City Cast Pittsburgh

For better or worse, Giant Eagle has long been the main grocery store in town — beloved for its sheetcakes, bemoaned for its high prices. But that could soon change. Kroger is planning to buy the local chain, Wegmans and Meijer are coming to Cranberry, and Trader Joe's is allegedly looking to expand into the Strip District. It suddenly feels like we're at the center of the grocery store wars. What...

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Pittsburgh? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of...

Pittsburgh's slated to get a lot more housing, from new apartments in the Hill District to converted office buildings Downtown to a decommissioned steam plant that's being turned into apartments. But who exactly will live in these units, and how tricky will it be to get them online? Executive producer Mallory Falk and City Cast contributor and City Paper managing editor Colin Williams discuss. We...

Pittsburgh has no shortage of great coffee shops. Some are perfect for getting work done. Others are better for catching up with friends. And a few are practically begging you to take yourself on a little solo date. With Pittsburgh Coffee Week kicking off this Sunday, the City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our favorite spots for every occasion. Plus, we’re highlighting some of the events worth c...

There's an urban legend that's left an eerie mark on generations of local kids: a story about 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 maybe got struck by lightning. The details are squishy, but the real story behind "The Monster of Beaver County" is a tragic one. City Cast's Wil Fulton joins us to explain...

Fall foliage is starting to pop around Pittsburgh. Host Megan Harris and contributor Sophia Lo share their favorite spots to soak up those autumn colors, including city parks and scenic road trips. Plus, Sophia shares their picks for some of the best Asian grocery stores in the region, from bustling markets in the Strip to smaller neighborhood gems. And if you’re looking to make plans, we’ve got s...

Another Pittsburgh school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the sur...

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officially announced their 2027 budgets and … wow our finances are not looking good. Host Megan Harris and contributor Colin Williams explain where that money’s coming from (including a potential sales tax increase and proposed property reassessments), where it’s going, and why it’s so hard to pay for everything right now. Plus, a look at what’s coming on your Novem...

Pittsburgh loves to talk about its history — the forts, the steel mills, the immigrants, the neighborhoods. But the story of this place starts long before any of that. Ahead of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, we’re revisiting a conversation with Miguel Sague of the Council of Three Rivers Indian American Center about the Native peoples who shaped our region and the Indigenous community that sti...

It's official: an Allegheny County resident just tested positive for measles. It's part of Pennsylvania's ongoing (and worsening) measles outbreak, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and five measles-associated deaths statewide. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and creative producer Boen Wang discuss the latest updates, the continuing dispute between PA and the CDC over the number...

Notes and references from today’s show: A.I.-Driven Education: Founded in Texas and Coming to a School Near You [New York Times] State rejects application for cyber charter school with AI teacher and two hours of daily class [Penn Capital-Star] Parents Fell in Love With Alpha School’s Promise. Then They Wanted Out [Wired] SPECIAL REPORT: My So-Called Alpha School [Cognitive Resonance] Several Stat...

Korean BBQ, sushi, "artisanal" croissants, and other delectable delicacies are on offer from newly-opened (as well as expanding and reopening) restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and bars in the Pittsburgh region. Executive producer Mallory Falk and contributor Sophia Lo dish (haha) about all the latest eateries and drinkieries coming our way, and what we’re personally looking forward to checking...

When Pittsburgh looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketb...

Carnegie Mellon University is opening a new campus in Miami, thanks to a $3 billion gift from hedge fund manager Ken Griffin. It's the largest single donation ever made to a U.S. university. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and contributor and City Paper Managing Editor Colin Williams discuss the school's Florida expansion (spring breaaaaaaak forever), Griffin’s status as a GOP...

October in Pittsburgh is packed with things to eat, see and do — from campy musicals and a pizza opera to the Pittsburgh Art Book Fair and the (maybe?) final Living Dead Weekend at Monroeville Mall. We’ve also got fall house tours, family-friendly trolley adventures, a food hall to try, and a few ideas for getting out of town. Plus, host Megan Harris wants your vote on where she should spend a few...

How scared do you actually want to be this Halloween? Pittsburgh has plenty of options! Whether you want chainsaw-wielding killers chasing you through a haunted house or you’d rather stick to haunted history and mini golf, we’ve got something for you. Host Megan Harris and creative producer Marla Kauffman are rounding up the region’s best fall frights from the truly terrifying haunts — like Crawfo...

Have you ever been enjoying a bike ride along the riverfront, only for the trail to end abruptly? Good news! The city is planning to close some longstanding gaps along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and creative producer Boen Wang explain which sections are getting extended (including a particularly harrowing stretch between the Strip District...

Looking for your next fall getaway? What about a curated road trip with lots of tasty stops and local history? Our state's tourism site includes six official culinary trails with themes like maple, bread, and charcuterie. Food historian Mary Miller, the mastermind behind several of our state trails, joins host Megan Harris to share her inspiration and offer tips for designing your own food crawl,...

What’s a seemingly small project in Pittsburgh that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking...

UPMC just placed a decade-long moratorium on gender-affirming care for patients under 19 and agreed to pay the federal government $950,000 as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice. Host Megan Harris is with City Cast contributors Sophia Lo and Colin Williams to talk about what comes next. Plus, we're debating whether Pittsburgh Paint Company's 2027 color of the year truly counts as a...

Former Mayor Ed Gainey is under investigation and facing allegations of improper contracts, questionable financial decisions, and potentially misleading information in bond documents. No charges have been filed, but the details revealed this week in a newly unsealed search warrant follow a pattern of rumors we've been hearing for years. Host Megan Harris is with the Post-Gazette's Hallie Lauer to...

Allegheny County the most Flock cameras and automated license plate readers in PA, according to crowdsourced data. Host Megan Harris is with Axios Pittsburgh's Ryan Deto to discuss how exactly these cameras work, why they're so controversial, and whether the state legislature could end up regulating or even outright banning them. Plus, they explain the difference between Flock cams and other tech...

In the midst of Downtown’s larger $600 million makeover, Smithfield Street’s been waiting its turn. Crews are breaking ground today on the first of dozens of small projects, including sidewalk repairs, better lighting, landscaping, and more. It’s unlikely the historic 10-block stretch will ever return to its heyday, but can it be something we all use and enjoy again? Host Megan Harris is with free...

After weighing over 1,400 public comments — mostly from parents, health care workers, and small business owners — the county health department made some major edits to its paid parental leave proposal. That includes cutting the length from 18 weeks to 12 and exempting the county's smallest businesses. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and Public Source's Oliver Morrison discuss t...

Would Pittsburgh be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritize...