PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A former PWSA employee is suing the company because he claims he was fired for using medical marijuana.

According to the complaint, Terrence Suber was fired from Pittsburgh Sewer and Water Authority in July after he was selected for a random drug test and traces of marijuana were found in his system.

Suber — who worked a desk job — was diagnosed with PTSD, which is approved to be treated under the Medical Marijuana Act. He tried to show PWSA his medical marijuana card, but the complaint says he was fired anyway.

After being fired, the paperwork says he “was made to feel like he was being shamed for using legal drugs to treat his PTSD.”

“He witnessed someone being murdered, and he has trouble sleeping,” Suber’s attorney Samuel Dion said. “He has night tremors.”

Dion has handled similar cases in Pennsylvania because he says employers don’t understand the state’s medical marijuana law.

The complaint alleges a violation of a clear mandate of public policy and says PWSA had no right to fire him.

“They’re not familiar with the law, which very clearly states that you cannot terminate someone simply for using medical marijuana,” Dion said.

The PSWA is being sued for more than $50,00, and the organization decided to comment on a pending lawsuit.

While this is going on, city government is grappling with medical marijuana laws, too.

Pittsburgh firefighters and EMT’s are allowed to use medical marijuana, but there is no policy for the police.

One officer who tested positive remains on desk duty until the city determines a policy.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Kameron Kelly is facing charges after he was kicked out of a South Side bar.

According to court paperwork, the 23-year-old is facing two misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and one count of resisting arrest for an incident that happened early Friday.

The criminal complaint says police were called to Mario’s South Side Saloon for a man, identified as Kelly, refusing to leave. He’s accused of also threatening an employee, saying he would “knock him the (expletive) out” because the jukebox didn’t play the song he requested.

(Photo Credit: Allegheny County)

Police say they tried to explain to Kelly that he wasn’t allowed back in, but he tried to go back inside anyways.

During all this, the officer on scene reported that the foot of a woman, identified by Kelly as “his girl,” was stepped on. Kelly then allegedly became aggressive and is accused of saying, “I promise to God, I’ll (expletive) you up, boy.”

Court papers say he threatened an officer and employee of Mario’s. He is facing charges of terroristic threats and resisting arrest.

— Chris Hoffman (@NewsmanChris) December 20, 2019

As Kelly allegedly continued resisting arrest, the criminal complaint says the situation was getting out of hand. In order to “gain control,” the officer punched Kelly in the face multiple times. Kelly was then arrested.

He was treated at the hospital, where officers say he continued to be disorderly, then taken to Allegheny County Jail.

Kelly has played several games this season, which is his first with the Steelers.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

ASHTABULA, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio postal worker was arrested on drug charges for selling crack out of her mail truck on her route, officials said.

Darcy Spangler, 52, of Ashtabula, was arraigned Wednesday on drug trafficking charges, according to court records.

The Crime Enforcement Agency of Ashtabula County commander, Det. Greg Leonhard, said Spangler was investigated for three months.

Spangler was taken to county jail when she was on her way to work at the Ashtabula post office.

No additional drugs were found during a search of Spangler’s residence. But authorities recovered evidence of drug sales, including scales and packaging materials.

Additional charges against a second individual are pending, Leonhard said.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday for her assigned public defender.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Schools in Pittsburgh could shut down by mid-February.

That is the warning from the city’s school board president on Thursday.

On Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Public Schools board approved a new budget but deadlocked on paying for it.

“That will mean schools will shut down. People would be out of jobs. No transportation for those other individuals at schools where we provide transportation,” Pittsburgh school board president Sylvia Wilson told KDKA money editor Jon Delano.

It’s a dire warning from Wilson after the board deadlocked on a tax bill to raise property taxes.

Wilson says the failure to pass a tax bill means, effective Jan. 1st, there are no school property taxes in the city.

So schools could close when reserves run out in mid-February.

“Our fund balance, if we had to use that to pay our bills, and to run our schools, it would last a month and a half. In a month and a half, we would be totally bankrupt.”

On Wednesday night, the board voted 5 to 4 to approve a $665 million spending plan, a $15 million increase over the current year.

A property tax increase of an additional $23 on every $100,000 in assessed home value was recommended to pay for it.

But that revenue plan was rejected after a 4-4 vote. Member Kevin Carter abstained.

The four voting “no” questioned the additional spending and higher taxes.

“How can you ask for additional resources to be poured into a system with such colossal academic failure?” asked member Sala Udin.

Although Carter voted for the higher budget, he said, “I abstained on the tax increase because I made a commitment to my constituents that I wouldn’t support a tax increase unless it was absolutely necessary.”

Carter is the swing vote at the board’s Dec. 27th meeting, says Wilson.

“I would hope that Kevin could understand that we have to take care of our schools and we have to have them open,” said Wilson.

“And that he has to do the tough decision,” she added.

KDKA’s Jon Delano texted Carter on Thursday, and he hasn’t said yet what he will do.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburghers will not be able to use Allegheny Station this weekend.

The Port Authority announced Thursday that starting on Saturday, the station will be closed for the filming of a Netflix production.

All rail services will start and end at the North Side Station, officials said.

Allegheny Station will be closed this weekend for the filming of a @netflix production. All rail service will begin/end at North Side Station. Shuttle buses will operate btwn N Side Station and Allegheny Station. The 14-Ohio Valley bus recovery area will also be closed.

— Port Authority PGH (@PGHtransit) December 19, 2019

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Shuttle buses will operate between the North Side Station and Allegheny Station.

The 14-Ohio Valley bus recovery area will also be closed.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Steelers JuJu Smith-Schuster spent the day helping out at the food bank ahead of the holidays.

The wide receiver shared pictures of himself on Thursday posing with fans and handing out food at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Had a great time handing out food to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank! Love this city and love having the opportunity to give back any way I can. Thank you to Coach Tomlin for putting it together and inviting me out. pic.twitter.com/MDqPreIshZ

— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) December 19, 2019

“Had a great time handing out food to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank! Love this city and love having the opportunity to give back any way I can. Thank you to Coach Tomlin for putting it together and inviting me out,” his tweet read.

The 23-year-old has been out since injuring his knee against the Cleveland Browns.

ERIE, Pa. (KDKA) – Workers at Erie Coke are being turned away at the gate and told the plant has closed.

Erie News Now reports more than 100 workers found out the plant had closed when they showed up to work Thursday morning. An employee told Erie News Now that security told him the news when he got to work.

The state had earlier moved to shut down the plant this summer after “years of numerous repetitive environmental violations.”

The Erie Coke Corporation’s website says it operates as a “merchant producer of high-quality foundry coke.”

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — An 18-year-old patient at UPMC Children’s Hospital is using his time and skills to help others while he waits for a transplant.

Luke Maeding is a hardcore gamer with a heart of gold.

He is from the Philadelphia area and is at the hospital as he awaits a small bowel transplant.

The 18-year-old underwent a double-lung transplant in 2010, and now his intestines are failing.

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

As he waits for word of a donor, Maeding is helping other young patients through a charity campaign called Extra Life gaming.

Extra Life is a fundraising and gaming marathon that supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and 100 percent of the donations Maeding helps raise goes towards Children’s in Pittsburgh.

Maeding told KDKA’s Kym Gable that playing video games helps distract his mind from the pain he often experiences as a result of his condition, and he hopes gaming can do the same for other kids.

He says his goal “is to help other families and kids … it will distract their pain.”

When his mom Heather learned about Extra Life earlier this year, she was overjoyed.

“This is perfect for Luke because he loves gaming so much and he loves giving back, too, especially to Children’s and everyone here because he knows very intimately everything they do here,” Heather Maeding said.

Luke Maeding recently raised $700 on his own during a 24-hour Extra Life gaming marathon.

“I love playing Lego games so much that I had to take a break. … I went to sleep, and then started playing again for 24 hours,” Luke Maeding said.

“We finally had hope coming here … because we felt that everyone was going to work to get Luke the healthiest he could be, even if we didn’t have all the answers,” Heather added.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Maeding fundraising campaign, click here.