The dash kicks off on March 14 just before the St. Patrick's Day parade with a choice of a 5K or a one mile family run.

Registration is open online. 

Will you answer the Salvation Army's call to help families in need this holiday season? 

The organization is now accepting donations and applications for its Angel Tree program.

If you're raising a talented artist, you have the chance to have their work showcased statewide.

A new contest is aiming to create a cover for a new financial literacy activity book that will help students and caregivers learn to plan for their financial future.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can participate.

More grocery stores are pulling pasta salads from their shelves due to possible listeria contamination.

Giant Eagle, Walmart, and Trader Joe's are all recalling pasta salad meals.

If you have them, you should throw them away or return them to the store for a refund.

To learn more, click here. 

Want to enter the Pennsylvania Pumpkin Palooza? Check it out right here. 

You can cast your vote for the Mister Rogers stamps to be reissued online. 

The serial numbers for the stolen radios are: #579CWZ4881 and #756CYH0908

Click here for more from the Oakdale Hose Company.

Wait Until 8th

The Wait Until 8th pledge promises not to give your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. More information on this pledge can be found here.

PA Unplugged

PA Unplugged is working towards a "cultural shift around electronic devices and social media and their impact on childhood and adolescence." More information can be found here.

Several Pittsburgh-area Verizon Wireless stores will give away free backpacks to families on Sunday as part of the 13th annual "School Rocks Backpack Giveaway" event.

The backpack giveaways begin at 1 p.m.

A full list of participating locations can be found below.

• 3113 Green Garden Rd. Ste 310, Aliquippa, PA
• 4678 William Flynn Hwy. Unit 1, Allison Park, PA
• 242 Chippewa Towne Centre Walmart Plaza, Beaver Falls, PA
• 208 Resort Plaza Dr., Blairsville, PA
• 4225 Brownsville Rd Ste 3., Brentwood, PA
• 170 Bon Aire Shopping Center, Butler, PA
• 6750 Hollywood Blvd., Delmont, PA
• 2030 Mackenzie Way, Ste 600, Cranberry Township, PA
• 500 Grandview Crossing Drive Suite 80, Gibsonia, PA
• 5 Hilltop Plaza, Kittanning, PA
• 2701 Sharkys Dr., Ste B, Latrobe, PA
• 397 Hyde Park Road, Leechburg, PA
• 1600 Washington Rd. Ste C, Mt Lebanon, PA
• 92 Highland Mall Shoppes, Natrona Heights, PA
• 100 Tarentum Bridge Road, New Kensington, PA
• 948 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA
• 9028 St Simon Way Lowe's Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA
• 3470 William Penn Hwy, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA
• 6010 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
• 2755 E. Carson Street, C 109, Pittsburgh, PA
• 12001 Perry Hwy., Wexford, PA
• 42 Trinity Point Drive, Washington, PA
• 1625 S. Braddock Avenue, Suite #0208, Pittsburgh, PA
• 4815 Centre Ave. Ste 105, Pittsburgh, PA
• 874 Butler St., Ste. 1, Pittsburgh, PA
• 320 Greengate Centre Circle, Greensburg, PA
• 38 Clarion Plz., Clarion, PA
• 4118 Brownsville Rd., South Park, PA
• 539 Beaver St., Sewickley, PA

A resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allows Pennsylvania residents to check whether fluoride can be found in their drinking water.

To use the tool, click here.

Pennsylvania is experiencing a 911 outage across the entire state, according to an alert from the state's emergency management agency. 

List of Pennsylvania counties' emergency numbers

• Allegheny County: 412-473-1000
• Armstrong County: 724-548-3431
• Beaver County: 724-775-1700
• Butler County: 724-282-1221
• Cambria County: 814-472-2100
• Clarion County: 814-226-6631
• Fayette County: 724-430-1277
• Greene County: 724-627-5387
• Indiana County: 724-349-9300
• Lawrence County: 724-656-9300
• Mercer County: 724-662-6110
• Somerset County: 814-445-1525
• Venango County: 814-677-0325
• Washington County: 724-228-6911
• Westmoreland County: 724-836-1551

Read the latest details on this story here. And for more information and emergency numbers from Pennsylvania Emergency Management, click here.

Donation boxes are set up at the following locations:

• Bethel Park Police Department and Public Library at 5100 W. Library Avenue
• Bethel Park Community Center at 5151 Park Avenue
• Evey True Value Hardware at 5779 Library Road

Amazon orders can also be sent to the Police Department addressed to Officer Carruba.  

Tickets for Disney's 'Frozen' at the Benedum Center are available on a first-come, first-served basis for South Side families.

Mt. Lebanon Dermatology is hosting a free skin cancer screening for Mt. Lebanon firefighters. Those interested can register online. 

A new Apple TV+ thriller series starring Liev Schreiber is looking for paid background extras when it comes to film in the Pittsburgh area. 

Those interested can apply online.

Apple has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit which accused Siri of recording conversations after being accidentally activated.

Payouts are available to anyone who owned or bought a Siri-enabled device between September 2014 and December 2024.

For more information about the settlement, click here.

Ticket information for the musical can be found here.

$258 million in critical relief will be headed to older homeowners, renters, and people with disabilities. 

You can apply for the rebate online. 

For more information on Pittsburgh CLO's show lineup, follow this link.

For more details on the summer-long festivities, click here.

It's Restaurant Week in Oakland, from tacos and burgers to sweet treats. The event showcases Oakland's diverse dining options with specials and promotions. 

Nearly 20 restaurants are offering deals for you to check out. Click on this link to learn more. 

You can get the guide online here.

The Stanley Pup is back. You can meet "Sidney Pawsby" and learn more here. 

To see the dogs for adoption, click here. 

If you've heard of the trendy champagne Veuve Clicquot, the surprising story behind the drink is now on stage as a musical premiering in Pittsburgh. You can find tickets here. 

PennDOT says new plates are available for standard passenger vehicles and trucks.

Personalized plates are also available and if you already have one, you can receive a new plate in the new style for free.

For more information, click here.

The survey gives people the opportunity to share what they would like the district to prioritize as they look towards the future.

The survey can be found online. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is making the exams free on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, click here.

Your application for a mail-in or absentee ballot must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on May 13. For information on how to request one, click here.

People with SNAP benefits can get help replacing food they lost during a power outage. People are encouraged to contact the County Assistance Office. 

The March for Babies is scheduled for Sunday morning. 

To use the Pittsburgh Affordable Housing Development Project Explorer, click here. 

You can find a list of documents needed for Real ID here.

Students who paid deposits for classes or services not provided by Pittsburgh Technical College after its closing last year are eligible to file claims. 

Other claims may be submitted and may have a different (or lower) payment priority. 

Claims must be submitted to the appointed receiver by April 4, 2025. You must present your claim in writing to the Dissolution Receiver at the following address (email is preferred but not required):

Pittsburgh Technical College Receivership
c/o Bernstein-Burkley, P.C.
601 Grant St. – 9th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
PTCReceivership@meridianmp.com

For further assistance or additional questions, contact the email address listed above.

The event is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the Mendelssohn Choir's website.

The Carnegie Museum of Art is hosting an event called Day Off at the Museum on March 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more here.

Seed to Supper is a six-week beginning gardening course in Washington County "that gives novice adult gardeners the tools they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget."

More information about the program can be found here.

To see if you're eligible for a Nutrition Links program offered by Penn State Extension, click here.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is out with its annual list of safest vehicles. 

More than 1,700 bottles will be available.

There will be two lotteries with only one entry per household allowed per lottery.

Each bottle retails for $149.99.

For more information on how to enter, click here. 

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has closed the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel for approximately eight months for ongoing repair work.

Because of the construction, several changes will be put in place for light rail and bus riders.

For more information on the story, follow this link.

While summer is still a few months away, local camps are already opening up registrations and that includes the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh. 

They've opened their registration for Camp Rescue. The shelter said there are six different programs available this year and there will be opportunities for kids in first through sixth grade. 

Each camp costs $250 and right now there is a $20 discount. 

Parents can sign up their kids at this link. 

With tax season underway, the Shapiro administration is reminding residents that the Department of Revenue offers free online tools. 

Over 2 million residents are eligible to use Direct File. The IRS has an eligibility checker to help you see if you qualify. 

More information about resources can be found here. 

P3R has unveiled the course for the inaugural Pittsburgh Parade Day Dash set for Saturday, March 15, 2025. 

The event offers themed 5K and one-mile courses to take runners through Downtown Pittsburgh ahead of the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Click here to view the official 5K course map.

Click here to view the official one-mile course map. 

For more information or to register for the 2025 Pittsburgh Parade Day Dash, click here. 

PAWS Across Pittsburgh is hosting a Puppy Bowl celebration on Sunday, Feb. 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be raffle baskets, musical bingo, tip boards and more! People will also be able to meet the Puppy Bowl players. You can find out more information here.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are partnering with PNC to support local small businesses in the Pittsburgh region. You can read more here.

Visit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank's website to learn more. 

Because of the weather, all divisions of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, all Magisterial District Courts in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Municipal Court will be closed on Tuesday. 

Heaters

More than 7,700 whole room heaters are being recalled.

Vornado Air says the power cord on the VH2 heaters can partially detach, leading to cord damage and increasing the risk of shocks and fires. Click here for more details.

Printers

Lexmark is recalling more than 43,000 specialty printers because of a fire hazard. A metal part inside the printer can dislodge causing overheating and fire. Click here for more information.

With low temperatures forecasted below zero, the United Way of Pennsylvania has a map of warming shelters across the state where people can get warm. 

Applications are open for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. More information about who is eligible and how to apply can be found online. 

CitiParks will activate six warming centers on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in anticipation of temperatures at or below 20 degrees.

The warming centers can be found below.

Beechview Healthy Active Living Community Center
1555 Broadway Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15216

Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Community Center
3515 McClure Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15212

Greenfield Healthy Active Living Community Center
745 Greenfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217

Homewood Healthy Active Living Community Center
7321 Frankstown Road
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15208

Sheraden Healthy Active Living Community Center
720 Sherwood Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15204

South Side Market House Healthy Active Living Community Center
12th & Bingham Streets
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15203 

The Allegheny County Health Department is making 900 free radon test kits available for residents. 

Residents are encouraged to call 412-350-4046 ahead of time because it's only while supplies last. The test kits can be picked up Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Housing and Community Environment office on 3190 Sassafras Way. 

Voting is now open for the Allegheny County Elections "I Voted" sticker contest.   

Vote here.

The group behind Pittsburgh's Walk of Fame is accepting nominations. Nominations can be emailed to nominate@pittsburghwalkoffame.org or sent to the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, P.O. Box 8127, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

For more information on the story, follow this link. 

PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are updating the start times of planned vehicle restrictions on several interstates and the turnpike ahead of an anticipated winter weather event Sunday night into Monday.

The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, per Tier 2 
of the commonwealth's weather event vehicle restriction plan.

• Interstate 79 from the West Virginia border to Exit 77 (PA Turnpike).
• I-70 from the West Virginia border to PA Turnpike Exit 57 (New Stanton).
• I-279, entire length.
• I-376 from Brighton (Exit 36) to PA Turnpike (Exit 85).
• I-579, entire length.
• PA Turnpike (I-70/I-76) from Exit 28 (Cranberry) to Exit 161 (Breezewood).
• PA Turnpike 576 (entire length).
• PA Turnpike 43 (entire length).
• PA Turnpike 66 (entire length).

The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, per Tier 2 
of the commonwealth's weather event vehicle restriction plan. 

• I-81 from the Maryland border to I-78 (Exit 89).
• I-83, entire length.
• PA Turnpike (I-76) from Breezewood (Exit 161) to Harrisburg East (Exit 247).

Under Tier 2 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways: 

• Tractors without trailers. 
• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed, open, or tank trailers. 
• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers.
• Tractors towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs).
• Enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV. 
• Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV's, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers. 
• Recreational vehicles/motorhomes.
• School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches, regardless of the availability of trains or ATDs.
• Motorcycles. 

Who should get a star on Pittsburgh's Walk of Fame? The group behind the new project is accepting nominations this month.   

Nominations can be emailed to nominate@pittsburghwalkoffame.org or sent to the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, P.O. Box 8127, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

For more information on KDKA-TV stories that ran in 2024, click here.