City Cast Pittsburgh

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.

Hockey is having a big TV moment across the country — not for the sports, but for the gay sex and queer representation on HBO Max’s new breakout series “Heated Rivalry.” The show, which has already been renewed for a second season, is based on a book series by author Rachel Reid, who says portions of its focus were inspired by an imagined rivals-to-lovers relationship between Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin. Host Megan Harris is tapping in fans across the City Cast network to talk about why this show has become such a hit and whether Pittsburghers should claim the connection. Show some love to today's guests, City Cast Seattle creative producer Sam J. Leeds and City Cast DC senior producer Julia Karron. Notes and references from today’s show: GAY HOCKEY IS HAVING A MOMENT [City Cast Seattle] 'Heated Rivalry,' the gay hockey romance taking over the internet, finds love in Pittsburgh [Post-Gazette] ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams Says Closeted Pro Athletes Have DMed Him [Them] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 14th 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 on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

ICE has been in and around Pittsburgh for months, and even though Mayor Corey O'Connor and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato say we won’t work with them, it’s not always clear what that means. Host Megan Harris is with David Harris, Sally Ann Semenko Endowed Chair and professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, to talk about how federal agents are affecting one of the city’s biggest inflection points in years — and how a new police chief is likely to approach staffing, recruitment, retention, morale, and rebuilding public trust in their wake. Notes and references from today’s show: Maryland authorities close probe of Pittsburgh police chief nominee as O’Connor stands by his pick [TribLive] From not wanting to leave to coming home: Police Chief Jason Lando leaves the comfort of Maryland for the uncertainty of Pittsburgh [Post-Gazette] PODCAST: What Actually Happens During an ICE Raid? [City Cast Pittsburgh] Lo que debe saber sobre ICE en Pittsburgh [City Cast Pittsburgh] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 14th 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 on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Made a resolution to go to more events and make new friends? Pittsburgh can be a tricky place to find a friend group, especially when you're a transplant. So many people have stuck with their crew since elementary school, but there's also a growing number of clubs and social organizations to help you find your people. Haley Ingersoll of Pittsburgh Social Health, Dan Lampmann of Yinz Run Club, and local author Ryan Rydzewski join us to share their best tips for building community in the Burgh. Read Ryan's story on making local friends in Pittsburgh Magazine, and hear more from Dan in our guide to running in Pittsburgh. **This episode originally aired on June 6, 2025. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 13th 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 on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

City Cast Pittsburgh turned four this month! To celebrate, we're sharing recommendations for marking your milestone birthday in style, from a sloth encounter at the National Aviary to a tiki cruise down the Allegheny River. Whether you're turning 21 or 50, there's so much to do besides going out for a fancy meal. (Though we have some suggestions for that too, like dining inside a castle!) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 12th 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 on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

The first week of the new year brought a lot of changes for Pittsburgh. Corey O'Connor was sworn in as mayor, the Block family announced that it's shutting down City Paper and the Post-Gazette, and the Steelers made it to the playoffs thanks to a divine intervention. Host Megan Harris is joined by City Paper's former news editor, Colin Williams, and Axios Pittsburgh's Ryan Deto to talk about O'Connor's first week in office, what the loss of two local papers means for the city, and whether the Steelers could win a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade. They also discuss Pittsburgh's connection to the hit show "Heated Rivalry" and another Bucco Brick fiasco. Then, producer Sophia Lo joins Colin and Megan to run through a few things to look forward to (or dread) as we go through 2026. Notes and references from today’s show: Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? [NiemanLab] An open letter to the Block family [Breathing Space] Mayor-Elect Corey O'Connor Inauguration Ceremony [YouTube] O’Connor tours Downtown with an eye to fixing it up [TribLive] The story behind the Steelers' blessed end zone [Axios Pittsburgh] 'Heated Rivalry,' the gay hockey romance taking over the internet, finds love in Pittsburgh [P-G] Reports: Fenway Sports Group reaches agreement to sell Penguins [TribLive] Pirates fan receives hilarious replacement Bucco Brick [Reddit] Pittsburgh's 2026 is bigger than you can fathom [Axios Pittsburgh] Your Last Minute Guide to Pittsburgh's Best Paczki [City Cast Pittsburgh] Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map [Hollen Barmer] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 9th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred 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!

Pittsburgh's largest, oldest newspaper is shutting down. The Post-Gazette will publish its last issue and cease operations on May 3. Its owners, Block Communications, Inc., say they've lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the past 20 years, and their decision comes after they lost a legal battle against the Newspaper Guild. Andrew Conte, managing director of Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation, joins host Megan Harris to talk about what we know so far and their hopes for the future of Pittsburgh media. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 8th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred 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.

It's a new year full of new dreams and goals, and for us, that includes putting together a list of restaurants to try throughout 2026. Post-Gazette dining critic and City Cast contributor Hal B. Klein rounded up some of the best new restaurants of 2025, and he's sharing his favorites with host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo. Plus, Hal's got the details on what other restaurants are opening soon and what spots he wants to revisit. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 7th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred 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.

Season 2 of "The Pitt" drops this Thursday at 9 p.m., and our team has some ideas about what storylines should be included. (You can't set a show in Pittsburgh during the 4th of July without at least one medical emergency involving a furry!) The City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our predictions, plus discussing our favorite local homages and Easter eggs from the first season, debating the authenticity of charge nurse Dana's accent, and more. Haven't watched the show yet? The first half of our episode is spoiler-free! And once you're finished bingeing, read up on a few things "The Pitt" gets wrong about PA's medical and privacy laws. **This episode originally aired on April 24, 2025.  Notes and references from today’s show: How Real Doctors Brought 'The Pitt' To Life [Science Friday] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 6th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter here. 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.

Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 5th episode: ⁠⁠Heinz History Center ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Frick⁠⁠ ⁠⁠PA Preferred⁠⁠ 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.

Happy New Year! If your resolution is to explore more of Pittsburgh, you're in the right place. The City Cast team's here to talk about pinball machines popping up all around the city, specialty bakeries with delicious sweet and savory goods, and where you can ice skate with some of our favorite mascots. Plus, bundle up and enjoy this winter weather with some skiing, hiking, and more. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/  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 January in Pittsburgh, check out our website for another take on what to do this month. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm.