It’s the Friday news roundup! With Gov. Josh Shapiro in the running to be Vice President, we’re bringing a critical eye to his record, his policies, his wish list, and his controversies to see what he could bring to a Democratic ticket — and what happens to PA if he vacates the governor’s office early. Plus, the 2024 Olympic Games start today, and there are a bunch of ways to root for Pittsburgh in Paris. We always cite our sources: Spotlight PA has a great rundown of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s achieve...
Jul 26, 2024•31 min
Does your perfect weekend involve wandering through local food stalls and sipping on a giant lemonade? Then you're in luck! Host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo are rounding up the best food festivals through the rest of the summer, including spots for vegans, meat lovers, and beer aficionados. Plus, if you missed the first round of Greek food fests this year, we’ve got a fresh recommendation for you! Learn more about the sponsors of this July 25th episode: Bike PGH Pittsburgh Cultural Trust...
Jul 25, 2024•20 min
Not long ago, scientists made a discovery in Pennsylvania. They found a ton of lithium in wastewater created by fracking – enough to meet 40% of our whole country’s needs. On the surface, this sounds like it could be a win, given lithium’s importance in the shift to cleaner energy. But things always get complicated when fracking is part of the picture. Kiley Bense with Inside Climate News joins us to talk about what we know about Pennsylvania’s lithium supply and the pros and cons of what comes ...
Jul 24, 2024•22 min
Why is it so hard to build housing in Pittsburgh? Developer Echo Realty requested a zoning variance to increase the maximum height for a new housing development and grocery store, but Pittsburgh’s zoning board denied the request – and now it looks like the developer is giving up on the project altogether. We’re revisiting our conversation with TribLive reporter Ryan Deto to break down what happened with the initial setback and what these zoning decisions say about the process of building housing...
Jul 23, 2024•19 min
At its inception, Pittsburgh was named for British earl and Prime Minister William Pitt. Most of us know that. But how we got, lost, and eventually reclaimed the consistent use of our beloved H is up for debate. Historian and author Virginia Montanez is here to talk about the basic rules of how we spell things (really), why Pittsburgh was so bad at it (shocking), and how newspapermen and intellectuals made everything worse (¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode: Bik...
Jul 22, 2024•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The city and county are changing their pool policies in the middle of the summer — now, some kids need chaperones. There are fun new rules about happy hours and canned cocktails in the commonwealth. And a pair of Pittsburghers showed out on the national stage at the All-Star Game. Plus, stick around for National Ice Cream Day deals. We always cite our sources: County pools put in a new chaperone policy as of this week — the director of Allegheny Parks said it’s mean...
Jul 19, 2024•23 min
Pittsburgh isn’t exactly known for its sunny, blue-sky days, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy outdoor dining! The city is full of restaurant patios, and today, we’re giving out superlatives for the best ones. City Cast’s Megan Harris is with Discover the Burgh’s Jeremy Jones to decide which patios are the fanciest, most unusual, dog friendly, and of course, which actually have the tastiest food and drinks. Plus, if we’ve convinced you to visit Harmony Inn’s patio, check out our guide to Har...
Jul 18, 2024•23 min
We’ve all heard about the long security lines at PIT this summer (some of us have experienced them ourselves!), but if you’re willing to brave TSA there are lots of great flight deals out of the city. Travel expert and Going founder Scott Keyes joins us to share his top tips for finding cheap tickets, whether you’re looking for a quick summer getaway or dreaming big about an international vacation. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 17th episode: Rivers of Steel Incogni - Use code CityCa...
Jul 17, 2024•26 min
The state just passed a $47.6 billion dollar budget — our biggest one yet. It was only two weeks late this time (not bad, by Pennsylvania standards!) and sets a bunch of new priorities. Spotlight PA’s capitol reporter Stephen Caruso joins City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris and City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri to talk about where the state is putting its money and what got left on the cutting room floor. We mentioned this episode from last year about why school funding in PA isn’t fair, and ...
Jul 16, 2024•24 min
On Saturday, a person fired a gun at former President Donald Trump while he was speaking at a rally in Butler County, about an hour north of the city. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear; one bystander, firefighter and father Corey Comperatore, was killed and two others were badly injured. The FBI is calling it an assassination attempt, and the alleged shooter was also from the Pittsburgh area. Ryan Deto was covering the rally for the Trib when the gunfire started. He joins us to talk about how everythi...
Jul 15, 2024•21 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! If you have a medical cannabis card, you could become part of a protected class here in Pittsburgh. Our state has a new license plate but not everybody loves it. And a local pizza place made it on a New York Times “best of” list, but not in the way you might think. It’s a week of weird news! We always cite our sources: Mineo’s made it onto a New York Times “best of” list. Pittsburgh City Council is considering a bill that would make medical marijuana patients a prot...
Jul 12, 2024•24 min
Whether you’re at a Buccos game for the actual sport or one of the giveaways, a baseball outing really isn’t complete without some snacks. And PNC Park has your standard baseball fare – think popcorn and peanuts – but a lot of local restaurants are also getting in on the stadium menus. We’re here to help you decide which lines are worth standing in and see whether new items are worth the hype. Want a comprehensive list of this year’s new menu items? NEXTPittsburgh has you covered. Learn more abo...
Jul 11, 2024•28 min
It’s peak real estate season and interest rates are really high – so what does that mean for homebuyers in Pittsburgh? Local real estate broker Jessica Baker shares tips for buyers and sellers and which pockets of the city are still somewhat affordable. Plus, host Megan Harris puts Jessica to the test to see how she would describe some zanier home features… as seen on Zillow. **This episode originally published April 8, 2024. Check out our previous conversation with Jessica to learn whether Pitt...
Jul 10, 2024•23 min
What comes to your mind when you think of Pennsylvania? Over the years, we have adopted all sorts of plants, animals, and even a drink to represent our Commonwealth, but not all of these symbols and the stories behind them are common knowledge. Producer Sophia Lo is putting the City Cast Pittsburgh team to the test. Come play along with us! Learn more about the sponsors of this July 9th episode: Babbel Bike PGH Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsbur...
Jul 09, 2024•22 min
We’re weeks into summer, so if you’ve been waiting to catch that Buccos game or get a sundae from Page's Dairy Mart, now is the time! Our city is full of great summer activities – but if you need a little inspiration, we crowdsourced ideas from listeners and Hey Pittsburgh newsletter readers to help put together the perfect summer bucket list. If you’re trying to plan ahead, you can check out the schedules for the city’s free Cinema in the Park and Summer Concert series, and the county’s Summer ...
Jul 08, 2024•21 min
City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Megan Harris’s story stacks up against the rest. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Learn mor...
Jul 05, 2024•50 min
Return or ripoff? Costsaver or scam? Pittsburghers love a deal, so when the discount stores housed under Mac.bid came to town, many of us started bidding without reading the fine print. City Cast’s Elizabeth Kauma and Megan Harris are exploring how it got here, what to do so you don’t buy a dud, and whether these liquidation emporiums are worth the risk at all. **This episode originally published March 18, 2024. We love to cite our sources: The National Retail Federations 2022 report on returns....
Jul 03, 2024•19 min
Pittsburgh’s biggest fireworks show of the year starts Thursday at 9:35 p.m., and the company in charge of it all is from Western Pennsylvania. But they’re not the only game in town! City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris explains the birthplace and backstories of Zambelli, Pyrotecnico, and Starfire — three of the nation’s largest fireworks makers — and how they each came to call the Pittsburgh area home. Learn more about Zambelli, Pyrotecnico, and Starfire, plus Pittsburgh’s Independence Day sh...
Jul 02, 2024•21 min
If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community. Fireworks, hot dogs, ice cream and pickles – honestly, we’re not sure Pittsburgh could build a better summertime Mt. Rushmore. The City Cast team is sharing some of our favorite events and activities to help you make the most of July, including a road race for tiny cars, the annual furry convention, and a special dinosaur birthday. And if you’re...
Jul 01, 2024•29 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! School’s out, and Pittsburgh Public is using the summer vacation to consider whether some schools have to close or consolidate. If you’ve got a flight coming up, you need to get to the airport extremely early. (We’re talking three hours before takeoff!) And we’re digging into the history of Pittsburgh’s ties to the American flag ahead of Independence Day. We always cite our sources: Pittsburghers got scammed into buying tickets for a fake Biggie and 2Pac live orches...
Jun 28, 2024•25 min
The pie gods have been blessing Pittsburgh with more and more pizza joints lately, but which ones are the best? Host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo chat with pizza journalist Dan Tallarico to find the best the Burgh has to offer. You can subscribe to Dan’s newsletter on Substack and find more of his pizza expertise on pizzawalkwithme.com. **This episode originally published Thursday, February 8, 2024. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode: Babbel Bike PGH Parks on Tap Beco...
Jun 27, 2024•23 min
One of the latest redevelopment frenzies has been happening on the 400 block of East Ohio Street on the North Side, and the area’s even garnered a new nickname: Restaurant Row. But where’s the line between bringing new life and changing too much of the neighborhood? City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris is with PublicSource reporter Eric Jankiewicz to learn more. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode: Babbel Bike PGH Parks on Tap Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at memb...
Jun 26, 2024•19 min
There’s a big new pickleball spot opening in the old Wheel Mill in Homewood; we’ve got some good news about the improving conditions of our bridges; and we’ve got a happy little update on the Heinz History Center’s giant ketchup bottle. Plus, we need your help planning a perfect day at PNC Park. Do you have suggestions for a great Buccos experience? Call or text us at 412-212-8893. We always cite our sources: Heinz History Center can continue to display the beloved, 35-foot Heinz ketchup bottle ...
Jun 25, 2024•19 min
We’ve had our first string of 90-degree days recently, and it’s supposed to be consistently hotter than usual all summer long. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend the whole season sweating! City Cast’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are sharing some of their favorite ways to beat the heat, cool down their homes, and get a taste of summer away from the sun. Do you have summer plans? Take our two-question Pittsburgh summer bucket list survey! Want a deeper dive into our suggestions? Catch up on th...
Jun 24, 2024•22 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Even though it’s been over 90 degrees every day this week, only a fraction of the city’s water fountains are on, and we’re blown away by the reason. ScareHouse, one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved fall attractions, isn't opening this year, and producer Sophia Lo isn’t likely to try their more hands-on alternative. Plus, we’ve got the latest on an upcoming groundbreaking at the new Tree of Life space in Squirrel Hill. We always cite our sources: Pittsburgh has over 200 ...
Jun 21, 2024•25 min
Whether you love a good taco or some crunchy chilaquiles, the Pittsburgh area has a growing number of restaurants with tasty Mexican dishes. Oscar Zapata, a Mexico City native who came to the Steel City for grad school, joins us to share his go-to spots when he’s craving a taste of home — including some of his favorite family-owned restaurants. You can read Oscar's article for the Pittsburgh Independent. **This episode originally aired on July 13, 2023. Oscar rounded up some of his picks for the...
Jun 20, 2024•15 min
Jay-Z is jumping into the debate about how to improve our state’s “lowest performing” schools, and he’s decided to pump his very influential money into school vouchers. City Cast’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are breaking down how schools are funded in Pennsylvania, what Jay-Z’s trying to bring to the table, and why people are mad about it. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 18th episode: Rivers of Steel Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.cityc...
Jun 18, 2024•15 min
There's actually a good reason to visit Ohio now! We jest, but newly available recreational cannabis might make your to-do list. Now that our western neighbors will have expanded access, what should Pittsburgh expect? Are there lessons we can take from Philly, where residents can get to New Jersey, New York, or Maryland for anything they want? Will troopers be waiting for us at the border? And why, after months of open support, does Gov. Josh Shapiro’s endorsement not mean more to the PA legisla...
Jun 17, 2024•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! If you’ve been sneaking a peek at your cell phone while driving, it’s time to stop. The city’s technical and training schools are struggling to the point of closure. And tiki boat captains may be the unsung heroes of the Allegheny River – after all, they keep performing rescues. We always cite our sources: Tiki boat captains keep rescuing people in the Allegheny River, which reminds us of a classic Bruce Willis movie filmed in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania banned cell ph...
Jun 14, 2024•20 min
It’s our Thursday food show! Giant Eagle is getting some new competition, and the hometown grocery chain is making some changes of its own. We’re getting lots of new restaurants, and one South Side institution is closing for good. We always cite our sources: Wegmans is coming to the Pgh area! Ok fine, to Cranberry. Here are the deets on Giant Eagle’s “Deals for Days” program. Reddit loves to rag on Giant Eagle, and this is one of our favorite examples. And the Trib says Double Wide Grille is clo...
Jun 13, 2024•26 min
