The Confluence

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Emails exposed through an ongoing lawsuit give insight to the close relationship between lobbyists for the state’s top-earning casino and a state legislator; a settlement between the State Police and ACLU means officers can no longer stop drivers for immigration enforcement or check immigration status; and North America’s longest-running exhibition of international art, Carnegie International, returns to Pittsburgh.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: State Rep. Mark Rozzi joins us to discuss the governor’s call on legislators to push forward a bill that would extend the statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse; University of Pittsburgh associate professor Bria Walker directs ‘Emilia’, a retelling of the life of English poet Emilia Bassano, and discusses how this fits into the university’s goal to center people of color in the arts; and we’ll hear about opening day for the Pirates, and look at what we might expect from their season.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: PublicSource economic development reporter Rich Lord tells us about his latest investigation into why annual taxes paid for homes in the same neighborhood can vary wildly; and we speak to Diamonte Walker about her time at the Urban Redevelopment Authority, where she rose to deputy director and is now leaving for an opportunity to support residents’ economic mobility through higher education.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Carol Kuniholm, chair of Fair Districts PA, explains why her organization and five others want to change procedural rules in the state legislature around how bills move through committees and get floor votes; and we speak to a University of Pittsburgh administrator about enrollment in higher education more than two years since pandemic-related closures.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Secretary Celeste Trusty from the state’s Board of Pardons explains how the process of applying for clemency has received a major update for the first time in decades; WESA reporter Sarah Boden discusses the challenges families face to manage finances when aging loved experience dementia or other cognitive decline; and a snapshot of fish fry meals from around the city this Lenten season.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: WESA senior reporter Margaret J. Krauss explains why an affordable apartment complex previously held by East Liberty Development, Inc. is being sold, leaving many low-income residents scrambling for housing; and we hear from two parents who, after losing their daughter to a drug overdose, worked with the County Medical Examiner’s Office to bring other grieving families resources and information in the aftermath of a death.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The opportunity to apply for emergency housing assistance from Allegheny County and Pittsburgh ends today; state laws allow some incarcerated people who become terminally ill to qualify for compassionate release, but Spotlight PA’s Danielle Ohl explains why that process has been called "broken"; and a nonprofit in Carrick is teaching teenagers how to use audio equipment and technology for a career in production.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Riverlife released a plan to complete a loop connecting the parks and trails along downtown’s riverfronts, at a cost of nearly a quarter billion dollars; former Pittsburgh Police Chief Robert McNeilly’s book shares insights into policing and his experiences leading the department following the consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice; and a Pittsburgh artist works with the Mattress Factory to address inequities experienced by Black homeowners.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey campaigned on improving the city’s affordable housing market, but recent developments may make reaching those goals more difficult; how employers can look to neurodiverse adults to help fill vacancies; and the state’s looking to regulate PFAS, known as forever chemicals, in drinking water.

On today's episode of The Confluence: WESA reporter Ariel Worthy catches us up on the investigation into the death of Jim Rogers, who died after being shocked by a Taser by Pittsburgh Police; we speak to the leader of Propel Schools, which operates 13 charter locations in Allegheny County, about the impact of new state charter school regulations; and we learn whether downtown Pittsburgh workers and visitors are returning to the area after the pandemic abruptly sent everyone home.