Axios Pittsburgh

July 17, 2025
Thursday, let's go!
⛈️ Today's weather: Chance of thunderstorms, highs near 90.
🎧 Sounds like: "Midnight Rider," by The Allman Brothers Band.
Today's newsletter is 846 words, a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: "Preventable failures" in Butler
The U.S. Secret Service denied multiple requests for additional resources from President Trump's detail during his campaign, per a new report on the Butler assassination attempt.
The big picture: The report released Sunday from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs detailed a "disturbing pattern of communications failures and negligence" that led to the death of a rally-goer and sparked intense scrutiny into Secret Service protocols.
What they're saying: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), chairman of the committee that compiled the report, said on CBS News Sunday that former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle "did not tell the truth" when she testified to Congress that no security assets were denied for the rally.
- The report said the agency's headquarters denied or left unfulfilled at least 10 requests from Trump's team for resources during his campaign, including for counter-drone equipment and counter-sniper personnel.
- For the Butler rally, the committee did not find an "explicit denial" for counter-drone assets, but said an agent revealed in an interview that a request was denied over the phone — a report that "was corroborated by documentation from (Secret Service)."
Context: The report arrived one year after a gunman shot at Trump while he was giving a speech during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Grounds.
- Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief attending the event, was killed while shielding his family from the gunman.
- Several reports have since revealed failures in security planning and execution, communications breakdowns and tech issues that preceded the shooting.
Flashback: Cheatle, amid blistering scrutiny and bipartisan calls to step aside, resigned from her post last July after a grilling on Capitol Hill.
- Six agents were suspended in connection with their conduct on the day of the attempted assassination.
- In December, a House panel concluded the incident was "preventable."
The bottom line: Comperatore "could have possibly been saved by having better security that day," Paul said.
2. The hidden cost of homeownership in Pa.

Pennsylvania homeowners spend an average of $17,162 a year on upkeep and other "hidden expenses," per a Bankrate study.
Why it matters: Overlooked costs, beyond mortgage payments, can surprise unprepared homeowners.
By the numbers: Across the U.S., the average annual cost of owning a single-family home is $21,400 this year.
- That sum includes property taxes, insurance, utilities/energy, internet/cable and maintenance.
Zoom in: East and West Coast states — where home values and property taxes run high — usually see the highest "hidden" homeownership costs, per the analysis.
- Costs are generally lower in Southern and Midwestern states.
The big picture: Inflation and the nation's aging housing stock have pushed annual maintenance costs to roughly $8,800, the steepest expense Bankrate tracked.
- Meanwhile, more frequent natural disasters, plus mounting costs to rebuild homes after, have hiked insurance costs.
- Electric and gas bills are also on the rise: The U.S. Energy Administration said they've increased by almost 30% since 2021.
The bottom line: "Buying is just the beginning," researchers wrote in the report. "The squeeze on wallets intensifies after one becomes a homeowner."
3. The Bridge: "The Pitt" nabs 13 Emmy nominations
🩺 HBO Max's Pittsburgh-based medical drama "The Pitt" received 13 Emmy nominations, including best drama, lead actor in a drama for Noah Wyle, and supporting actress in a drama for Katherine LaNasa. (TribLive)
✈️ Hammer Made, a men's clothing retailer, opened yesterday in Concourse A at Pittsburgh International Airport, joining a wave of new shops and restaurants. (Press release)
👹 Burgatory is selling a strawberry milkshake based on the popular Labubu monster toys that's topped with a Labubu-inspired garnish. The Labubu Berry shake is available today through July 23 or until it sells out. (Patch)
4. Weekender: Sunflowers and free music
Friday
Explore 75 bands, art vendors and three dozen food trucks at the Northside Music Festival Friday-Sunday.
- 📍Deutschtown, North Side
- ⏰ Lineup here
- 💵 Free
Saturday
Pick sunflowers and take photos in sprawling fields at the Schwirian Farm Sunflower Festival.
- 📍392 William Penn Road, Monongahela
- ⏰ 10am-8pm
- 💵 $5 per car
Dance, eat and celebrate summer at Vibes Under the Bridge at The Waterfront in Homestead with live music, a beer garden and kids' activities.
- 📍Under the Homestead Grays Bridge
- ⏰ 5pm-9pm
- 💵 Free
Sunday
Treat yourself to a Sunday of classical music featuring Bach, Beethoven and more at Chamber Music Pittsburgh on Mellon Park's lawn.
- 📍Fifth and Shady avenues, Point Breeze
- ⏰ 10:30am-12pm
- 💵 Free
5. 🛤️ 2 photos to go: Train expansion progress
All aboard, a second train to Pittsburgh is on its way.
Why it matters: We are poised to get a second daily roundtrip to New York City via Harrisburg, but upgrades must be made along the Pennsylvanian Amtrak route in order to avoid conflicts with freight rail.
Context: Norfolk Southern owns the tracks between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, and it agreed to make upgrades in a $200 million deal with PennDOT.
The crux of those upgrades includes adding another set of tracks in select chokepoints along the route (like the one above in Johnstown) so Amtrak trains can easily move aside as freight goes by, which should shorten delays.
What's next: The second daily Pennsylvanian service is scheduled to begin operation in late 2026, according to Western Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail, though federal funding conflicts could complicate things.
🚲 Chrissy is impressed by people who bike the more than 300 miles from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
🤒 Ryan is out sick today.
✌️ Alexis will be back Friday!
Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing this newsletter.
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