City Cast Pittsburgh

Before Dr. Jonas Salk, polio killed or paralyzed more than a half million people worldwide every year, and survivors often faced lifelong consequences. Host Megan Harris & producer Maria Carter talk through his mid-century, lifesaving developments for the University of Pittsburgh, how the disease had been terrorizing local parents and kids, and how thousands of Pittsburgh-area children ultimately...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The big talk in Harrisburg is about Gov. Josh Shapiro pulling his support for private school vouchers after state budget talks stalled — much to the dismay of many Republicans. After Beyoncé canceled her stop at Acrisure Stadium, the BeyHive was buzzing with theories about why and a lot of disappointment. And a team from CMU has built a robot prototype that could help...

National Macaroni Day is tomorrow, and National Mac & Cheese Day is July 14, so we put our sharpest minds to finding the best in the Burgh. The City Cast team broke down what makes a good mac and cheese and where to get the best classic and elevated takes on the dish in the city.  Here are the mac’s that were gouda‘nough to make our list: The Rear End GastroPub and Garage in Etna has a classic mac...

This week marks the 131st 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 col...

For a long time, the birthday of 19th century composer Stephen Foster was a big deal in Pittsburgh. People here were proud that Foster, who was born on July 4th in Lawrenceville, was the popular songwriter behind a bunch of hits at the time — “Beautiful Dreamer,” “Camptown Races,” “O Susanna,” and more. And while Foster himself was not a confederate leader, there was a statue of him in Oakland for...

It’s the Friday news roundup! If you’ve been struggling with Pittsburgh’s air quality the past few days, we’ve got a DIY solution to breathing easier. Plus hear more about hometown legend Mac Miller’s posthumous drop and what you can do to welcome fursuiters during Anthrocon this weekend. We cite our sources: Confused about Code Red? Here’s a handy explainer on AQI The effects of ozone vs particul...

Pittsburgh is the undisputed ketchup capitol, but it turns out our city can (at least partly) lay claim to one of America’s most recognizable frozen desserts. Brian Butko, director of publications for the Heinz History Center, joins us to share the origin story of the Klondike bar — and how the original 1920s classic compares to today’s iconic, foil-wrapped treat. Read more about western Pennsylva...

Maybe you played sports in middle school, or maybe it took another 20 years before you found something fitness-y you actually enjoy. For the more than 10,000 older athletes on their way to Pittsburgh for the 2023 National Senior Games next week, it’s a mixed bag! Nancy Brown, coveted volleyball hitter and president of the Senior Olympics of Western PA, explains the community (diverse) and competit...

Pittsburgh is a cradle for technology, innovation, and discovery — but that doesn’t mean we love everything AI spits out. From writing poems about Pittsburgh to paranoid comparisons to nuclear weapons, what should we be paying attention to? And what have we learned? Dr. Maarten Sap, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Language Technology Institute, explains what it means to call...

Early summer is the peak season to buy a house in Pittsburgh, but the process can feel overwhelming. How do you find an agent or figure out your price range? Does a Pittsburgh potty count as a half-bath? What the heck is hand money? Local realtor Jessica Baker joins us to help demystify the home-buying process — and explain why an ugly bathroom or outdated cabinets shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Want...

Pittsburgh professor Alex Waibel is proud to call himself an explorer, but today he’s mourning. All this week, a lot of the world was sort of obsessed with the rescue efforts for the submersible that went missing on its descent to the Titanic shipwreck. A big part of the problem was how the sub and others like it communicate with would-be support above water, and Waibel had been working on a way t...

From sandwiches to salads, Pittsburgh has a long history of putting fries on just about everything. But where does this tradition come from? We’re revisiting our conversation with O’Reilly Media’s Sarah Grey, who dug into Pittsburgh’s unique culinary tastes and history for Serious Eats. Support our advertisers! Join the Art of Living in the special, one-night event Sixth Sense - Meditation & Wisdo...

It’s the summer entertainment guide — three weeks of recommendations for what to do in Pittsburgh, and how to do it best. This week, the City Cast team is sharing our top local giftable experiences, including treats and activities to mark Pride, the start of pool season, and more.  Here’s where to find all of our top picks: Things to buy:  Shop with pride from local vendors at the Queer Craft Mark...

We’re two weeks out from Pennsylvania’s state budget deadline and a lot is new this year. Like, ahem, the governor himself. We’re with SpotlightPA’s capitol reporter Stephen Caruso to talk about the wildest additions to recent budget seasons (looking at you, Spin scooters), what could get funded this year, and what happens if lawmakers botch the deadline… again. Support our advertisers! Join the A...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is getting you ready for a weekend worth celebrating. We’re talking about local Juneteenth history and events, Taylor Swift mania, and a bunch of other activities elsewhere in the city to help you avoid the crowds — all while celebrating Father’s Day, the pup in your life, and more. **Reminder: City Cast won’t be publishing on Monday in o...

More farmers and gardeners are growing native plants to increase biodiversity and promote conservation, but for people from other countries, planting the fruits and vegetables that they grew up with in Pittsburgh gives them something else — a sense of home. Rafael Vencio of Amboy Urban Collective tells about his experiments with growing tropical plants from the Philippines in a much colder and gra...

Summer’s finally here and so is the stress of trying to fit in every warm-weather activity you dreamed about all winter. We’re trying to make things a little easier over here with our summer entertainment guide — three weeks of recommendations for what to do in Pittsburgh, and how to do it best. This week you’re joining us live from the Bottlerocket Social Hall in Allentown where we’re celebrating...

Three of Pittsburgh’s 18 city pools will stay closed this summer (miss you already, Bloomfield Beach) but there’s still a lot to celebrate. From the best snack options and kiddie areas to the spots in closest proximity to bars, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know ahead of opening weekend.  Special shoutout to our guest Jill Terner, aka @jillratespools, for her incredible efforts...

Cars were essential in the early 20th century — not just to get Black folks from A to B, but as a key part of establishingmobility, freedom, and a place in the middle class. But even with a car, travelers had to be careful where they stopped, relying on resources like the Green Book to tell them where they might be welcomed. Tony Norman, a columnist for NEXTpittsburgh, joins us to talk about two n...

It’s the Friday news roundup! A local program for movie and theater professionals is getting a reboot, we’ve found yet another thing the state is worst at (lyme disease, eep!), and there’s a new multi-million proposal to study exactly how to replace our city’s thousands of sodium-vapor streetlights over the next few years.  Thanks to all those who’ve done the great reporting we discussed today:  J...

Summer is the perfect time for an ice cold brew, and it turns out many of the top producers in the country are right here in Pennsylvania. Host Megan Harris joins City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri to break down Pittsburgh’s local craft brewery boom and sample some of the best beers in the commonwealth. Take our survey! We’re doing an audience survey to learn more about our listeners. It only takes...

Summer’s finally here and so is the stress of trying to fit in every warm-weather activity you dreamed about all winter. We’re gonna try to make things a little easier over the next three weeks with our summer entertainment guide full ofrecommendations for what to do in Pittsburgh, and how to do them best. Today, we’re starting with a guide to the best guided tours in the Steel City. Find more inf...

Dozens of Pittsburgh public schools went virtual last week — not because of COVID, but because of extreme heat. The city’s school buildings are so old, most of them don’t have air conditioning and can’t be retrofitted with building-wide systems. As our region gets warmer, many district schools are unprepared to deal with sweltering temperatures that could affect student learning. James Fogarty of...

An historic announcement from the FDA changes the rules about who can give blood, which is vital, because according to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood as part of a life-saving procedure. Gay and bisexual men were banned from giving blood in 1985 because of the AIDS epidemic, and even as the FDA loosened those restrictions, critics still called the policy discrimina...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The first week of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial is done, and we’re feeling a lot of big feelings about the news coverage. Plus, city councilors weighed in on a reality TV star, and a newly minted Steeler had his car (and playbook!) stolen. Shoutout to the local journalism that makes our Friday shows possible: Lots of local outlets are in the courtroom every...