City Cast Pittsburgh

The Pirates are back and so is their beloved mascot — the shaggy, round, lime green Parrot with the bright yellow beak and a backwards baseball cap. He’s ubiquitous to us now, but he actually has a birthday and a backstory, plus a bunch of wild stories behind the men who’ve worn the suit. We’re with author and former Mr. Met AJ Mass to talk about the sordid history of our Buccos’ best luck charm a...

If you like having a say in local politics, now is your moment. The primary election on May 16 will decide who fills important long-held positions like Allegheny County Executive, district attorney, county treasurer, and county controller — many for the first time in more than 20 years. We take a special look at County Executive and what we know about the seven candidates on the ballot. Socially-c...

Jury selection is starting for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial. The defendant is accused of killing 11 people from three congregations during worship services in Squirrel Hill in 2018. It was the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. And because it’s a federal capital case, the process is complicated and likely to stretch over three months. We’re here to talk about what happens next. T...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Host Megan Harris and newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco are joined by Stacey Federoff, a contributor for Pittsburgh Magazine, to discuss concerns that our tourism bureau isn’t doing enough to put Pittsburgh on the map. Plus, they share local ways to celebrate Record Store Day and Earth Day this weekend. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journali...

Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Pennsylvania, but you gotta eat, right? To mark 420, the City Cast Pittsburgh team has recommendations for places someone under the influence might get a tasty sip, snack, or full-blown comfort meal with their good vibes still intact.  Catch up on the latest push for recreational marijuana legalization in this episode with Ed Mahon from SpotlightPA. Here’s...

Kennywood's (almost) open! Both the historic amusement park and the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium are celebrating their 125th birthdays this year, and their origin stories have something pretty special in common. In the second of a two-part series, hear how Kenny’s Grove became our beloved Kennywood, how its stewards tow the line between preservation and modernization, and which rides helped usher i...

Both Kennywood Park and the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium are celebrating their 125th birthdays this year, and their origin stories have something pretty special in common. In the first of a two-part series, we’re focusing on the birth of the zoo, how it moved from Schenley Park to Highland, what sorts of animals first greeted its patrons, and how it’s evolved since. Plus, why the zoo’s accreditatio...

Pittsburgh has amazing outdoor resources, but they’re only great if you can get to them and have a fun, safe experience. Marcus Shoffner, president and CEO of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, wants to address it all — making sure every neighborhood has a beautiful park, ensuring new designs accommodate all abilities, addressing the infrastructure and transit needed to get us there, and working wit...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The team is discussing the finalists for Pittsburgh police chief and renewed calls for federal train safety regulations after a train derailment in the West End. Plus, why Pennsylvania might finally move up its presidential primary date — because of Passover. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism: A little background on the Penguins robo lo...

If you’re looking for some dining options to complement the warmer weather and sunny vibes, then you’re in luck! Writer and content creator Sarah Hamm put together a list of the best patios, food trucks, and pop-ups to really elevate your springtime experience. Check ‘em aht: Sarah’s top recommendations for Pittsburgh City Paper. Next Pittsburgh shares 5 pop-ups they’re loving right now. From the...

Can a chatbot plan the perfect Pittsburgh day? How about write an ode to our city? Does it know where to get the best sandwich in town or whether it’s safe to swim in the Mon? The City Cast Pittsburgh team is testing ChatGPT’s knowledge to see whether this AI program can serve as a believable guide to the ‘Burgh. Want to quiz ChatGPT yourself? You can find the chatbot here. The newsletter has some...

City officials say they’re closing in on Pittsburgh’s next police chief and could decide any day. Two finalists are local boys with known reputations, and one — Ryan Lee, who WPXI reports has already been offered the job — would come from well outside the ‘Burgh. City Cast Boise Lead Producer Frankie Barnhill knows Lee, and she says Pittsburgh should probably watch out. From the news: Sign up for...

It took more than a decade and four separate appeals to the state to get formal recognition of Pittsburgh’s historic Chinatown neighborhood, which city officials decimated in the 1910s and ’20s with the downtown construction of the Boulevard of the Allies. We’re throwing it back to a conversation one year ago this week with Marian Lein, president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the OCA, to learn more...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Lead producer Megan Harris is joined by producer Mallory Falk and Hey Pittsburgh editor Francesca Dabecco to discuss new legislation to ban ghost guns in Pennsylvania and ways to support Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community. Plus, we get ready for the Pirates’ home opener by breaking down changes at the stadium, including serving fried fish sandwiches in addition to hot dogs...

What does it mean to live sustainably? Should you feel guilty if you don’t compost? If you live in Pittsburgh, can you ever eat seafood? Pitt food educator Corey Flynn is giving us a guide on how to feed ourselves and our communities in an eco-conscious way. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCas...

Want to show Pittsburghers you care? The City Cast team loves shopping local, and we’re sharing all of our favorite springtime picks as part of a new monthly guide. Listen for tips on where to get coffee beans for a good cause, Pittsburgh street wear, and an Argentinian wine-tasting experience — plus so much more! Here’s where to find all of the local goodies. Let us know what we should feature ne...

For years now, the city‘s had plans and property ready to build a consolidated police training facility in Lincoln-Lemington. The price tag recently rose to $120 million, but only a small portion is accounted for in our capital budget. We’re with City Paper’s Jordana Rosenfeld to talk about the latest on the project, plus how it compares to a similar — and controversial — proposal in Atlanta. Dome...

Mayor Ed Gainey is making good on a campaign promise to go after tax-exempt properties that the city says shouldn’t qualify under state law — including one of our city’s biggest employers and property owners, UPMC. The city is reviewing 17,600 properties in all, and they just announced the first 26 up for a closer look. Dan Davis of Pittsburgh United is one of the activists in favor of overturning...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Lead producer Megan Harris is joined by Hey Pittsburgh newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco and producer Elizabeth Kauma to cover the biggest stories from Pittsburgh this week, including unemployment numbers going down, and a controversial debate around trans rights that has given rise to college protests. Also, the team helps you get your spring garden going with some...

Chef Nik Forsberg is a semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic Region by the James Beard Foundation for his pop-up concept Fet-Fisk, which prioritizes sustainably sourced seafood, local meats, and veggies from Nik’s own garden. City Cast’s Megan Harris explores what he grows, how he approaches a constantly changing menu, and his plans to open a new brick-and-mortar in Bloomfield. Want some...

We knew Pittsburgh was home to the nation’s first Black-owned and operated professional sports stadium, but it turns out, another one — also in Pittsburgh — predates it. Historian David Rotenstein takes us back in time to the Central Amusement Park, circa 1920, and shares how the family’s descendants are now looking for the recognition they deserve.  Special thanks to NEXTpittsburgh for David's gr...

Not all roads in PA lead to getting a vanity license plate the green light. Today, Pittsburgh is teaming up with City Cast Philly to explain how it works, what it costs, and what phrases, acronyms or combination of up to seven letters and numbers get approved — and rejected — by the state. The state has a tool to check if someone already has the license plate you want.  You have to mail in form MV...

During the pandemic, many of us clung to the phrase “Follow The Science,” and trusted that our doctors would do the same. But a new study from the University of Pittsburgh found that even when doctors tried to do that, their conclusions were influenced by their political beliefs. City Cast’s Megan Harris is with Dr. Jeremy Kahn, one of the co-authors on the study and a practicing ICU physician in...

It’s the Friday news roundup! A fund to help communities deal with polluted air could get poached by the county, historians finally found the namesake of the Carrie Blast Furnaces, and if you’re looking for love, there’s a new on-camera opportunity in town. City Cast’s Megan Harris and Elizabeth Kauma are with PublicSource journalist Quinn Glabicki. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great...

From knife skills and mother sauces to composting and the global supply chain, there’s a culinary arts training program in McKees Rocks hoping to inspire the next generation of Pittsburgh foodies. The Steel Chef Cook-off Competition puts local teens through a 10-week intensive cooking class taught by local chefs before a final, reality TV-style competition next week. And the best part? You can tas...