Romance readers know the tropes — enemies to lovers, fake dating, there’s only one bed — but finding a story that centers LGBTQ+ identities and experiences isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for literary love and want to see your queer identity on the page, we’ve got the perfect book club for you!

Thanks to Not “Gal Pals” founders Marylee Williams and Natalie Deluba for sharing their top picks. Sign up for upcoming events through Not “Gal Pals’” Meetup Group.

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It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast team is keeping it light heading into Halloween week. We’re bringing you some local lore, extremely insider-y Pittsburgh costume ideas, and our recommendations for lesser-known horror films shot in and around the city.

Find more Hallo-weekend fun here:

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With fall in full swing, it’s soup season! Sarah McAlee, also known as brothmonger, is considered a soup-lebrity around town. She joins us to share tips for making your own delicious pot of soup or broth at home, plus her favorite spots to grab a warm bowl when you don’t feel like cooking.

You can subscribe to the brothmailer newsletter for Sarah’s business updates and recipes, and check out her previous interview on the City Cast to learn more about how she got into the broth biz.

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Book bans have been cropping up all over the country, usually brought by conservative parent or community groups appealing to school boards saying they don’t want kids to have access to something for various reasons. Often it’s LGBTQ+ identifying characters, conversations about race, uncomfortable hardships, truths, or lived experiences that some people think students aren’t ready for. But while some parts of the state have been inundated with book challenges, Western Pennsylvania hasn’t. 

We’re with City Paper’s Colin Williams to talk about his upcoming reporting — including proposed bans in Norwin, Hempfield, Pine-Richland, and Franklin Regional school districts, and how our upcoming election Nov. 7 could set the stage for fights to come.

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Media Partnership for funding Colin’s reporting, completed in partnership with Belt Magazine and the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. 

Check out your voting status and make your plan to vote here.

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George Romero’s 1968 movie, “Night of The Living Dead,” is a cult classic. The horror flick is considered the godfather of the flesh-eating zombie genre and it was filmed in Pittsburgh with local talent. As a Halloween season treat, we’re revisiting our conversation with Judith O’Dea — better known as Barbara — about what it was like to star in such an iconic film.

**This conversation originally published Oct. 31, 2022.

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The Allegheny County Jail has one of the highest death rates per capita in the country. Last week, the family of Anthony Talotta, one of 21 men who’ve died in connection with the jail since April 2020, filed a federal lawsuit against the county, several doctors, and Allegheny Health Network. Lead producer Mallory Falk explains the family’s legal case and its chief allegation — a pattern of medical neglect.

You can read the federal lawsuit over Talotta’s death, along with coverage from the Appeal, the Associated Press, and WESA.

Brittany Hailer covered Talotta’s death and reported on issues with a jail physician’s medical licensing for PINJ. She has appeared on City Cast to discuss the high number of deaths at Allegheny County Jail and her push for more transparencyaround these deaths.

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It’s the Friday news roundup! Archers have taken out a surprising number of deer in Pittsburgh parks; the city school board is considering closures (again); and many of our city’s institutions are striking — or thinking about going on strike. Plus, an update on Pittsburgh’s bid for a new energy production center.

We love to cite our sources:

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Something new for yinz! We’re talking all things food — a bunch of new restaurants are opening, a few restaurants are back, there are a couple of classic Pittsburgh brands branching out into new spaces, and the City Cast crew has everything you need to plan your weekend. 

City Paper ranked all the sandwiches you can order at Sheetz, NEXTPittsburgh has a great roundup of more autumnal events, and the Northside Chronicle did a really great feature on Wilson’s Bar-B-Q and the family behind it.

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There’s an urban legend here about a man — a spectre with a glowing green face — doomed to roam the highways of Western Pennsylvania. He may have been burned by acid or fire or lightning. The details are squishy, but real story behind“The Monster of Beaver County” was a tragic one. City Cast’s Wil Fulton is here to explain how Charlie No-Face left an eerie mark on generations of Pittsburgh-area kids.

Special thanks to City Cast's roving producer Elizabeth Kauma for her work on this one. Music and some sound effects courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

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There’s a chill in the air. Pumpkin spice is on the menu. It’s the perfect time to buy a gift for the fall enthusiast in your life. From a cozy mug for camping trips to a seasonal spiced wine, the City Cast team is rounding up our favorite local gifts for October.

Here’s where to find all of our top picks. Let us know what we should feature next!

Things to buy:

Stuff to eat and drink:

Stuff to do:

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