The Confluence

On today’s episode of The Confluence:Some voters have submitted recount petitions to question election results, delaying election certifications. Two state judges have now given conflicting rulings on whether there needs to be evidence of fraud for a recount to be requested. Carter Walker, with Votebeat and Spotlight PA, breaks down the reasoning each judge has provided. The latest survey on child care staffing in Pennsylvania finds programs are experiencing significant shortages, which has left thousands of children on waiting lists for child care. Cara Ciminillo, executive director of Trying Together, explains the impacts of staffing shortages in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Lancaster County announced it’s banning the TikTok app on county devices. We ask Sauvik Das, assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, about the security risks of using the app.

On today’s episode of The Confluence:A report published today found that opioid overdose deaths in Pennsylvania counties were reduced after University of Pittsburgh researchers implemented new community-focused strategies, coordinating new and existing efforts. We speak with senior author Janice Pringle, who’s a professor of pharmacy and therapeutics and director of the Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) at the Pitt School of Pharmacy. (0:00 - 7:05) The National Hockey League deadline for trades ended Friday. We speak to Rob Rossi, senior writer for The Athletic, about where the Pittsburgh Penguins stand. (7:11 - 14:49) It’s egg-laying season for bald eagles, including those residing along Pittsburgh’s three rivers. Rachel Handel with the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania tells us why bald eagles choose certain environments, like areas near a steel plant, to nest. (14:54 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:State legislators have elected democrat Joanna McClinton as speaker, now that special elections to replace three Allegheny County area representatives have concluded. After taking office in Washington, D.C., Senator John Fetterman’s entrance to federal politics has been disrupted by his health. One aide says he may be hospitalized for weeks. This week’s guests include: Marc Levy, who covers Pennsylvania politics and government with the Associated Press; Katie Meyer, government editor and reporter with SpotlightPA; John Micek, editor-in-chief at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star; and Jonathan Tamari, national politics and policy reporter with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

On today’s episode of The Confluence:With the race for a new county executive in full swing, we look at how much money candidates are bringing in and discuss how some Allegheny County officials want to bring the county campaign finance rules in line with federal and city regulations. PublicSource enterprise reporter Charlie Wolfson reports one county councilor has introduced a bill to limit campaign contributions for county candidates.Allegheny County will spend $50 million over five years on violence prevention initiatives. We speak with Richard Garland, executive director of Reimagine Reentry, which will receive funding for interventions where caseworkers visit shooting victims at hospitals to stop retaliatory violence.From new productions of his plays to his restored childhood home, August Wilson’s legacy keeps growing in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Another piece is Wilson’s archive at the University of Pittsburgh, which officially opens this week.

On today’s episode of The Confluence:A judge has ruled that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional. Maddie Hanna, who covers K-12 education for the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports that looking at other states’ funding systems could offer the commonwealth some ideas for improvement. (0:00 - 6:55) A new restaurant opening in Pittsburgh will employ teenagers impacted by the criminal justice system in 12-month internships. Gene Walker leads Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh as the organization’s executive director. (7:02 - 13:40) The company operating a train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio has a policy that allows crews to ignore alerts warning of possible issues. ProPublica reporter Topher Sanders looked at whether other freight railroad companies have a similar rule on the books. (13:56 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence: After the contents of a train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio were burned through a controlled release, nearby residents wonder what toxins remain. Allegheny Front’s managing editor and reporter Julie Grant tells us what concerns residents have shared. (0:00 - 8:11) The city of Pittsburgh was awarded funds to study if a section of Route 65, which runs through the North Side, should be altered to reconnect the Chateau and Manchester neighborhoods. LaShawn Burton-Faulk, executive director of the Manchester Citizens Corporation, explains how this could impact residents. (8:15 - 14:15) Actor Wali Jamal stars in the one-person show, “How I Learned What I Learned" at the August Wilson Cultural Center this Friday evening. (14:20 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The Pennsylvania House has passed two measures addressing the statutory window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to file suit; how research into electrical stimulation for stroke victims has helped some patients regain mobility; and the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Avenues of Hope.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We discuss the anticipated books for 2023, what you might have missed last year and how social media is changing publishing.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Birthing parents and infants can receive therapeutic care post-partum in a new facility in Bloomfield; a court ruling could mean refunds for some new homeowners and lost revenues for school districts, Allegheny County and municipalities.

The interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson starts at 8:02On today’s episode of The Confluence: Proposed legislation in the state Senate looks to mandate training for medical professionals about Lyme disease, we discuss where things stand currently in diagnosing and treating the illness; and Neil deGrasse Tyson takes our listeners on a trip to the movies and what they get right and wrong about science.