Allegheny Animals with Attitude art project creates fake sports teams from local wildlife
Pittsburgh boasts an impressive array of urban fauna. In addition to the usual raccoons and squirrels, on any given day, you can expect to see deer grazing in the Allegheny Cemetery, wild turkeys roaming the streets, or groundhogs skittering through city parks. There was even a black bear roaming through Highland Park last year. Now…
Sen. Mastriano and former state rep. Saccone among Trump supporters who occupied U.S. Capitol
In March 2018, former state Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Elizabeth) lost a special election to Conor Lamb (D-Mt. Lebanon) in a district that President Donald Trump won in 2016 by about 20 points. It was one of the biggest upsets in the Trump-era, and some Republicans blamed Saccone for a weak campaign that allowed an insurgent…
U.S. Rep Mike Doyle blames Trump for occupation of the Capitol, calls it an “insurrection”
On Wed., Jan. 6, the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. was stormed by hundreds of Trump supporters who pushed back and struck local police, broke windows, and occupied the offices and chambers. Reports indicate that a firearm went off in the Capitol, a person was hit, and that at least one improvised explosive device was…
Pa. GOP lawmakers remove Fetterman from senate and refuse to seat Sen. Brewster in same session
What was supposed to be a routine and ceremonial meeting of the Pennsylvania state Senate devolved into chaos on Tuesday, as Republican lawmakers moved to block one Democrat from being sworn in to his seat, and ousted another from his position as their presiding officer. The floor of the Senate chamber was engulfed in shouting…
Pittsburgh chosen as Reforestation Hub to increase its urban tree cover
Pittsburgh will work towards recovering some of its lost tree canopy with a new initiative through Cambium Carbon and the Arbor Day Foundation. In between 2011 and 2015, the city lost about 6% of its tree cover. Before losing tree canopy, Pittsburgh had one of the top percentages of urban tree cover of any city…
New January releases from Bilal Abbey, Sam Stucky, and Lindsay Dragan
Bilal Abbey Mellowhead On his new album Mellowhead, released Jan. 1, hip-hop artist Bilal Abbey lives up to the project’s name. The album has a chill, easy sound, but the lyrics can still pack a punch. As a bonus, two tracks feature local artist Clara Kent. Sam Stucky Joelle, Fri., Jan. 8 Listeners first got…
New “Yinz Coffee” shop set to take over former Crazy Mocha in North Side
Coffee is coming back to Federal Street in the North Side. After long-standing, local coffee chain Crazy Mocha filed for bankruptcy late last year, the chain’s location on Federal Street closed down. It had been one of just a handful of Crazy Mochas to actually remain open through the pandemic. But now, thanks to the…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/5/21
Video Archive Georgia is on everyone’s mind today. It’s runoff election day. Lynn and Susan are discussing how we must just wait and see. Chances are we won’t know anything right away. They are also talking about the latest George Will column in the Washington Post on the state of the Republican Party. The letter…
Black Forge Coffee launches Save our Stages coffee to support independent music venues
Pittsburghers can now support independent music venues with coffee, thanks to the latest blend from Black Forge Coffee House. For each bag of Save our Stages coffee purchased, Black Forge will donate 20% of the sale to a local music venue or the Venue Emergency Relief Fund created by the National Independent Venue Associations. Black…
After two explosions in Pittsburgh, police searching for vehicle allegedly involved
Around 9 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 3, an explosion went off under a parked car on Penn Avenue in Lower Lawrenceville. According to Pittsburgh Police, no one was injured, and a loud bang was reported. About 90 minutes later, a second explosion was heard and reported near Dinwiddie Street in the Hill District. No one…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/4/21
Video Archive We’ve made it to 2021. That doesn’t mean that everything is better however. An article in The Atlantic on the sedition caucus is a sobering read. Lynn is blown away by how many members of the GOP are backing this movement. Then there is the tape of Trump actively trying to pressure Georgia’s…
Eight of Pa.’s nine GOP House members say they will oppose certification of state’s electors
Eight of Pennsylvania’s nine Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have released a joint statement saying they will oppose the certification of Pennsylvania’s electors when Congress meets to count electoral votes on Jan. 6. The lawmakers, U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne), Scott Perry (R-York), Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster), Fred Keller (R-Snyder), John Joyce (R-Altoona),…
2020: Pittsburgh’s Year in Photos
Visual record keeping. That’s my job in a nutshell. And 2020 was the most imperative year to be a trustful source for it. Something I most certainly don’t take for granted. As I rang in the new year with my girlfriend, I wore her Christmas gift to me: a t-shirt that reads “America needs journalists,” and…
Pennsylvania, and the rest of the country, behind expected pace to distribute COVID-19 vaccine
According to an analysis by Bloomberg, Pennsylvania has only distributed 365,525 COVID-19 vaccinations as of Mon., Dec. 28. That is 19.9% of the state’s current allocation, which is just above the total distribution average pace of the entire U.S. (19.3%). But both the Pennsylvania pace and the national pace of distributing the vaccine are far…
Gov. Wolf says current Pennsylvania COVID restrictions will end on Jan. 4 as planned
Today, Dec. 30, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania will end its current coronavirus business and gathering restrictions on Mon., Jan. 4, 2021. The current restrictions — which prohibited indoor dining at restaurants, on-site alcohol consumption at bars, and limited large gatherings — went into effect on Dec. 12 and were planned to end on…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/30/20
Video Archive Back by popular demand – Sally Wiggin! Lynn and Sally are trying to close out 2020 on a positive note. It’s always an interesting, and eclectic show when these two are together. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: Dec. 31-Jan. 6
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The mathematically oriented website WaitButWhy.com says that the odds of winning a mega lottery can be compared to this scenario: You know that a certain hedgehog will sneeze just one time in the next six years, and you place a big bet that this sneeze will take place at exactly the…
Pittsburgh “Lesbian Correspondent” blogger Sue Kerr honored on 15th anniversary with city proclamation
In December 2005, Sue Kerr became one of the most well-known lesbians in Pittsburgh when she launched a blog that began documenting the city’s LGBTQ community. Fifteen years later, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Pittsburgh City Council have proclaimed Tue., Dec. 29 “Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents Day” in honor of the blog’s momentous anniversary. “The Pittsburgh…
State Rep. Sara Innamorato talks post-election goals and strategy; stresses importance of building trust with community
State Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Lawrenceville) became a politician because she wanted to be a force of good. First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ 21st Congressional District in 2018, the 34-year-old Democrat has been serving nearly 60,000 residents in Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas with a progressive platform including health care for all, women’s…
Pittsburgh-area reps. Mike Kelly and Guy Reschenthaler vote against $2,000 checks for Americans
On Mon., Dec. 28, the U.S. House passed a standalone bill that would add $1,400 to the checks that are to be sent out to every American as an economic stimulus in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Congress passed an omnibus bill that provides economic relief across many sectors, which included $600…
New Year’s events with Hot Mass and Mostbeautifullest offer two days of dance music, performances, and more
Feeling down about staying home on New Year’s Eve? Nothing to do on New Year’s Day? Two local groups, Hot Mass and MostBeautifullest, have created online events full of music, visual arts, and other fun content to help you kick off 2021, while still staying safe during the pandemic. On Thu., Dec. 31, Hot Mass,…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/29/20
Video Archive A court case from Pennsylvania that might be heading to the Supreme Court is where Lynn and Susan are starting off. A student was disciplined in school after making a Snapchat post expressing her upset over not making the cheerleading team. On a lighter topic, Lynn is sharing some science news she found…
Where to recycle your Christmas tree in Pittsburgh
Tis the season for getting rid of your Christmas tree before the floor becomes covered in pine needles, or you become those people who accidentally still have their tree up in February. This year, both Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh are offering Christmas tree recycling, which allows the trees to repurposed into mulch,…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/28/20
Video Archive As we approach the end of 2020, Lynn is thinking back to what a year it has been. Dave Barry’s Year in Review has reminded her of many things that we’ve dealt with, and have already forgotten. She is also discussing the CDC’s newest Covid-19 predictions, the $900 billion stimulus package, Trump’s pardons,…
1Hood Power Hour moderator Miracle Jones on what current political parties are lacking; plans to expand show past election
During the past several months of the pandemic, local artist and activist coalition 1Hood Power has been hosting what they call “Power Hours”: in-depth conversations with political and social leaders about the current climate in Pittsburgh and beyond. Miracle Jones, 1Hood’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, has been a key player and moderator during these…
EQT Children’s Theater Festival @ Home extended through January with performances, workshops, and more
Parents looking for ways to entertain their kids during winter break and beyond now have an outlet with the extension of the EQT Children’s Theater Festival @ Home. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust recently announced that a virtual version of EQT Children’s Theater Festival will now run through Jan. 31, 2021 to “give families another chance…
14 Pittsburgh musicians’ virtual recording of “I’ll be home for Christmas” is a holiday gift to city
Pittsburgh musician Nathan Zoob, member of popular local band Wreck Loose, came up with the idea to crowdsource a holiday song with fellow local musicians just two days ago. Now, just in time for Christmas Eve, he’s released the heartwarming cover of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” recorded with 14 Pittsburgh musicians in honor of…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/23/20
Video Archive Robert Bianco, retired USA Today TV Critic, is Lynn’s special guest today. He’s talking about his trajectory from lawyer to local restaurant critic to national TV critic, and much more. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
People of the Year
Just over a week before Christmas, after months on the frontlines caring for people during the pandemic, five Pittsburgh hospital workers became the first recipients in the city, and among the first in the nation, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In a city that ranks among the top for health care jobs in the country,…
Takeout Review: A meatball from LeoGreta
Before last year, I never concerned myself with meatballs. They always seemed to be more of a nuisance than anything, standing in the way of my pasta and cheese. And then, last January, I had the meatball at LeoGreta for the first time. My advice to diners then was, “whatever you do, order the meatball”;…
A COVID Holiday Love Story
In a world full of doubts and uncertainty, there is one sentence that kept replaying in my head. “I have no doubts about you,” he said. The “he” is the man I met on OKCupid. I. You. Does it, could it, equal “we”? In real life, not just multiple text messages and video calls. “Like…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Literature
In March, local author Deesha Philyaw moderated a visit by civil rights activist Tarana Burke at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, right before the pandemic closed everything down. Just one month before that, she was celebrating the official book release of TENDER, an anthology she published with local poet and artist vanessa german,…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Activism
Where wasn’t 1Hood this year? The activist organization had a presence at dozens of Black Lives Matter protests throughout Pittsburgh, and served as an ally for other burgeoning activists. 1Hood also accomplished an extensive Get Out The Vote effort for the 2020 election cycle, using live forums on social media and events near satellite voting…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Business
During the continued reckoning against racist police violence this summer, something else started to happen. Anger spread further, and racism in businesses, publications, and other arenas was also called out. There were also calls to support more Black businesses, which is partially what inspired college student Kyley Coleman in May to create the Instagram account…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Food and Drink
“Pivot” has been the word of the year for the food industry, and Don Mahaney of Scratch & Co. has championed it, serving his community with every step. In March, Mahaney responded to the needs of neighbors by converting his Troy Hill eatery in Pittsburgh’s North Side to a grocery stocked with hard-to-find goods, toiletries,…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Health
It’s hard now to recall the period of the pandemic when most people didn’t have facemasks on hand, and many were scrambling to make sure doctors, frontline workers, and everyone else had adequate protection from the virus. Operation Face Mask was formed in April as a group of volunteers, led by professional tailor Jenn Gooch,…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Music
As venues shut down across the city during one of the most difficult years in recent memory, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra found a way to shine, coming up with creative ways to bring music into people’s homes. Soon after the stay-at-home order began in spring, the PSO began posting intimate daily videos, self-produced by its…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Labor
Alexis Johnson basically became a one-woman labor movement throughout 2020. When her union at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlighted how the paper banned the local journalist from covering the Black Lives Matter protest movement after she sent out a satirical tweet, Johnson took up the mantle and ran with it. She became a spokesperson for anti-racism…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Politics
Recognition for State Rep. Ed Gainey is long overdue. He has been a consistent fighter for workers, for his community, for public transit, for anti-racist efforts, for criminal justice reform, for just about every issue progressives hold dear. And he does it without hogging the spotlight. Take, for example, an amendment Gainey advocated for this…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Theater
When the pandemic hit earlier this year, City Theatre had to cancel, postpone, or move performances completely online. The immediate future for local theater was unknown. City Theatre’s annual fundraiser, originally scheduled for September, was also sidelined. But the South Side theater company came up with an inventive live experience this fall that brought joy…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Visual Arts
Since opening in 2014, BOOM Concepts has seen its fair share of adversity, from being one of the few Black-owned and run spaces in a historically racist city, to surviving the problematic Penn Avenue reconstruction project that impacted many businesses and arts venues in Garfield. It’s no surprise, then, that BOOM co-founders DS Kinsel and…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: Dec. 24-30
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The birds known as red knots breed every year in the Arctic regions. Then they fly south — way south — down to the southern edge of South America, more than 9,000 miles away. A few months later, they make the return trip to the far north. In 1995, ornithologists managed…
