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City Cast Pittsburgh
City Cast Pittsburgh episodes
- Will Century III Mall Get Demolished?
Century III Mall closed its last store in 2020, got condemned in 2023, and now, its owners are facing criminal charges. A few days ago, District Attorney Stephen Zappala called the 90-acre property “a monument to blight.” So if it can’t be fixed, what should happen next? Writer, publisher, and shopping mall enthusiast Matthew Newton is here to share our nostalgia and explain exactly what went wrong.
Check out Newton’s beautiful tome “Shopping Mall,” which is usually available at White Whale Bookstore in Bloomfield.
The Trib covered Moonbeam’s latest legal trouble, including an upcoming hearing April 18.
**Editor’s note: This episode originally published Aug. 14, 2023.
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.
19 min - Where Could Your Tax Money Go In 2024?
Gov. Josh Shapiro shared a lengthy wish list in his latest spending plan, including more funding for K-12 and higher education, public transit, gun violence prevention, workforce readiness, and more; but he’s also got his heart set on legalizing recreational cannabis and raising the state’s minimum wage. We’re with Spotlight PA reporter and friend of the pod Stephen Caruso to talk about what’s possible in 2024.
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.
21 min - Body Cams, Tiny Homes & City Programs Come and Go
It’s the Friday news roundup! Attorneys released police body camera and cell phone footage from the night Pittsburgh police officers repeatedly tased Jim Rogers in 2021. The 54 year old died shortly after. City Council is proposing a tiny home village as one possible solution to houselessness, and the city’s free spay and neuter program is being paused because of suburbanites. Plus, there’s a new full-time emergency medical training program for city residents that pays homage to the city’s past.
We always cite our sources:
- Jim Rogers was 54 in October 2021 when he died shortly after an interaction with police, which led to several officers receiving disciplinary action, and a few firings, though a few have since returned to work. The city settled a lawsuit with the family for $8 million.
- A law firm representing the Rogers’ family released body camera and cell phone footage this week. WESA’s Kiley Koscinski explains why that’s so unusual, and why it may not happen again.
- Also in 2021, WHYY reported that “While Pennsylvania’s restrictions on police footage aren’t necessarily worse than other states, advocates say access could and should be improved.”
- All states have right-to-know laws, but here in PA, there’s a carve out for law enforcement footage under Act 22.
- There’s a proposal for tiny homes as a solution for homelessness in the works, and Pittsburgh City Council members showed off a prototype of what a home could look like.
- Wondering what tiny homes look like in other cities? Here’s how a large community has impacted homelessness in Austin.
In November, a bill was introduced in Council that would create a zoning use called a “Temporary Managed Community” to allow for proposals like this, under certain conditions.- Mayor Gainey announced a new EMT training program earlier this month. Freedom House EMT Training is named in honor of Freedom House Ambulance Service, which was primarily staffed by Black paramedics and set the standards for EMT care we now.
- Interested in becoming an EMT? Apply to the EMT training program on the City of Pittsburgh’s career website; the deadline is February 22.
- Listen to our past pod about how Black Pittsburgh revolutionized emergency healthcare services.
- Pittsburgh is pausing the free spay and neuter program after learning that pet owners from the suburbs have been accessing services meant for city residents.
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.
26 min - Our Guide to Pizza in Pittsburgh
National Pizza Day is tomorrow, and it’s the perfect excuse to get some ‘za. Not sure what pie to pick up? Pittsburgh’s pizza journalist, Dan Tallarico has recommendations that will satisfy any craving. You can subscribe to Dan’s newsletter on Substack and find more of his pizza expertise on pizzawalkwithme.com.
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.
23 min - Hey Pittsburgh, Here's How to Spot a Heart Attack
When you imagine someone having a heart attack, it can seem dramatic. Big symptoms. Big response. But for women and people who’ve been pregnant, their symptoms can look so different that they might not know for sure that a cardiac event is even happening. For American Heart Month, we’re checking in with a Pittsburgher to talk about what a heart attack really looks like and how to spot your own risk factors.
Follow Dr. Katie Berlacher’s work at UPMC Magee here. She’s accepting new patients and has pledged to practice LGBTQ+ affirming care.
If you’re interested in getting screened elsewhere, start with your doctor, or consider one of these upcoming heart health screenings shared in our Hey Pittsburgh newsletter.
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.
19 min - Goodbye Pittsburgh Potty, Hello Iron City + East Palestine 1 Year Later
It’s our Tuesday news roundup! We’re catching up on where things stand one year after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The big Iron City billboard is back, and we’re diving into the history of this Pittsburgh hillside. Some local kids were featured in the Pro Bowl, plus we’re wondering why the new Downtown Pittsburgh potties are already going away.
We’re working on an upcoming show about where to take yourself on a perfect Pittsburgh date. Call or text us with your solo date ideas at 412-212-8893 and leave your name and neighborhood to be featured on the pod!
We always cite our sources:
- Pittsburgh’s removing its mobile trailer bathrooms and opening up more permanent bathrooms Downtown.
- Read Oliver Morrison’s work about how residents of East Palestine feel a year after the Norfolk Southern train derailment.
- As part of a series on the train derailment, The Allegheny Front published a story about a stream in East Palestine that remains polluted.
- Ohio’s Attorney General released a statement focusing on the answers they’re looking for in the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the root cause of the derailment.
- The Iron City sign is back, and of course, Pittsburghers weighed in on what they want to see on Mount Washington.
- Hey Pittsburgh covered the history of the IC Beer billboard — it was once the largest neon sign in the world!
- Have kids interested in flag football? Pittsburgh Elite’s tryouts are coming up on Feb. 17 and 18.
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.
23 min - Should Pittsburgh’s Official Flag be the Terrible Towel?
Pittsburgh has one of the oldest city flags in the U.S., but the design leaves something to be desired — at least, according to Ted Kaye. He's the nation's leading flag scholar and author of the flag design bible "Good Flag, Bad Flag." Kaye joins City Cast’s Mallory Falk to explain what makes a good flag, where Pittsburgh ranks compared to other cities, and whether we should be considering a new look.
Want to check out some proposed alternatives to our current flags? Artist Lucy Chen designed a couple Pittsburgh flag options for Pittsburgh City Paper, and Tara Stark came up with a new design for the Pennsylvania flag.
**This episode originally aired on July 12, 2023.
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.
18 min - US Steel Pays Up, Flooding & a Volcano on the South Side?!
It’s the Friday news roundup! US Steel has reached a historic settlement in a lawsuit brought by Allegheny County and environmental groups. We found out what happened with the proposed volcano at a South Side restaurant. We discuss federal dollars coming to Pittsburgh and how flooding impacted our unhoused neighbors. And it’s Gertrude Stein’s 150th birthday.
We always cite our sources:
- Celebrate our groundhog overlord with some Phil Phacts.
- Yes, a South Side restaurant redesign proposal included a volcano. (but volcano or not, it serves one of our favorite mac and cheeses in Pittsburgh.)
- Learn about the settlement reached with US Steel. A study from 2021 looked at how nearby residents were impacted by the 2018 fire. WESA and the AP got into the specifics.
- You can read US Steel and PennEnvironment’s statements.
- The Trib covered the flooding of the Mon Wharf and the closure of the encampment. You can help some of the unhoused folks impacted.
- Scared of landslides? Us too! We talked about it on the pod.
Explore the complicated life and legacy of Pittsburgh native Gertrude Stein.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.
27 min - Pittsburgh’s Best Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day
Looking for a perfect date spot? Whether you’re with friends, family, or partners, we’ve got a bunch of fun suggestions for a perfect Valentine’s week, including flowers, snacks, and a few spots that don’t require reservations.
Need more? Listen to our episode with Apteka’s co-owner and co-chef, Kate Lasky, digging into the phenomenon that is Crapteka. Check out our treats guide in the Hey Pittsburgh newsletter! Plus, if you want to bake your own treats, try these oatmeal butterscotch cookies. They’re the best thing Producer Sophia Lo’s eaten this week!
Your turn! Call or text us at 412-212-8893 with your favorite date night spots.
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.
25 min - The Silliest Pgh Insults from the Past 200 Years
Pittsburgh has always had its problems, and complaining about them is one of our favorite sports. But there’s also a long tradition of outsiders coming here — or even just reading about our town — and thinking it’s OK to add their two cents.
Local writer Virginia Montanez rounded up some of the funniest and most creative insults lobbed at Pittsburgh over two centuries. She joins us to share her favorites and explain why our city drew so much ire from outside writers, newsmakers, and prominent figures.
Can’t get enough old-timey insults? Check out Virginia’s column for Pittsburgh Magazine.
**This episode originally aired on October 4, 2023
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.
19 min
About City Cast Pittsburgh
From the publisher's feed
Join Megan Harris and the City Cast Pittsburgh team every weekday morning for a fast-paced daily news podcast that will get you talking and make you question what’s going on here in Western…
Pennsylvania. City Cast Pittsburgh is a smart new way to connect with neighbors in the Steel City you know and love. Add us to your feeds and subscribe to our daily newsletter, at pittsburgh.citycast.fm today!
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