Tube City Online's "Two Rivers, 30 Minutes" - McKeesport, PA

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Topic: Finding your voice and telling your story through music

Guest: “Big Jus” Short, musician, rapper and educator

How Topic Discussed: “Big Jus” knew from an early age that he wanted to become a rapper. What does he remember about growing up in McKeesport? Why was music so important to him? How was support from his mother and friends crucial to pursuing his dreams? When did he record his first album? Why did he drop out of the music scene for years? Why did he decide to “un-retire” and begin performing with the Steeltown Horns? Where does he find inspiration for songwriting? What are some reasons that he remains positive about McKeesport and what gives him hope? What advice would he have for young people who want to pursue music or art?

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Topic: The Importance of Understanding Recent History

Guest: Brian Butko, director of publications, Sen. John Heinz Regional History Center

How Topic Discussed: Brian Butko studies commercial architecture and the history of 20th Century America. Why is learning about recent history just as important as studying the distant great periods of the past? How has he explored Western Pennsylvania history and culture through his books on topics such as Isaly’s, Kennywood, and the Lincoln Highway? Why did he and co-author Sue Morris write a book about Bettis Airport? What was the significance of the airport in the development of commercial air travel in the early 20th Century? How did commercial aviation grow and evolve from its early days?

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Topic: Preserving regional history, one artifact at a time

Guest: Tim Kunes, executive director, McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center

How Topic Discussed: What is the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, and where is it located? How has its mission evolved over the years? What can people see if they visit the center? What sorts of artifacts are on display, and what stories do they tell? What kinds of help does the center need? How does preserving local history help educate future generations? What stories do we expect people to be preserving 30 years from now? Recorded on location at McKeesport’s 66th International Village on Aug. 19, 2026

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Topic: Providing “Another Shoulder” for People Suffering from Cancer

Guest: Larry Bridges, founder of McKeesport-based Another Shoulder

How Topic Discussed: Larry Bridges survived a bout of spinal cancer and emerged with a conviction to make life better for the people around him. How did the experience change and shape his outlook? Why did he found Another Shoulder? How many cancer survivor bells has the non-profit placed around the country? What other activities have he and his wife volunteered to do? How can the public help Another Shoulder? What does he hope the organization’s legacy will be?

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Topic: Understanding American (and Pittsburgh) History By Looking at Public Transit

Guest: Jake Berman, author of “The Lost Subways of North America” (University of Chicago Press)

How Topic Discussed: Many Americans wonder why their cities don’t have the extensive light-rail or mass-transit systems of places like New York City or Chicago. What was public transit like at the beginning of the 20th century? Why did trolley systems fade away in places like Pittsburgh and Greensburg? Was there a conspiracy by oil companies and automobile companies to kill trolley and streetcar systems? Were trolley systems has popular as we now think? What role did race relations play in the design of transit systems? What are some ways that Pittsburgh Regional Transit is doing things right by combining light-rail with busways?

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Topic: What should McKeesport residents expect from their new mayor?

Guest: Mayor Tommy Maglicco

How Topic Discussed: Tom Maglicco was appointed McKeesport’s mayor by city council in March 2026 and will serve until December 2027. He is likely to face a primary challenger in May 2027 when he runs for a full term. What are his priorities as mayor of McKeesport? How will he measure success? How does he expect to make his case to the voters to elect him for a four-year term? What are some upcoming events that he’s looking forward to?

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Topic: Becoming the new mayor of the Mon Valley’s largest city

Guest: McKeesport Mayor Tommy Maglicco

How Topic Discussed: McKeesport is an economically disadvantaged city, but still an important one in Allegheny County and a bellwether for much of the Mon Valley region. Tommy Maglicco was appointed mayor by city council after the previous mayor retired. He will be running for a full term in 2027. What does he hope to accomplish during his first year in office? How did growing up in McKeesport shape his outlook? What has changed since he was a kid? What leadership lessons did he learn from serving in the Army? How is he bringing those lessons to his new job? (Part 1 of 2)

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Topic: Helping communities mediate social problems and non-violent disputes

Guest: Jon Chillinsky, director of Allegheny County’s Alternative Response program, the “A-Team”

How Topic Discussed: McKeesport has joined a growing list of municipalities that dispatch a team of mental-health professionals, instead of police, to mediate non-violent disputes. When was the A-Team created? How is it funded? Why does it call itself a “fourth branch” of response, alongside police, fire and emergency medical services? How does it resolve problems without using police resources? Where have similar models succeeded? What types of calls can the A-Team handle? How many calls can it handle per week and what are some typical kinds of calls?

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Topic: Why it’s important to get rid of those hard-to-recycle items safely

Guest: Trevor Freyvogel, collection events manager, Pennsylvania Resources Council

How Topic Discussed: What are the dangers of tossing old cell phones, computers, tires, chemicals and other potentially toxic material into the household trash? Why is it against the law? What makes those items hazardous to both the environment and people who collect trash? If you can’t throw them away, how can you get rid of them? How does Pennsylvania Resources Council help homeowners safely dispose of these items? How can they help people who are elderly, disabled or without transportation, and who can’t get to a public event?

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Topic: The importance of sports and recreation to an urban community

Guest: Troy Blackwell, recreation director and special events coordinator, City of McKeesport

How Topic Discussed: Troy Blackwell is a graduate of McKeesport Area High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga who went onto a successful career playing arena football before returning to his hometown. Why did he come back to McKeesport? What were some lessons about hard work and sportsmanship he learned from his parents? What is the importance of a strong recreation program in helping young adults become more mature? How can sports, recreation and other group activities help young people to become socialized and provide “third spaces” for them to gather and interact?