The Confluence

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is holding a town hall event tomorrow to answer questions regarding toxic exposure during military service and benefits veterans are entitled to under a federal legislation signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year; the University of Pittsburgh’s volleyball team is playing in the NCAA Final Four for the second straight year, making school history. Today’s guests include: Tim Martin, chief veterans affairs officer at Allegheny County Veteran Services; Dan Fisher, coach of the University of Pittsburgh’s Volleyball Team, and Chiamaka Nwokolo, captain of Pitt’s Volleyball Team.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The organization designated to apply to run the Whole Homes Repair Program in Allegheny County says the funding will be monumental in helping low- and moderate-income homeowners make repairs and upgrades; a research report from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania found rural regions of the state are more likely to have sub-quality housing due to a lack of infrastructure and consistent policies enforcing maintenance; and a look at how some organizations are trying to build the pipeline of employees to maintain autonomous trucks.Today’s guests include: Dan Sullivan, housing stabilization program manager with Action Housing; and Ying Yang, professor of sociology at Shippensburg University.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We hear about the takeaways from last week’s Psychostimulant Symposium hosted by the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and what role the department will take in addressing drugs like methamphetamines; and since 2018, the state’s Department of Corrections has given incarcerated people scans of mail instead of the physical correspondence, but some advocates say the policy takes away connection to loved ones. Today’s guests include: Jennifer Smith, secretary of the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs; and Wanda Bertram, communications strategist with Prison Policy Initiative.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission has approved new definitions of sex, religious creed, and race, but some argue the new definitions should have been created by the legislature; Pittsburgh’s Citizen Police Review Board has received the fewest number of complaints thus far this year compared to the 25 years the board has been in place, according to the board’s executive director; and a look at the ongoing issues incarcerated people are having at Allegheny County Jail when it comes to accessing reading materials.Today’s guests include: Mark Scolforo, reporter for the Associated Press; and Elizabeth Pittinger, executive director of the city’s Citizen Police Review Board.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The latest version of A+ School’s annual report on Pittsburgh Public Schools assesses if the local education system is achieving equity, from funding to discipline to opportunity; the University of Pittsburgh has a new director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for its Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement; and a look at the history and impact of Pennsylvania’s 30-year-old Children’s Health Insurance program. Today’s guests include: James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools; and Dan’Talisha Deans, a director of development of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the University of Pittsburgh’s Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Gov. Tom Wolf’s Office of General Counsel has spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on private law firms, without disclosing the cases nor policy work being done by such firms; the late Democratic State Rep. Tony DeLuca’s seat will soon be filled by a special election, and without a primary, party nominees will be chosen by the respective committees with Democrats voting this weekend; and a look at the document detailing the sale of roughly 150,000 acres, including Pittsburgh, from indigenous tribes.Today’s guests include: Chris Potter, WESA’s government and accountability editor; Angela Couloumbis, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA; and R. Steven Landes, circuit court clerk for Augusta County, Virginia.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Election results are finally certified, but there are lingering questions about how some voters ballots weren’t counted, despite sending them in on time, and a look at petitions that held up the certification process in three counties; the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could bring in significant opportunities for the state to expand broadband access; and we visit a volunteer-run farm in Perry South that was started by Somali Bantu refugees.Today’s guests include: Carter Walker, voting and elections reporter for Votebeat and Spotlight PA; and Stephen Herzenberg, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Keystone Research Center.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: State environmental regulators held a vote to limit some oil and gas well emissions in order to meet a federal deadline and avoid sanctions; a new skill building and job training program based in Oakland has finished working with it’s first cohort of fellows and begun recruitment for the next; and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is offering sensory-friendly performances of it’s holiday classic, ‘The Nutcracker.’Today’s guests include: Rachel McDevitt, reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania at WITF; Lindsay Powell, workforce strategies director at InnovatePGH; and Kathryn Gigler, acting executive director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We talk about parental involvement in education, the many ways it can be achieved, and what schools do to better connect with parents.Today’s guests include: James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools; Tammy Hughes, a licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist and professor at Duquesne University; Khamil Bailey, a parent and member of Black Women for a Better Education; Kellie Weiss-Strausburg, a parent and fundraising chair for the South Fayette School District Parent Teacher Association; and Elise Foley, parent and co-president of the South Park Elementary Center Parent Teacher Organization.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The Allegheny Regional Asset District board has approved a record $126.5 million budget for next year, much of which will be distributed to libraries, arts, parks and other organizations; and we get a preview of what events and entertainment residents can enjoy for the holiday season. Today’s guests include: Daniel Griffin, vice-chair of the Allegheny Regional Asset District board; and Bobby Cherry, creator of the “It’s Christmas 365” blog.