Hemingway’s Cafe in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood is closing
AND THEN ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, A SHOOTING COMING UP. WHY? COUNTY POLICE SAY THE TWO INCIDENTS ARE CONNECTED JUST HOURS AFTER A DEADLY SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS, PROTESTERS HERE IN PITTSBURGH ARE DEMANDING STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS KEEP ICE AGENTS OUT OF THE CITY. COMING UP, OFFICIALS PLANS MOVING FORWARD. THE END OF AN ERA. THE PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE, ANNOUNCING ITS CLOSURE IN MAY. IT’S A PIECE OF THE CITY’S FABRIC REACTION FROM EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE LOOKING FOR NEW WORK. AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON, THE PENGUINS ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLAYOFF HUNT. WHAT CAPTAIN SIDNEY CROSBY SAYS IT WILL TAKE TO MAKE A PUSH FOR THE STANLEY CUP. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR THIS MORNING STARTS NOW. NICE TO TALK ABOUT THE PENS. OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN SO MUCH ON THE STEELERS, SO LET’S HOPE BOTH TEAMS CAN GET IT DONE THIS YEAR. PENS GOING FOR A SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN TONIGHT. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS FIRST FULL WEEK OF THE NEW YEAR. IT’S FEELING GOOD OUT THERE. ASHLEY. ELENA, HAPPY TO TELL YOU IT IS CALM AND QUIET ON OUR ROADWAYS, AT LEAST AS WE’RE GETTING STARTED AT 6:00 THIS MORNING. 79 IS WIDE OPEN AFTER THAT LANDSLIDE YESTERDAY. SO GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE COMING IN FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY. YEAH, NO WEATHER ISSUES AT ALL, IF ANYTHING. JUST A LITTLE BIT COLDER THAN YESTERDAY. BUT WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS WARM UP AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE DAY TODAY AND INTO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. WE’RE TALKING UPPER 50S TO LOW 60. SO A LITTLE DOSE OF SOME SPRINGTIME FEEL. IT DOESN’T LAST LONG THOUGH. SUNDAY WE’RE GOING TO BE BACK INTO THE 30S WITH A FEW FLAKES FLYING AROUND, BUT OVERALL WE WILL HAVE SOME RAIN SHOWERS. IMPACT DAY ON FRIDAY AND AGAIN EXPECTING TO SEE THOSE RAIN SHOWERS ROLL IN AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE MORNING. NOW. RIGHT NOW OUR VISIBILITY IS LOW IN SOME SPOTS, ESPECIALLY UP INTO BUTLER, EVEN INTO ARMSTRONG AND INDIANA. VENANGO CLARION COUNTY, EVEN DOWN INTO GARRETT COUNTY, SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF PATCHY FOG IN PARTS OF WASHINGTON AND GREENE DOWN ABOUT A FIVE MILE VISIBILITY. BUT ALL IN ALL, NOT TOO BAD. 33 DEGREES AS YOU WAKE UP IN PITTSBURGH, 34 IN GREENSBURG, 32, NEWCASTLE, 30 IN WASHINGTON AND BEAVER, 36 RIGHT NOW INTO KITTANNING. SO OVERALL, WE ARE DEALING WITH SOME COLDER AIR IN PLACE. WE’LL HAVE SOME SUNSHINE MIXING IN TODAY, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, BUT ALSO EXPECTING THOSE TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB INTO THE LOW 50S. ELENA. THANKS, ASHLEY PITTSBURGH’S ACTION TRAFFIC. LIKE I SAID, OFF TO A REALLY GOOD START ON THIS THURSDAY MORNING. LOTS OF GREEN ON THIS FLOW MAP AND REALLY KNOW WHETHER IMPACTS YOU’RE GOING TO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT TODAY FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE OR THE EVENING COMMUTE FOR THAT MATTER. A 15 MINUTE RIDE OUT TO THE PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. AS YOU TRAVEL OUTBOUND ON THE PARKWAY WEST. FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A FLIGHT TO CATCH, WE’RE SEEING THE VOLUME PICK UP A LITTLE BIT, AS EXPECTED AT THIS POINT, BUT YOU’RE STILL MOVING NICELY UP. GREEN TREE HILL PARKWAY EAST LOOKS GREAT AS YOU PASS WILKINSBURG. HOWEVER, ONE MORE DAY OF THOSE BEAM DELIVERIES FOR THE WEEK THAT’S OCCURRING BETWEEN 10:00 THIS MORNING INTO THIS AFTERNOON, YOU CAN EXPECT UP TO 15 MINUTE TRAFFIC STOPPAGES SEVERAL TIMES IN THAT FOUR HOUR WINDOW. FOR ANYONE DRIVING INBOUND, YOU’LL BE STOPPED AT THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL TUNNEL TIMES GREEN ACROSS THE BOARD, THREE MINUTES ON BOTH THE PARKWAY WEST AND EAST. MICHELLE. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. CNN IS REPORTING THAT GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO WILL LAUNCH HIS BID FOR A SECOND TERM TODAY. AND THAT INCLUDES A STOP IN PITTSBURGH. HE’LL HOLD DEMOCRATIC RALLIES HERE IN PITTSBURGH AND PHILADELPHIA AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. A REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED. THAT’S STATE TREASURER STACY GARRITY. WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT STORY THROUGHOUT THE MORNING FOR YOU. AND IT IS 603. AND RIGHT NOW, A KIDNAPING AND SHOOTING INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY SPANNING TWO ALLEGHENY COUNTY COMMUNITIES. INVESTIGATORS TELL US THIS ALL STARTED WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER REPORTED HIS BROTHER MISSING FROM PLUM. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER LILY COLEMAN JOINS US LIVE FROM COUNTY POLICE HEADQUARTERS. AND LILY, THE VICTIM WAS FOUND SHOT IN PITTSBURGH’S GREENFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT ELSE DO WE KNOW? WELL, DETAILS ARE STILL COMING IN. GOOD MORNING TO YOU BOTH. WE KNOW THAT ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE ARE NOW HANDLING THIS INVESTIGATION. PITTSBURGH POLICE HANDING IT OVER TO THEM OVERNIGHT. THEY TELL US AT THIS POINT IT IS STILL ACTIVE AND ONGOING, AND THEY ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS. AGAIN, TWO DIFFERENT INCIDENTS HERE. WHAT STARTED WITH THAT ARMED KIDNAPING IN PLUM, ENDING WITH A SHOOTING IN THE CITY’S GREENFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD. AND POLICE BELIEVE THE TWO ARE CONNECTED. IT STARTED AROUND 6:00 LAST NIGHT WHEN PITTSBURGH POLICE WERE NOTIFIED OF AN ARMED KIDNAPING IN PLUM. A FAMILY MEMBER TOLD POLICE THAT HIS BROTHER HAD BEEN KIDNAPED BY TWO ARMED SUSPECTS WHO WERE DEMANDING MONEY. PITTSBURGH POLICE BEGAN TRACKING THE VICTIM’S CELL PHONE, WHICH WAS REGISTERING IN THE HAZELWOOD AREA. IT WAS ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THOUGH, THAT THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE. SOMEONE CALLED 911 SAYING THEY HEARD SEVERAL MALES FIGHTING, FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF GUNSHOTS. POLICE RESPONDED TO THE AREA OF DEELY STREET IN THE CITY’S GREENFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT’S WHERE THEY FOUND THE MAN SHOT IN THE CHEST. NOW, THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BUT WAS ALERT AND CONSCIOUS AND WAS ALSO ABLE TO TELL POLICE THAT THE SUSPECTS FLED THE SCENE AFTER THAT SHOOTING. TWO SUSPECTS IS WHAT POLICE ARE. TELL US THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THIS MORNING. AGAIN, ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE ARE HANDLING THIS INVESTIGATION. WE’RE HOPING TO GET AN UPDATE FROM THEM ON THIS CASE A LITTLE LATER TODAY. JUST AS SOON AS WE HAVE THOSE DETAILS, WE’LL LET YOU KNOW BOTH ON AIR AND ONLINE@WTAE.COM COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY, LIVE FROM COUNTY POLICE HEADQUARTERS. I’M LILY COLEMAN, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. THANK YOU LILY. ALL NEW THIS MORNING IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, AN EIGHT HOUR POLICE STANDOFF FINALLY CAME TO AN END AFTER THE SWAT TEAM MOVED IN TO A NORTH BRADDOCK NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR CREW ON THE SCENE BETWEEN 7 P.M. LAST NIGHT AND 330 THIS MORNING SAW POLICE PUT ONE PERSON IN HANDCUFFS. THE SCENE WAS RIGHT NEAR NORTH STREET AND KIRKPATRICK AVENUE. RIGHT NOW WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO BRING YOU ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT LED TO THE STANDOFF AND ARREST A SAD SITUATION IN NORTH HUNTINGTON, WESTMORELAND COUNTY. SIX DOGS DIED AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT AT BOWSER’S DOG SERVICES JUST BEFORE 10:00 LAST NIGHT. THE LARIMER VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF TELLS US. ONE PERSON WAS HURT TRYING TO SAVE THE DOGS. NO WORD YET ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. TURNING NOW TO A MAJOR NATIONAL HEADLINE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY AN ICE AGENT YESTERDAY. WE DO WANT TO WARN YOU THAT SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND THE VIDEO DISTURBING. SHE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 37 YEAR-OLD RENEE NICOLE. GOOD. SHE WAS A U.S. CITIZEN. VIDEO FROM THE SCENE SHOWS OFFICERS APPROACHING AN SUV THAT WAS BLOCKING THE ROAD, TELLING THE DRIVER TO EXIT, AND THEN SHOTS WERE FIRED. THE AGENCY SAYS THE OFFICER FEARED FOR HIS LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM SAYS THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING HIS TRAINING. ICE AGENTS REPEATEDLY ORDERED HER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE REFUSED TO OBEY THEIR COMMANDS. SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO WEAPONIZE HER VEHICLE, AND SHE ATTEMPTED TO RUN A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OVER THE NARRATIVE THAT ICE IS SPINNING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS WAS THAT THIS WAS PURELY SELF-DEFENSE, AND THAT THE ACT BY THE VICTIM WAS SOME SORT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM. THAT, AND I’LL SAY IT AGAIN, IS. VIGILS WERE HELD ACROSS THE COUNTRY LAST NIGHT, AND PEOPLE FILLED THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS TO MOURN RENEE. GOOD. LOCALLY, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS GATHERED FOR A VIGIL AT THE CITY COUNTY BUILDING DOWNTOWN LAST NIGHT. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER AVA RASH JOINS US LIVE FROM THE NORTH SHORE THIS MORNING. EVA, LET’S TALK MORE ABOUT THE OVERALL MESSAGE. YEAH. OVERALL, THERE WERE DOZENS OF PEOPLE THERE WHO WERE DEMANDING THAT STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS KEEP ICE AGENTS OUT OF PITTSBURGH. WE’RE GOING TO SHOW YOU VIDEO OF THOSE PROTESTERS. NOW, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THEIR SIGNS UP, SOME SAYING, STOP ICE TERROR. NOW, ORGANIZERS CAME WITH A LIST OF DEMANDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. JUST HOURS AFTER 37 YEAR-OLD RENEE NICOLE GOOD WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY AN ICE AGENT. THE FIRST WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS PITTSBURGH’S NEW MAYOR, COREY O’CONNOR, ASKING HIM TO UPHOLD A NO COOPERATION WITH ICE AGREEMENT THAT WAS ALSO BACKED UP BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE ABIGAIL SALISBURY. SHE SAYS SHE INTRODUCED A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE THAT WOULD BAN STATE POLICE FROM WORKING WITH ICE. THERE IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNOR SHAPIRO TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT EXECUTIVE ORDERS CAN BE RESCINDED, SO IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ACTUALLY CODIFY THESE LAWS. WE DID REACH OUT TO MAYOR COREY O’CONNOR’S OFFICE, BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK JUST YET. FOR NOW, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY. LIVE ON THE NORTH SHORE AVA RASH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES ON AIR AND ONLINE AS THIS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. IN THE MEANTIME, BREAKING NEWS TO TALK ABOUT NOW OUT OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND SIX MORE ARE INJURED AFTER A MASS SHOOTING OUTSIDE OF A MORMON CHURCH THERE LAST NIGHT. THREE PEOPLE ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR SUSPECTS RIGHT NOW, AND THE FBI’S AREA FIELD OFFICE IS HELPING WITH THE INVESTIGATION. AFTER KEEPING READERS INFORMED ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA FOR CENTURIES, THE PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN FOR GOOD IN MAY. AND JUST YESTERDAY MORNING, THE PUBLISHER ASKED THE COURT TO FREEZE AN ORDER REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO CHANGE ITS HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNION WORKERS. AND THAT’S WHEN A PRERECORDED VIDEO FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS WAS RELEASED, ANNOUNCING THE PAPER’S CLOSURE. IN A STATEMENT, BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS WROTE IN PART, QUOTE, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS HAS LOST MORE THAN 350 MILLION IN CASH, OPERATING THE POST-GAZETTE. DESPITE THOSE EFFORTS, THE REALITIES FACING LOCAL JOURNALISM MAKE CONTINUED CASH LOSSES AT THIS SCALE NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE. I REMEMBER MY FIRST DAY WORKING HERE, COMING UP THE ELEVATOR AND SEEING THE PULITZER PRIZE OUR PAPER WON FOR THE TREE OF LIFE SHOOTING COVERAGE. THIS PLACE MEANS SOMETHING TO THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND THE CITY IS LESSER WITHOUT IT. AS OF NOW, THE POST-GAZETTE IS EXPECTED TO PUBLISH ITS LAST PAPER PHYSICALLY AND DIGITALLY, ON MAY 3RD. IS EXTENDED INTO MONDAY. THE STEELERS DID NOT PRACTICE YESTERDAY AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD. SO THEY GOT AN EXTRA DAY OF REST. THEY WILL RETURN TO THE PRACTICE FIELD TODAY TO CONTINUE THEIR PREP WORK FOR THE HOUSTON TEXANS, WHO VISIT ACRISURE STADIUM ON MONDAY NIGHT. WE HAVE SPECIAL COVERAGE LEADING UP TO THE GAME TOMORROW NIGHT. OUR ASHLEY AND ANDREW STOCKEY HOST BLACK AND GOLD POSTSEASON AT 8 P.M. ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS. THEN MONDAY NIGHT IT’S KELLY SASSO AND ANDREW LIVE FROM ACRISURE STADIUM FOR BLACK AND GOLD. PRIMETIME BEGINNING AT 7 P.M. THAT LEADS TO KICKOFF RIGHT HERE ON WTAE CHANNEL 4 AT 815. AND THEN STAY WITH US AFTERWARDS FOR POSTGAME COVERAGE. WELL, MERCHANDISE STORES, THEY ARE RIDING THE STEELERS POSTSEASON WAVE THIS WEEK. AFC NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS GEAR THAT IS HAS BEEN A HOT ITEM IN OUR SHELDON INGRAM STOPPED BY A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS YESTERDAY TO GAUGE THE ACTIVITY. THE DIVISION CHAMPS SHIRT WAS A VERY HOT SELLER AND IN DEMAND SOLD OUT ONLINE PRETTY QUICK. SOLD OUT ONCE WE GOT INTO THE STORE. SOLD OUT REAL QUICK. IT’S BEEN VERY HOT. ITEM. HOW QUICKLY DID THEY SELL OUT? OH, AS SOON AS WE GOT IT, WE PROBABLY DIDN’T MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EVENTS PLANNED IN THE DAYS AHEAD FOR FANS, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE DETAILS ON WTAE.COM. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GAME. BUT TODAY BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, ASHLEY, I THINK YOU SAID TODAY IS GOING TO BE WHAT, THE NICEST DAY OF THE WEEK AT LEAST. YEAH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MILD TEMPERATURES AND STAYING DRY. BUT WE DO HAVE SOME AREAS OF DENSE FOG IN SOME SPOTS THIS MORNING. CHECK OUT INDIANA REPORTING A ZERO MILE VISIBILITY AROUND 1 TO 3 MILES THE FURTHER NORTH YOU LIVE. BUT DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH LOOKS GOOD, AND SEEING SOME LIGHTER FOG INTO WASHINGTON AND GREEN PORTIONS OF WESTMORELAND CHECKING OUT THE BUS STOP FORECAST TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE COLDER SIDE, LOW TO MID 30S, BUT STAYING DRY WITH EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE. WE WILL PEEK INTO THE LOW 50S AS KIDS ARE COMING HOME WIT
Hemingway’s Cafe in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood is closing
Updated: 5:40 PM EST Jan 8, 2026
It’s the end of an era in Oakland: Hemingway’s Cafe announced it will close in May.Video above: Pittsburgh’s Top Headlines: Jan. 8, 2026The decision to close the longtime bar and restaurant on Forbes Avenue came after “much thought and with heavy hearts,” according to a social media post Thursday.”Since opening in 1983, Hemingway’s has been more than just a bar — it’s been a home, a meeting place, and an Oakland staple for generations of students, alumni, locals, and friends at the heart of the University of Pittsburgh,” the post said. “We are incredibly sad to be closing this chapter, but we are deeply grateful for over 40 years of memories, laughter, late nights, friendships, and traditions shared within these walls.”Before Hemingway’s shuts the doors, customers are invited to stop and find their picture on the wall and share their favorite memories.”Thank you for making Hemingway’s what it has been for over four decades. Once a Hems regular, always a Hems regular,” their post said. “I truly appreciate every employee we’ve had and every customer we’ve served. I’ve had a ball !!”
PITTSBURGH —
It’s the end of an era in Oakland: Hemingway’s Cafe announced it will close in May.
Video above: Pittsburgh’s Top Headlines: Jan. 8, 2026
The decision to close the longtime bar and restaurant on Forbes Avenue came after “much thought and with heavy hearts,” according to a social media post Thursday.
“Since opening in 1983, Hemingway’s has been more than just a bar — it’s been a home, a meeting place, and an Oakland staple for generations of students, alumni, locals, and friends at the heart of the University of Pittsburgh,” the post said. “We are incredibly sad to be closing this chapter, but we are deeply grateful for over 40 years of memories, laughter, late nights, friendships, and traditions shared within these walls.”
Before Hemingway’s shuts the doors, customers are invited to stop and find their picture on the wall and share their favorite memories.
“Thank you for making Hemingway’s what it has been for over four decades. Once a Hems regular, always a Hems regular,” their post said. “I truly appreciate every employee we’ve had and every customer we’ve served. I’ve had a ball !!”