City Cast Pittsburgh
Join us weekdays at 6 a.m. for a fast-paced daily news podcast that will get you talking — and make you question what’s going here in Western Pennsylvania. In just 15 minutes a day, City Cast Pittsburgh is a smart new way to connect with the Steel City you love. Add us to your feeds today!
Episodes
April 29, 2024 • 20 mins
Beaver County’s Shell cracker makes nurdles — those lentil-sized pellets that become our plastics — but the glowing, riverfront facility is just the part we can see. There’s a 97-mile underground pipeline that delivers its raw materials, and state investigators say its construction led to thousands of gallons of hazardous drilling mud spills in all three Pennsylvania counties it passes through. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier ex...
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April 26, 2024 • 26 mins
It’s the Friday news roundup, election edition! City Cast contributor Natalie Bencivenga joins host Megan Harris to talk about the winners and losers, what a few of those victories may tell us about what’s coming in November, and why we should be paying attention to all those write-ins, even if we never get a full or complete accounting of everything they said.
We always cite our sources:
Allegheny County election results
Spotli...
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April 25, 2024 • 23 mins
Starting a new independent community grocery is tough business, but Manchester’s own Lisa Freeman felt it was a calling. She’s been farming a little lot on Juniata Street since 2014, and is almost to her goal of opening up shop in June. We’re catching up on her vision for the neighborhood, plus getting a taste of what’s new and delicious in the East End, on the South Side, and even along our dreaded McKnightmare.
We want to know: ...
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April 24, 2024 • 23 mins
If you want to go camping, where should you start? We’re back with Marcus Shoffner, founder of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, talking about favorite destinations in and around the city, his tips and tricks for a good experience, ways to borrow and learn how to use the right gear, and other low-stress ideas to get you started. Plus, an update on the overnight camping pilot he started in Riverview Park!
Want to hear more about incl...
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April 23, 2024 • 19 mins
A proposed TikTok ban just cleared the House, and Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering their own statewide restrictions on the video app. We’re wondering what a ban could mean for Governor Josh Shapiro, a “prolific poster” with a few viral TikToks under his belt. Producer Sophia Lo joins host Megan Harris to break down the latest legislation and scroll through the governor’s posts. Plus, a professional TikToker analyzes Shapiro’s...
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April 22, 2024 • 32 mins
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato just marked one hundred days in office – and released a massive, 91-point plan for the county in the coming years. She joins us to talk about her main priorities, from affordable housing to a green economy. We also discuss the school district’s lawsuit against her office seeking a countywide property reassessment, and what she’s watching for in tomorrow’s primary election.
You can read Inn...
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April 19, 2024 • 30 mins
It’s the Friday news roundup! We’re sharing a bunch of fun ways to beautify our natural spaces for Earth Day this weekend. After successfully deflecting Amazon, the former home of Westinghouse Electric is up for auction in Churchill, and the U.S. Coast Guard says we found the missing barge! Plus, host Megan Harris is sharing her joy for President Biden's Sheetz order and the soon-to-be-built, new and improved Davis Avenue Bridge.
...
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April 18, 2024 • 22 mins
Pennsylvania is the No. 1 cultivator of mushrooms in the country, but you can also find all sorts of fungi foraging in the woods. Spring and summer are a great time to look for mushrooms, and Esperanzo Wilcox, founder of the PA Mushroom Company, is here to share his tips for finding and identifying a few more coveted edible delicacies.
Check out our website to see pictures of Espo’s favorite mushrooms, plus more resources for begin...
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April 17, 2024 • 15 mins
With the weather warming, crossing a bridge doesn’t feel quite so impossible. So if you want to go out and party this weekend, where should you go? Pittsburgh has options — Spirit, Belvedere’s, Cavo, and Club VIP — but the ‘Burgh used to have way more nightclubs that catered to a wider diversity of party-goers. We’re with City Paper’s Colin Williams about what happened to Pittsburgh’s nightlife scene.
**This episode originally pub...
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April 16, 2024 • 23 mins
It’s a Presidential election year, and there are a bunch of state and local elections to watch for, too. But before November, we need to get through the primary on April 23! City Cast’s Megan Harris & Mallory Falk are talking through a few key races, plus what’s at stake next week.
Check your polling place here, and learn more about the candidates via our Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. Take Spotlight PA’s candidate quiz, and watch WPX...
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April 15, 2024 • 17 mins
There’s a difference between spaces that allow our best pals and the ones that are truly dog friendly. Pet expert Tori Mistick of WearWagRepeat is with us to share her favorite local spots for a paw-fect Pittsburgh day — plus how to pack ahead, what to consider about temperament and environment, and the quick rules for her newly christened four-paw rating system.
**This episode originally published on August 1, 2023.
Learn more abo...
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April 12, 2024 • 32 mins
It’s the Friday news roundup! Pittsburgh Public Schools is suing Allegheny County to try and force a countywide property reassessment, and we’re breaking down why. The city’s expanding its deer management program, so look out for a call for more archers. Plus, the team’s talking about all the effort that goes into flood clean-up and sharing a couple ways to celebrate 412 Day.
Have any questions about property reassessments? Let us ...
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April 11, 2024 • 21 mins
Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Pennsylvania, but you gotta eat, right? To mark 420, the City Cast Pittsburgh team has recommendations for places someone under the influence might get a tasty sip, snack, or full-blown comfort meal with their good vibes still intact.
Need even more recommendations for munchies? Check out last year’s 420 episode, and if you need help navigating The Open Road, listen to our interview with o...
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April 10, 2024 • 17 mins
Will construction ruin your commute? PennDOT recently announced new projects in the Pittsburgh area, and the City Cast Pittsburgh team is breaking down what improvements are coming to our roads and bridges. Plus, we’ve got updates on how to get around now that the Mon Incline is closed – again.
We always cite our sources:
PennDOT listed what construction projects are coming up and what projects are wrapping up in the Pittsburgh r...
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April 9, 2024 • 16 mins
Kennywood opens for the season on April 20th. To celebrate, we’re revisiting highlights from our conversation with local historian Mark Houser ahead of the amusement park’s 125th birthday last year. Hear how Kenny’s Grove became our beloved Kennywood, how its stewards tow the line between preservation and modernization, and which rides helped usher in a new wave in amusement park shenanigans.
Special thanks Pittsburgh Magazine for ...
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April 8, 2024 • 21 mins
We’re heading into peak real estate season at a time when interest rates are really high – so what does that mean for homebuyers in Pittsburgh? Local real estate broker Jessica Baker joins us to share tips for buyers and sellers and talk about which pockets of the city are still somewhat affordable. Plus, host Megan Harris puts Jessica to the test and sees how she would describe some zanier home features…as seen on Zillow.
Check ou...
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April 5, 2024 • 28 mins
It’s the Friday news roundup! City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit joins the team to talk about how AI is changing the local real estate market – and what it was like to take a virtual reality tour of an iconic Pittsburgh mansion. We also discuss shifting norms around funerals and burials as the Pittsburgh region becomes less religious, and the city’s latest push to hire enough lifeguards to open our pools this summer.
We always cit...
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April 4, 2024 • 19 mins
It is Producer Sophia Lo’s birthday! To celebrate, we’re rounding up some of the best birthday freebies and discounts in Pittsburgh, from sweet treats to full meals.
Have a favorite local freebie that we didn’t mention? Let us know, and your answer might be featured on the show! Call or text us at 412-212-8893.
Learn more about our sponsor, Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh-Oakland, and their upcoming Comedy Showcase in the Jones & Laughlin ...
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April 3, 2024 • 15 mins
It’s the case of the missing bobbleheads: thousands of miniature Jaromir Jagrs were stolen last month! How does that even happen? With the help of our friend Rob Rossi, senior writer at The Athletic, we’re breaking down the heist that got the attention of Pittsburgh Penguins fans…and even the FBI!
Check out Rossi’s play-by-play in the Athletic and find out how you can claim your bobblehead if you received a voucher.
Learn more abo...
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April 2, 2024 • 20 mins
Have businesses actually stopped giving out plastic bags since a citywide ban went into effect? A new report from PennEnvironment provides a first look at compliance rates. Plus, a new documentary looks at the Black birthing experience in Pittsburgh – at the same time the state is expanding access to doulas. And it turns out our city has a high percentage of pranksters (at least according to one study).
We always cite our sources:
...
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