City Cast Pittsburgh

Five people have died in custody at the Allegheny County Jail this year, putting it on track for the deadliest year in recent memory. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced a new contract with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care to look into what happened, but there’s almost no transparency about the process. Brittany Hailer, the director for the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, joins us again to talk about the last time the NCCHC stepped in, how it helped (and didn’t), and what she expects from this latest review. Check out our last conversation with Hailer from March 14: https://pod.link/citycastpittsburgh/episode/a0ad088bf379a45e00e1a0ac2c6f0c13 NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Thousands of plant-loving Pittsburghers will gather on the North Side this weekend for the eighth annual VegFest — a summer celebration with rescue animals, local artists, vendors, and of course, killer food (that doesn’t kill). City Cast Pittsburgh’s resident vegetarians, Francesca Dabecco and Mallory Falk, are with VegFest co-founder Leila Sleiman to talk about how this event has grown and what fun is in store for this Saturday. Learn more and buy your VIP swag bag here: https://pittsburghvegfest.org/shop/vip-hour-swag-bag/ NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! The team is talking about how a new executive order from Gov. Wolf could help protect kids from conversion therapy, and why two former Pa. judges were ordered to pay $200 million to victims of a “kids-for-cash” scheme. Plus, with an immersive psychedelic conference in town, when could tripping for science become legal? As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local (and national) journalism. This week, check out: Marley Parish in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star on Wolf’s executive order discouraging conversion therapy: https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/wolf-issues-executive-order-discouraging-conversion-therapy-urges-legislative-action/ Michael Rubinkam in the Associated Press on the $200 million award in the kids-for-cash case: https://apnews.com/article/crime-trending-news-government-and-politics-6f30f575dc739415af1e5b47b1be50f0 The MySpace Misdemeanor episode of the podcast Crime Show, for more on the kids-for-cash corruption scandal: https://open.spotify.com/episode/11gO9KlTvnBbAmfaTqxKq5 City Cast Denver’s “Ballot Trip” series: https://pod.link/citycastdenver/episode/14faae3395082af7df1ac1206fcf0ae8 Brian Howard in Philly Mag on the journey to legalized psychedelics in Pa.: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2022/01/15/pennsylvania-legal-psychedelics/ You can learn more about Saturday’s Entheocon event here: https://www.entheocon.com/ And don’t forget: CITY CAST IS HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

In the year following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, Pittsburgh has welcomed more than 700 Afghan evacuees. The non-profit Jewish Family and Community Services has helped many of them get settled in their new homes, but they’re still facing issues within the U.S. immigration system. City Cast’s Morgan Moody speaks with Ivonne Smith-Tapia, the Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services at JFCS, and Zubair Babakarkhail, an Afghan journalist and interpreter, about where things stand one year out from the evacuation. Zubair wrote about his new life in Pittsburgh for Postindustrial. You can learn more about JFSC’s work, and how to support Afghan evacuees here. NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Jasmine Green — aka Black Girl Absolute — wants young people struggling with depression and anxiety to know they’re not alone. That’s what inspired the visual artist, poet, and mental health advocate to start writing the book “A Field Guide for Blue Girls.” She joins City Cast to talk about putting pen (and paint) to paper during her time as the first-ever recipient of the Exposure Tongue River Artist/Activist Residency, and how her experience as an artist informs her work as the education director for 1Hood Media. NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

For decades now, Pittsburghers have been told we have the most bridges of any city in the world. And it makes sense — they dot our landscape by the hundreds. Butttt it turns out, that long-held point of pride isn’t true. And like, it’s not even close. Historian and author Mark Houser is here to talk about our past prominence and current failures, plus what we can glean from the federal database keeping track of it all. Check out his wonderful book “MultiStories: 55 Antique Skyscrapers & the Business Tycoons Who Built Them,” and listen to his TedX talk here. Editors note: This episode first aired Feb. 2, 2022, just after the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge. NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

ASMR is supposed to be relaxing, but for the creators behind the content, platforms like YouTube often fall well short of protecting the people who keep it so popular. Pittsburgh-based artist Lilliana Dee, aka Lily Whispers, is here to explain how she uses her day job in cyber security to help educate fellow creators on red flags like fetish mining. And stick with us to the end — Lily offered some very fun, very Pittsburgh bonus content you don’t want to miss. NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! The team is talking about how long standing college football rivals, Pitt and WVU, are facing off for the first time in more than a decade; what the grand opening celebration of the August Wilson House means for the Hill District; and how the big bird, Giant Eagle, is using (and sharing) our shopping data, and ways that it could be targeting those who are, want to become, or don’t want to be pregnant. Check out some of the great local journalism that powered today’s show: A local’s guide to the Backyard Brawl next month: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/blog/backyard-brawl/ City Paper’s Jordana Rosenfeld on Giant Eagle collecting our shopping history: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/giant-eagle-consumer-info-could-be-used-to-target-pregnant-shoppers/Content?oid=22197884 A little more about criminal charges in that Nebraska abortion case: https://abc7chicago.com/nebraska-abortion-facebook-medication/12116031/ And Gizmodo’s investigation into how pregnancy is targeted by data brokers: https://gizmodo.com/data-brokers-selling-pregnancy-roe-v-wade-abortion-1849148426 City Paper’s article about Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company’s production of Wilson’s play, Jitney, in August Wilson’s backyard: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/pittsburgh-playwrights-commits-to-the-hill-district-with-jitney-and-new-project/Content?oid=22198633 Francesca’s interview with Denise Turner in the newsletter: https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=47857f2c492a1dda05a4762b9&id=a26c24d5ce NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP And check us out on social. We’re on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Becoming a billionaire doesn’t come down to odds like the lottery—but it might be in the stars. In honor of the 103rd anniversary of Pittsburgher Andrew Carnegie's death, we take the steel tycoon's ruling planets to astrologist Maggie Negrete, aka lamamamagia.

For the first year since the start of the pandemic, the Pittsburgh Steelers are back at their rightful summer home in Latrobe for training camp. City Cast’s Morgan Moody and Megan Harris make the pilgrimage to talk to players and fans about the half-century long tradition at Chuck Noll Field. Fans are welcome every day at 1:55 p.m. Register for your free tickets here. And while you’re out there, check out today’s newsletter for a fun scavenger hunt of other fun ways to hang out in Latrobe. NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Last year, something shady happened at the nation’s first Black brew festival, but that won’t put a damper on the bigger, better version returning this year — now in a new home at 3 Crossings in the Strip District. Barrel and Flow communications and ops director Cat Bruno shares what’s on tap all this week, plus how to get the full festival experience on Saturday. Check out a full event listing here. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Some foods are just quintessentially Pittsburgh, and today the City Cast team is celebrating a summertime staple: the strawberry pretzel salad. Show contributor Rossilynne Culgan recently wrote about the classic dish for Saveur Magazine and brought along a cooler full of treats created in homage of its OG flavors, including Millie’s ice cream, Mary Mac Bakehouse’s delicious cookies and Dewey’s new gose-style dessert beer. Want to make the classic local version yourself? Here’s Rossilynne’s family recipe: https://www.saveur.com/recipes/strawberry-pretzel-salad/ NOW HIRING: If you’re an audio wiz looking for a full-time, temporary gig, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/ VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! The show team talks about a lawsuit that could dramatically change how Pennsylvania funds its public schools; the latest on monkeypox in Allegheny County; and some new locally-filmed movies and shows worth checking out, including a reboot of the beloved baseball classic “A League of Their Own.” As always, our Friday shows our powered by great local journalism: City Cast’s own Mallory Falk covered the school funding trial as a reporter for WHYY, and has a summary here: https://whyy.org/articles/a-catastrophic-failure-or-above-the-constitutional-threshold-pas-school-funding-trial-comes-to-a-close/ WHYY’s Katie Meyer reports on the final arguments in the school funding case and what’s happening next: https://whyy.org/articles/pa-public-school-funding-lawsuit-post-trial-arguments/ TyLisa C. Johnson with PublicSource breaks down what you need to know about monkeypox: https://www.publicsource.org/monkeypox-virus-vaccine-pittsburgh-allegheny-county-need-to-know-2022/ Jessie Sage shares her struggle trying to get a monkeypox vaccine in Pittsburgh City Paper: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/pittsburgh-sex-worker-on-why-monkeypox-vaccine-access-needs-expanded/Content?oid=22152528 And check out a lil preview of our upcoming Pgh-filmed movies and show via the Post-Gazette’s Joshua Axelrod: https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2022/06/07/a-league-of-their-own-series-release-date/stories/202206070083 Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

For generations of Pittsburghers, nothing quite quenches their thirst like Turner’s Premium Iced Tea from those iconic, bright-orange cartons. And this weekend, Turner‘s is celebrating 50 years of the “champagne of Pittsburgh” with a ParTEA at the Carrie Furnaces. City Cast Pittsburgh’s Mallory Falk and Francesca Dabecco got the tea on how Pittsburgh’s most beloved beverage is made at the Turner’s facility in Penn Hills from marketing director Steve Turner. You can get tickets for the anniversary ParTEA here. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Today, we're bringing back a conversation where host Morgan Moody talks candidly about her sobriety experiences with Pittsburgh author Brian Broome. Broome wrote an award-winning memoir, “Punch Me Up To The Gods,” and you can hear him talk about his writing process at the free virtual event, A Conversation About Writing, with The Cream Literary Alliance tomorrow evening. NOTE: This conversation originally aired on January 13, 2022. And if you're looking for support in your recovery here in Pittsburgh, check out these resources and opportunities: Onala Recovery Center https://www.onala.org/ POWER (PA Organization for Women in Early Recovery) https://power-recovery.com/ Pittsburgh Recovery Walk happening in September https://pghrecoverywalk.org/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Knotweed, nettle, tree of heaven, and garlic mustard — if you live in Pittsburgh, odds are you’ve been exposed to these pesky plants. But what can we do to get rid of them? And what are the ecological impacts if we succeed? Mason Heberling is the assistant curator of botany at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. He says the best solution is prevention, and lacking that, a whole lot of patience. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy recently shared a comprehensive guide to local invasive plants. Check it out here: https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/415693/assets/docs/invasiveplantsofpittsburgh.pdf?utm_content=135049138&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-7163241268&fbclid=IwAR3co4dplZNmJ3Dsnl3aiuPGOp29fwgxu1_qGa6TjtD90_DWZKLIwEwLzRU And our state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources keeps a running list of plants you shouldn’t nurture here. Check out the whole thing here: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/WildPlants/InvasivePlants/InvasivePlantFactSheets/Pages/default.aspx Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh is on the forefront of a growing national trend — trying to understand and treat what doctors are calling “long covid.” If coughing and chronic fatigue still has you down more than 12 weeks after infection, UPMC’s Dr. Michael Risbano tells people to hang in there. “The vast majority of people will get better… but it’s going to mean some hard work.” Learn more about the Post-Covid Recovery Clinic here. Plus, city officials want your ideas for a public art project at the new Fern Hollow Bridge. Share your feedback here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=QSiOQSgB1U2bbEf8Wpob3qHKbJE0XX9Ot-PkmqsPSCJUMkY2OTREMlVGNVZHMkI2T0lWNjFPM1ZTOC4u Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! Today the gang is talking about the U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania who voted against legislation for same-sex marriage, just days before celebrating his gay son’s wedding; all those new “Protect Trans Kids” signs popping up in Pittsburgh neighborhoods; and the real story behind PA’s Klondike claims. Check out local author Brian Butko book about Isaly’s, available now in the Heinz History Center bookshop: https://shop.heinzhistorycenter.org/products/isalys-chipped-ham-klondikes-and-other-tales-from-behind-the-counter And request your own “Protect Trans Kids” sign here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-YqcEVdkrWUDHJS41XUMf28sgfUIst7xy87YCYuNBl8175Q/viewform Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh might not have the most bridges in the U.S. (we debunked that claim back in a February episode), but we do have the most public staircases. One intrepid yinzer has climbed them all. Laura Zurowski, also known as Mis.Steps, takes City Cast on a field trip to one of her favorite set of steps and explains how Pittsburgh became the staircase capitol . You can sign up for a city steps walking tour with Laura or scroll through her Instagram account for lots of staircase great photos. Laura was inspired to start the project after reading Bob Regan’s “Pittsburgh Steps: The Story of the City’s Public Stairway.” It’s the original guide to Pittsburgh’s 739 sets of steps. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh’s City Council is on their version of a summer vacation. The 9-member board is on recess until August 19th and City Cast’s Megan Harris and Morgan Moody are running down what they’ve accomplished this year, plus what legislation is waiting for them when council resumes next month. The Post-Gazette has an excellent roundup of some of these measures: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2022/07/25/pittsburgh-city-council-summer-break-agenda-stop-and-frisk-bill-airbnb-rentals/stories/202207200083 Here’s a handy map of our new City Council districts. Learn more about District 5 candidates Barb Warwick here and Doug Shields here. And check out PublicSource’s great breakdown of DOMI’s challenges, especially now that the city’s Bridge Asset Management Program has been approved: https://www.publicsource.org/gainey-pittsburgh-bridges-infrastructure-lucas-domi/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Black women in Allegheny County earn significantly less than their colleagues — the wage gap between Black women and white men here is even worse than the national average. But a new campaign is trying to change that by encouraging employers to look at existing gaps in their own companies and commit to raising wages for women of color. Rochelle Jackson, founder and director of the Black Women’s Policy Center, joins us to discuss the Level Up initiative. As she says, you can’t address what you won’t acknowledge. The campaign is led by the Black Women’s Policy Center, YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh, and the Women and Girls Foundation. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Last year, an officer with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police alleged another officer sexually assaulted her at home after a social gathering on city property. The public safety director chose not to fire him, and the county declined to prosecute. So on her own, she found a little-used Pennsylvania law called the Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act. In the first part of a new series, City Cast Pittsburgh, with our news partner PublicSource, looks into the incident and what followed. Can't handle the wait for part 2? Read the full story here: https://publicsource.org/Sexual-violence-protection-victims-intimidation-pennsylvania-Pittsburgh-police City Cast's newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! City Cast’s Morgan Moody and Francesca Dabecco chat with roving producer Meg Dalton about how worried we should be about the BA.5 subvariant; climate advocates’ plans to shut down next week’s Congressional Baseball Game if climate change legislation doesn't pass (local Rep. Mike Doyle is coaching!); and a new way to share your Yinzer preferences while properly disposing of cigarette butts around tahn. Plus, the whole team shares the best things they learned about the city this week. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh’s first-ever Paddlesport Weekend kicks off this Friday, so to celebrate, City Cast’s Morgan Moody and Mallory Falk are testing the waters with a first-timers kayaking lesson. They’re with Christine Iksic, owner of 3 Rivers Outdoor Company (3ROC), to learn more about how she makes the outdoors more accessible through her retail store in Regent Square and riverfront outpost in Aspinwall, and how locals can dive into the city’s waterways this weekend. Paddlesport Weekend is hosted by 3ROC, Outkast Paddlers, and Friends of the Riverfront. You can check out 3ROC’s other events — like paddling trips, outdoor rock climbing, and live music on the water here. And if you’re looking for more ways to get out on the river, Christine also recommends 10.7 Marina, SurfSUP Adventures, and Kayak Pittsburgh. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It's kitten season in Pittsburgh, but cats can get pregnant any time — and at just four months old with up to five litters every year. That creates a lot of mouths to feed, and if they aren’t brought into a shelter as babies, they often end up in overpopulated, outdoor cat colonies. That’s where local rescues like Conquer the Colony step up to help maintain the population through trap, neuter, and return programs. Founders Erin Hartman and Kelly Kraus join us to talk about how — with a crate and some patience! — anyone can get involved. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Climate change is a global issue, but Pittsburgh is already feeling its effects: rising temperatures, poor air quality, extreme precipitation, flooding and drought, and even landslides. So how do we make changes on the local level? The state Department of Environmental Protection is offering local governments trainings through its Local Climate Action Program, which helps municipalities develop plans to reduce emissions and implement on-the-ground strategies like weatherizing homes, tree planting, curb-side recycling, bike-share programs, and more. Sharpsburg Mayor Brittany Reno says the training really grounded her work in data, and a year and a half later, she’s still inspired by the process. Sound like a good fit for your neighborhood? PA townships and boroughs interested in the program can apply through July 31. You can hear our March 17 episode about glass recycling here. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Homestead Grays catcher Josh Gibson hit something like 800 home runs during his career, but Major League Baseball has never counted Negro League stats alongside white players of the same era. Two years ago, MLB officials promised to change that, but so far – no dice. Fifty years since Gibson’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, his great-grandson, Sean Gibson, shares more about that legacy on and off the field, plus efforts to honor Gibson as the new namesake for the MLB’s annual MVP Award. “If Josh Gibson’s name is on the MVP Award, it will not just be about Josh Gibson. It’ll be about the 3,400 men who were denied the opportunity to play.” Vote for Josh here. And if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the anniversary, Sean runs the Josh Gibson Foundation, which is hosting events all summer, including one on Wednesday in Washington, Pa. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! By the time their new contracts expire, Penguins legends Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will have played around 20 years together — and with the same team. It’s unprecedented in this era of professional sports. Meanwhile, inflation continues to rise, and we’re all feeling it. But there’s good news: the Black Music Festival is this weekend! Plus, the team share’s their picks for the very worst of Pgh this week. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

When children go through treatment for cancer, there’s a risk it could affect their fertility. Pittsburgh is on the cutting edge of something that could help: a process called pediatric fertility treatment. But how does it work for kids who haven’t gone through puberty yet? And what’s it like to broach this subject with families who’ve just received a life-altering diagnosis? Amy Jutca, the fertility preservation program navigator at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, joins us to talk about helping kids and families with their options. Check here for more about fertility preservation programs at Children’s Hospital and Magee-Womens Hospital. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

The everything pickle and pickled festival includes quirky dishes, merchandise, live performances and more — and they’re expanding this year to the Rachel Carson Bridge, plus an exclusive spot for shade and food on the 10th Street bypass. City Cast’s Morgan Moody & Megan Harris talk to the guy who helped make it happen, Jack Dougherty, about the shindig USA Today calls the best specialty food festival in North America. There’s a can’t miss Picklesburgh roundup in our newsletter today. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

The long-time home of the Pittsburgh Steelers has a new name: Acrisure Stadium. The team made it official late yesterday, and fans went wild making fun of the choice. Minority owner Thomas Tull allegedly brokered the deal with Michigan-based insurance firm Acrisure, which Reuters reports is a growing member of the fintech industry — and one that’s profited recently from the war in Ukraine. While the terms of the deal aren’t public, Pittsburgh-based Kraft Heinz says the company hopes to remain involved with the Steelers. The Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko explains what comes next. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Artist Andy Warhol grew up in Oakland, but his iconic influence started later — mostly because of a soup can that made its debut 60 years ago in Los Angeles. Back then, the reception to his paintings was... lukewarm. City Cast contributor Rossilynne Skena Culgan is covering the anniversary of Warhol’s inaugural show for Pittsburgh City Paper. Check out the full story here: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/sixty-years-ago-this-week-warhol-began-his-souper-success/Content?oid=21989740 Look here for complete list of the Pennsylvania General Assembly's proposed amendments to our state constitution: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2022/01/pennsylvania-constitution-amendments-tracker-complete-guide/ Find more information about your legislators here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s the Friday news roundup! Morgan is away celebrating her birthday (we see you, Cancer season) so the rest of the squad gets nerdy with state budget talks and all those anti-trans bills announced recently, plus why the spotted lanternfly is on everyone’s seasonal kill list. There’s always great reporting behind these convos: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star and the Associated Press break down the latest bills on LGBTQ instruction: https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/senate-approves-limits-on-sexually-explicit-content-gender-identity-discussions-in-schools/ and https://apnews.com/article/education-pennsylvania-gender-identity-tom-wolf-government-and-politics-2fb27c1be186f2e36095b308523286af Spotlight PA really goes into detail on different budgetary sticking points this year: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2022/07/pennsylvania-state-budget-explainer-late/ Check out this meaty report from Old Dominion University that really details PA’s past budget woes: file:///Users/meganharris/Downloads/289-Article%20Text-915-1-10-20201112.pdf And here’s Penn State’s Spotted Lanternfly sighting reporting tool https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

There are hardly any independent butchers left in the region, but these seven institutions — most of them more than 50 years old — offer high-quality meat with service you can’t find at the big-box stores. In one of his final stories for Pittsburgh Magazine, City Cast contributor Hal B. Klein talk about his local favorites and why this could be *the* moment for more would-be butchers to learn the craft. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Today marks the 130th anniversary of the Battle of Homestead. No, it wasn’t part of any war, and technically, it didn’t even happen in Homestead. Just outside the Pump House in what is now the Waterfront, labor leaders walked out for six days to defend their rights while on the job. What followed was a brutal clash with Pinkerton “detectives” that ended with dozens of injuries and the slow collapse of the budding union. People died, and the movement didn’t stick, but the conflict left an indelible mark on union organizers and the company leaders who would stop them. Historian Maura Bainbridge gets into the particulars, plus why that legacy still matters today. Catch her today at 9:30 a.m. for a free event commemorating the anniversary. Additional speakers include Steffi Domike (filmmaker of “The River Ran Red”), Mike Stout (labor singer/songwriter), Tammy Hepps (Homestead community historian), Joel Woller (labor historian), and Joe White (U.S. political scientist). Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Super Bowl champ — and forever Pittsburgher — Ryan Mundy thrived on the field in the shadow of groundbreaking concussion research. But as he pondered his post-game career, he wondered what was out there for folks like him looking for guidance on how to heal himself from the inside out. Now he’s created a tech platform, Alkeme Health, aimed at addressing mental health by and for the Black community. "We’re focused on the Black community and we designed our platform to meet the needs of the Black community but we are not Black exclusive. … What’s good for Black people is good for all people.” Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

The Friday news roundup is back! This week, the team discusses a GOP move to block state funding for Pa. schools that use fetal tissue for medical research; new legislation that could allow companies to test driverless vehicles in Pittsburgh; and one woman’s gripe with the Pittsburgh city flag. Plus an update on local Starbucks unions. As always, the Friday roundup is powered by great local (and national) journalism. This week, check out: Kate Giammarise and Chris Potter with WESA on the threat to tuition aid: https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-06-28/republican-legislators-university-pittsburgh-tuition-fetal-tissue An-Li Herring with WESA on autonomous vehicles: https://www.wesa.fm/economy-business/2022-04-25/autonomous-vehicles-drive-investment-to-pittsburgh-but-companies-say-government-buy-in-is-key Dontae Washington in Pittsburgh City Paper on a strike at the Bloomfield Starbucks: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/union-protests-corporate-obstructions-at-bloomfield-starbucks/Content?oid=21940316 Ali Francis in Bon Appétit on Starbucks and abortion access: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/starbucks-union-battle Our own Francesca Dabecco in Pittsburgh City Paper on LGBTQ-led efforts to unionize Starbucks: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/starbucks-unions-pick-up-steam-among-lgbtq-workers/Content?oid=21908834 Lucy Chen in Pittsburgh City Paper on the problem(s) with Pittsburgh’s flag: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/an-artists-plea-for-pittsburgh-to-redesign-its-city-flag/Content?oid=21441677 Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

A handful of school boards across the country are causing a fresh stir, alleging a growing number of schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate kids who identify as furries and only communicate by barking or meowing. Some politicians and political candidates have spread the rumors, including in Nebraska, Texas, and even one south central PA school. On the eve of Anthrocon — Pittsburgh’s annual celebration of furry culture — we talk to Xanni Novak, a longtime convention attendee, about what’s behind the fear-mongering and how it connects to conversations about critical race theory and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Also, check out the latest research and writings from Furscience, aka the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, which found 12-19% of furries identify as trans, and upwards of 80-85% identify as LGBTQ+. Researcher Dr. Sharon Roberts says both numbers are trending up: “You have all of these marginalized identities that people have struggled with because the rest of the world is nasty about them, or they have been historically, and (furry culture) is a safe environment just for people to be their most authentic selves.” Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

You know the one — Stephen Foster is well-dressed and seated, looking down over a barefoot Black man playing a banjo at his feet. After 118 years in Oakland, the controversial piece came down by unanimous decision in 2018, and we wondered where it’s been since. It turns out, it’s still in a local basement. But there’s a museum director in LA who’s got a plan. We’re with co-curator Hamza Walker of LAXART. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Ridership along Norfolk Southern’s Pennsylvanian train line has been growing in recent years, and the state says the whole operation needs a little TLC if it’s going to accommodate expanded service from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg. Today we talk to City Cast subscriber Keegan Gibson during his commute back to the ‘Burgh about what he’s seeing, how he figures the experience could be improved by a newly announced influx of $200 million, and the best train car snacks to chew chew for his money. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

We knew it was coming: the landmark doctrine legalizing choice in America was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday. Abortion rights in Pennsylvania are protected, but not guaranteed, and with a governor’s race coming in November, abortion rights advocates say Pittsburgh should expect a wave of out-of-state patients in the coming months and years. The Pittsburgh team talks about the immediate aftermath locally, how other City Cast teams around the country are talking about next steps, and what it'll mean for Pittsburgh to become a beacon for access for hundreds of miles. Friend-of-the-pod Katrina Lipinsky shared a bunch of resources on Instagram for folks interested in getting involved. She's a certified nurse midwife at the Allegheny Reproductive Health Center here in Pittsburgh: Info on where to get an abortion around the country as the laws evolve: @ineedanacom Abortion pills available online, based on where you live: @plancpills Medical support when self-managing at home: @ma_hotline Legal support for self-managing: @ifwhenhow & @reprolegaldefensefund Funds available to help cover travel, food, child care, and other needs incurred as part of seeking an abortion: @abortionfunds (national) & @wpafundforchoice (Pittsburgh) Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

The coffee giant prides itself on being an inclusive workplace for the LGBTQ+ community, but Pittsburgh workers say the benefits it offers — like gender-affirming health care — are often inaccessible. City Cast’s Francesca Dabecco talks to union organizer and author of “On The Line,” Daisy Pitkin, about how queer folks are at the center of this historic workers rights movement. Plus, local Starbucks partners share their perspective. Please read the written version for Pittsburgh City Paper here: pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/starbucks-unions-pick-up-steam-among-lgbtq-workers/Content?oid=21908834 And check out these bonkers stories about the local Airport Authority… Post-Gazette: https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2022/06/20/pittsburgh-international-airport-airmall-fraport-christina-cassotis-allegheny-county-airport-authority-common-pleas-court/stories/202206200084 TribLIVE: https://triblive.com/business/allegheny-county-airport-authority-company-in-legal-battle-over-concessions-contract/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

The temps last week were brutal, and now we're in the midst of another stretch of near 90-degree days. While most of us take cover indoors, City Cast’s Morgan Moody & Megan Harris share their favorite ways to get a little sunshine while also staying safe and cool around the ‘Burgh. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

This Sunday is Juneteenth, so we took a trip to the Heinz History Center in the Strip District to walk through their From Slavery to Freedom exhibit. Today, hear from Director of African American Programs Samuel Black about the cultural importance of the nation's newest bank holiday — and Pittsburgh’s abolitionist roots! Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh students struggled with math even before the pandemic, but the latest round of standardized test scores paints a dire picture. Learning gaps have only gotten worse, especially for Black, brown and low-income children — at some local elementary schools, the math proficiency rate among Black students was 0%. Reporter Mary Niederburger with the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism explains how we got here and what happens next. Read Mary’s piece about student math scores here: https://pinjnews.org/does-tutoring-culturally-relevant-lessons-double-math-periods-math-proficiency And follow all her reporting on the pandemic and Pittsburgh schools here: https://pinjnews.org/unfinished-learning/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Isn’t it more fun to eat alfresco? Outdoor dining got a boost during the pandemic, and Pittsburgh is blooming with pretty patios, rooftop tables, beer gardens, and sidewalk seating. We invited Pittsburgh foodie blogger Sophia Chang — aka @sopheating on Instagram — to help us dish on some of the best spots for romance, ambiance, and a strong summer sipper. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Five years ago, a refrigerator caught fire in an apartment inside the Grenfell Tower in London. It burned to the ground, ultimately killing 72 people — many of them children. And there’s a Pittsburgh manufacturing firm at the center of that story. Local filmmaker and multimedia artist Chris Ivey has interviewed dozens of survivors about their trauma. He’s with us to talk about how he got involved, how you can see his new film, and what justice means for the hundreds of displaced people looking to Arconic for answers. Read the NYT piece about Arconic’s actions in Russia here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/world/europe/russia-ukraine-arconic-samara.html Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Since the pandemic, Pittsburgh’s Pride has been kinda muted. Still proud, but a little quieter. That’s likely to change this weekend as the Steel City welcomes back dozens of community concerts, craft fairs, marches and more, plus a slew of new celebrations in smaller boroughs. QBurgh’s Jason Shavers and Jim Sheppard are here to talk through them all, share their top recommendations and explain an evolving court battle still being championed by Pride’s former organizers. Check out QBurgh’s full itinerary here: https://qburgh.com/heres-your-pride-2022-itinerary/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

It’s been two weeks since Pennsylvania’s primary election, and we still don’t know everyone who’ll be on our ballots for the general election in November. But we can expect at least two defining talking points — gun control and abortion access. Today on the pod, the City Cast team talks through the big takeaways, what we've learned since the Uvalde shooting and what's likely to come next. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh is consistently rated among the nation’s worst cities for air quality, but how does that affect our mental health -- especially in the hardest-hit lower income communities along the Mon Valley? Environmental Health News journalist Kristina Marusic explains how folks are coping with the continued effect of "climate anxiety," and what you can do to help. The series is a collaboration between Environmental Health News and The Allegheny Front: https://www.ehn.org/mental-health-2655533166/what-we-found PublicSource did some excellent reporting about one of the hardest-hit communities, Clairton. Check it out here: https://www.publicsource.org/clairton-city-of-prayer-portraits-illness-trauma-advocacy-resilience/ And please read these lists of local organizations helping to make change: https://www.ehn.org/mental-health-solutions-2655533540/take-care-of-your-mental-health https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-mental-health-organizations-filling-access-gaps/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!