Runaway Pelicans, Aging Ambulances & Waterproof Warhol Art

It's been a big week for Pittsburgh: two local innovations landed on Time Magazine's Best Invention list and a pair of animals made a dramatic escape from their enclosure. Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk discuss whether we have more animal breakouts than the average city. Plus, we've finally ordered new ambulances, fire trucks, and other critical city vehicles (meaning, soon we won't need to worry about ambulances breaking down on the way to the hospital!). Megan called up Jon Atkinson, president of the Pittsburgh Paramedics Union, to talk about what this means for his team — and for Pittsburghers experiencing medical emergencies. Finally, we share some Neighbor shoutouts and personal recommendations for bookstores, bird strolls, and waterproof Warhol art.

Interested in the bird outing we discussed on today's show? Sign up here!

Notes and references from today’s show:

• The Best Inventions of 2026 [Time Magazine]
• Nonprofit support of Pittsburgh’s vehicle fleet may mean 2027 savings, officials say [WESA]

October 22nd, 2026 2:00am

Could Ozempic Treat Addiction? Plus, Cryptid Hunting & Poll Worker Tips

Could GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy help people struggling with addiction? Pittsburgh is about to find out. A new $13.3 million study in Allegheny County will explore whether these medications can reduce cravings for alcohol and opioids. Executive producer Mallory Falk and creative producer Marla Kauffman discuss the promise of these drugs, why Allegheny County was chosen for the study, and the questions researchers still need to answer. Plus, creative producer Boen Wang shares what it’s like to work the polls on Election Day. And we’ve got some spooky (and not-so-spooky) events to check out this week. 

Notes and references from today’s show:

• 'I Voted' Sticker Contest [Allegheny County]
• Can GLP-1s trim more than weight? Effect on drug use, crime to be studied in Pittsburgh. [Public Source]
• Allegheny County to test Ozempic, similar drugs on opioid and alcohol addiction treatment [TribLive]
• Better Government Through Data: Using the Allegheny County Human Services Data Warehouse to Design More Effective Results [Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation: Harvard University]
• Shapiro admin touts Carlow University’s addiction-counseling program as workforce pipeline [WESA]
• Opioid Settlement Money [Spotlight PA]
• New website tracks how Pennsylvania's $2.2B in opioid settlement funds is being spent [Temple University]
• Prevention Point Pittsburgh
• The Autonomous Body Shop
• PODCAST: Shapiro vs. Garrity, a Mafia-Style Toilet Fundraiser & TBD on New Local Taxes [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• Become a Poll Worker [Allegheny County]

October 20th, 2026 2:00am

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Pittsburgh? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neighborhood sewer grate can be part of a much bigger solution.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing living in a city, and we might debate them on our upcoming call-in show. Email us or submit using this Google Form.

Mentioned on the show:

• SLC’s Adopt A Storm Drain map: https://www.slc.gov/utilities/adoptastormdrain/ 
• Ali’s past Your City Could Be Better episode on making a park census: https://yccbb.citycast.fm/podcasts/why-every-region-needs-a-park-map-tool-like-salt-lakes-plus-dry-heat-vs-humidity

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

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October 18th, 2026 2:00am

Our Favorite Pittsburgh Coffee Shops

Pittsburgh has no shortage of great coffee shops. Some are perfect for getting work done. Others are better for catching up with friends. And a few are practically begging you to take yourself on a little solo date. With Pittsburgh Coffee Week kicking off this Sunday, the City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our favorite spots for every occasion. Plus, we’re highlighting some of the events worth checking out during this year’s celebration of all things coffee.

October 15th, 2026 2:00am

Fall Color, Giant Pumpkins & Pittsburgh's Best Asian Groceries

Fall foliage is starting to pop around Pittsburgh. Host Megan Harris and contributor Sophia Lo share their favorite spots to soak up those autumn colors, including city parks and scenic road trips. Plus, Sophia shares their picks for some of the best Asian grocery stores in the region, from bustling markets in the Strip to smaller neighborhood gems. And if you’re looking to make plans, we’ve got some fun events to check out this week: giant pumpkin drops, spooky wildlife encounters, and a whole week dedicated to local coffee!

October 13th, 2026 2:00am

Shapiro vs. Garrity, a Mafia-Style Toilet Fundraiser & TBD on New Local Taxes

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officially announced their 2027 budgets and … wow our finances are not looking good. Host Megan Harris and contributor Colin Williams explain where that money’s coming from (including a potential sales tax increase and proposed property reassessments), where it’s going, and why it’s so hard to pay for everything right now. Plus, a look at what’s coming on your November midterm election ballot. Gov. Josh Shapiro and state treasurer Stacy Garrity’s recent debate about data centers, skill games, school choice, and more. And our musings on a local youth basketball team that’s running a Mafia-style Pittsburgh potty protection racket to raise funds.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• City leaders target breakdowns in oversight that some say helped lead to Pittsburgh’s looming financial crisis [Post-Gazette]

• County Executive Innamorato proposes millions in budget cuts as federal policies hit home [Post-Gazette]

• 5 things to know about Allegheny County’s preliminary budget [TribLive]

• Josh Shapiro, Stacy Garrity face off in Pennsylvania governor's debate [WPXI]

• The top takeaways from the only debate between Gov. Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity [Spotlight PA]

• Shapiro, Garrity spar in Pa.’s 1st gubernatorial debate in 8 years [TribLive]

• Judge deems Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional [WHYY]

• Union celebrates legal win as U.S. Supreme Court rejects Pittsburgh Post-Gazette appeal [WESA]

• This Western Pa. youth basketball team is trying to get flush with cash using a toilet [Post-Gazette]

October 9th, 2026 2:00am

What Pgh Restaurant Would Hold Your Wake? Plus, Measles & Mulan's Cookbook

It's official: an Allegheny County resident just tested positive for measles. It's part of Pennsylvania's ongoing (and worsening) measles outbreak, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and five measles-associated deaths statewide. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and creative producer Boen Wang discuss the latest updates, the continuing dispute between PA and the CDC over the number of measles deaths, and where to get vaccinated this fall. Plus, we share some of our City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbors' recommendations for restaurants to check out — including a spot to host your own wake — and some events we're excited for this week.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• Allegheny County Health Department Announces First Confirmed Allegheny County Resident Case of Measles [ACHD]
• Pa. health officials face multiple fronts as measles outbreak overlaps with respiratory virus season [WESA]
• PODCAST: Pittsburgh's Measles Risk, Explained [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• PODCAST: Measles, Go-Karts & Wylie's Opening Lineup [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• A Pa. coroner doubted a measles-linked death, sparking anti-vaccine outcry. Records show the state tried to reach him. [Philly Inquirer]
• Mom of infant exposed to measles at UPMC Children’s frustrated by hospital system response [TribLive]
• Pennsylvania Measles Cases Tracker [PA.gov]
• PODCAST: What Happened to Pgh’s Chinatown? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• Two Roads Through Two Chinatowns (written by Boen!) [Sunday Long Read]

October 7th, 2026 2:00am

Maple Miso Lattes, Artisanal Croissants & All-You-Can-Eat KBBQ

Korean BBQ, sushi, "artisanal" croissants, and other delectable delicacies are on offer from newly-opened (as well as expanding and reopening) restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and bars in the Pittsburgh region. Executive producer Mallory Falk and contributor Sophia Lo dish (haha) about all the latest eateries and drinkieries coming our way, and what we’re personally looking forward to checking out. We also hold remembrances for some dearly departed favorites (goodbye KLVN, we hardly knew ye). 

Notes and references from today’s show:

• Wok Hei to open in former Original Hot Dog Shop space in Oakland [TribLive]
• Pittsburgh’s latest restaurant openings are on a roll [NEXTpittsburgh]
• After 12 years as Mount Washington’s wing king, Les Murphy strikes out on his own in Millvale [Post-Gazette]
• Opa Fé Bakery [Instagram]
• Rockaway Pizza in Regent Square sets reopening date [TribLive]
• Nearly 2 years after a fire destroyed a beloved Carnegie pub, they're about to rebuild [KDKA]
• Dynamic Coffee Roasters replaces KLVN [Instagram]
• Pittsburgh restaurant news: Starbucks, Friendship Perk & Brew close, Delanie’s expands [TribLive]
• Bloomfield’s historic Pleasure Bar closes, property up for sale [TribLive]

October 5th, 2026 2:00am

CMU Miami, Bleak Budgets & Duquesne Light’s Strike

Carnegie Mellon University is opening a new campus in Miami, thanks to a $3 billion gift from hedge fund manager Ken Griffin. It's the largest single donation ever made to a U.S. university. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and contributor and City Paper Managing Editor Colin Williams discuss the school's Florida expansion (spring breaaaaaaak forever), Griffin’s status as a GOP megadonor, and why so many colleges are opening branch campuses in the Sunshine State. Plus, Mayor Corey O’Connor just released his proposed city budget — long story short, our finances are still looking pretty bleak —  paid parental leave is one step closer to reality in Allegheny County, and a long-lost candy bar gets resurrected just in time for Halloween. And in our members-only bonus segment, we take you on a tour of former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s truly massive virtual city in Minecraft.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• Carnegie Mellon University Announces Historic $3 Billion Gift from Ken Griffin, Pioneering a New Model for Higher Education [CMU]
• Carnegie Mellon to open Miami campus after multibillion-dollar gift from hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin [Post-Gazette]
• Hedge Fund Executive Gives $3 Billion to Carnegie Mellon in Largest-Ever Gift [New York Times]
• Billionaire investor Ken Griffin calls on Harvard to embrace ‘Western values’ [Reuters]
• Pittsburgh's Point Park University exploring potential partnership and location in Florida [KDKA]
• Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor proposes 2027 budget that raids reserves but avoids tax increase and layoffs [TribLive]
• Rec center roulette: Critical Pittsburgh facilities suffer from uneven funding [TribLive]
• Allegheny County’s paid parental leave approved by health board, moves to council [WESA]
• Long-forgotten Clark candy bar variation returns [TribLive]
• PODCAST: PA Candy Trivia! How Pennsylvania is Your Halloween Haul? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• Duquesne Light Company and union fail to reach agreement, strike begins [WTAE]

October 2nd, 2026 2:00am

Pittsburgh’s Best Fall Frights, From Terrifying To Totally Tame

How scared do you actually want to be this Halloween? Pittsburgh has plenty of options! Whether you want chainsaw-wielding killers chasing you through a haunted house or you’d rather stick to haunted history and mini golf, we’ve got something for you. Host Megan Harris and creative producer Marla Kauffman are rounding up the region’s best fall frights from the truly terrifying haunts — like Crawford School of Terror and Portals of Fear — to the not-so-scary return of ScareHouse, quirky Halloween events, and family-friendly fun. Plus, which haunted attraction has bars inside, where you can explore a creepy old mine, and why sometimes for a haunted house, the devil is truly in the details. 

Check out even more of our recs for haunted houses and Halloween fun, plus our mega-list of fall festivals, Oktoberfests, and autumn activities.

September 30th, 2026 2:00am

Create Your Own Pittsburgh Food Tour

Looking for your next fall getaway? What about a curated road trip with lots of tasty stops and local history? Our state's tourism site includes six official culinary trails with themes like maple, bread, and charcuterie. Food historian Mary Miller, the mastermind behind several of our state trails, joins host Megan Harris to share her inspiration and offer tips for designing your own food crawl, tour, or trail.

September 28th, 2026 2:00am

UPMC Yields to Trump, County Bans Big Data Centers & Goodbye Millennial Gray?

UPMC just placed a decade-long moratorium on gender-affirming care for patients under 19 and agreed to pay the federal government $950,000 as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice. Host Megan Harris is with City Cast contributors Sophia Lo and Colin Williams to talk about what comes next. Plus, we're debating whether Pittsburgh Paint Company's 2027 color of the year truly counts as a departure from Millennial Gray, discussing a new ban on large-scale data centers on county property, and bemoaning the influencer stunt that led the Star Wars vending machine on a cross-country journey. And in our members-only bonus segment, Colin shares what he learned about the future of journalism on a recent trip to Germany — and the successes that could be duplicated here in Pittsburgh.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• UPMC to pay DOJ nearly $1M, agrees to 10-year moratorium on gender-affirming care for trans youth [WESA]
• Under pressure from Trump, UPMC canceled a trans patient's scheduled top surgery [City Paper]
• Pittsburgh Paints' 2027 Color of the Year calls for homeowners to 'recalibrate' [WESA]
• Sophia's Color Swatches
• A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How PPG Paints Decides Its Color of the Year [Architectural Digest]
• Orange Era [n+1]
• Allegheny County Council unanimously bans large data centers on county property [TribLive]
• Pa. approves steep rate hikes for 2027 Pennie health insurance plans [TribLive]
• "Star Wars" vending machine visits Los Angeles [Axios Pittsburgh]

September 25th, 2026 2:00am

Pittsburgh’s Flock Camera Problem

Allegheny County the most Flock cameras and automated license plate readers in PA, according to crowdsourced data. Host Megan Harris is with Axios Pittsburgh's Ryan Deto to discuss how exactly these cameras work, why they're so controversial, and whether the state legislature could end up regulating or even outright banning them. Plus, they explain the difference between Flock cams and other tech used for parking tickets and toll violations.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• Allegheny County tops Pa. in Flock cameras [Axios Pittsburgh]
• The Growing Fight Over Flock Cameras [Axios Pittsburgh]
• Pittsburgh Parking Authority: “We don’t use Flock” [Axios Pittsburgh] 

September 23rd, 2026 2:00am

Paid Parental Leave Proposal Gets a Makeover

After weighing over 1,400 public comments — mostly from parents, health care workers, and small business owners — the county health department made some major edits to its paid parental leave proposal. That includes cutting the length from 18 weeks to 12 and exempting the county's smallest businesses. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and Public Source's Oliver Morrison discuss the changes, why this policy has been so much more divisive than the county's paid sick leave proposal, and what comes next. Plus, Oliver shares his takeaways after reading through every single public comment.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• Parents say paid leave would be a savior, but employers say costs could shut them down [PublicSource]
• Paid parental leave compromises emerge at Allegheny County health board meeting [Public Source]
• Paid Parental Leave Would Strengthen Allegheny County Families and Economy at Minimal Cost [Keystone Research Center Data]
• 1,400 paid parental leave comments show support, deep split, room for change [Public Source]
• Allegheny County’s paid parental leave proposal: 13 questions answered [Public Source]
• Innamorato’s paid parental leave push is personal, political and maybe a national precedent [Public Source]

September 21st, 2026 2:00am

Ripping Out Skill Games, Mandatory Fun & RIP Annie Dillard

Will state police start ripping skill games out of convenience stores, vape shops, and other spots? That's what could happen if lawmakers don't come up with a plan to regulate the machines by Oct. 13. Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk are joined by Public Source's Oliver Morrison to explain how we got here, what measures the state might consider, and the scale of gambling addiction in Pennsylvania. (Did you know we take in more gambling revenue than any state except Nevada?) Plus, we discuss the CDC's continued failure to count measles-related deaths in PA, a new rule requiring recess in K-5 schools, and the legacy of Pittsburgh-born, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard.

And in our members-only bonus segment, we're talking about another important restaurant group, the future of Penn Brewery — including conjectures about the mysterious new buyer — and sharing some of our favorite Pittsburgh meals.
**This episode contains a reference to suicide. If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts thoughts of suicide, you can always call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. There's help available 24 hours a day.

Notes and references from today’s show:

• Skill games are slot machines, must adhere to Pa.’s gambling law, state Supreme Court rules [Spotlight PA]
• ‘I’m not going to be alive tomorrow’: Is gambling addiction Pa.’s next public health crisis? [PennLive]
• How Pennsylvania Got Hooked on Games That Look a Lot Like Slot Machines [New York Times]
• Pennsylvania Gambling Addicts Hope That ‘Skill Games’ Will Go Bust [New York Times]
• Attorney General Sunday Responds to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Ruling ‘Skill Games’ Illegal [PA Office of Attorney General]
• PODCAST: Does Pgh Have a Gambling Problem? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• A Psychiatrist Tried to Quit Gambling. Betting Apps Kept Her Hooked. [The Wall Street Journal]
• How a sports gambling addiction devastated one Western Pa. family — and sparked a fight for change [Post-Gazette]
• House Democrats demand answers from CDC on Pennsylvania measles deaths [The Hill]
• Pennsylvania asks for CDC measles help amid Kennedy dispute [Reuters]
• Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro signs legislation guaranteeing 30 minutes of recess to elementary students [WHYY]
• Annie Dillard, Pittsburgh-born Pulitzer Prize-winning author, dies at 81 [Post-Gazette]

September 18th, 2026 2:00am