Residents of Springdale Borough are fighting back against a proposed 565,000-square-foot data center that could soon be built near their homes.

Why it matters: Springdale's ordinances do not include provisions for data centers, leaving room for violations surrounding pollution, noise, electricity and water usage, according to advocates from the environmental group Protect PT.

The big picture: Allegheny DC Property Company submitted plans to construct an AI data center at the site of the former Cheswick Generating Station on the banks of the Allegheny River back in August, promising to create up to 1,000 temporary jobs during construction and up to 100 positions once operational.

Driving the news: The Springdale Planning Commission unanimously approved the project at a meeting last week.

• The commission recommended developers make adjustments to the application to address noise levels and relocate site access away from a residential area of Duquesne Avenue, according to TribLive.

Zoom in: Conditional use approval requires that developers prove they will meet criteria in the borough's zoning ordinance.

What they're saying: Residents at the community meeting had sometimes contentious debates about the long-term impacts of the center, as well as the proposed 200,000-square-foot cooling plant.

• "I come to every meeting, stood on every corner," longtime Springdale resident Sharon Spirk tells Axios. "I don't want it in our backyard, and I feel like we're up against a brick wall."
• "It mirrors the fracking boom that happened 15 years ago," said Jim Cirilano, community advocate for Protect PT. "The communities were completely unprepared, and their local ordinances didn't address it at all."

The other side: In a statement sent to Axios, Ray Zaborney, who represents Allegheny PropCo, said they've been committed to transparency and dialogue with the community.

• The statement said that to address concerns about the noise level and water usage, "We tasked our engineers with not only meeting the industrial site requirements but we are confident we can exceed them."
• The representatives also said the project will not contribute to rising electricity rates locally.

What's next: The proposal moves to the borough council for approval. A meeting is scheduled for Monday at 5:30pm.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds defeated Tulsa FC in dramatic fashion over the weekend to win the USL Championship cup.

Why it matters: The Hounds clinched their first title in the club's 26-year history with a victory in Oklahoma last Saturday, delivering Pittsburgh its first professional soccer championship.

The results: A scoreless 0-0 draw through regular and extra time meant the game would come down to penalty kicks.

• The Hounds won 5-3 on PKs, with Beto Ydrach delivering the championship-winning kick.
• Watch it here, followed by a celebration with traveling Hounds fans.

Context: The Riverhounds play in the USL Championship league, a professional league considered a lower tier of talent than Major League Soccer.

Stunning stat: The Hounds' defense dominated all playoffs, not allowing a single goal in four post-season matches.

• The team has not allowed a goal since Oct. 11.

🚨 At least two bomb threats were made against Rep. Chris Deluzio's local offices in Carnegie and Beaver County last Friday.

• The threats came as Deluzio and a group of other congressional Democrats with national security backgrounds have faced surging threats after President Trump said comments they made are "punishable by DEATH!" (Axios)

🐈 Paws Across Pittsburgh is partnering with Allegheny City Brewing to launch a free outdoor microchip scanning station on the North Side. The rescue launched its first public scanner in Tarentum. (WPXI)

💰 Allegheny County received nearly $11 million from the state for various economic development projects including homeownership-driven renovation in Etna, upgrades at the Pittsburgh Zoo, homeless shelter expansion, and arts-focused plans across the county. (Press release)

🧱 Lego resale store Bricks & Minifigs opened a location in Zelienople over the weekend. The chain plans to open two more Pennsylvania stores in the future. (Pittsburgh Business Times)

🌆 Massachusetts-based WS Development has acquired Station Square. The group has history of mixed-use development with a focus on retail. (Press release)

Calling all local news enthusiasts! We aim to be your go-to source for timely, relevant stories that impact our community.

Help us continue our mission to keep you informed by becoming an Axios Pittsburgh member today.

• Contributions now begin at just $25+ a year, you'll receive exclusive perks and support our newsroom's growth.

Join the club and make a difference!

Pittsburgh's entry-level wage growth is increasing faster than the typical city.

Why it matters: The Steel City's early career wages grew 4.9% annually on average between 2020 and October 2025, according to Glassdoor's report, beating Rust Belt contemporaries like Cincinnati (4.4%), Detroit (3.9%) and Milwaukee (4.6%).

How it works: That's based on more than 5 million salary data points from Glassdoor users "with 0-4 years of relevant experience in their current job from January 2020 through October 31, 2025," and among metro areas with at least 1,000 salary data points per year.

Context: The median growth rate across all cities studied was 4.6%, according to Glassdoor.

Zoom in: Pittsburgh's average 2025 earnings for workers with 0-4 years of experience are $63,300, growing 27% since 2020.

• This entry-level wage growth contrasts with the region's overall wage growth, which is lagging compared to national averages.

Zoom out: Provo, Utah, led the nation in 7% growth, followed by Boise, Idaho (+5.5%), and Orlando, Florida (+5.4%).

Go deeper