Snowflakes arent the only particles that will be falling in Downtown Pittsburgh this Christmas.

A digital piece of artwork of a cascading waterfall of bright blues, pale yellows and shimmery particles will light up the outside of the Benedum Center on Penn Avenue until the end of December.

People walking along the sidewalk in front of the piece on Saturday night glanced up at it and its projector casually, but were more than likely unsure about the message behind it. Or unaware that at any given moment it could burst into orange and red flames.

Those colors come as a result of pollutants in the air.

While Pittsburgh has made great strides in cleaning up its air quality over the decades, it still falls behind many other American cities, said Phil Johnson, interim director of the Heinz Endowments Environment Program and director of the Breathe Project.

We have been improving every year, but we are in the last 10 percent to get [federal] standards; half the country reached [those] a decade ago, Mr. Johnson said.

Thats why, along with the Office of Public Art, Mr. Johnson and the Breathe Project decided to bring Particle Falls, which they first heard of through the Clean Air Council in Philadelphia, to Pittsburgh.

It was supported by a $62,500 grant from the Heinz Endowments.

Particle Falls, which debuted in San Jose in 2008, uses a device called a nephelometer, which measures the pollutant concentration levels in the air, and a computer program then interprets the data and reflects it at the wall. The idea behind the waterfall was to bring together urban and natural settings. You sort of think of maybe the sublime of things that are happening in our environment that can be very frightening, but can also be very beautiful, said Andrea Polli, the creator of the piece.

Mr. Johnson hopes the piece will help make people more aware of the air quality problems in the area, which have resulted in premature deaths and have caused respiratory and cardiac diseases and asthma.

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Particle Falls sheds light on pollution

Pancreatic Cancer Day sheds light on battle
Our own Don Guthrie is improving quite well in his fight.

By: WKBN27

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Pancreatic Cancer Day sheds light on battle - Video

In sync with its strategy of reducing exposure to non-core markets, DDR Corp. ( DDR ) disclosed the shedding of an 11-property portfolio in Buffalo MSA that it owned in a JV with Kuwaiti Financial Centre II for $154 million. The move was also in line with DDR's continued focus on simplifying its business.

The vended non-core portfolio comprises small-format and single tenant grocery-anchored assets. Notably, Kuwaiti Financial Centre II is the 13 th JV, since 2009, that DDR had left or plans to exit by this year. Moreover, with this divestiture, DDR has trimmed its total gross leasable area in the Buffalo market by 68% from 40 to 10 assets, since 2007. This figure includes the assets currently under contract for sale.

We are encouraged with DDR's ongoing portfolio restructuring activities and expect it to pave the way for strengthening the bottom line in the future. Notably, DDR has been following an aggressive capital-recycling program through strategic asset management, which is aimed at reducing currency and development risk and aid expansion in premium U.S. markets.

Last month, continuing with the trend of reporting in-line results, DDR reported third-quarter 2014 operating funds from operations (FFO) per share of 29 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and a penny above the year-ago quarter figure. Notable leasing momentum, portfolio strengthening activity and same-store net operating income (NOI) gains aided the improvement.

DDR has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Investors interested in the retail REITs may consider better-ranked stocks like The Macerich Company ( MAC ), Acadia Realty Trust ( AKR ) and CBL & Associates Properties Inc. ( CBL ). All stocks have the same rank as DDR.

Note: FFO, a widely accepted and reported measure of the performance of REITs is derived by adding depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income.

DDR CORP (DDR): Free Stock Analysis Report

MACERICH CO (MAC): Free Stock Analysis Report

CBL&ASSOC PPTYS (CBL): Free Stock Analysis Report

ACADIA RLTY TR (AKR): Free Stock Analysis Report

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DDR Sheds JV Assets to Exit Buffalo MSA Market - Analyst Blog

A FARMER has been forced to seek retrospective planning permission for sheds housing hundreds of hens.

Harry Hodgson is the third generation of his family to run the award-winning Piercebridge Farm, near Darlington.

Hens have been kept on the farm for 22 years and on the 17-acre application site for the past ten.

Darlington Borough Council informed Mr Hodgson that the rotating sheds meet the definition of 'development'.

Mr Hodgson has been invited to apply for planning permission in the light of a 2012 court case in Somerset, where an action group was formed to fight what it described as intensive poultry farming.

Darlington council's planning committee will debate Mr Hodgson's retrospective application for three mobile hen sheds at a meeting next week.

Papers prepared for committee members describe the farm as home to 3,000 hens in a total of 17 sheds, only three of which are the subject of the retrospective application.

Planning officers are recommending that planning permission be granted subject to the submission of detailed drawings.

There has been a mixed response to public consultation over the plans, with six letters of objection and four letters of support received by the council.

A number of objectors raised concerns about an increase in the number of flies in and around their homes since the sheds were installed.

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Farmer faces Darlington planning hearing over hen houses

Hansen, Idaho ( KMVT-TV / KSVT-TV ) - Two large sheds were destroyed by flames early this Thursday morning. The fire reported at 3800 East and 3300 North around 5:15 a.m. Taylor Hunsaker with the Rock Creek Fire Department said the two sheds contained several cars, a boat, tractor and personal belongings. The two sheds burned completely to the ground. The wind fueled the flames the firefighter said.

Capt. Brent Blamires is credited with saving the other structures. He is the one that spotted the fire, Hunsaker said, and quickly doused it before it could spread to the other buildings.

As the fire department arrived, the flames could be seen from several miles away. Crews spent about four hours at the scene. Crews were hampered by the cold. Firefighters report that one of the pumps and a hose froze up.

Fire investigators are now sifting through the ashes to determine the cause. The value of what was lost is not known, Hunsaker said. There were five sheds nearby the other two that burned. A third shed began burning but was quickly extinguished.

There were no injuries reported.

Pictures courtesy of Rock Creek Fire Department.

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Early Morning Fire Destroys Two Large Sheds

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Duracell batteries hang on a display rack at a supermarket in Princeton, Ill., Nov. 13, 2014.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway announced it will acquire Duracell from Procter & Gamble in a deal valued around $4.7 billion. The battery maker now joins Heinz, Fruit of the Loom, Benjamin Moore, Geico and other widely recognized names that make up his company's portfolio.

Read More 10 top brands Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns

Although Buffett's buy may delight some, P&G shareholder Carl Boeckman isn't so happy. He fears that P&G has an agenda.

"When you sell off parts of a car you can make money but you don't have a car anymore," Boeckman said on CNBC's "Street Signs," suggesting he's concerned that the divestiture was an early sign of a breakup.

Boeckman cited reports that P&G intends to sell up to 100 brands, or about half its brands, over the next two years, a move he finds concerning. "I asked (CEO) Alan Lafley about this and he assured me this isn't a sign of a breakup," Boeckman said.

But Boeckman remains skeptical. "They've also sold Folgers coffee, Jif peanut butter, and Pringles potato chips," Boeckman said. "All these brands are making money for their new owners."

Boeckman, who holds about 2,000 shares of P&G and has owned P&G stock for decades, worries that shareholders are ultimately going to pay the price for these decisions.

Read MoreDuracell trade is sign Buffett is bearish on P&G

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As P&G sheds brand, Buffett rejoices, others lament

A series of shed break-ins on allotments in South Oxfordshire are being linked by police.

A shed at the Horsepond Road allotments in Gallowstree Common was broken into between 4pm on Saturday, October 25, and 10.30am on Thursday, October 30. A lawnmower was stolen.

Another shed on the site was broken into between noon on Sunday, November 2, and 11.30am on Monday, November 3, but nothing was stolen.

A number of sheds were broken into at the Hardwick Road allotments in Whitchurch-on-Thames, between 6pm on Monday, November 3, and 10am on Tuesday, November 4. No property was taken.

This time, a vehicle gained access to the allotments via the bridleway connecting Hardwick Road to Eastfield Lane.

Police would be interested to hear from any member of the public who saw a van or large car in that area at the time.

Then, between 7pm on Tuesday, November 4, and 12.40pm on Wednesday, November 5, a garden shed was broken into in Manor Road, Goring-on-Thames, and a petrol lawnmower and lawn scarifier were taken.

Anyone with any information should call PC Becky Tanner at Henley police station on 101.

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Allotment sheds in South Oxfordshire targeted by burglars

LOS ANGELES (KABC) --

They are civilians now but their service is still reflected in who they are. The images show how military service affects entire families, how it can inspire faith and a new identity.

The Soldier Art Project is the work of Devin Mitchell, a photographer and college student studying sociology. His goal is to take 10,000 of these pictures.

"Though there is a lot of story to the images, there is a lot of history and emotion. I would rather and the veterans would rather let the picture itself send the message," Mitchell said.

Mitchell photographs the vets in front of a mirror wearing their civilian clothes. He also photographs them wearing their uniform. Then, Mitchell combines the images.

Taralyn Goldman participated in the project. She served in Iraq as a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

"It's really giving back to us veterans in allowing us a chance to actually speak out and show who we are," Goldman said.

Former Pfc. Jeremy Manning wanted his photo to show that he proudly served while hiding the fact he is gay.

"I am gay. When I was in the military, it wasn't OK," he said.

Paquita Hughes chose to show the medication she needs now, after serving in two branches of the military.

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Soldier Art Project sheds new light on veterans

Study Sheds Light On Why Your Cat Hates That Tutu
A study tracking the development of domesticated cats has found that genetically they #39;re not quite as domesticated as we thought. Follow Sebastian Martinez: http://www.twitter.com/sebastiansings...

By: Newsy Science

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Study Sheds Light On Why Your Cat Hates That Tutu - Video

Melissa McCarthy has lost 45 pounds.

The 'Identity Thief' star has reportedly been following a new diet and fitness regime in a bid to improve her health for the sake of her daughters, Vivian, seven, and Georgette, four, with husband Ben Falcone, 41.

A source close to the actress said: "She's been making small changes and seeing big results. It's given her a real confidence boost.

"She has been on a high protein, low carb diet."

But the 44-year-old actress has no desire to shed too much weight, as she wants to maintain her curves.

The insider also told Star magazine: "Melissa knows that fans love her big and beautiful, and she's not obsessed with dieting. She's looking for a happy medium.

"Melissa realised she wasn't being as healthy as she could be. She wants to set a good example for her kids and she wants to be around to become a grandmother too."

The former 'Gilmore Girls' star previously insisted she didn't feel any pressure about her appearance in Hollywood.

Earlier this year, she said: "I've never felt like I needed to change. I've always thought, 'If you want somebody different, pick somebody else.'"

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Melissa McCarthy sheds 45 pounds