Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, July 28:

Pittsburgh launches 1st Citizens Fire Academy

Pittsburgh’s fire bureau will launch its first Citizens Fire Academy, an opportunity for residents to train alongside firefighters and learn about fire safety and firefighting.

The academy will include seven free classes from Sept. 2 to Oct. 14.

Participants must be at least 18 years old and live in Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg or Ingram. Anyone joining the Citizens Fire Academy should be able to lift about 20 to 30 pounds and will need to complete a medical form.

Registration is open online.

The city similarly hosts a Citizens Police Academy to teach people about what the city’s law enforcement officers do.

$1.2 million worth of lottery winners sold in Allegheny, Fayette

Two winning lottery tickets worth a combined $1.2 million were sold in Allegheny and Fayette counties, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Monday.

The Powerball jackpot is climbing to around $633 million but two lucky tickets already were sold in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

A Powerball ticket worth $1 million was sold at a Walmart in South Union Township. The ticket matched all five white balls drawn but missed the red Powerball.

A Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $200,000 was sold at Thompson Run Market in Ross Township. That ticket matched four of five white balls and the red Powerball, lottery officials said.

The Walmart that sold the $1 million ticket will receive a $5,000 bonus. Thompson Run Market will get a $500 bonus, lottery officials said.

Riverview Park shelter restoration earns state historic preservation award

The city of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy were recognized for the rehabilitation of the historic Valley Refuge Shelter in Riverview Park.

The city and nonprofit received a 2026 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award from Preservation Pennsylvania. Twenty other awardees will also be honored at an award ceremony in York, Pennsylvania in September.

Valley Refuge Shelter was originally built through the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s. City officials said it had deteriorated over decades, and its structural integrity was in jeopardy before the city and parks conservancy partnered to restore the structure.

The restoration effort, officials said, preserved the shelter’s historic character and improved accessibility and safety.

The rehabilitation included restoring masonry, replacing the roof, upgrading electrical systems and renovating restrooms.

“Thanks to our partnership with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, this award recognizes the important investments we make to preserve the history and amenities in our parks,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said in a news release. “The Valley Refuge Shelter is a special place where families and communities come together that can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.”

The Valley Refuge Shelter is one of the most frequently rented shelters in all the city’s parks.

Its renovation was funded by money from Pittsburgh’s park tax, a Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and private support.

“The Valley Refuge Shelter has always been a special place, and it is incredibly rewarding to see the Shelter restored for the Northside community,” Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy President and CEO Catherine Qureshi said.

Pittsburgh’s Civic Leadership Academy returns

Pittsburgh officials on Monday announced the city’s Civic Leadership Academy will return this fall.

The free 10-week course will allow city residents to learn about local government from city leaders.

The program will run from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays from September through December.

The course will include weekly presentations, discussions and site visits with leaders representing various aspects of city government, including the mayor’s office, City Council, the controller’s office, various public safety bureaus, the Office of Management and Budget and authorities overseeing housing, water and redevelopment.

“This is an important program for transparency that also empowers community leadership and partnership with our neighborhoods,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said in a news release.

Applications are being accepted online through Aug. 21. Applicants must be city residents or operate a business or nonprofit or do community impact work within the city.

Pittsburgh Housing Authority scholarship program surpasses $1 million awarded

A program supporting Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh residents has exceeded $1 million in scholarships, officials announced Monday.

The Clean Slate E3 Scholarship Program launched in 2009. The program — with support from nonprofit NEED — awarded 24 new scholarships this year and is offering support to 14 returning students for the upcoming school year. The scholarships total $187,500.

Officials said that has pushed the program’s overall scholarship tally beyond $1 million since its inception.

Clean Slate E3, the nonprofit affiliate of the city’s housing authority, awards up to $4,000, and NEED — a nonprofit college access program — awards up to $1,000 a year for recipients, who can get up to $20,000 in scholarships over four years.

The money comes from Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh employee donations and other contributions.

“The HACP is committed to investing its youth,” HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion said in a news release, highlighting the “monumental milestone” of $1 million in scholarships. “We are proud of our youth who are putting int his hard work to secure bright futures, and are happy to help them by being a place to live and a path to launch.”

Housing authority residents who live in low-income public housing or use the Housing Choice Voucher Program can apply if they are graduating high school or continuing their college education with a GPA of at least 2.5