City Cast Pittsburgh

It’s the Friday news roundup! Heinz Field is back in the Burgh (or just barely north of it), there’s a beautifully local backstory behind the @pgh_scanner Twitter account, and Chomper may be out of the Kiski, but the Steel City still has a wild and wonderful history with stray reptiles. We love to cite our sources: Francesca wrote all about Pgh’s fascination with alligators for the Hey Pittsburgh...

In a quest to get to know Pittsburgh better, coffee enthusiast Zach Lucas visited a local coffee shop for every letter of the alphabet. He joins us to share his picks for everything from coziest vibes to the most unusual to the all-around best coffee (and tea!). See where Zach has been on his map of the ABCs of Pittsburgh Coffee. Sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library here. Want some more...

The Pittsburgh Steelers are back at their rightful summer home in Latrobe for training camp. To celebrate, join us for a throwback to when City Cast’s Morgan Moody and Megan Harris made 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. Get tickets here. And while you’re out there, check out today’s newslet...

The synagogue shooting trial ended last week — when the man who killed 11 worshipers at a Squirrel Hill synagogue was sentenced to death. It was a long trial, with lots of challenging testimony. And someone close to us attended almost every day: Mallory’s mom.  City Cast Pittsburgh’s Mallory Falk sits down with her mother, Ellen Surloff, who was president of Dor Hadash at the time of the shooting....

On October 27, 2018, a man walked into a Squirrel Hill synagogue and turned an ordinary Shabbat morning into the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Nearly five years later, he has been sentenced to death for killing 11 Jewish worshipers from three congregations: Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Hadash. City Cast’s Mallory Falk grew up at Tree of Life, attended part of the trial, and sp...

It’s the Friday news roundup! We’ve got a wild story about the county giving in on a lawsuit brought by a paramilitary jail “expert,” who may have never done any real work, plus a send off to our departing friends at The Incline and 90.5 WESA’s The Confluence. Host Megan Harris is joined by Brian Conway, founder of the Pittsburgh Independent, and NEXTpittsburgh columnist Tony Norman to break it al...

The city’s biggest celebration of all things vegan, animal advocacy, and environmental friendliness takes over Allegheny Commons Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City Cast Pittsburgh crew has you covered with a full day of noms and veggie-forward recommendations, plus our very own Francesca Dabecco shares her tips for a successful day aht. Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to s...

A few hours ago, Pittsburgh got some big news: a jury ruled that the man behind the synagogue shooting in 2018 should be put to death. The gunman was found guilty earlier this summer on 63 federal counts, including 11 counts of a hate crime that resulted in death. City Cast’s Megan Harris and Mallory Falk discuss the ruling and what comes next. Additional sentencing will follow and we think there’...

Developers want to build a 162-apartment complex at the site of former Irish Centre at the edge of Frick Park, but neighborhood and community groups are not having it. So what's at the heart of this? Reporter Ryan Deto with the Tribune-Review explains the environmental and traffic challenges, plus his experience with a certain faction of Pittsburgh NIMBYs. Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sur...

There’s a difference between spaces that allow our best pals and the ones who are truly dog friendly. Pet expert Tori Mistick of WearWagRepeat is with us to share her favorite local spots for a paw-fect Pittsburgh day — plus how to pack ahead, what to consider about temperament and environment, and the quick rules for her newly christened four-paw rating system.

Pittsburgh-area teachers often spend their own (very hard-earned) money on classroom supplies. But twice a year, they can stop by The Education Partnership’s Teacher Resource Center and fill up shopping carts with everything they need — from notebooks and glue sticks to Clorox wipes and air purifiers — at no personal cost. City Cast visited the center last year and spoke with executive director Jo...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The heat is insufferable but does it qualify as a wave? A new police academy class is in session, but the bureau will need to recruit a lot more people if they plan to get back up to 900 like they plan. And Brittany Hailer, director of the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, shares one thing — on Facebook, of all places — that’s bringing her joy this summer...

Pittsburgh may historically be a drinking town (hello, Whiskey Rebellion!), but we’re also on the map as a sober-curious destination. The Open Road in Allentown is the oldest (still open) non-alcoholic specialty retailer in the nation, lined with zero-proof spirits, botanical seltzers, and even dry versions of your favorite classics. We visited the shop to talk to owner Mel Babitz about how this b...

Goat Fest is this weekend, but what makes these critters so special? From meat, milk, and fiber to keeping invasive species out of our parks, hear how they’ve captured the heart of City Cast producer Maria Carter, plus tons of recommendations for local goat products and activities. Celebrate goats at Goat Fest this Saturday, July 29, noon to 4 p.m. in South Side Park. Learn about how goats can be...

Pennsylvania’s laws can sometimes feel like they were written for another time. That’s because many of them were. From a ban on fishing with dynamite, to a prohibition on for-profit fortune-telling, we get into some of the weirdest state laws still on the books. Host Megan Harris talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri, plus reporter Harrison Cann at City & State PA. Check out Harrison’s repo...

Water rates could rise as much as 70% over the next three years, and as homeowners, you stand to pay a lot more than a big commercial business. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris chats with Ann Belser, the editor and publisher of Print, about why PWSA says it needs so much more money, how the state’s getting involved, and what you can do to have your voice heard before the price per gallon goe...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to end affirmative action has universities all over our region re-evaluating how they handle legacy admissions; the city has a new $3 million fund to help folks and institutions feed their neighbors; and an old hillside novelty got a humongous glow-up, but we bet you don’t know the real history behind Pittsburgh’s “Hollywood” sign. We l...

Building a charcuterie board is like creating a work of art with cheese, meats, fruits, and other colorful fixings. But where do you start? The City Cast Pittsburgh team took a field trip to The Cheese Queen’s brick-and-mortar in Mt. Oliver to learn the secrets to plating and pairing. Megan McGinnis, of the former local grocery family The McGinnis Sisters, shares what inspired her to become a chee...

For two years, Spin scooters have been everywhere here in Pittsburgh. Helping people get from A to B, but also getting in the way. The pilot program that brought them here has ended, and their future is caught up in a complicated budget brawl. And it turns out, neither the company nor the city were keeping very good records about how people used or got abused by their presence here. We’re with Ann...

If the summer heat has your friends and loved ones feeling a little cranky, why not surprise ‘em with a nice local gift? The City Cast team is sharing our top Pittsburgh merch, treats and activities for all your July celebrations. From patterned shirts that look like PAT bus seats to sunset kayaking trips, we’ve got recommendations for all your favorite yinzers. Here’s where to find all of our top...

In past years, the basement at Smithfield United Church of Christ opened its doors to those in need of a place to stay in the winter, but as homelessness surged, Allegheny County kept the shelter open indefinitely. A community quickly developed among those who slept there or hung out on the church steps, but neighbors started objecting. We talk with PublicSource’s Stephanie Strasburg and Eric Jank...

It’s the Friday news roundup! NEXTpittsburgh columnist Tony Norman joins lead producer Mallory Falk and producer Maria Carter to discuss concerns around how Mayor Gainey’s office communicates with the public. They also talk about the growing number of guns getting seized at the Pittsburgh airport (we’re on track to break a record!) and the latest local athlete to grace the cover of a Wheaties box....

Whether you love a good taco or some crunchy chilaquiles, the Pittsburgh area has a growing number of restaurants with tasty Mexican dishes. Oscar Zapata, a Mexico City native who came to the Steel City for grad school, joins us to share his go-to spots when he’s craving a taste of home — including some of his favorite family-owned restaurants. Oscar rounded up some of his picks for the first-ever...

Pittsburgh has one of the oldest city flags in the U.S., but the design leaves something to be desired — at least, according to Ted Kaye. He's the nation's leading flag scholar and author of the flag design bible "Good Flag, Bad Flag." Kaye joins lead producer Mallory Falk to explain what makes a good flag, where Pittsburgh ranks compared to other cities, and whether we should be considering a new...

Why does Pittsburgh insist on changing the names of our sports heroes, and why do the athletes let us do it? We take a deep dive into the origins of Merry-o Lemieux, shortening Evgeni to Geno, and a bunch of other Steel City favorites with Rob Rossi, a senior writer at The Athletic. Check out our long history of this via Fansided, which published an absurdly detailed list of Pittsburgh nicknames....