Allegheny County could have election night returns sooner than expected, thanks to pandemic-era investments in ballot sorting technology, a new design for mail-in envelopes, and an all-hands-on-deck approach to Election Day. Another feather in our cap? We’re much faster and more efficient than Philly. County communications director Abigail Gardner explains what makes us so much better than the rest of the state. It’s also the last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania. Have questions? We creat...
Oct 21, 2024•23 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The Ferris wheel from Oktoberfest might be gone, but another one is waiting in the wings as part of the North Side’s Esplanade development. We’re talking about the final and very controversial consultants’ proposal to close over a dozen Pittsburgh schools. Plus, more public bathrooms are coming Downtown and why Schenley Park’s Columbus statue was back in the news. We always cite our sources: Piatt Companies presented its plan for the Esplanade development to the Cit...
Oct 18, 2024•34 min
If you’re looking for a scary movie filmed (or set) in and around Pittsburgh, you’ve got a bunch to choose from. From masterpieces like “Night of the Living Dead” and “Silence of the Lambs” to lesser known, quirkier films like “Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh,” there’s something for almost everyone. To help you get in the Halloween spirit, the team has watched, and is ready to rate not only the films, but also share our picks for the perfect snacks to pair with them. If you enjoyed today's i...
Oct 17, 2024•36 min
There’s an urban legend here about a man — a spectre with a glowing green face — doomed to roam the highways of Western Pennsylvania. He may have been burned by acid or fire or lightning. The details are squishy, but the real story behind “The Monster of Beaver County” was a tragic one. City Cast’s Wil Fulton is here to explain how Charlie No-Face left an eerie mark on generations of Pittsburgh-area kids. Special thanks to City Cast's roving producer Elizabeth Kauma for her work on this one. Mus...
Oct 16, 2024•19 min
Back by popular demand, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from across the country to talk about what stories they're watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Hear from Pittsburgh's own Megan Harris along with hosts from our daily local shows in Austin, Boise, Chicago, D.C., and Salt Lake. City Cast is now in 13 cities across the country! Joining our member community is the best way to support what we do. Get all the details and sign up here. Looking to advert...
Oct 15, 2024•41 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! There’s a big redesign coming for Pittsburgh Regional Transit, and a whole bunch of ways to let the authority know how you feel about it. We’re talking about who is — and who should be — receiving arts funding in Pittsburgh and sharing opportunities for local artists, including Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh’s call for art. Plus, we’re discussing a big baseball meetup this weekend, an unsettling contest at Kennywood, and a proposal to raise county property taxes. We ...
Oct 11, 2024•34 min
If you want to kick back this weekend and make a day trip, Trace Brewing’s Aadam Soorma has got you because his love of a good beer goes well beyond the Burgh. He’s sharing his favorites all over the city, the ones he says are worth a drive, and his tips for how to have the best time with a new-to-you draft list anywhere you land. **This conversation originally published September 28, 2023. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 10th episode: Pittsburgh Opera Pittsburgh Cultural Trust - U...
Oct 10, 2024•18 min
When regular people get fired for doing something they shouldn’t, it’s usually cut and dry. Most folks don’t fight for months or years to return to their old workplace, especially if you’ve been disciplined in public. But for Pittsburgh police, it’s not only the norm, it usually comes with enormous checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars in back pay. Today we’re with Rich Lord, the managing editor for PublicSource, to talk about the very old state law that makes these reinstatements possible...
Oct 09, 2024•22 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 Indigenous peoples who preceded them? Ahead of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re revisiting this conversation between City Cast’s Elizabeth Kauma and Miguel Sague from the Council of Three Rivers Indian American Center, about whose land we’re actually on. **This conversation originally published October 11, 2022. Le...
Oct 08, 2024•14 min
Pittsburgh is a big tech city, known for everything from robotics to self-driving cars. Now, thanks in part to a state tax credit program, it could also become the next hot spot for video game development. City Cast Pittsburgh producer (and devoted gamer) Sophia Lo is with Spotlight PA’s Colin Deppen to talk about what’s drawing developers to Pittsburgh and how these new studios are bringing retro games back in style. Plus, Sophia shares which game has some local Easter eggs for diehard Pittsbur...
Oct 07, 2024•18 min
Rodeos are coming back to the city, but no one in Harrisburg wants to claim credit for their return. Pumpkin spice coffee is apparently a Pennsylvania creation, VP candidate JD Vance had a not-great time at a local Primanti’s, and thanks to Microsoft, the nuclear power plant Three Mile Island could get new life on the electrical grid. Plus, it’s the last day of our fall membership campaign and WE NEED YOU to become a member today. It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh ru...
Oct 04, 2024•38 min
Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today. Every member makes a difference! It’s always the right time to warm up at a bar with your favorite cocktail, but learning how to make your own at home can be a lot harder. Thankfully, there’s plenty of classes and cock...
Oct 03, 2024•29 min
Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today. Every member makes a difference! It’s spooky season, and if you’re looking for creepy merch, you probably want to head to Allentown. Where else can you pick up an antique glass bottle that was used to hold embalming fl...
Oct 02, 2024•21 min
It’s officially October, which means it’s time to bundle up in a sweater and head out to a pumpkin patch — or dress up in an elaborate costume and sip a cocktail that looks like it’s made out of blood. Our team is sharing some of our favorite ways to enjoy Pittsburgh month, from fall hikes to haunted houses to Halloween dance parties. And if you’re looking for even more recommendations, don’t miss our recent episode about the best fall festivals in our region. Our fall campaign is happening now!...
Oct 01, 2024•29 min
Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today. Every member makes a difference! Debate moderators, the national press, and even the candidates themselves keep equating Pennsylvania voters with fracking, even as they say the commonwealth could be the electoral linch...
Sep 30, 2024•21 min
Amtrak is offering a new way for Pittsburghers to get out of town, our local zoo re-upped an important accreditation, and a bunch of Pittsburgh sports are ramping up! Plus, we’re talking about the most recent Presidential candidate visits and ways to support our local Haitian community. We always cite our sources: Amtrak has a new temporary line that’ll connect Pittsburgh to Miami and Chicago. The Pittsburgh Zoo got an accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The Trump campaig...
Sep 27, 2024•33 min
If you love a good beer, a good brat, a nice soft pretzel — this is your season! There are so many ways to celebrate Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh and so many places to enjoy a great German meal. Doug Heilman, host of The Pittsburgh Dish and German food connoisseur, is here to share his favorite spots in the city for schnitzel, spaetzle, and more. 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’...
Sep 26, 2024•19 min
Political commercials are everywhere in Pennsylvania right now, to the tune of more than $430 million so far. So who’s paying for all of this, and why are they pouring so much of that money into Pittsburgh’s media market? We’re with PublicSource’s Charlie Wolfson talking about the men and masks behind the money, plus his series with WESA tracking whether the claims made in the ads themselves even hold up. Charlie’s “Spot Check” series will publish most Thursdays leading up to the November electi...
Sep 25, 2024•18 min
It’s officially fall, which means leaf-peeping season is almost upon us. If you’re looking for outdoorsy autumn getaways, the City Cast Pittsburgh team has got you covered. Host Megan Harris, newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco, and producers Mallory Falk and Sophia Lo are here with our favorite trips within four hours of the ‘Burgh. **This conversation originally published September 26, 2023. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up f...
Sep 24, 2024•21 min
There’s so much to experience in the city – we’ve got museums, shows, sports, and more. But the price of tickets can stack up quickly if you’re going out every week. Producer Sophia Lo is telling Executive Producer Mallory Falk about all the ways we can enjoy everything Pittsburgh has to offer on a budget. Need to grab some food while you’re out? Check out these $10 meals, and if it also happens to be your birthday, make sure you’re signed up for the right rewards programs to get your local birt...
Sep 23, 2024•29 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! After a very slow start, the Pittsburgh Land Bank is making strides and launching a new residential rehab program. Nippon Steel has extra time to make its case for buying U.S. Steel, pushing the decision until after the election. And Pittsburgh City Council is poised to add more protections for medical cannabis users… with a new big exception. We always cite our sources: Happy Park(ing) Day! Find ways to celebrate in Pittsburgh and suggest ways to create safer stree...
Sep 20, 2024•27 min
Spotted lanternflies are appearing around the city again, but they’re not just pests! These bugs are actually changing the flavor of local honey. Plus, it’s Negroni Week, and we’re talking about the reopening of one of our favorite bakeries and a new Beetlejuice-themed diner with boozy milkshakes. Thinking more about how to enjoy autumnal flavors? Check out our list of the best fall festivals and Oktoberfests around Pittsburgh. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode: City T...
Sep 19, 2024•24 min
The opioid crisis has rocked Western PA, devastating our friends, neighbors and families. Now, companies like Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, and others that made, sold or distributed prescription painkillers have been ordered to pay $50 billion over 18 years to deal with the damage. Pennsylvania is supposed to eventually get more than a billion of that. But how that money will be spent — and who exactly gets to decide – is still in flux. Spotlight PA investigative reporter Ed Mahon and KFF Heal...
Sep 18, 2024•25 min
Heinz Ketchup has a chokehold on this city. From stadiums and museums to our own home pantries, it’s the ketchup brand on the table and in any good Pittsburghers’ fridge. We’re seeing if our team can actually tell the difference between our hometown brand and the competition. We’re pitting the local OG against a few other ketchups in a blind taste test – and hoping we don’t upset any yinzers along the way. Check out our episode on Heinz ketchup’s rise to prominence. **This conversation originall...
Sep 17, 2024•23 min
Description: Mayor Ed Gainey recently announced his bid for re-election – much earlier than expected. (After all, he can’t officially become a candidate until January.) TribLive’s Julia Burdelski joins us to talk about Gainey’s track record, why he announced so soon, and who might decide to challenge him next year. Plus, she shares what we can expect from the mayor’s office over the coming months. Learn more about the sponsor of this September 16th episode: City Theatre Become a member of City C...
Sep 16, 2024•17 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! A beloved South Side music venue is closing at the end of the year, so we’re remembering some of our favorite shows there. Plus, we have updates on the proposal to close 16 Pittsburgh public schools — including ways you can share your feedback — and a checklist to make sure you’re registered to vote this November. We always cite our sources: Club Cafe is closing in December. We interviewed PublicSource’s Lajja Mistry and WESA’s Jillian Forstadt about the proposal to...
Sep 13, 2024•33 min
Fall is just around the corner, and pumpkin spice has hit local menus. If you want more autumnal fun, we’re talking cozy cider and beer, apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and even a brand new Oktoberfest, including a hard-to-imagine Ferris wheel on the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Looking for even more to do this fall? Discover the Burgh rounded up their favorite Oktoberfest celebrations, and we spoke with some local haunt actors last year to find the ultimate spooky attractions....
Sep 12, 2024•23 min
Just because you're not actively house hunting doesn't mean you can't be nebby and wonder what other people's homes look like. Annie Perri Cole, one half of the popular Instagram account @housesofpittsburgh, is an expert at going inside a Pittsburgh house and getting the good stories — from who it was built for to how the current owners got enormous furniture up a fancy spiral staircase. She joins us to share her itinerary for Pittsburgh’s North Side home tours this fall, plus explain how the Fr...
Sep 11, 2024•20 min
The Democrats have been camping out in Pittsburgh ahead of tonight’s Presidential debate, and they paused briefly to visit Penzeys Spices. We’re talking about how folks have responded to all the attention on PA, plus there are a bunch of new films and TV shows you can watch featuring the Steel City and its people right now. We’re even counting Cam Heyward on “Hot Ones” and Michael Keaton on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” We always cite our sources: Steelers DT Cam Heyward took on “Hot Ones” and ...
Sep 10, 2024•29 min
Just a few days before the school year started, 9-year-old Courtney Carter was killed by a car while riding her bike along Rosedale Street in Homewood. Neighbors had long raised concerns about the stretch where she was hit, asking for traffic calming measures like speed bumps and stop signs. We’re revisiting a conversation from earlier this year — after another cyclist was struck and killed — about what’s going on and what still needs to happen to keep cyclists and pedestrians of all ages safe o...
Sep 09, 2024•28 min
