One of the stated goals of Pittonkatonk is to break the barrier between performer and audience. And that’s what happened Saturday when a break in the rain allowed the performers to lead the audience on a short parade from inside the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Oakland’s Schenley Park out into the burgeoning sunshine.
There would be more rain later in the day, but that didn’t faze the performers, the organizers or the audience members at Pittonkatonk, the annual May Day community festival at Schenley Park. This year’s edition, the 11th, attracted performers from Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Puerto Rico and, of course, Pittsburgh.
Learn more at https://pittonkatonk.org.
Yamoussa Camara, of Pittsburgh’s Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, helps drive the dancers outside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress) Col. Eagleburger’s High Stepping Good Time Band of Pittsburgh started the Pittonkatonk party inside the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Nicole Sinwell, left, helps bring the thunder with Pittsburgh’s Timbeleza inside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)When the rain let up, Pittsburgh’s Timbeleza led the crowd outside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress) Jamie Moore dances and plays with Pittsburgh’s Timbeleza outside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)A Pittonkatonk sign hangs from the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
A United flight traveling from Chicago to New York City diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday afternoon for what was described as a “reported threat.”
According to information provided by the Allegheny County Airport Authority and FBI Pittsburgh, United Flight 2092 diverted to Pittsburgh and landed safely.
United Flight 2092 from O’Hare (Chicago) to LaGuardia (NYC) diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport.
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KDKA Photojournalist Anthony Sichi
The passengers have deplaned safely, and no injuries have been reported.
“The plane was diverted and landed at Pittsburgh International Airport,” FBI Pittsburgh said in a statement provided to KDKA-TV. “All passengers and crew safely evacuated the aircraft. FBI Special Agent Bomb Techs and Special Agents are on the ground coordinating with local authorities.”
The airport authority has said that law enforcement is on the scene and investigating.
The NFL Draft is always unpredictable and under a new head coach, it’s fuzzier than any time in recent memory to guess who the Pittsburgh Steelers will select in the first round. But if history continues predicting the future, it’ll be one of the eight below names.
Every year since at least 2010, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick has fallen into one of two camps: either the player came in for a pre-draft visit or a decision maker, head coach or general manager, attended that prospect’s pro day.
So let’s assume that holds true even though we know it may not. Under those criteria, there are eight names that fit. Let’s break them down into the two buckets.
Pre-Draft Visit
WR Denzel Boston/Washington WR Makai Lemon/USC OT Spencer Fano/Utah OG Vega Ioane/Penn State CB Chris Johnson/CB San Diego State S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren/Toledo
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Pro Day Attendance
OT Monroe Freeling/Georgia ILB CJ Allen/Georgia
Could you stretch it to more? I suppose. Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez could be argued in the first round. Ditto with Georgia Tech OG Keylan Rutledge and Arizona DB Treydan Stukes. But those feel far less likely to be taken on Day 1, let alone at No. 21.
Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan attended only the Bulldogs’ Pro Day this year, an unusually low number of workouts compared to the past. McCarthy told reporters he planned to attend six but only made it to Georgia. That leaves just two names from that bucket, and Freeling could easily be off the board by the time Pittsburgh picks. He may be on Cleveland’s radar.
Of the eight, who is most likely? That opinion can and will vary. Receiver and offensive line have been specific areas of focus, but there’s no telling how the board will fall. I’ll have my final mock draft Tuesday with my answer.
If the Steelers’ pick isn’t one of these eight, it’ll break a longstanding tradition. And in future years, open up the field of how the team could take at the top.
