Pittsburg, PA
Proposal in front of city council wants to give $1 million to VisitPittsburgh for 2026 NFL Draft
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It’s still more than a year and a half before the NFL draft comes to Pittsburgh, but city leaders are trying to get their ducks in a row.
A Pittsburgh City Council proposal wants to give $1 million to VisitPittsburgh to organize the draft efforts. District 9 Councilman Khari Mosley feels the money is an investment. He hopes the NFL draft, with its hundreds of thousands of fans, give the city a return on its investment.
The idea behind the bill is to let the city’s tourism bureau, VisitPittsburgh, handle what is expected to be one of the biggest tourist events the region has ever seen. According to VisitPittsburgh, this funding is one of the first steps in getting from the bid phase to building for the draft. Most building cost for the draft is incurred by the NFL.
“What they work with the host city on is a budget to really support lasting community impact for the draft,” VisitPittsburgh spokesperson Emily Hatfield said.
Councilman Mosley said this funding is best used by VisitPittsburgh as it is the tourism expert for the region. He said it does not have an exact source yet but said it won’t come from everyday services.
“I was assured prior to our council session that it’s not taking away from any city operations or city programs,” Councilman Mosley said.
With many city leaders expressing concerns over the city financial future, the councilman says the city has the money to do this. He feels making this investment to better the event not only could better the community but also help create more of a financial return with the draft.
“This event is going to bring millions and millions of dollars back to the city. So, I think this is an event we are going to get a considerable return on,” Councilman Mosley said.
VisitPittsburgh said some of the work being done for the draft will hopefully create lasting impacts for the city, including green spaces, infrastructure improvements and working with small businesses.
Being 18 months out, much of it is still in development.
“While you might not see the visible impacts of those plans just yet, know there is a lot of work and progress behind the scenes,” Hatfield said.
Councilman Mosley plans to meet with other council members to figure out where this money is coming from.
Pittsburgh-area natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor are returning to their roots.
Manganiello, from Mt. Lebanon, and O’Connor, from Uniontown, have bought a home in the South Hills after getting engaged this summer.
On Pittsburgh Today Live on Thursday, O’Connor talked about the couple’s move from Hollywood to Mt. Lebanon.
“It’s so nice to be home,” she said.
While Manganiello and O’Connor are happy to be back in southwestern Pennsylvania, O’Connor said it’ll be a bigger adjustment for the beloved chihuahua Bubbles. From the Pittsburgh Steelers fashion show to the gala celebrating the new airport terminal, the tiny dog is seemingly always in Manganiello’s arms.
“Bubbles is a California girl. She really doesn’t like the cold. We wrap her in a blanket and she has many, many puffy coats. I bought her a Steelers puffy to put in her stocking, so we’re going to see how she does over the next few months. But it’s not that long. It’s not forever. Winter will come and go,” O’Connor said.
And they all got quite the Pittsburgh welcome. O’Connor said it snowed when they were moving in, and Manganiello was outside shoveling for over two hours. She said she’s getting him a snowblower for Christmas.
The couple won’t be braving the Pittsburgh winter for too long. O’Connor said they’ll soon be off to South Africa, where Manganiello will film “One Piece” for Netflix. He’ll star as the villain Crocodile in the popular Japanese manga series.
“Bubbles will be in a better state,” O’Connor joked, saying it’s currently summer in South Africa. “I just bring Bubbles to set and hang out. It’s really the best job.”
Police in Westmoreland County are investigating a late-night shooting that happened at an apartment complex in Irwin Borough.
Irwin Police Chief Daniel Wensel confirmed to KDKA-TV that the department, along with Westmoreland County detectives are investigating a shooting that happened at the Bevington Building along Sweetbriar Drive within the Villages of Easton Apartment Complex.
Dispatchers said the first call related to the incident came in around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Details are limited but Chief Wensel said there is no danger to the public.
It’s unclear if any injuries have been reported or if any arrests have been made.
Chief Wensel said that more information is expected to be released once detectives and the department get further along in the investigation.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing veteran running back Trey Sermon, the team announced today. Sermon has had multiple on-and-off stints with the Steelers since signing with the team rookie mini-camp. He’s appeared in three games for the Steelers in 2025.
Sermon was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In 46 career games, Sermon has 505 yards on 134 carries and three touchdowns with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Steelers.
The Steelers have the chance to put the Baltimore Ravens on the ropes this Sunday. If they defeat the Detroit Lions, the Ravens would have to defeat one of the New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers for the Week 18 matchup between the Steelers and Ravens to have any stakes. The Steelers can also clinch the division before Week 18 if they win their next two games and the Ravens go 1-1 or 0-2.
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