City Cast Pittsburgh

It’s Friday the 13th! And it’s not clear what that portends for Pittsburgh. Fear about increased ICE activity is creeping into everything from county government to the governor’s race. City Cast’s Mallory Falk and Megan Harris are with contributor Colin Williams talking about what we know, plus how the agency is quietly leasing new space all over the commonwealth. Stick around for street trees, PG updates, a new proposal to improve city snow removal, how an Allegheny County congressman eluded a grand jury indictment, a Carnegie International preview, and more. Check out our new City Cast podcast "Your City Could Be Better" on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by our CEO David Plotz, this week's inaugural episode features the host of City Cast Twin Cities talking about how Minneapolis and St. Paul mobilized so quickly and broadly against a months-long ICE operation. Notes and references from today’s show: Allegheny County Council to consider bill barring ICE cooperation [WESA] Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - February 10, 2026 [YouTube] ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here's Where It's Going Next [Wired] How agencies under Gov. Josh Shapiro's control do — and don't — cooperate with ICE [Spotlight PA] Governor hopeful Stacy Garrity says she'd work with Trump administration on Pennsylvania's elections [WITF] Shapiro, Democratic governors press White House to include all at annual event [Post-Gazette] Pittsburgh study links dark roofs and roads to higher heat and social vulnerability [Phys.org] Pittsburgh's street trees are free upon request. So why do they often go to the city's wealthiest residents? [City Paper] Learn more about the city’s Shade Tree Commission [City of Pittsburgh] Planning with Purpose: 10x10,000 Trees for a More Resilient Pittsburgh [City of Pittsburgh] Increasing equitable access to Pgh’s urban tree canopy [Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance] Learn more about ReLeaf programs in Beltzhoover, Cali-Kirkbride & Homewood [Tree Pittsburgh] Efforts to keep Pittsburgh Post-Gazette operating appear to stall [KDKA] Chairman of Penguins buyer says company is in talks to buy the Post-Gazette [WPXI] City councilor calls for faster snow removal at Pittsburgh sidewalks and bus stops [WESA] Former Pittsburgh Mayor Gainey appointed to state gaming control board [WESA] Grand jury refuses to indict Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Chris Deluzio, in connection with illegal military orders video [Post-Gazette] Sen. John Fetterman says previous comments against voter ID were 'out of deference' to Gov. Tom Wolf [Post-Gazette] Kraft Heinz CEO pauses plans for company separation [Pgh Biz Times] If the word we 59th Carnegie International [CMOA] Four players with Pittsburgh ties helping the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team get off to a hot start [KDKA] Kingfly Spirits in Strip District abruptly closes [TribLive] Learn more about the sponsors of this February 13th episode: Heinz History Center AIDS Free Pittsburgh Family House Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Need a last-minute Valentine's Day gift or just want to show yourself some love? A spa day is a great way to cure the blues that come with Pittsburgh's gray skies. The City Cast Pittsburgh team is rounding up some of the treatments we've tried around the city and planning our next self-care splurges. We're talking about mud wraps, massages, saunas, facials, LED red light therapy, and more.  Did we miss your favorite spa treatment? Swear by LED therapy? Let us know how you relax! Call or text the SPA DAY HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 12th episode: AIDS Free Pittsburgh Family House Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Valentine's Day is coming up this weekend! We're all about celebrating all forms of love — and stocking up on discount drugstore chocolate the day after — but we also can't resist a little gossip about a bad date. We're revisiting a conversation where we asked YOU, our listeners, to share your most horrific dating stories. Producer Sophia Lo is running through the juiciest ones with host Megan Harris. Plus, we've got some expert dating tips if you're still searching for a local love match. Still looking for a date? Check out upcoming events from Make Out Club and Dating in Pittsburgh. **This episode originally aired on February 13, 2025. If you enjoyed today's interview with The Westmoreland's Director of Learning, Engagement & Partnerships, Erica Nuckles, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 11th episode: AIDS Free Pittsburgh Family House Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

The Oscars are coming up on March 15 and while hometown favorite Jeff Goldblum didn't receive a nod for his dazzling turn as the Wizard of Oz in "Wicked: For Good," there are still plenty of local connections to this year's nominees. Plus, now is the time to catch any films you may have missed, as Pittsburgh's indie theaters hold special screenings with nominees for best picture, best animated short, and more. Host Megan Harris is joined by Josh Axelrod, founding member of the Pittsburgh Film Critics Association and director of communications at The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center, to discuss the nominated films with Pittsburgh connections, which ones are worth your time, and where to watch them. Feeling good about your Oscars predictions? Enter the Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center's annual Oscars contest for a chance to win free movie tickets for the rest of the year. And if you need some help filling out your ballot, check out their Oscars Talk on Feb. 15. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 10th episode: AIDS Free Pittsburgh Family House Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Happy National Pizza Day! There are so many great spots around town to get some 'za — that is, if you aren't just eating a cold, leftover slice from your Super Bowl party. In honor of this special day, we're revisiting a conversation between host Megan Harris and pizza journalist Dan Tallarico to dish on which pies you absolutely need to be eating right now.  Plus, we asked you, our listeners, to send in your favorite slices, and Dan's recommending similar pizzas you might also enjoy.  Check out Dan's book, "Pizza Walk: Pittsburgh," subscribe to his newsletter on Substack, and listen to our earlier conversation with Dan with even more pizza recs. Thanks to our City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbors and listeners for sending in their recommendations. The clip of Councilman Anthony Coghill came from a Pro-Housing Pittsburgh candidate housing forum in April.  **This episode originally aired on June 12, 2025. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 9th episode: AIDS Free Pittsburgh Family House Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

The cold weather continues to wreak havoc across our city. A feud over a Brighton Heights parking spot went viral, vehicles froze to the street in Highland Park, and one intrepid East Ender reserved their parking space with a Pittsburgh potty. Host Megan Harris, producer Sophia Lo, and contributor Colin Williams are joined by parking chair skeptic Bruce Chan to debate proper parking chair etiquette in our inaugural "Am I the Jagoff?" segment. Plus, the team shares their opinions on Heinz's ketchup keg, a new Pittsburghese hotline, and Lady Gaga's cover of "Won't You Be My Neighbor." Notes and references from today’s show: 'Well shew ya whereta gew in the snew': Pennsylvania Tourism Office launches winter hotline voiced by regional accents [WHYY] 2026 NFL Draft: Renderings of campus in Pittsburgh revealed [NFL] Tap Into a Keg of Ketchup [Pittsburgh Magazine] PODCAST: The Best Pizza Joints in Pittsburgh [City Cast Pittsburgh] Pittsburgh Parking Revenge aka Don’t Steal Spots [Reddit] Pittsburgh council confirms O’Connor’s picks for police chief, public safety director [TribLive] Oakmont weighs ban on ICE agreements after arrest [Axios Pittsburgh] ICE agents take Brentwood man, leaving family seeking answers [TribLive] Josh Shapiro says he’s preparing for a potential deportation surge in Pennsylvania [Spotlight PA] ICE buys $87M warehouse in Berks County as it plots expansion of immigration detention centers across the U.S. [Spotlight PA] Movie and TV projects spent a record-breaking $300 million while filming in Pittsburgh last year [Next Pittsburgh] When all of Pittsburgh's snow melts, will it lead to flooding? A meteorologist explains. [KDKA] Learn more about the sponsor of this February 6th episode: P3R - Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re also on Instagram at @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

It's tax season… but not for our city's largest nonprofits, aka the Big Five. Mayor Corey O'Connor got some big wins with a pair of one-time donations from UPMC and PNC Bank’s foundation last week, but what happens now? Our health care giants and major universities — UPMC, Highmark Health, the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Duquesne University — collectively own about one-eighth of all the land in Pittsburgh. But because PA law considers them "purely public charities," they  don't have to pay property taxes like the rest of us. Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk are talking about the rage people feel about that, how the courts created this mess, and various local efforts over the years to get these big nonprofits to "pay their fair share."  Have any special insight into negotiations with the nonprofits before the 2000s? Call or text our HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Learn more about the sponsor of this February 5th episode: P3R - Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Data centers have been around for more than 80 years, so why is everyone talking about (and fighting over) them now? If new data centers get built in nearby communities like Homer City and Springdale, what happens to the environment and our electricity bills? Alice Crow, the lead Pittsburgh reporter for Technical.ly, joins host Megan Harris to explain what exactly a data center is, why our region and state are attractive spots for these facilities, and what we do and don't know about their impact. Read Alice's fantastic data center explainer and check out the Pennsylvania Data Center Proposal Tracker to see if a project's starting near you. Learn more about the sponsor of this February 4th episode: P3R - Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

February 17 kicks off the Year of the Fire Horse! Producer Sophia Lo is with food blogger Sophia, aka @sopheating, and they're running through some of their favorite spots to get noodles, dumplings, rice dishes, and even dessert.  **This episode originally aired on January 29, 2025. Learn more about the sponsor of this February 3rd episode: P3R - Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Don't let all the snow on the ground stop you from exploring Pittsburgh this month! There are Valentine's Day markets and craft workshops, events for Black History Month, and some tasty soup competitions. Plus, you can come say hi to the City Cast Pittsburgh team at a Connection Expo featuring social clubs, hobby groups, and more. (Think back to your college activities fair!) And if you're looking to build new relationships this month, don't miss our episode about how to make friends in Pittsburgh. If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community.  For even more tips on how to make the most out of February in Pittsburgh, check out our website for another take on what to do this month. City Cast Pittsburgh is made possible by our awesome sponsor, P3R. Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration. And we're also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm.

Some of our streets still haven't been cleared, nearly a week after the Pittsburgh region was hit with double digit snowfall. When can we expect some relief? And will UPMC's $10 million gift for emergency vehicles make things better? (Also, just how generous is this gift, really?) City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris is joined by producer Sophia Lo and contributor Colin Williams to share the latest on snow removal. Plus, they discuss city and county efforts to restrict ICE activity, whether the new Steelers head coach counts as a win or loss for our city, and how you can help make a Pittsburgh-themed Lego set become a reality. Notes and references from today’s show: UPMC gives $10M to city for plows, ambulances [Axios Pittsburgh] The challenges Pittsburgh Regional Transit faced before making rare decision to suspend service during snowstorm [Post-Gazette] Pittsburgh-area school districts are running out of snow days [KDKA] PODCAST: Mayor O'Connor on ICE, Affordability & AI [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Can You Be Charged for Getting in ICE’s Way? [City Cast Pittsburgh] Ways To Support Pittsburgh’s Immigrant Communities [City Cast Pittsburgh] 'Pittsburgh is my world': Emotional Mike McCarthy introduced as new Steelers coach [Post-Gazette] Guild Journalists, Pittsburgh Community, Local Labor Comes Together to Launch PAPER [CWA] Architecture: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [Lego Ideas] Who Should Be On Pittsburgh’s Walk of Fame? [City Cast Pittsburgh] Walk of Fame Nominations [Pittsburgh Walk of Fame] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 30th episode: Fulton Commons The Westmoreland Museum P3R Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Groundhog Day is on Monday, and Pennsylvania always shows up for Punxsutawney Phil, the state's beloved groundhog and "official meteorologist." Ahead of the celebrations in Punxsutawney, host Megan Harris and producer (and Punxsy Phil devotee!) Sophia Lo are talking about how this weather-forecasting groundhog got his start, how accurate his predictions are, why PETA wants to replace Phil with a hologram, and their favorite facts about this little fuzzy rodent.  Is "Groundhog Day" worth the watch? Call or text our GROUNDHOG HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 29th episode: Fulton Commons The Westmoreland Museum Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Depending on where you live, there's anywhere from 10 to 20 inches of snow sitting on the ground. And while you may have been out clearing your sidewalk, for many of us, the streets are still a slippy mess. Both the city and county have declared states of emergency, and the city's tapped in private contractors to help to clear the snow. Host Megan Harris is with City Controller Rachael Heisler, who's been sounding the alarm about our snowplow situation for over a year. She explains what the city's doing now, how we can prevent this from happening again, and whether we have the money to actually buy new equipment. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 28th episode: Fulton Commons The Westmoreland Museum Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Back in 2016, driverless car developers chose Pittsburgh. We were supposed to be the crucible! If autonomous vehicles could work here, they’d work in any city. Turns out, that challenge was a lot harder than many companies hoped. Host Megan Harris is with Axios’ transportation correspondent Joann Muller to talk about the big companies that have come and gone, how she thinks about their relative safety, and what a new arrival — Waymo! — says about Pittsburgh’s evolving role in the self-driving boom. Plus, what to do if you see a robotaxi Downtown. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 27th episode: Fulton Commons The Westmoreland Museum Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Pittsburgh's lost more than half its population since our peak in 1950, and our city has more than 20,000 vacant homes. How do we also have a housing crisis? Public Source's Charlie Wolfson joins host Megan Harris to explain why so many houses are sitting empty, what (if anything) the city can do about it, and why our neighbors in Cleveland are doing a much better job turning abandoned houses into affordable homes. Notes and references from today’s show: How does Pittsburgh have 20,000 vacant homes — and a housing shortage? (Public Source) Where does Cleveland clobber Pittsburgh? Its land bank. (Public Source) 'A really steep lift': Pittsburghers in their 20s and 30s find home ownership less and less attainable (Public Source) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 26th episode: Fulton Commons The Westmoreland Museum The Ascent by Christopher Walker Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

More than 500 Pittsburghers showed up for a training this week on how to safely witness and respond to ICE activity — including City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit. She joins host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk to share what she learned from the newly-formed group Frontline Dignity. Plus, the team discusses AI-generated deepfakes of Mister Rogers, behind-the-scenes scheming to keep the Post-Gazette alive, and a viral KDKA typo. Get your tickets to The Future of Pittsburgh Journalism, a panel featuring our very own Megan Harris and other local media experts. It's happening next Thursday, Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Heinz History Center. Get your tickets to hear Megan on a panel about the future of Pittsburgh journalism. Notes and references from today’s show: PODCAST: Can You Be Charged for Getting in ICE's Way? [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: What Actually Happens During an ICE Raid? [City Cast Pittsburgh] Coraopolis overturns ICE agreement following community pushback and council shakeup [Public Source] Doubling down, doubling back: local departments diverge on ICE cooperation [Public Source] Munhall, Stowe police walk back ICE partnerships after quietly inking agreements [Public Source] Hundreds taken into custody at Pittsburgh ICE office, an emerging regional deportation hub [Post-Gazette] The crass Fred Rogers of AI deepfakes has some Pittsburghers 'horrified' [Public Source] Some Post-Gazette workers call for new union leadership [TribLive] Investor group seeks to make Post-Gazette nonprofit [Axios Pittsburgh] Pittsburgh school board members to vote next week on whether to reconsider building closures [WESA] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 23rd episode: Pittsburgh Opera P3R The Ascent by Christopher Walker Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

What has Corey O'Connor been up to during his first month in office? Host Megan Harris sits down with the mayor to hear about new initiatives, tight budgets, and some fresh ideas to revitalize Downtown. Plus, she asks the questions YOU sent in. Listen in for O'Connor's takes on ICE, affordability, dark sky compliance, snow plows, parks, and more. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 22nd episode: Pittsburgh Opera P3R The Ascent by Christopher Walker Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Looking for a stiff drink? A little quiet time? Want to have a smoke, play a round of darts, and don't mind paying cash? If that sounds like you, you may be a fit for one of Pittsburgh's best dive bars. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris is in McKees Rocks with career bartenders Aubrey Halliburton and Lisa Considine, co-owners of Lo Bar Cocktail Services and Lo Places Social Club, to talk about why we love their lived-in decor, functional grime, and sometimes surly barkeeps. Plus, how to order something you'll actually like and make a few new friends — IF that's your goal. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 21st episode: Pittsburgh Opera P3R The Ascent by Christopher Walker Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Pittsburghers love bragging about ourselves. We're the City of Bridges and the City of Champions. But can we really say we have the most bridges? Did we actually invent the rally towel? Do we truly have the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country? Journalist and City Cast contributor Colin Williams is joining host Megan Harris to set the record straight about Pittsburgh's favorite myths — and celebrate the wins and firsts we can actually claim. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 20th episode: Pittsburgh Opera P3R The Ascent by Christopher Walker Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Mike Tomlin resigned this week after nearly 20 years with the Steelers. We're talking about his coaching legacy, what went wrong, and what's next for his career and the franchise. Plus, host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo are chatting about the PA Farm Show's butter sculpture, super flu, "The Pitt" at the Golden Globes, a new weekend newspaper, space news, and a very strange case of stolen human remains. Know what happened with the James Street remodel? Call us on our JAMES STREET HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Notes and references from today’s show: PHOTOS: 35th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture [WPXI] Who will be the Steelers’ next head coach? Possible candidates to replace Mike Tomlin [The Athletic] What to know about the "super flu" in Western Pa. [Axios Pittsburgh] Kindergarten vaccination rates at many Pittsburgh-area schools are below herd immunity [WESA] Park House Is Once Again Packing ‘Em in on the North Side [Pittsburgh Magazine] A Farewell to Hem’s: Hemingway’s Cafe in Oakland is Closing After 43 Years [Pittsburgh Magazine] ‘The Pitt’ Wins Two Golden Globes [Pittsburgh Magazine] Trib expands to fill Pittsburgh’s newspaper void [TribLive] More than 40 news sources remain in Pittsburgh’s fragmented media landscape [Public Source] ‘Which bone goes with which person?’: Costly investigation follows Pa. cemetery thefts [PennLive] Astrobotic secures $17.5M from NASA to test and expand reusable rockets [Technical.ly] PODCAST: Meteor Showers, Moon Launches & Pgh Among the Stars [City Cast Pittsburgh] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 16th episode: AIDS Free Pittsburgh PA Preferred P3R Special Olympics Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.