The Confluence

On today’s episode of The Confluence:Pennsylvania is expected to receive billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds, and most of that money is going to counties and other local governments. 90.5 WESA’s Kate Giammarise and Spotlight PA’s Ed Mahon tell us what the money can – and cannot – be used for, and the concerns people have about transparency. (0:00 - 13:01) Pittsburgh native and influential jazz musician Ahmad Jamal died Sunday at the age of 92. We speak to Nelson Harrison, a longtime friend of Jamal, about his life and legacy. (13:14 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:The nation is experiencing drug shortages for certain medications, which could impact patients in need of antibiotics, cancer treatments, and more. What can customers do when their pharmacies don’t have the drugs they need? We speak to Dr. Rob Maher, who teaches pharmacy management at Duquesne University’s School of Pharmacy and is the pharmacy services director for a local, family-owned chain of pharmacies. (0:00 - 9:11).The death penalty trial begins in a week for the man charged with carrying out the 2018 synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill. The proceeding is expected to last through July. 90.5 WESA’s An-Li Herring has this report on why it will take so long. (9:16 - 13:51).The Pittsburgh Penguins have fired team leaders: general manager Ron Hextall, president of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant general manager Chris Pryor. This comes after the team broke its 16-year streak of making the NHL playoffs. We discuss the latest with Rob Rossi, senior writer for The Athletic. (13:56 - 22:30).

On today’s episode of The Confluence:We discuss the latest in state politics with our panel of reporters. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has announced he will run for a fourth term but faces locally known contenders; Gov. Josh Shapiro hopes to lure a computer chip or electric vehicle plant to the state; and national conservative figures who have made their way to Pennsylvania. Today’s guests include: Stephen Caruso, Capitol reporter with Spotlight PA; Marc Levy, who covers Pennsylvania politics and government for the Associated Press; and Charles Thompson, who covers state government for PennLive.

On today’s episode of The Confluence:We discuss with PublicSource’s Rich Lord an analysis of police complaints under the first year of the Gainey administration, and how new disciplinary rules could impact how many people come forward with issues. (0:00 - 7:28)The University of Pittsburgh has chosen a new chancellor, the first female leader in the school’s history. We speak with Joan Gabel about her goals, safety and on-campus issues. (7:39 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:When Carnegie Mellon University staff and students arrived at TCS hall in 2020, a new research project had installed mites, devices that collected data, in the university building. This sparked questions about privacy, technology and research. We speak with Tate Ryan-Mosley about where this conversation stands now. (0:00-8:13)Like districts all across the country, a rural Beaver County school district is wrestling with how to respect identity – both religion and gender. Families say their kids deserve to feel safe in school. But others in the community – including a teacher – say being required to use students’ preferred names or pronouns infringes on THEIR rights. And as 90.5 WESA’s Sarah Schneider reports, the small community is debating core identity issues in a public forum. (8:14-15:53)Cherry blossom trees are blooming in North Park! We speak to Barbara Litt, a board member with the Pittsburgh Sakura Project, about where to find the trees and what these delicate blooms symbolize. (15:53-22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:A new analysis finds Black and Hispanic older adults are more likely than their white peers to face cost-related barriers to healthcare when their incomes are just above the poverty level. These people face a Medicaid “cliff,” losing access to supplemental Medicaid insurance. We speak to Eric T. Roberts, co-author of this report, about how this cliff affects these adults’ health outcomes, and how it could be mitigated. (0:00 - 8:21) NPR’s All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly has traveled the world covering foreign and domestic affairs, helping others share their stories. In her new book, “It. Goes. So. Fast. The Year of No Do Overs,” she’s sharing her own. She joins us to discuss it. (8:23 - 17:09) Jonathan Tai is a Pittsburgh-based magician who blends magic and storytelling. With his latest production opening this week, 90.5 WESA’s Bill O’Driscoll has this profile. (17:18 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:Schools nationwide, including in Pittsburgh, are experiencing dangerous “swatting” incidences, where a caller falsely claims there’s an active shooter situation, drawing real resources. We talk to FBI Assistant Special Agent In-Charge Scott Argiro about how the agency addresses these events. (0:00 - 7:34) Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) has formed a nonprofit organization to support programs serving children after school and during the summer months. The inaugural executive director, Karen Dreyer, and Leah O’Reilly, a board member of APOST, join us to talk about the new nonprofit’s work. (7:47 - 16:07) Residents in East Palestine, Ohio worry about the health impacts of vinyl chloride exposure after February’s train derailment. Seven workers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigating the incident also reported symptoms. About 10 years ago, Paulsboro, New Jersey faced a similar accident when 24,000 gallons of the carcinogenic gas leaked from a derailed train in November of 2012. WHYY’s Zoë Read reports some residents are still feeling the impacts of the accident a decade later. (16:21 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:April showers bring May flowers, but how does one decide what to plant and when? We ask a panel of gardeners what home-growers should consider about their greenspace as the weather warms. Today’s guests include: Dina Free Blackwell with the Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-op; Indira Alcantara, the farm manager with Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus; Denele Hughson, executive director of Grow Pittsburgh; and Meg Graham, owner and operator of May Apple Gardening and an instructor with Phipps’ ecological gardening and landscape and garden design courses.

On today’s episode of The Confluence:Employees at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have been on strike for six months now, and have been without a new contract for six years. We speak with WESA reporter Jillian Forstadt about how the paper’s owners, Block Communications Inc., could benefit from prolonging the work stoppage further. (0:00 - 7:55) Mitch Swain is leaving the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council after leading as the inaugural CEO and spending 18 years with the organization. We speak with Swain about his tenure. (7:58 - 17:14) The deadline to file your income taxes is April 18 this year. If you live in Allegheny County, there’s a good chance a private company called Jordan Tax Service will handle your local return. 90.5 WESA’s An-Li Herring reports the 90-year-old firm is popular with municipalities but a source of frustration for some taxpayers. (17:20 - 22:30)

On today’s episode of The Confluence:Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services is reassessing who qualifies for Medicaid benefits, after a pandemic-era policy barred states from taking people off the program. Katie Meyer, government editor/reporter with Spotlight PA, reports advocates are concerned that staffing shortages for caseworkers at the county level may impact those who qualify for benefits. (0:00 - 6:27) The University of Pittsburgh’s library is restoring the work of Charles Henry Pace, one of the first independent Black gospel music publishers who lived in the Hill District. Pace’s daughter, Frances Pace Barnes, and Christopher Lynch, project coordinator at the Center for American Music in the University of Pittsburgh’s library system, join us to discuss Pace’s legacy. We’ll also hear music from a concert honoring Charles and his wife Frankie Pace’s work, performed Saturday, March 25 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. (6:34 - 18:41) A musician needs strong pipes to play the harmonica. That makes this pocket-size instrument a challenge for people with respiratory conditions, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and perhaps eventually long COVID. As 90.5 WESA’s Sarah Boden reports, for some patients, harmonica lessons are just what the doctor ordered. (18:41 - 22:30)