annual IRE Awards recognize outstanding investigative work and help identify the techniques and resources used to complete each story. WTAE was a finalist for its series Burning Questions dealing with fire department response times across Western Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Awards: WTAE took home 10 first place awards and four second place awards from the Associated Press ranging from the station's Firefighting Series to the Plum School Teacher Sex Scandal. The station also took home the Jim Snyder for Outstanding News Service in 2015. On September 24, 2016, WTAE-TV received four Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, including the Overall Excellence award; the highest honor bestowed each year. Chief Meteorologist Mike Harvey received two Emmys including excellence in weather. New Sky 4 As of October 2013, WTAE-TV launched its new helicopter, carrying over the name "Sky 4". This new aircraft is the most technologically advanced news gathering helicopter in the region; capable of flying higher, faster, and longer than any other news helicopter in the market. NewsOn WTAE-TV was the first of two Pittsburgh television stations (along with WPXI) to have its newscasts available on the NewsON app due in part to its ownership group, Hearst Television, being a founding member of the NewsON group. Former on-air staff Scott Baker – anchor (1993–2006) Don Cannon – anchor (1969–1994) Myron Cope – sports commentary (1970–1995; died in 2008) Faith Daniels – anchor/reporter (1983–1985; no longer active in the television industry) Keith Jones – now a regional-Emmy Award-winning News Anchor and Reporter for WCAU in Philadelphia Joe DeNardo – chief meteorologist (1969–2004, died in 2018) Debra Fox – reporter/anchor (1976–1986; now founder & CEO of Fox Learning Systems) Joe Negri – co-host/musician (1965–1985) Stan Savran – sports anchor (1980–1991; now at WBGG (AM)) Mike Schneider – reporter/anchor (1977–1982; was most recently at NJTV) Paul Shannon – host of Adventure Time (1959–1975; died in 1990) John Steigerwald – sports anchor (1978–1985), left for KDKA-TV in a high-profile departure from WTAE-TV that required him off the air for a year. Now hosts a podcast on the Pittsburgh Tribune Review website. Ricki Wertz – children's television show host (1958–1982; died in 2021) Wendy Bell controversy WTAE news anchor Wendy Bell was fired in March 2016 after posting comments following the 2016 Wilkinsburg shooting, including: "You needn't be a criminal profiler to draw a mental sketch of the killers who