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

Topic: Economic Development in the Mon Valley, and the U.S. Steel Announcement

Guest: Robert Johnson, director, Mon-Yough Area Chamber of Commerce

How Topic Discussed: U.S. Steel has announced that investment in the Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock could be more than $2 billion. What would such an investment mean for manufacturing in the Mon Valley? What kind of spin-off economic impact would be generated? Why should residents feel confident that the investment will happen? What are some other signs of optimism about the economic climate in the Mon Valley? How will the Mon Valley Forward project impact the region?

Download

Download MP3

This week on “Two Rivers, 30 Minutes,” we talked to Mary Bockovich about services provided by Allies for Health & Wellbeing, a Pittsburgh non-profit that provides primary care, pharmacy services, behavioral health and other assistance, with a specialty in serving the LGBTQIA community.

Topic: Being a good “ally” during Pride Month

Guest: Mary Bockovich, chief executive officer, Allies for Health & Wellbeing

How Topic Discussed: What is Allies and how did it evolve from the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force? What is the range of services that Allies offers and how do they work together to form a continuum of care? Who are some of the people served by Allies? Why did they recently move into a new, larger location in East Liberty? How has the climate for the LGBTQ community in Greater Pittsburgh improved over the past 20 years? What are some ways the community can be a good “ally” to Allies?

Download

Topic: The meaning of Memorial Day and resources available for veterans

Guest: Donn Nemchick, volunteer with the Veterans Breakfast Club

How Topic Discussed: What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and how should residents try to remember Memorial Day? Why did many veterans have trouble talking about their experiences in war time? What is the importance of helping them tell their stories? What is the Veterans Breakfast Club, and how does it work to connect vets in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio? Who were the McKeesport 23 and what have local volunteers done to remember their stories? How can local veterans get involved and help other veterans?

Topic: The changing landscape of local news

Guest: Harold Hayes, retired KDKA-TV reporter

How Topic Was Covered: On April 13, retired KDKA TV reporter Harold Hayes spoke at Penn State Greater Allegheny campus in McKeesport about his three-decade-long career in journalism. Hayes helped kick off a new speaker series called “In Greater Context,” sponsored by Penn State and Tube City Community Media.

On April 26, we brought you part one of the conversation with Hayes. This week, it’s Part 2. This conversation has been edited to fit the time allotted. Hayes discusses covering the Ku Klux Klan, the difference between being a “journalist” and an “influencer,” and takes questions from audience members about pressures faced by journalists.

Retired video journalist Harold Hayes on his early days in the business and how his parents instilled a love of learning

Download MP3

Michael Chirichella, director of the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, on National Library Week

Download MP3

Dan McCarthy of Just Harvest on how organized crime skims millions of dollars of EBT benefits from needy families

Download MP3

Why has the fish fry tradition become so big in Pittsburgh … and what does it really mean for the Lenten season?

Download MP3

Students at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus talk about how they get their news

Download MP3

Rev. Dr. Kimberly Greway and Jen Huber of St. John's Lutheran Church, North Versailles Twp., on building a welcoming and inclusive congregation.

Download MP3