City Cast Pittsburgh

The Allegheny County Jail has one of the highest death rates per capita in the country. Last week, the family of Anthony Talotta, one of 21 men who’ve died in connection with the jail since April 2020, filed a federal lawsuit against the county, several doctors, and Allegheny Health Network. Lead producer Mallory Falk explains the family’s legal case and its chief allegation — a pattern of medical...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Archers have taken out a surprising number of deer in Pittsburgh parks; the city school board is considering closures (again); and many of our city’s institutions are striking — or thinking about going on strike. Plus, an update on Pittsburgh’s bid for a new energy production center. We love to cite our sources:  WESA covered declining enrollment at Pittsburgh Public...

Something new for yinz! We’re talking all things food — a bunch of new restaurants are opening, a few restaurants are back, there are a couple of classic Pittsburgh brands branching out into new spaces, and the City Cast crew has everything you need to plan your weekend.  City Paper ranked all the sandwiches you can order at Sheetz, NEXTPittsburgh has a great roundup of more autumnal events, and t...

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 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 ki...

There’s a chill in the air. Pumpkin spice is on the menu. It’s the perfect time to buy a gift for the fall enthusiast in your life. From a cozy mug for camping trips to a seasonal spiced wine, the City Cast team is rounding up our favorite local gifts for October. Here’s where to find all of our top picks. Let us know what we should feature next! Things to buy: House plants from Greenhouse Co-op -...

A few weeks ago, Pittsburgh (quietly) got a lot bigger — not because some huge influx of people moved here, but because the White House decided to redraw the boundaries of our metro population. Now we’re eight counties instead of seven. But despite the new boundaries, Pittsburgh as a city isn’t growing. And that got us wondering why growth is so important, and whether it might actually be a good t...

It’s the Friday news roundup! A controversial diorama at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is being removed after a new decision about displaying human remains. But questions remain about the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park. Plus, Downtown isn’t getting its long-awaited movie theater after all. We love to cite our sources!  TribLive reported on the fate of the diorama...

It's cider donut season! To celebrate, we're bringing back one of our tastiest episodes, when the City Cast crew tried 21 different donuts from all corners of Pittsburgh. From old standards like cinnamon sugar and glazed to more creative fare like huckleberry and buckeye, tune in to find out which we crowned our favorites. **This conversation originally published June 1, 2023. Special thanks to al...

If you polled a bunch of Pittsburghers and asked who’s the most beloved person in our city, it’s safe to say today’s guest would show up on that list. Rick Sebak is known for his TV documentaries on WQED. And now, he’s dipping his toes into audio. Rick joins us to talk about his new podcast Gumbands, the one Pittsburgh story he’s still dying to tell, and the local rites of passage that make someon...

If you plan to buy something in the city this weekend, come prepared, because Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban goes into effect on Saturday. But who has to comply? Will paper bags cost us? Are stores ready for the change? And with cities all over adopting policies like this, what do we know about the bans’ effects on the environment? City Cast lead producer Mallory Falk is ready to explain! We love to...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Lawmakers in Washington have been up in arms — about the possibility of a shutdown, yes — but also the state of John Fetterman’s shorts; Pennsylvania’s favorite amphibian, the snot otter, is getting some official state love on local cars; and if you’ve ever wanted to buy 100 single air pods, the county airport auction is just for you.  We’re lucky to have socially con...

Pittsburgh Coffee Week kicks off October 15, and we’ve got all you need to know to celebrate our local shops. Barista Clarisa Espinoza-Delgado shares some tips on how to order efficiently, how much to tip, and just how long you can camp out at a table.  Check out Pittsburgh Coffee Week’s website for a full lineup of events and drink specials. The coffeeshops we recommended include Trace Brewing, C...

Pittsburgh has always had its problems, and complaining about them is one of our favorite sports. But there’s also a long tradition of outsiders coming here — or even just reading about our town — and thinking it’s OK to add their two cents. In fact, dumping on the Steel City actually goes back over 230 years. Local writer Virginia Montanez rounded up some of the funniest and most creative insults...

District attorney isn’t typically a sexy race, especially in Allegheny County where the same person has held the office since the late 1990s. But this year, incumbent Democrat Stephen A. Zappala has a big challenge. Not only because he already lost the party nomination in April to fellow Democrat and public defender Matt Dugan, but also because a tremendous amount of outside money is suddenly pour...

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 Cente...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Allegheny County leadership is at odds again — this time, over the fate of the Shuman juvenile detention facility in the East End; the new covid boosters are allegedly available, but Pittsburghers are having a lot of trouble finding them both in stock and covered by their insurers; and Banned Books Week kicks off this weekend, as state lawmakers consider ways to make...

Maybe you like IPAs or lagers. Maybe a seasonal or sour is more your taste. Or maybe you’re just in it for the lawn games. Trace Brewing’s Aadam Soorma is here to share his favorite breweries for fall, including spots to watch a game, take a hike, pet some pigs, and of course — have a great-tasting bevvie alongside it all.  This is the third in a three-part series on the best fall getaways in our...

The nights are longer and there’s a chill in the air… it’s almost Halloween! And that means scare season for local haunt actors Stacey Federoff and Dave Archer. They’re sharing their love of the holiday, which area haunts are worth a day trip from Pittsburgh, and how you and your friends can safely (and creepily?!) experience the frights and delights of their favorite “haunted” attractions. This i...

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 is episode is the first in a three-part series on the best...

In 2008, the city and its foundations made a promise to all Pittsburgh kids – if you attend class and get decent grades, we’ll help you pay for college or trade school. But last week, the officials behind those gifts told parents in a one-page letter that the money is almost out. We’re talking about why with journalist Mary Niederberger and James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools. For more...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Pittsburgh had on impact on the whole dang state when we elected a new representative this week; Pennsylvanians will be automatically registered to vote at the DMV; our five most recent former governors would love to open our primary elections; the “revolving door” for lawmakers to become lobbyists is an increasing problem in Harrisburg; and Gov. Josh Shapiro opened a...

It’s harvest season, and if you’re looking to preserve your bounty, we’ve got some tips for you! Richard Kralj, a food safety educator at Penn State Extension, joins us to talk about why there’s a renewed interest in canning, the best ways to get started, and why you may not want to rely on your grandma’s preserved peach recipe. Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to sign up for our daily m...

Pittsburgh played a pivotal role in labor history, and we continue to innovate today. City Cast content director Wil Fulton discusses Pittsburgh’s vanguard approach to employee ownership with our sponsor, The Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership. He speaks with PA Center for Employee Ownership CEO Kevin McPhillips, and Erika Strassburger and Sara Innamorato, two members of the Center’s cityw...

Did you know Pittsburgh is the backdrop for one of the most thrilling movies ever made? The Silence of the Lambs was mostly filmed around Pittsburgh in the early 1990s. When the house of the film’s skin-conscious serial killer, Buffalo Bill, went up for sale a few years ago, a fan bought it. Filmmaker Chris Rowan recreated parts of the set — including the infamous basement well — and converted the...

Did we just become best friends?! Making new connections as an adult in Pittsburgh can be really hard, but hobbies can help! Writer and City Cast Pittsburgh contributor Meg St-Esprit has a bunch of great ideas to help you find a fun new pastime, plus tips for breaking the ice among your soon-to-be best pals. Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh...