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$60,000 fundraiser with local McDonald’s and Pittsburgh Penguins supports projects at Ronald McDonald House Morgantown – Dominion Post

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,000 fundraiser with local McDonald’s and Pittsburgh Penguins supports projects at Ronald McDonald House Morgantown – Dominion Post


Every year, around 300 families with children in need of specialized services offered by local hospitals find comfort at Ronald McDonald House Morgantown.

During the 2023–24 hockey season, community members, the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and local McDonald’s restaurants joined forces to raise approximately $60,000 to support the mission and operations of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are no strangers to the RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown, and a collaboration between the organizations was a natural choice. Beginning September of last year and running for six months, local McDonald’s restaurants sold $6 insulated drink sleeves featuring Pittsburgh Penguins and McDonald’s branding, donating a portion of proceeds to the RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. By the promotion’s end, $60,000 had been raised for the Pittsburgh and Morgantown houses.

The McDonald’s, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ronald McDonald House Charities branded insulation sleeves sold during the fundraising promotion. (Submitted photo)

“It is a tremendous gift. We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of two major organizations, and also the community who purchased the sleeves,” said RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown CEO Eleanor Reigel. “The generosity shown by the community of people, when I think about it, is awe-inspiring. They don’t know who they’re helping, but they want to help, and I think that says it all.”

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While the community may not know who specifically they are helping with their donations, they know who RMHC is designed to support — families seeking specialized medical care from regional experts at Morgantown’s renowned hospitals, and some of the most inspiring and courageous individuals Reigel has met.

Families staying at the Morgantown house are often caring for children struggling with genetic disorders, organ failure, premature birth, cancer or other rare or complex conditions that require regular visits or stays at local hospitals. Amid such a difficult time in the family’s life, Reigel emphasizes the importance of keeping the family close and free from additional stressors. 

“In Morgantown, the hospital has expanded and increased their medical specialties to better serve the communities of West Virginia,” said Reigel. “I’m thrilled to be part of the support system to help mom, dad, grandparents, whoever is involved in the care, to really give them an opportunity to rest and have some peace while they’re addressing whatever concerns they have for their sick child.”

Ronald McDonald House Morgantown is more than just a place to rest your head, it’s somewhere to find support, a warm meal, a helping hand with chores and more.

For over 30 years, the Morgantown house has provided guests with comfortable private rooms, 24/7 staff, laundry facilities and supplies, linen services, one or two fresh meals per week, pantries stocked with comfort foods and communal relaxation or entertainment areas. Its proximity to WVU Medicine Children’s hospital makes it easy for families to visit their child in treatment — one less matter for families to consider, and one more way RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown has kept families’ attention undivided and focused on their child’s care.

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“We consider the family a very close unit, and I think our mission emphasizes the importance of keeping the family together during this journey they’re on,” said Reigel. “We really just try to think of everything that we could possibly provide to mom and dad, so they don’t have to worry about even the simplest things. It’s all those little things, really, that make it really important.”

Funds raised by the promotion will support RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown’s general operations and a variety of projects between the two houses. Both houses require regular maintenance and beautification, including paint touch-ups, security updates and heating and cooling unit replacements. One of the major ongoing projects is one that many visitors to Morgantown might be familiar with: the renovation of the Morgantown house, which began September of last year. The Morgantown house’s renovation will add 11 more rooms and renovate existing rooms. Construction is expected to complete by this fall.

A digital rendering of the Ronald McDonald House Morgantown after remodeling. (Submitted photo)

Proceeds from the collaboration fundraiser with the Pittsburgh Penguins and local McDonald’s may fund this project and more. To further support RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown, find donation and volunteer opportunities at rmhcpgh-mgtn.org.

This July, RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown will commemorate its 45th anniversary with a celebration for its families, donors and board members. Further details will be available at rmhcpgh-mgtn.org





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Pittsburg, PA

Blanche says DOJ

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Blanche says DOJ


Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday that the Justice Department is not moving forward with its $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that has become a major obstacle to the GOP agenda in Congress.

“We are not moving forward with the fund. Period,” he told lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee.



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Luke Bryan concert expected to bring thousands of fans to Pittsburgh-area farm

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Luke Bryan concert expected to bring thousands of fans to Pittsburgh-area farm


On Sept. 17, multi-platinum country music star Luke Bryan will bring his Farm Tour to 1846 Farms near Latrobe.

Westmoreland County is no stranger to large outdoor concerts. Some may remember the Rolling Rock Town Fair in the early 2000s, while others may recall Luke Bryan’s stop at a farm in South Huntingdon Township just two years ago. Now the country music superstar is returning to the area.

The Unity Township farm’s general manager, Aleisha Stas, gave KDKA a tour of the family farm, which dates back to before the Civil War. She says Bryan’s team first reached out after finding the farm on social media, but she says at first, she and her family thought it was too good to be true.

“This was around April Fools, so we thought it was an April Fools prank,” Stas said. “My whole family, we were like, there’s no way this is about to happen. But this has been incredible.”

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Stas says Bryan’s team is handling everything logistically from parking and bathrooms to deciding exactly where the concert will be staged.

“If we have it on this side of the property, we can hold 12,000 people,” Stas said. “And if we have it on (the other side) of the property, it can be up to 20,000. But we have not determined that yet.”

Many of those decisions will be made as September gets closer. In the meantime, however, the farm is holding off on planting in certain fields until the final concert location is selected.

And while hosting thousands of people may sound a little intimidating, Stas says her family is excited to welcome fans to the farm for what they hope will be a memorable night.

“Obviously, we’ve never had this many people here before, so it will be a new thing for all of us, but we are not worried,” said Stas. “Luke Bryan’s team are experts with this, and I think it will go great.”

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Tickets for this concert are currently on sale, and they will run you about $77 per person, plus tax for general admission.



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2025 Steelers Offseason Recall: Garrett shutdown as Pittsburgh bullied Browns in Week 6 | Steel City Underground

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2025 Steelers Offseason Recall: Garrett shutdown as Pittsburgh bullied Browns in Week 6 | Steel City Underground


Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways in our Steelers Offseason Recall series, revisiting key moments from the 2025 season and how they shaped the year that followed.

AFC North football rarely looks pretty, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium followed that familiar formula. What started as a defensive slugfest on a torn-up field eventually turned into another frustrating afternoon for Cleveland as Pittsburgh pulled away for a 23-9 victory.

The win improved the Steelers to 4-1 and extended their remarkable regular season home winning streak against the Browns to 22 games. More importantly, it reinforced an early-season identity centered around disruptive defense, efficient quarterback play, and winning the battle in the trenches.

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Looking back, these were the biggest surprises from Pittsburgh’s victory.

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Jalen Ramsey stole the show from Watt and Garrett

Nobody expected Jalen Ramsey to leave Week 6 with more sacks than T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett combined, but that’s exactly what happened.

Ramsey entered the game after missing practice time earlier in the week and proceeded to deliver one of the more unexpected stat lines of the season. The veteran defensive back recorded two sacks and six combined tackles while frequently helping confuse Cleveland’s protection schemes.

Meanwhile, Watt recorded half a sack while Garrett failed to register one entirely.

Ramsey even admitted afterward that the performance surprised him. His production highlighted an emerging trend within Pittsburgh’s defense: pressure was coming from everywhere.

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The Steelers defense overwhelmed Cleveland’s offense

While Ramsey grabbed headlines, the collective defensive effort suffocated Cleveland for most of the afternoon.

The Steelers finished with six sacks as Nick Herbig led the team with two sacks while Ramsey added two of his own. Derrick Harmon, Watt, and Alex Highsmith also got involved as Pittsburgh repeatedly collapsed the pocket around rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel never looked comfortable. The rookie completed 29 of 59 passes for 221 yards and struggled once Cleveland became one-dimensional after falling behind. He finished with a passer rating of 66.3 while absorbing constant punishment.

Pittsburgh didn’t rely solely on edge pressure either. Defensive backs blitzed, interior rushers collapsed protection, and disguised looks forced Cleveland into mistakes.

Perhaps equally impressive was how the Steelers handled Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins. Entering the matchup, Judkins had averaged 4.6 yards per carry and looked like one of Cleveland’s few consistent offensive weapons. Pittsburgh erased that advantage, holding him to a season-low 36 rushing yards on 12 carries while limiting him to 3.0 yards per attempt.

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Through five games played after their bye week, the Steelers had already amassed 20 sacks and were rapidly becoming one of football’s most disruptive defenses.

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Myles Garrett disappeared

The Browns needed a game-changing performance from Myles Garrett. Instead, Pittsburgh’s offensive line turned in one of its best performances of the season.

Garrett moved around the formation throughout the game, but he spent much of the afternoon lined up across from Broderick Jones. With occasional help early and more one-on-one opportunities later, Jones and company neutralized Cleveland’s biggest defensive weapon.

Garrett finished with only two combined tackles. He failed to record a solo tackle, sack, forced fumble, quarterback hit, or pass defended.

Keeping Garrett quiet fundamentally changed how Cleveland could attack Rodgers and allowed Pittsburgh’s offense to remain balanced throughout the afternoon.

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Rodgers stayed efficient and upright

Aaron Rodgers didn’t deliver a vintage statistical masterpiece: he simply controlled the game.

The veteran quarterback completed 21 of 30 passes for 235 yards while distributing the football efficiently and trusting Arthur Smith‘s offensive approach. Rodgers leaned heavily on his tight ends early before taking advantage of favorable matchups later in the game.

His biggest moments arrived in the second half. Rodgers connected with Connor Heyward for a touchdown strike before finding D.K. Metcalf for another score that helped create separation on the scoreboard.

Equally important, Rodgers stayed upright. For only the second time that season, Pittsburgh allowed zero sacks. Cleveland hit Rodgers only three times despite him attempting 30 passes.

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Compare that with Dillon Gabriel, who absorbed six sacks and 16 total quarterback hits.

The offensive line, aided by extra blocking looks featuring Spencer Anderson, kept Cleveland’s front from controlling the game and allowed Rodgers to operate comfortably. Metcalf benefited from the protection, turning four receptions into 95 yards while the Steelers spread touches across Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, Roman Wilson, Darnell Washington, and Heyward.

Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, and Kaleb Johnson combined for 89 rushing yards to maintain offensive balance. Pittsburgh averaged 5.8 yards per play and controlled possession despite both teams having the same number of drives.

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The officiating nearly stole the spotlight

Not everything about the victory came without frustration. Ron Torbert’s officiating crew inserted itself into the game repeatedly as Pittsburgh absorbed ten accepted penalties during an afternoon filled with questionable decisions.

Several pass interference rulings frustrated players and fans alike.

Jerry Jeudy appeared to drag Brandin Echols down by both shoulder pads on one play, yet the result went against Pittsburgh. Later, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward appeared to pin D.K. Metcalf’s arm without drawing a flag.

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Even Watt found himself repeatedly flagged for alignment penalties despite checking positioning with officials beforehand, leading to visible frustration from Mike Tomlin on the sideline.

The most controversial moment arrived on special teams. Ke’Shawn Williams appeared to spark the crowd with a 47-yard punt return before an illegal blindside block penalty on Jabrill Peppers erased the play. The penalty not only wiped away field position but also backed Pittsburgh up an additional ten yards.

Despite the officiating frustrations, the Steelers remained composed, and by the end of the afternoon, that discipline, paired with suffocating defense and efficient offense, delivered another divisional win and continued building momentum heading into a critical AFC North stretch.





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