There’s a locally developed app called Dashcam for your Bike and it works by recording your rides and reporting any hazards like cars parked in bike lanes, to 3-1-1. One of those reports showing a Pittsburgh police officer parked in the bike lane, and when the creator of the app—Armin Samii— approached him about moving it, the officer told him to “get a life.” We spoke with Samii about the incident, cyclist safety in Pittsburgh, and what we can all do to make the city more bike friendly. Here is...
Oct 12, 2022•17 min
The Steel City loves to revel in its own history, but many of those stories are rooted in colonialism and the generations of immigration that followed. Why don’t we learn more about the Native peoples who preceded them? The Council of Three Rivers Indian American Center’s Miguel Sague is with City Cast’s Elizabeth Kauma to talk about whose land we’re actually on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2022•13 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Do you know the history of the Point of View statue on Mt. Washington? Plus, a judge ruled city officials can remove the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park after years of fighting, and one of Pittsburgh’s native sons is on the docket for the U.S. Supreme Court. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism. A good primer on the Andy Warhol case via The Art Newspaper: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/10/05/supreme-court-briefs-andy-w...
Oct 07, 2022•22 min
If you find yourself Downtown and need to use the bathroom, you might be out of luck. Journalist Adam Smeltz gets into the findings and what the city is doing to provide solutions for safe, clean restrooms for the unhoused, as well as people visiting areas like the Golden Triangle. Read the full piece here, which includes great data from Point Park University: https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/what-should-be-done-about-the-lack-of-public-restrooms-in-downtown-pittsburgh/ Our newsletter is fresh...
Oct 06, 2022•16 min
We love spooky season, but lots of local and regional haunts make us feel sorta gross. Across the nation, many former prisons and psychiatric hospitals, including a few near us, have been revamped into haunted houses that rely on the cruel, scary, and sensational aspects of prison life to entertain. We're with journalist Hope Corrigan, who wrote a story about it all for The Marshall Project. Here is a link if you want to give it a read: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/06/09/rethinking-pr...
Oct 05, 2022•16 min
SCOTUS is back in session this week, but what does that mean for us in PA? Oh, you know, just our basic human rights, plus a couple very nerdy process cases that could affect our elections for years to come. City Cast’s Megan Harris and Morgan Moody are chatting through what to watch out for this coming term. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 04, 2022•15 min
Sweater weather is already here in the burrrrgh and you can find some real gems if you’re into thrifting. Christen Malone, aka the Thrifty Yinzer, joins us to share her tips and tricks for scoring the best vintage and secondhand items in the city — and to explain why thrifting is about more than just saving a few bucks. Plus, she offers the ultimate guide to garbage picking for gold. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCas...
Oct 03, 2022•17 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast pod-squad is talking the Pittsburgh Zine Fair and federal funding for better internet access and speed in PA, plus we pay homage to the legendary rapper Coolio, who we were shocked to learn was born here in the 'Burgh. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism. Kiley Koscinski with WESA on the Pittsburgh Digital Equity Coalition: https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-09-28/pittsburgh-allegheny-county-to-develop-plan-to-co...
Sep 30, 2022•22 min
Thanks to climate change, the seasonal part of “seasonal allergies” is a bit of a misnomer in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our newest producer, Elizabeth Kauma, explains what local plants are likely to get a reaction out of you, plus and what you can do to stop the achoo! Here's the state’s take on how to control and identify any ragweed in your neck of the woods! https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/GeneralInformation/Pollen/Pages/Ragweed-Control.aspx Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Si...
Sep 29, 2022•13 min
Pittsburgh-area teachers often spend their own (very hard-earned) money on classroom supplies. But twice a year, they can stop by the Education Partnership’s Teacher Resource Center and fill up shopping carts with everything their hearts’ desire — from notebooks and glue sticks to Clorox wipes and air purifiers — at no personal cost. City Cast’s Mallory Falk and Morgan Moody visited the center and spoke with executive director Josh Whiteside, program director Sarah McKay, and several teachers ab...
Sep 28, 2022•17 min
Shell is opening an Ethane Cracker in Beaver County, but we still have some questions. Like why here, in Western Pennsylvania of all places? How it will impact jobs and our rivers? And what does an ethane cracker even… do? The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier is with us to explain why the plant picked us, and what it means for both the economy and wellbeing of our region. Check out the great reporting from he and his colleagues here. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also...
Sep 27, 2022•16 min
From the courthouse to the Clark Building, Doors Open Pittsburgh lets Pittsburgh get nebby about all kinds of Downtown spaces, including theaters, government offices, artist spaces, hotels, bank vaults, and more. This year’s event takes place Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We're with Bonnie Baxter, founder and executive director with a few of her favorites on this year's list. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @Ci...
Sep 26, 2022•14 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! This week, we dive deep into Banned Books Week, explore the intersection of race and policing in Pittsburgh through film, and celebrate a regional, indigenous delicacy, the pawpaw fruit! As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism. Our own Mallory Falk in WHYY on student organizing against a book ban: https://whyy.org/episodes/schooled-after-the-spotlight-book-ban/ Emily Rizzo with WHYY on the anatomy of a school book ban: https://whyy.org/epis...
Sep 23, 2022•19 min
Billboards, discos, murals, and more will light up Pittsburgh over the next six months as part of the 58th Carnegie International. This year's iteration Is it morning for you yet? features new local, national, and global commissions, plus historical works from institutions and estates. Dana Bishop-Root, the Carnegie Museum of Art’s director of education and public programs, shares her local favorites and what to watch for ahead of the opening bash this weekend. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6...
Sep 22, 2022•13 min
For most organizations, an expansive job training program might be enough, but not the Hazelwood nonprofit Community Kitchen Pittsburgh. Executive director and founder Jennifer Flanagan says everything they do — from hunger relief and catering to running a cafe and butchery — is about empowering people to work through life change and rewarding those efforts with a strong, growing wage. Plus, student Christopher Hickman shares the tea on his favorite class and what it might take to convince his d...
Sep 21, 2022•15 min
Roughly 20% of Pittsburgh land and 10% in Allegheny County is owned by nonprofits exempt from paying property taxes, including UPMC and Allegheny Health Network, as well as major universities like Pitt, CMU, and Duquesne. Officials say that missing money is holding local government back from supplying necessary services that benefit the whole community. PublicSource reporter Emma Folts is on to explain how we got here and what could come next. A co-report via city and county governments this yea...
Sep 20, 2022•16 min
There’s a path that takes you from Pittsburgh to D.C. with almost no car traffic — you just have to bike a few hundred miles. The Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath lead you over railroad bridges, through a national park, and along a waterway where mules used to pull barges, all while passing little towns with hotels and cafes that cater to cyclists. Sebastian Modak, the editor-at-large for Lonely Planet, recently wrote about the 335-mile journey. He joins us to explain why this t...
Sep 19, 2022•16 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! This week, the City Cast team is talking about how city officials are tackling what they call an open-air drug market in Downtown; why hundreds of nursing home workers went on strike across the state; and how the Carnegie Science Center is paying homage to George Romero with a mini “Night of the Living Dead” model. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism. This week, check out: Andy Sheehan with KDKA on the “open-air drug market”: https://ww...
Sep 16, 2022•18 min
The national 988 hotline, which went live in July, provides free and confidential emotional support for people with mental health emergencies. But as it's been rolled out, crisis intervention centers that handle the calls say they're in need of more staff and other resources. We're with Dr. Jack Rozel, medical director of resolve Crisis Services in Allegheny County, to talk about the promise and pitfalls of the new hotline. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twit...
Sep 15, 2022•17 min
Can you imagine sitting down with a crispy plate of fries, reaching for your trusty bottle of ketchup, and watching it explode? It was a real problem in the late 19th century! But our very own H.J. Heinz figured it out — or rather, he had one very special fan who did it for him. We're with writer Sam Lin-Sommer of Gastro Obscura to talk about how it all went down. Check out his story, “When Every Ketchup But One Went Extinct,” which draws a ton from a book by Andrew F. Smith called “Pure Ketchup...
Sep 14, 2022•13 min
For the rest of this month, people with non-violent cannabis convictions can apply for clemency through the “Marijuana Pardon Project.” But those charges generally come compounded with a slew of other ones. So realistically, how many people are actually going to benefit? City Cast Pittsburgh & City Cast Philly are joining forces to talk through the loopholes and how it could help at least a few thousand deserving Pennsylvanians. We’re joined by criminal defense attorney Patrick Nightingale, ...
Sep 13, 2022•15 min
In her new book “How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water,” Pittsburgh author Angie Cruz tells the story of Cara Romero, a Spanish-speaking immigrant in her mid-50s who's done speaking softly about her life experience. City Cast‘s Meg Dalton is with the writer, who says the novel’s funny, open, and flawed main character will resonate with readers in the Steel City and beyond. Cruz is also an associate professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh. Check out her event this Tuesday with City of...
Sep 12, 2022•16 min
It's the Friday news roundup, but a special Fall Fest edition! The whole team is previewing some of the best festivals the Steel City has to offer this autumn. Check out our working list here: Original Pittsburgh Taco Festival Sept 10 Corn Festival Sept 10 Hilltop Harvest Fest Sept 10 2022 Highmark Blues & Heritage Fest Sept 14-15 Penn Brew Oktoberfest Sept 16-18 & 23-25 Ohiopyle Wine and Arts Festival Sept 24 Observatory Hill Arts & Culture Fest Sept 24 Hard Cider & Donut Fest -...
Sep 09, 2022•21 min
We’re (hopefully) out of the “Hell’s Front Porch” part of summer — and what’s better than a fall picnic?! City Cast’s Mallory Falk and Morgan Moody are with travel writer and Pittsburgh native, Abbie Synan, to give us tips on how to select the plan and plan the perfect Burgh basket. Check out her full list of suggestions in today's newsletter and for NEXTPittsburgh here: https://nextpittsburgh.com/eatdrink/how-to-plan-and-pack-the-perfect-pittsburgh-picnic-and-the-best-spots-to-enjoy-it/ Our new...
Sep 08, 2022•17 min
Have you ever heard of the “Rooney Rule?” It’s been an NFL hiring policy for decades, but it’s not clear how well it’s working. (At the end of last season, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin was the only Black head coach left standing.) City Cast’s Morgan Moody is with her friend Martenzie Johnson, a sports writer for ESPN’s Andscape, talking about how it got passed, why it’s named after Steelers ownership, and why it’s still *very* relevant today. The Steelers kick off the regular season on the road Sund...
Sep 07, 2022•17 min
It’s pretty convenient to leave your recycling at the curb, but it can be a lot more convenient for facilities to process those materials when they’re pre-sorted. The first of several new glass drop-off facilities opened this summer in Allegheny County, and officials hope it’ll mean a lot more of our waste gets back on the shelf. We’re with The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant. The Pennsylvania Resource Council also has a traveling glass recycling bin. Check out its schedule here: https://prc.org/p...
Sep 06, 2022•14 min
It's the Friday news roundup! Today the team previews their picks for an eventful Labor Day weekend, including parades and Presidential visits; BBQ and soul food; plus the latest on how Allegheny County's Police Review Board could come together by the fall. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 02, 2022•13 min
Have you ever heard the drum line under Styx's 1979 hit "Renegade" pick up on the speakers at a Steelers game? What started as your average in-game timeout song in 2002 became an iconic good luck charm in the minds of thousands of Pittsburgh fans all over the world. City Cast's Megan Harris figured it was all superstition, but thanks to researchers at Point Park University, we now know there's data to back it up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 01, 2022•12 min
The best rivalry in college sports is back — and it usually ends with some furniture going up in flames. Pitt and West Virginia have been facing off in the Backyard Brawl since 1895, but the matchup’s been on hiatus since Pitt left the Big East Conference over a decade ago. That’s all changing tomorrow, when the Panthers will play the Mountaineers once more at Acrisure Stadium. Brian Batko, sports writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, joins us to talk about the long-standing rivalry and why co...
Aug 31, 2022•14 min
Hundreds of people from our surrounding states have been coming to Pittsburgh for abortion care since was Roe was overturned, but local clinics say they need more providers to keep up with demand. Pallavi Muluk, a second-year Pitt med student, thinks medical schools can help by making abortion care and reproductive health a bigger part of the curriculum. She’s here to talk about her work leading the local chapter of Medical Students for Choice. NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temp...
Aug 30, 2022•13 min
