City Cast Pittsburgh

Does "Die Hard" count as a Christmas movie? We're stretching the definition of "Pittsburgh holiday movie" to its limits and talking about the many films loosely connected to our city this festive season. Host Megan Harris is with Josh Axelrod, a founding member of the Pittsburgh Film Critics Association and director of communications at The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center, to talk about the mo...

If you step outside of Pittsburgh, our region is becoming increasingly red. More and more voters are registering as Republicans, and Democrats have lost their advantage in places like Beaver, Washington, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties. Host Megan Harris is sitting down with Eugene DePasquale, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, to discuss his plan for winning back voters (and attractin...

It's the perfect time of year for cozying up with a good book, but if you're looking for other activities, the library still could be the place to start. The Carnegie Libraries offer everything from power tools to ukuleles. Plus, if you're thinking about baking, consider borrowing holiday cookie cutters instead of buying your own. We're bringing back a conversation between City Cast's Mallory Falk...

We have finally have a state budget, our national government is opening back up, and Sen. John Fetterman just dropped a new memoir spilling the tea on why he and Gov. Josh Shapiro no longer speak. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo discuss the latest political news. Plus, they explain why the Post-Gazette's three-year-long strike isn't necessarily over, desp...

The Washington Post just wrote a whole article about how we're one of the most affordable cities for home buyers, but if you already live here and aren't moving from a more expensive place, the sticker price and repair costs of our extremely old homes can be completely overwhelming. We're revisiting our conversation with Anne Schwan, a homeownership counselor at NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania,...

Planning your Thanksgiving meal doesn't need to be stressful. Whether you're hosting a big family gathering, bringing a dish to a Friendsgiving celebration, or even just enjoying a meal by yourself, Pittsburgh restaurants have you covered this year with your holiday dinner. Host Megan Harris and newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco are sharing a ton of local options for delicious dishes, sweets, an...

As Pittsburghers, a lot of us are really proud of our city. Who doesn't love showing off our skyline coming out of the Fort Pitt tunnel? Plus, we've laid claim to everything from the labor rights movement to all of Heinz's tasty condiments. But Pittsburgh isn't for everyone, and today, Host Megan Harris is with Pittsburgh City Paper’s Ali Trachta and Stacy Rounds to talk about the 13 people who ai...

Flying is kind of a nightmare right now. Even though Pittsburgh International wasn't on the list of airports needing to cut flights because of the government shutdown, it could still be harder to get your destination. If all this has you rethinking your air travel plans, now is a great time to consider a staycation. Freelance journalist Aakanksha Agarwal and City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit joi...

Pittsburgh has a new mayor, the PA Supreme Court is keeping its Democratic judges, and an unsuccessful city council candidate says she's picking up and moving out of town. City Cast’s Megan Harris, Mallory Falk, and Sophia Lo are talking about the results of Tuesday's election and the new (but familiar) faces joining Mayor-elect Corey O'Connor's team. Plus, they discuss the malfunction that left 2...

Hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for food assistance right now in Southwestern PA. Host Megan Harris is with newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco and Axios Pittsburgh reporter Chrissy Suttles to talk about how the loss of SNAP is affecting Pittsburgh and what organizations you can tap into — whether you're looking for extra support or have something to give. If you've been personally aff...

It's official: Corey O'Connor is Pittsburgh's next mayor — and we're all crossing our fingers that there'll be a state budget in place by the time he takes office in January. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that hasn't passed a budget. The consequences have been dire, from school districts taking on loans to rape crisis centers cutting staff. PA Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton h...

It's Election Day! Pittsburgh's facing some big challenges in 2026, and our newly elected officials will need to find some creative solutions to balance the city budget. Host Megan Harris is with TribLive’s Julia Burdelski, who’s got a bird’s eye view of the city our next mayor will inherit. Plus, she's talking about how the dynamics of City Council could change if a Republican wins a seat for the...

It might be getting colder and darker, but we want you to bundle up and explore Pittsburgh anyway! You can get an early jump on finding the perfect holiday gift, see Frank Lloyd Wright's vision for Pittsburgh and his idea for a concert garden Downtown, or check out the Phipps' holiday show, complete with an octopus chandelier. Plus, this is the perfect season to check out our city steps. Learn mor...

It’s Halloween, but the news doesn’t have to be scary! We’re talking about what to do with all those pumpkins you bought, ways to honor Día de los Muertos, a one-day opportunity to get free money from Giant Eagle this weekend, and how the enormous, complicated NBA sports betting scandal somehow (of course) all ties back to Pittsburgh. Notes and references from today’s show: NBA gambling scandal ti...

Halloween's a time for spooky stories and urban legends. Here in Western Pennsylvania, there's a story about a man — a spectre with a glowing green face — who you might see roaming around the side of the road late at night. He may have been burned by acid or fire, or  maybe got struck by lightning. While those details are squishy, the real story behind "The Monster of Beaver County" is a tragic on...

Election Day is almost here! While this may not be a presidential election or even a midterm, Pennsylvanians still have something huge to show up for: the future of our access to everything from reproductive care to voting rights. If you haven't done your homework yet, host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk are here to guide you through the biggest races in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Cou...

National Geographic says Pittsburgh is one of the best places in the world to visit in 2026, Bon Appetit featured — of all places — The Squirrel Cage, and a South Side brewery was named the best in the nation. City Cast Pittsburgh’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are talking about six different national lists we should be proud to make, plus a couple that just made us laugh. Also, the downstream effec...

Pittsburgh's riverfront spaces have come a long way over the past couple of decades. For example, we can sit and relax at Point State Park, and this year, Riverlife launched Shore Thing, so Pittsburghers can do yoga, dance, and enjoy snacks by the water. But there's a lot we can still do to connect our waterfront trails and ensure these spaces are accessible for everyone. Host Megan Harris is out...

Pittsburgh officially has its own Walk of Fame and Michael Keaton showed up to celebrate. (Too bad his name was spelled wrong on his plaque!) Host Megan Harris was there for the ceremony and shares the highlights, including a touching moment from Fred Rogers' children. She, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo also discuss a compromise over the Penn Avenue bike lane, a new plan...

Your Halloween haul's probably gonna include plenty of Pennsylvania-made candy, and we're not just talking Hershey bars. Our state boasts one of the largest candy economies in the nation, so we're testing how much the City Cast Pittsburgh team knows about the sweet treats produced all around the Commonwealth. Quizmaster and contributor Kevin Gavin's in the house, and we want you to play along!  Cr...

Everyone agrees Pittsburgh needs more housing, but how to build it — and ensure at least some of it is affordable — is trickier. Mayor Ed Gainey proposed a package of ideas last year that included requiring developers to set aside affordable units in big, new buildings. Then came a competing proposal. Then months of talks. At the end, deputy mayor Jake Pawlak says he thought the city had found a c...

Mayor Ed Gainey is on his way out, but not before a new city budget gets passed. Critics are calling his 2026 plan “sloppy,” “spiteful,” and “an indication of mismanagement.” Gainey says the budget is sound. His right hand man, deputy mayor Jake Pawlak, sits down with host Megan Harris to defend the proposal and its bright spots, how we’re dealing with the loss of the jock tax, and whether we can...

Today is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election, which feels like a good time to take stock of how well our elections actually work. There are lots of ideas for improving the voting process in Pennsylvania, from opening our primaries to making Election Day a holiday. Host Megan Harris joins State Rep. Chris Rabb and Armin Samii, a volunteer with March on Harrisburg, to discuss som...

All the drama around inclusionary zoning is back and bigger than ever. Mayor Ed Gainey might even veto an affordable housing bill he’s been pushing for over a year. Pittsburgh International Airport “can’t accommodate” a controversial video from Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, and its officials are preparing for the new terminal's big reveal — including a lot of help from a bunch of “celeb...

Lots of Pittsburghers love a haunted house, but getting spooked doesn't excuse bad behavior. Host Megan Harris is with three leaders of the Pittsburgh Haunters Club — Dave Archer, Stacey Federoff, and Allie Lampman-Sims — and they're all sharing etiquette tips and best practices so you get the most of your haunt experience, all without stepping on the toes of the actors. Plus, they've got recommen...