Homicides in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh saw a stark drop-off last year, with some of the lowest annual totals since the county began tracking monthly homicide totals nearly two decades ago.

Why it matters: The stats were yet another sign that violent crime in the region was declining, further countering narratives that the city and some boroughs were getting more dangerous.

The big picture: Allegheny County reported 65 homicide cases for 2025, a decline from 109 in 2024, according to the medical examiner's office.

• That's the lowest annual homicide figure Allegheny County has posted since 2007, the earliest year the county started tracking homicides.
• County homicides in 2025 dropped 40% compared with 2024.

Zoom in: Homicides within the city of Pittsburgh declined from 42 in 2024 to 35 in 2025 — a 17% decrease, according to a report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).

What they're saying: Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato credits the county's approach of using trusted community members in violence interruption work; increasing investment in police detective work; and funding services including affordable housing and mental health calls.

• "It really is a whole holistic approach to reducing community violence," she said.

Follow the money: The county began investing $50 million over a five-year period starting in 2023, after violent crime rates spiked.

Between the lines: Allegheny County Police assistant superintendent Vic Joseph said the county has been successful in getting illegal firearms off the street and closing homicide cases at a high rate.

• County police seized 127 illegal firearms in 2025, which is 25 more than in 2024, said Joseph.
• County police have made arrests in 78% of last year's homicide cases, and they made arrests in 88% of cases in 2024.
• The national homicide clearance rate was 61% in 2024, according to the FBI.

Pittsburgh police chief Jason Lando said the city's reduction in homicide rates is two-pronged: improved tracking of individuals with a violent record and known for carrying firearms, and working with violence interruption groups, such as REACH, that help to defuse conflicts before they escalate into violence.

The bottom line

Pennsylvania measles cases are on track to eclipse last year as infections rise nationwide.

Why it matters: The state has so far avoided a major outbreak this year, but falling vaccination rates are clearing a path for one of the world's most contagious viruses to make a comeback.

By the numbers: The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed 12 cases in the first two months of this year — all in Lancaster, Montgomery and Chester counties — putting the state on pace to surpass the 16 infections reported statewide last year. All cases were among unvaccinated residents, per the department.

• The state has more than doubled its case count since mid-February.
• There are no reported cases in Allegheny County, which hasn't seen a case since 2019.

Flashback: Last year, U.S. measles cases topped 2,000 for the first time in over 30 years, per CDC data.

The big picture: Declining vaccination rates have contributed to an increase in measles cases, placing the U.S. at risk of losing its long-standing elimination status.

Zoom in: More than half of Pennsylvania's counties, including Allegheny County, don't meet the herd immunity threshold for measles.

Threat level: Infection can raise the risk of pneumonia or inflammation of the brain or lungs, particularly in young children.

The bottom line: Public health departments, including in Allegheny County, are starting to launch targeted campaigns to combat vaccine hesitancy and reverse declining rates.

State of play

🚓 Allegheny County authorities and the Federal Communications Commission are investigating antisemitic remarks and threats against Mayor Corey O'Connor broadcast Monday over public safety radio channels. (WTAE)

• O'Connor's late mother was Jewish.

📰 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette filed a WARN notice Tuesday with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry noting its planned early May closure would affect 171 workers. (TribLive)

🧊 An annual Lunar New Year celebration in Squirrel Hill was canceled amid fears of heightened federal immigration enforcement. (WESA)

🐀 Video taken last week showed a rat near the beer taps at Urban Tap in the South Side. The owner apologized and contacted the county health department. (WPXI)

👀 An Allegheny County committee narrowly advanced a bill Monday to limit how elected officials and county employees cooperate with federal immigration agents. Council could vote on it as early as next week. (Public Source)

Teamsters-affiliated railroad unions plan to amplify their opposition to the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern deal ahead of this year's midterms.

Why it matters: Their muscle in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin could push both the companies and regulators toward concessions needed to satisfy labor.

State of play: President Trump voiced support for the $85 billion merger, which requires the federal Surface Transportation Board's approval, after Union Pacific pledged a donation to his White House ballroom project.

Yes, but: If the Teamsters succeed at turning the transcontinental railroad deal into a political issue, that support could find itself on shakier ground.

What they're saying: "The influence of Congress and the Senate is going to have some leverage on concessions that are put on the application, if it is approved," Mark Wallace, national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, tells Axios.

What we're hearing: The nation's oldest rail union plans to hammer Union Pacific's use of Precision Scheduled Railroading to argue that the deal would squeeze customers.

Friction point