them controlled on a leash.
“The best thing you can do is view wildlife from a safe distance and allow it to move through the area undisturbed,” the parks department said.
The state also bans residents from feeding bears.
How common are black bears in Pittsburgh area?
Bears inhabit forested areas across more than three-quarters of Pennsylvania, though they’ve been spotted in every county, according to the state game commission. The bears seen in large urban centers and agricultural areas, like the southeastern corners of the state and parts of the western border, are generally transient, as those areas don’t have enough woods to create a good habitat.
The population of bears statewide is estimated to be about 19,000 and is managed through regulated hunting to reduce the risk of more frequent human-bear conflicts. Hunters harvested 2,873 black bears in 2026, with Tioga County reporting the most harvests. Allegheny did not rank among the counties with the top 10 most bears harvested.
Black bears are also not uncommon across the border in Ohio. The state set a record with more than 500 sightings in 2025, according to a report from the Ohio Department of National Resources, with the department finding “consistent evidence” that female black bears live in the northeast corner of the state.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
We break down when Pittsburgh fireworks cross from fun into illegal
In Pennsylvania, it’s easier than ever to buy consumer fireworks, but using them inside Pittsburgh city limits is where the law tightens up.
In Pennsylvania, it’s easier than ever to buy consumer fireworks, but using them inside Pittsburgh city limits is where the law tightens up. For this week’s “Is It Legal?” series, the key distinction is that purchase and possession are generally allowed under state law, while where and how you launch them is restricted by local rules and safety regulations.
In Pittsburgh, residents can’t legally set off fireworks in public spaces like streets, sidewalks, parks or right-of-way areas. They’re also not supposed to launch them near buildings or vehicles, or in any way that directs fireworks toward people or property.
In rowhouse neighborhoods and dense blocks, that effectively rules out most front yards, alleys and tight backyards, because they sit too close to homes and parked cars to meet the distance and safety requirements. On top of that, noise and nuisance ordinances can come into play, especially late at night, giving police grounds to respond when fireworks are reported as a disturbance or hazard.
Officials stress that fireworks are explosives, not toys, and point to common risks: injuries from misfires, fires on roofs or in yards, and the impact on pets, older neighbors and veterans with PTSD. That’s why they consistently urge residents to skip DIY backyard launches and attend permitted, professional shows instead, where licensed operators, fire crews and safety plans are already in place.
So, when viewers ask “Is it legal?” the answer is nuanced: Buying fireworks is broadly legal under state law, but setting them off in most Pittsburgh neighborhoods — especially in public spaces or close to buildings — is often not, and can quickly lead to citations or police visits rather than a celebration.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
The 90-foot tall Ferris wheel will run from July 1 through July 5 on the North Shore. Tickets are on sale now and 50% of all proceeds will be donated to the Veterans Leadership Program. Tickets can be purchased at: pittsburghpa.gov/july4.
The BNY Main Stage at Point State Park will have entertainment starting at 4 p.m. Headlining the performances will be Grammy- and Tony-Award nominated national pop rock band the Plain White T’s. Shows are free,
As part of the National Flag Foundation’s Light to Unite, the city’s skyscrapers will be illuminated in red, white and blue across Downtown at 9 p.m.
The city’s fireworks spectacular is set to be the city’s largest fireworks display in decades. For the first time, there will be a drone performance immediately before the fireworks start.
The fireworks show will utilize six barges on all three rivers – and some rooftops. Fireworks will begin at 9:35 PM on July 4.
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