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Pittsburgh diners fume over ‘staged’ Harris campaign stop as popular restaurant cleared: ‘Mind-boggling’

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Pittsburgh diners fume over ‘staged’ Harris campaign stop as popular restaurant cleared: ‘Mind-boggling’

Patrons at a Pittsburgh culinary landmark were outraged Monday after they claimed they were forced to leave the premises before Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrived for a weekend campaign stop.

Several people who had been enjoying food, drinks and the Pittsburgh Pirates game on TV at Primanti Bros. in Moon, Pennsylvania, on Sunday said they were all forced out of the restaurant promptly at 4 p.m.

Mark Dodson of Collier, who said he was just in the area to enjoy “the Bucs” – as the Pirates are nicknamed – simply wanted a quiet day.

“I wanted to watch some sports and enjoy an afternoon lunch,” said Dodson, as Primanti is known for its signature Pittsburgh-style sandwiches piled high with sliced meats and french fries – a Steel City custom.

“Around 3:30, the bartender, she goes, ‘It’s last call’ – what do you mean last call?” Dodson said, adding the employee informed him there was a private event at the top of the hour.

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SAM DEMARCO: TRUMP’S STRENGTH IN RESPONSE TO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT LIKELY WON HIM CRITICS’ SUPPORT

Supporters of former President Trump hold signs and flags as Vice President Kamala Harris makes a campaign stop at Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 18, 2024. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Dodson, who said he is familiar with the restaurant business, said the entire situation seemed sudden.

“They shut down the TVs… so you couldn’t watch the game,” he said. “I said, this is BS – this is a public restaurant. It was kind of mind-boggling to me.”

Dodson said he was ultimately the last real patron to leave the premises and that when he reached his car, it was the only one left in the lot – and that he noticed a growing presence of protesters lining the other side of the road, many in pro-Trump attire.

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Video shared by Republican Committee of Allegheny County chairman Sam DeMarco III showed a Harris-Walz campaign bus and several white vans showing up soon after.

Protesters shouted, “They kicked us out of Primanti Brothers” and “You are terrible people” as the entourage arrived.

Others verbally accused the campaign of employing “actors” – as video captured by ABC News of Harris’ visit itself depicted a full dining room with people enjoying their food.

“Holy hell, all these actors in these vans,” a man was heard shouting among the anti-Harris demonstrators.

Amy Smith, who lives in Moon, said she also was at Primanti Bros. for lunch when she was among the patrons asked to vacate. 

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Smith said she had heard that Harris would be in the area and predicted she would – and did – stop at a nearby Sheetz gas station popular with candidates on their way to Pittsburgh International Airport.

FETTERMAN SPOKESWOMAN REAMED FOR REPORTEDLY CONTRADICTING BOSS ON ISRAEL

Signage promotes the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Smith said she saw two blue Harris-Walz buses arrive, followed by a white bus with no decal. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa. – who represents the suburban area – was also reportedly spotted joining Harris at the event.

She also offered her timeline of events, having arrived for lunch around 2:50 p.m. After her party left the restaurant, Smith said Harris did not arrive until around 6 p.m.

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A request for comment to the Harris campaign itself also was not returned by press time.

Other local figures who reportedly joined Harris on her day-long swing through western Pennsylvania included Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa., and retired Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis.

Video from an ABC News affiliate from inside Primanti Bros. showed Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff greeting patrons.

Fox News Digital reached out to Primanti Bros.’ main office in Pittsburgh, and was directed to a representative’s email address. That representative did not respond.

Another stop on the tour was also viewed with criticism, as Harris stopped by Sheetz for some Doritos before leaving the region.

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The Biden administration is suing the Altoona-based gas-and-convenience chain for allegedly discriminating against applicants in violation of civil rights laws. 

The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) cited Sheetz’s use of criminal background checks in the hiring process as reason for the violation.

Republican lobbyist David Urban drew attention to that aspect on X, sharing an image of Harris inside a Sheetz, with the caption, “Apparently, KamalaHarris forgot that the Biden Harris Administration is suing Sheetz for requiring criminal background checks of their employees when she visited for some snacks yesterday.”

After the Primanti Bros. debacle, however, DeMarco appeared to try to lower the temperature toward the Pittsburgh mainstay, saying the restaurant should be given some slack.

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“Oftentimes campaigns rent out a place of business for a private party or particular event. Perhaps that’s what happened here? Anyway, I like a good Primanti Bros. ‘hot & cheese’ sandwich so let’s cut them a break.”

DeMarco offered one caveat, quipping that if former President Trump or Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, are not given a similar “affirmative” response if they ever ask to stop in, “I’ll let you know.”

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Vermont

Mountaineers take home opener over North Shore

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Mountaineers take home opener over North Shore


MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – In a pitcher’s duel, the Vermont Mountaineers downed North Shore on Sunday night 3-1 in their home opener to get their first win of the young season.

St. Johnsbury graduate Rex Hauser struck out five batters in 3.2 innings of work.

Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.



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Boston, MA

Expect a brilliant blue sky for Monday with cooler readings. Enjoy it, because the heat returns this week. – The Boston Globe

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Expect a brilliant blue sky for Monday with cooler readings. Enjoy it, because the heat returns this week. – The Boston Globe


A frontal system will push south of the region overnight, allowing for a brief cooldown in our New England weather on Monday before another stretch of heat this week. Overall, it’s going to be dry and significantly warmer than average. I would say that the temperatures are the bigger issue, with very warm conditions expected.

Temperatures on Monday will be in the ideal range, generally in the mid-70s. Dew points will be comfortable, and there won’t be much wind, although at times it may rustle the leaves a bit.

Winds will be noticeable at times on Monday, but will be held below 20 mph for most areas.Boston Globe
Highs across Southern New England will be coolest by the coast on Monday.Boston Globe

Monday night brings some beautiful weather with temperatures in the 50s, maybe even in the upper 40s in the cooler spots. Boston is likely to stay around 60. Certainly great sleeping weather all-around.

As high pressure pushes off the Atlantic Seaboard and the flow of warmer air returns, temperatures will quickly respond, and it’s back to approaching the upper 80s to even near 90 practically every day this week — and it could be even warmer this weekend. It’s worth remembering that an official heat wave is three days in a row of 90-degree weather. It remains to be seen if any parts of Southern New England sees a heat wave, but it’s definitely a possibility. It’s also worth noting that 90 is just random; some days at 87 degrees can certainly feel worse than a 90-degree day, so the theme here is to prepare for warmer and more humid weather this week.

The forecast across Boston for the next seven days.Boston Globe

The drought conditions are almost not worth talking about because until we have a significant shift in the weather pattern, we will continue with a drought for most areas. It may worsen, it may get a little bit better, but we’re definitely in the time of the year where rainfall is more sporadic. The best thing is to remember to water plants and lawns early in the morning, follow any town water bans or restrictions, and avoid planting in the heat.

Our next chance of precipitation comes late Wednesday.

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Showers will return to New England on Wednesday evening.Boston Globe

Greater Boston: Sunny skies both Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures Monday in the mid-70s and Tuesday in the upper 80s.

Central/Western Mass.: Look for brilliant blue skies on Monday with temperatures in the 70s. It’s 83 to 88 on Tuesday with more sunshine.

Southeastern Mass.: Temperatures will be in the mid- to upper 70s on Monday, along with plenty of sunshine. It’ll be in the low to perhaps mid-80s away from the ocean on Tuesday with more sunny skies.

Cape Cod and the islands: Two picture perfect days are on the way with lots of sunshine. Readings will be in the 70s on Monday and approaching 80 on Tuesday except 60s on Nantucket.

Rhode Island: Sunshine on Monday and Tuesday. It’ll be in the 70s on Monday and 80s on Tuesday.

New Hampshire: With readings in the 70s, it’ll be very comfortable on Monday, but heating up to the mid-80s on Tuesday with more sunshine.

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Pittsburg, PA

‘Nonsense’: Country singer hits back with real reason why show was cancelled

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‘Nonsense’: Country singer hits back with real reason why show was cancelled


Morgan Wallen has made plenty of headlines in recent days, but he’s been forced to speak out about “nonsense” rumours after cancelling a recent show. 

The singer, 33, addressed why he cancelled his Pittsburgh show over the weekend on his Instagram stories on Sunday, days after his mid-performance meltdown. 

Country singer Morgan Wallen has hit back at the ‘nonsense’ surrounding his recently cancelled show in Pittsburgh due to wind.  Instagram/@morganwallen

“This morning, my team walked on the bus and told me they had been consulting with local officials and that I should cancel my show in Pittsburgh tonight and I said, ‘Why?’” the country singer explained. 

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“They said that there was going to be strong winds in the area, and I said, ‘OK.’ So, that is what I did in that moment, and I trusted my team.” 

Wallen said that he was aware that the forecasted winds hadn’t hit Pittsburg, but had hit nearby areas in Pennsylvania, which was a big reason why they made the call to cancel. 

“The truth of the matter is, I have a large stage that, in those conditions, could become fatal to a lot of folks around it. So, I did the best I could with the information I had in that moment,” he continued. 

Wallen then hit back at rumours that have been swirling around because he wanted to clear the air. 

“I’ve been seeing a lot of nonsense about me that is simply not true, and I just wanted to clear the air,” he continued. 

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“I think my true fans know that that’s not how I operate in general, but I had to say it.”

Wallen’s video came hours after it was announced that the second Pittsburgh show of his Still The Problem Tour was cancelled. 

“After talking with local officials and my team, there is no choice but to cancel tonight’s show due to severe adverse weather conditions expected throughout the rest of the day and night,” he wrote online. 

“Safety for my fans and crew is the highest priority.” 

Wallen added that refunds would also be available for ticket holders. 

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Morgan Wallen

The singer’s stadium tour will continue until August 1.  Getty

But fans were not impressed and plenty of people slammed him for cancelling the show, even though the weather had reportedly cleared before he would have hit the stage. 

Wallen made headlines earlier this month after an on-stage meltdown when he experienced issues with his piano on stage, flipping it and breaking it in front of the audience. 

Morgan Wallen flipping piano

The country singer was mid-song when the piano malfunctioned, so he pushed it, flipping it.  Instagram/@countrycentral

He was performing the hit Sand In My Boots when the tech issue started and decided to push it over. 

The audience gasped as the piano seemingly broke, before the singer walked off and continued the song a cappella.





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