Thursday already!

• 🏈 On this day in 1892, William "Pudge" Heffelfinger received $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, becoming the first documented professional football player.

🌧️ Today's weather: Light rain likely, high near 55.

🎧 Sounds like: "The Hardest Button To Button," by The White Stripes. Jack White plays the Wylie tonight at 8pm.

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Today’s newsletter is 996 words — a 4-minute read.

Local police have become a powerful force in federal immigration enforcement across Western Pennsylvania, per a new report from U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio's office.

Why it matters: The report reveals ICE detentions were concentrated in communities where local police cooperate with federal immigration enforcement under 287(g) agreements, regardless of immigrant population size.

The big picture: The office of Deluzio (D-Aspinwall) analyzed ICE detentions in his 17th Congressional District, covering Beaver County and parts of suburban Allegheny County.

• It used ICE records from Jan. 1 to Aug. 6, 2026, published by the Deportation Data Project.

By the numbers: Of the 209 ICE detentions recorded in PA-17 during the reporting period, 54% were associated with 287(g) agreements, per the report.

• Beaver County accounted for nearly two-thirds of the district's ICE detentions, despite having just a quarter of the population of PA-17's Allegheny County portion.
• The Beaver County Sheriff's Office has a 287(g) agreement, as do several local police departments in the county.
• Beaver County has a foreign-born population of less than 2%, compared with 6.6% in Allegheny County.

Zoom in: The district's Allegheny County portion recorded 75 ICE detentions, 27% tied to 287(g) agreements. Three communities — Coraopolis, Stowe and Springdale — participated in the program during the reporting period. Coraopolis and Stowe have since withdrawn.

• Elsewhere in Allegheny County, Glassport, Pitcairn and Versailles have since joined the program.

The other side: Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy tells Axios that although his office signed an agreement, it has not yet acted on it. He suggested much of the activity may stem from local police departments.

• Guy said his office runs the Regional Booking Center at the Beaver County Jail, where deputies process arrests and turn over detainees to ICE upon request. He said that's a longstanding practice that predates the agreement.

Context: Western Pennsylvania has seen an escalation in federal immigration enforcement under President Trump's second administration, including detentions of asylum seekers with work permits and no criminal records.

• Roughly 67% of PA-17 detainees and 69% of the 921 detained across 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties had no convictions or pending charges, per the new report.

What they're saying: The agreements "are increasing ICE detention rates in our communities while redirecting local law enforcement time and resources into federal immigration enforcement that is overwhelmingly targeting people who pose no risk to our communities," Deluzio said.

What we're watching: Whether Democrats' midterm victories will influence immigration policies.

Go deeper

Pittsburgh's beloved "Star Wars" vending machine was returned to its Mt. Washington perch and balance was restored to the force.

Why it matters: The "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" Pepsi machine of viral fame was taken across the country for repairs in a social media influencer stunt.

• Locals were wondering if it would ever come home.

The latest: The vending machine is back outside Pittsburgh Firehouse 27 at 96 Virginia Ave. and is doling out pops, according to a Tuesday post by Pittsburgh Public Safety.

Context: In August, Los Angeles-based content creator Braeden Days swapped out the original vending machine for an artistic rendition, said he was repairing the original, and made several fictitious videos about how he was "stealing" it.

Friction point: The stunt angered a lot of Pittsburghers, who said it ruined the spirit of the machine.

Zoom in: The returned vending machine now has a "Jar Jar Juice" option in reference to the polarizing character Jar Jar Binks, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety.

The bottom line: Unlike the never-ending content of the sci-fi franchise, this saga is finally over.

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💰 Walmart will pay a record $7.8 million to settle alleged child labor violations at Pennsylvania stores, the state announced Monday.

• The settlement follows an investigation into injuries among underage workers. (PennLive)

🍳 Joe's Rusty Nail Restaurant in Bellevue will close at the end of the year after 48 years as longtime owner Joe Elbicki Jr. retires. (TribLive)

🗣️ Gov. Josh Shapiro told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Sen. John Fetterman must regain voters' trust if he runs for reelection as a Democrat in 2028.

• "I think there will be a robust primary challenge," Shapiro said. "There is no question, people are lining up to run." (NBC)

Saturday

Go prowlin' in Lawrenceville during its first Cat Crawl.

• 📍 Starts at Iron City Boulders, 143 51st St. Full route here.
• ⏰ 11am-2pm
• 💰 Free; $5 donation encouraged

Sample homebrewed beers, ciders and meads at Brewing for a Cause, benefiting Animal Friends.

• 📍 Velum Fermentation, 2120 Jane St., South Side
• ⏰ 3pm-6pm
• 💰 $25

Get into the holiday spirit early with a tree lighting and Santa visits at SouthSide Works' Holiday Glow.

• 📍 SouthSide Works town square, South Side
• ⏰ 5pm-7:30pm
• 💰 Free!

Tour historic homes decked out for the holidays at the Glenshaw Century Club's Holiday House Tour.

• 📍Grab a map at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1719 Mount Royal Blvd., then hop on a free shuttle between homes. Stop by the church's free Holiday Craft Fair after the tour.
• ⏰ 10am-3pm
• 💰 Tickets are $25 through Friday; $30 on event day.

Sunday

Get more festive at the Waterfront's Let It Glow celebration. Afterward, try Grinch-inspired food and drinks at Shorty's Social Kitchen's Whoville.

• 📍 149 W. Bridge St., Homestead
• ⏰ 3pm-6pm
• 💰 Free!

🥂 Chrissy is packing for her last wedding of the year in St. Louis.

💨 Ryan used liquid smoke to add flavor to some canned chicken for a gumbo recipe and it worked really well.

Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing this newsletter.