City Cast Pittsburgh

If you own an old home, there might be discriminatory language in your deed barring Black people from owning the property. It’s called a racial covenant, and even though this language isn’t enforceable anymore, it’s still on the books in the subdivisions of at least a few Pittsburgh neighborhoods — and especially in our suburbs. Local writer and historian David Rotenstein joins us to talk about wh...

A local teacher was left out of America’s latest prisoner swap with Russia, but his family isn’t giving up. Seven vending machines filled with free Narcan are popping up across the county, and Pittsburgh’s alcohol-free scene is more vibrant than ever. Plus, how a certain mayor added to the VP announcement drama. We always cite our sources: The mayor of Philadelphia posted a video last week calling...

Pennsylvania’s getting millions from the federal government to build hydrogen hubs in the hopes of creating an energy source that’s cleaner than fossil fuels. Our state lawmakers think it’s a pretty good deal, but some environmental groups worry that without the right regulations in place, these hubs won’t actually be as environmentally-friendly as they seem. Now that the first phase of an Appalac...

It’s the Friday news roundup! We’ve got the latest on Pittsburgh’s so-called “jock tax,” how Pennsylvanians are showing out in the Paris Olympics, and what we know about a Pittsburgh-area teacher who was left off an historic prisoner swap with Russia. Plus, we’re checking in on the Trump rally investigation and decoding Kamala Harris’ choice to introduce her vice presidential pick in Philly next w...

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.  It’s officially August and there is so much to do in and around the city, from kayaking under a meteor shower to catching live music in a city park. The City Cast team is sharing our recommendations for making the most of Pittsburgh this month, w...

Have a birthday coming up? Producer Sophia Lo rounded up some of the best birthday freebies and discounts for her birthday, and we’re bringing you all the local restaurant loyalty programs you need to sign up for so you can celebrate your big day with sweet treats and even full meals. Have a favorite local freebie that we didn’t mention? Let us know, and your answer might be featured on the show!...

If you want to go camping, where should you start? We’re back with Marcus Shoffner, founder of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, talking about favorite destinations in and around the city, his tips and tricks for a good experience, ways to borrow and learn how to use the right gear, and other low-stress ideas to get you started. Plus, an update on the overnight camping pilot he started in Riverview...

The humble user review — taken alone, is just one person’s opinion. But put a bunch together, and that aggregated star rating can make or break a local business. So today, we’re going inside the minds of the people leaving one-star reviews for some of our favorite Pittsburgh places. Producer and quizmaster Elizabeth Kauma puts host Megan Harris and newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco to the test....

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 i...

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...

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...

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 happene...

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 intellect...

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...

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 fo...

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...

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...

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...

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” l...

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. Wan...

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 origin...

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: B...

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...

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...

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...