The Confluence

By Kevin Gavin

What's The Confluence about?

The Confluence is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more at wesa.fm.

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The Confluence episodes:

08.04.2023
Gainey administration plans months of community activities to help curb violence
On today’s episode of The Confluence: We speak with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey about the latest in his Plan for Peace, his administration’s new Office of Equal Protection, and his thoughts about the now-public staffing study of the city’s police force.
08.03.2023
County Executive candidate Joe Rockey’s top priorities include reducing crime, bringing jobs
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Yesterday, a jury of his peers decided the man they convicted of carrying out the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018 should be put to death. The formal sentencing hearing takes place this morning. David Harris,...
08.02.2023
County Executive candidate Sara Innamorato’s top priorities include housing, addressing disparities
On today’s episode of The Confluence: With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald term-limited, the county will see new leadership. Sara Innamorato served two full terms as state representative for the 21st district, and is now running as the Democratic nominee for...
08.01.2023
Pa. state budget stalemate may be easing, senators could get called back this month
On today’s episode of The Confluence: There seems to be slight movement in the budget stalemate, with Senate Republican leaders indicating they might return in August instead of September; local Republicans have nominated Erin Connolly Autenreith to run for the...
07.31.2023
NASA will carry CMU-made MoonRanger to search for lunar ice
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Since the pandemic, communities have been questioning how to better use office space, as some employees are still working remotely or in person only a few days a week. Strip District Neighbors recently published its...
07.28.2023
Pennsylvania looks to new school funding formula, but the timeline is unclear
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Pennsylvania Senate Republican leaders have decided not to appeal to the state Supreme Court a ruling that the state’s education funding system violates the state constitution. We ask a panel of education experts where...
07.27.2023
Allegheny County jail inmates have long waits for mental health care
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Over the weekend, 59 year old Douglas Bonomo of McKeesport died in the Allegheny County Jail’s mental health unit. He was facing charges of indecent assault and was awaiting court ordered transfer to Torrance State...
07.26.2023
New study finds bacterial test helps pediatricians limit overprescribing antibiotics for sinusitis
On today’s episode of The Confluence: A new study reveals that a test can help prevent overprescription of antibiotics when treating a common childhood malady, sinusitis: the inflammation of the tissues in our sinuses in the forehead, cheeks and nose. Dr....
07.25.2023
Pa. care providers call on state for increased financial support
On today’s episode of The Confluence: A third of Pennsylvania disability service providers reported closing since 2020, and many are asking why the state isn’t doing more to support them. Gillian McGoldrick, who covers government for the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports that...
07.24.2023
Recreational cannabis legislation looks to bring Pa. regulations in line with some nearby states
On today’s episode of The Confluence: A Republican and Democrat senator have collaborated to propose a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Pennsylvania. Ed Mahon, an investigative reporter with Spotlight PA, explains how this bill would seek to regulate...
07.21.2023
Private talks, but no progress reported in Pa. budget stalemate
On today’s episode of The Confluence: A dark money group has pressured state lawmakers to approve school vouchers, which has held up the budget after Gov. Josh Shapiro told Democrats he would line-item veto the program. Following the resignation of Rep....
07.20.2023
Pittsburgh police union president disagrees with results of staffing report
On today’s episode of The Confluence: More than a year since the start of an analysis of the city of Pittsburgh’s police staffing and deployment of officers, the results have been released. This assessment finds that “188 fewer budgeted officers positions...
07.19.2023
Medicaid will now reimburse Street Medicine efforts in Pa. bringing health care to unhoused people
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Lawmakers have made multiple efforts to update the state’s probation laws over the last five years, and this year, another bill has been passed by the Senate. Danielle Ohl, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA, reports...
07.18.2023
Lt. Gov. Davis says legislation needed to address gun violence, current approach isn’t enough
On today’s episode of The Confluence: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average 1,600 people die from gun violence in Pennsylvania each year. Here in Pittsburgh, there were 71 homicides in 2022, a 39% jump from 2021....
07.17.2023
More testimony expected in final phase of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The third phase of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial begins today. Jurors will decide whether Robert Bowers should be sentenced to death or spend life in prison without the chance of parole for the shooting...
07.14.2023
Railroad safety regulation progressing in federal and state legislative bodies
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The jury in the synagogue shooting trial has reached two decisions: that Robert Bowers is guilty of shooting and killing 11 Jewish worshippers on October 27, 2018; and that Bowers is eligible for the death...
07.13.2023
Commonwealth Court rules in favor of Pittsburgh journalist, county autopsy reports are public record
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Commonwealth Court ruled Tuesday that Allegheny County must release full autopsy reports to reporters and the public. Brittany Hailer, director of the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, filed the Right-to-Know request three years ago that...
07.12.2023
Survivor of sexual assault in Jehovah’s Witnesses is suing, says insular policies allowed abuse
On today’s episode of The Confluence: On Friday, the Pa. Attorney General’s Office announced that five men who are members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been charged with sexual assault and exploitation of children. These charges are the latest since the...
07.11.2023
Closing of Smithfield United Church of Christ shelter leaves some without low barrier options
On today’s episode of The Confluence: On June 21, Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services closed the emergency shelter in the basement of the Smithfield United Church of Christ in downtown Pittsburgh. Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource, and Eric Jankiewicz,...
07.10.2023
Stalled till September? Budget, code bills still stuck in an impasse
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Gov. Josh Shapiro has called on the state Senate to reconvene and sign the state’s fiscal plan, but since his announcement that he would veto funding for school vouchers, Senate Republicans haven’t indicated if they’ll...
07.07.2023
GOP controlled state Senate says it won’t deliver budget to Shapiro due to promised line-item veto
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The state House has passed a budget after Gov. Josh Shapiro reversed his position on school vouchers, a program many Republicans support. We speak to a roundtable of reporters covering Pennsylvania politics about the latest...
07.06.2023
County saw slight decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2022 but troubling trends persist
On today’s episode of The Confluence: According to the new data released by the county, overdose deaths in 2022 declined by about 5%, or 30 deaths, compared to 2021. There were 689 fatalities last year due to drug overdoses. Dr. Karl...
07.05.2023
Public-private partnerships could address gaps in childcare for struggling families
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Legislation was introduced in Harrisburg that looks to create an employee public-private partnership to help parents access child care in Pennsylvania. Here in Pittsburgh, Lesely Crawford, owner of ABK Learning & Development Center, has been...
06.30.2023
Pennsylvania looks to Master Plan to address wave of aging residents
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Governor Josh Shapiro had directed the state Department of Aging to develop a master plan for older adults. We look at what the economics of caring for an aging state population involve, and how the...
06.29.2023
PPS temporarily halts use of summary citations after report details disproportionate usage
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Last night, the Pittsburgh Public School board voted to temporarily stop the issuance of summary citations to discipline students. Parents and the ACLU of Pennsylvania have been calling on the board to act on this...
06.28.2023
Branch campus enrollment at Pitt, Penn State has been declining for years
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Enrollment at branch campuses for Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh has declined sharply, and the trend has been years in the making. We speak to Bill Schackner, who covers higher education for...
06.27.2023
State lawmakers consider legislation for local oversight of carbon capture wells
On today’s episode of The Confluence: State lawmakers have proposed legislation to give the state oversight of carbon capture wells, taking enforcement out of the hands of federal regulators. Only two other states, Wyoming and North Dakota, have similar authority over...
06.26.2023
Mayor Ed Gainey is ‘rolling out’ first emergency services hub, gives updates on homelessness
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Mayor Ed Gainey joined the show to discuss his Plan for Peace, which aims to address gun violence through a public health perspective; homelessness; and the city’s Infrastructure Commission.
06.23.2023
Minimum wage increase, school choice vouchers debated amid state budget talks
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The Pennsylvania House has passed a minimum wage increase for the first time since 2009, but its fate will be decided in the Senate. Also, an update on state budget negotiations. It’s our state politics...
06.22.2023
Lawsuit alleges Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board has violated Sunshine Act
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board is facing a lawsuit for allegedly violating the Sunshine Act by limiting the public’s access to information about the jail, including deaths, overdoses and facility conditions. WESA reporter Julia...
06.21.2023
As approaches to reading instruction change, how is Pa. adopting “structured literacy”?
On today’s episode of The Confluence: A new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality found not all teachers are trained in scientifically proven strategies for teaching children to read. We speak to Heather Peske, president of the National Council...
06.20.2023
Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial guilt phase concluded, penalty phase next
On today’s episode of The Confluence: A jury found Robert Bowers guilty on all counts in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, but still in question is whether he will receive the death penalty. We speak to WESA reporter Oliver Morrison and...
06.16.2023
Five years since Antwon Rose II's death, where social justice movements stand in Pittsburgh
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Monday is Juneteenth, and the anniversary of the death of Antwon Rose II, a 17-year-old killed by an East Pittsburgh police officer. We discuss the social justice movement in the city and state in the...
06.15.2023
Pittsburgh’s population has held steady, but some suburbs are in decline
On today’s episode of The Confluence: New data released from the U.S. Census reports that Pittsburgh’s population has held steady at about 303,000 people, but a number of suburbs have experienced decline. Chris Briem is a regional economist at the University...
06.14.2023
State legislature, governor’s office spent millions on private law firms during school funding suit
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The state legislature spent $12.6 million on private lawyers to fight a challenge to the state’s education funding. Spotlight PA investigative reporter Angela Couloumbis shares the details about which firms were hired and other details...
06.13.2023
Mayors reflect on moving out of financial distress, future after Act 47
On today’s episode of The Confluence: On May 24, the Borough of Rankin was declared no longer financially distressed and exited the state’s Act 47 oversight after 34 years. We speak with Rankin Mayor Joelisa McDonald and Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi...
06.12.2023
The state is funding disability inclusion curriculum pilots in Pa. schools
This episode originally had the wrong audio file attached, it has been fixed. WESA regrets the error. On today’s episode of The Confluence: In April, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration announced grant funding for school districts to pilot “disability inclusive curriculum” for the...
06.09.2023
Gov. Josh Shapiro tasked with finding compromise on budget in divided legislature
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The state budget is supposed to be approved by the end of the month, challenging Gov. Josh Shapiro to find a compromise between a divided legislature. We also discuss candidates for state attorney general, bipartisan...
06.08.2023
White House calls Pittsburgh a ‘workforce hub’ to expand jobs, training in the region
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Last month, the White House designated Pittsburgh one of five “Workforce Hubs,” citing the region’s innovations in robotics and biomanufacturing. We speak with Petra Mitchell, president and CEO of Catalyst Connection, about what resources Southwestern...
06.07.2023
Estimates say Pittsburgh is short 27,000 affordable housing units; city looks to bond program
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Pittsburgh is planning to invest at least $25 million over several years into affordable housing using money from bonds. WESA senior reporter Margaret J. Krauss reports on how the city and development entities hope to...
06.06.2023
Testimony over the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial continues as witnesses recount the attack
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Testimony in the federal trial of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting continues for another week. We speak with WESA reporter Oliver Morrison about the latest witnesses to testify and what argument the defense is trying...
06.05.2023
Second Avenue Commons has been at capacity since opening in November
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Second Avenue Commons, a low-barrier shelter in Downtown Pittsburgh, opened in November 2022. Since then, it has provided food, shelter and more to those unhoused. We check in with Linda Metropulos, board president for Second...
05.26.2023
Gun legislation passes Pa. House, Shapiro wants more money for mental health, budget deadline looms
The state House has passed two gun control measures, but they still have to make it through the Senate; and the reorganized Basic Education Funding Commission has begun work to make public school funding more equitable. We ask about this...
05.25.2023
Drug shortages could affect Pittsburgh cancer patients
There's a nationwide shortage of certain chemotherapy medications due to supply chain issues. and this scarcity is starting to impact the treatment of Pittsburgh-area cancer patients. WESA health and science reporter Sarah Boden discusses how physicians are navigating this growing...
05.24.2023
How the Jewish community is preparing for testimony in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial
The prosecution and defense is set to begin striking jurors from a pool of potential jurors in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial. Testimony is scheduled to start May 30th. We speak with Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership,...
05.23.2023
Pitt’s Brain Bank is recruiting donors to study contact sports’ impact on brain
The University of Pittsburgh’s National Sports Brain Bank is looking to improve research on the impact of contact sports on all types of athletes. The bank’s director and Pitt assistant professor of pathology Dr. Julia Kofler joins the show to...
05.22.2023
Federal complaint accuses UPMC of suppressing wages, being anti-competitive
SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania has filed an antitrust complaint against UPMC, claiming the medical system uses anti-competitive practices to suppress wages and prevent employees from advocating for better working conditions. We speak with WESA health and science reporter Sarah Boden about...
05.19.2023
Camping, hiking, kayaking: What state parks in southwestern Pennsylvania have to offer
On today’s episode of The Confluence: Hiking, kayaking, camping and more! We discuss what to do in the state parks near Pittsburgh, and a panel of experts from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shares ways we can...
05.18.2023
Gov. Shapiro proposes increased funding to incentivize municipalities to share services
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to boost funding for a state program that encourages local governments to share public services, like trash pickup. Spotlight PA reporter Min Xian tells us how the Municipal Assistance Program incentivizes service sharing, and the...
05.17.2023
Primary election results suggest political shifts in Allegheny County
We review the results of yesterday’s election and look ahead to what they mean for the general election in November. We’re joined by Chris Potter, WESA’s government and accountability editor; Kiley Koscinski, WESA’s city government reporter; and WESA reporter Julia...

What's The Confluence about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Confluence episodes:

Gainey administration plans months of community activities to help curb violence

County Executive candidate Joe Rockey’s top priorities include reducing crime, bringing jobs

County Executive candidate Sara Innamorato’s top priorities include housing, addressing disparities

Pa. state budget stalemate may be easing, senators could get called back this month

NASA will carry CMU-made MoonRanger to search for lunar ice

Pennsylvania looks to new school funding formula, but the timeline is unclear

Allegheny County jail inmates have long waits for mental health care

New study finds bacterial test helps pediatricians limit overprescribing antibiotics for sinusitis

Pa. care providers call on state for increased financial support

Recreational cannabis legislation looks to bring Pa. regulations in line with some nearby states

Private talks, but no progress reported in Pa. budget stalemate

Pittsburgh police union president disagrees with results of staffing report

Medicaid will now reimburse Street Medicine efforts in Pa. bringing health care to unhoused people

Lt. Gov. Davis says legislation needed to address gun violence, current approach isn’t enough

More testimony expected in final phase of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial

Railroad safety regulation progressing in federal and state legislative bodies

Commonwealth Court rules in favor of Pittsburgh journalist, county autopsy reports are public record

Survivor of sexual assault in Jehovah’s Witnesses is suing, says insular policies allowed abuse

Closing of Smithfield United Church of Christ shelter leaves some without low barrier options

Stalled till September? Budget, code bills still stuck in an impasse

GOP controlled state Senate says it won’t deliver budget to Shapiro due to promised line-item veto

County saw slight decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2022 but troubling trends persist

Public-private partnerships could address gaps in childcare for struggling families

Pennsylvania looks to Master Plan to address wave of aging residents

PPS temporarily halts use of summary citations after report details disproportionate usage

Branch campus enrollment at Pitt, Penn State has been declining for years

State lawmakers consider legislation for local oversight of carbon capture wells

Mayor Ed Gainey is ‘rolling out’ first emergency services hub, gives updates on homelessness

Minimum wage increase, school choice vouchers debated amid state budget talks

Lawsuit alleges Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board has violated Sunshine Act

As approaches to reading instruction change, how is Pa. adopting “structured literacy”?

Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial guilt phase concluded, penalty phase next

Five years since Antwon Rose II's death, where social justice movements stand in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s population has held steady, but some suburbs are in decline

State legislature, governor’s office spent millions on private law firms during school funding suit

Mayors reflect on moving out of financial distress, future after Act 47

The state is funding disability inclusion curriculum pilots in Pa. schools

Gov. Josh Shapiro tasked with finding compromise on budget in divided legislature

White House calls Pittsburgh a ‘workforce hub’ to expand jobs, training in the region

Estimates say Pittsburgh is short 27,000 affordable housing units; city looks to bond program

Testimony over the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial continues as witnesses recount the attack

Second Avenue Commons has been at capacity since opening in November

Gun legislation passes Pa. House, Shapiro wants more money for mental health, budget deadline looms

Drug shortages could affect Pittsburgh cancer patients

How the Jewish community is preparing for testimony in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial

Pitt’s Brain Bank is recruiting donors to study contact sports’ impact on brain

Federal complaint accuses UPMC of suppressing wages, being anti-competitive

Camping, hiking, kayaking: What state parks in southwestern Pennsylvania have to offer

Gov. Shapiro proposes increased funding to incentivize municipalities to share services

Primary election results suggest political shifts in Allegheny County