Pittsburgh agencies intend to rehabilitate townhomes in the Hill District as part of a federally-funded effort to rebuild public housing in the Bedford Dwellings area, and to turn some residents into first-time homeowners. Last year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] awarded $50 million through the Choice...

Candidates in a pivotal Pa. Senate district traded accusations over abortion and healthcare for transgender people, each stretching the facts. The post Spot Check: Abortion ban ad, and counterpunch on gender-affirming care, loose with facts appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Our yard has come a long way, hosting an expanding array of native species and sporting four little pawpaw trees and two larger ones. Finally — enter the real star of this story — the pawpaw and its close relatives serve as the only larval host for a species not seen in Pittsburgh for nearly a century. The post When zebras fly: How my backyard flora project helped bring a long-gone species back to Pittsburgh appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

This story was originally published by NEXTpittsburgh, a news partner of PublicSource. NEXTpittsburgh features the people, projects and places advancing the region and the innovative and cool things happening here. Sign up to get their free newsletter. The zebra swallowtail butterfly is stunning, with long, sword-like tails, black-and-white stripes, and...

“Increased fees are essential to ensure ACHD can hire and maintain staff members with expertise in the federal Clean Air Act," said Lisa Graves-Marcucci. The post Allegheny County moves to hike air program fees appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

This story was originally published by The Conversation. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump are in a tight race for the White House. Every voting bloc will count — including members of labor unions and other people in their households. The majority of union leaders...

Allegheny County Council voted Tuesday to approve a settlement in the lawsuit it filed against the county executive last year over the privatization of the county’s juvenile detention center.  Council approved the settlement by a 13-1 vote, with one abstention. At-large Councilor Bethany Hallam, a Democrat, was the lone no vote. Council claimed in the […] The post Update: Allegheny County Council approves settlement of dispute over Shuman Center appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

As soon as Allegheny County announced in September 2023 that it would be reopening Shuman Juvenile Detention Center through a contract with an independent non-profit, proponents and critics alike reopened a 180-year-old conversation about local juvenile incarceration. The post Shuman reopening continues two-century child incarceration debate in Allegheny County appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

A lawsuit seeks to compel the Pittsburgh-based gas firm to provide clean water to the Greene County hamlet after a 2022 fracking mishap and widespread reports of contaminated water. The post New Freeport residents in court demanding clean water from EQT appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Consultants to Pittsburgh Public Schools proposed closing Manchester K-8 and housing a CAPA middle school in the building. What does that mean for the Manchester community? The post Proposed Manchester closure roils some families amid PPS shakeup appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

A new board will regularly receive data from new Shuman Juvenile Detention Center operator Adelphoi Western Region about staffing, health care, “reportable incidents” and other crucial indicators of the facility’s safety and operations. The post Settlement: New board will oversee privatized Shuman operation appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

The PublicSource team has already been hard at work, fighting misinformation and offering in-depth, fact-checked information. As the election nears, we’re stepping it up. The post Here’s why our election coverage matters appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

“The United Steelworkers were elected to represent you as their union,” wrote Eos CEO Joe Mastrangelo in an email to workers late Thursday. “The company will fully support your choice. We look forward to partnering with USW to help our company achieve its full potential.” The post Update: Eos Energy workers elect to join Steelworkers appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

The administration looks to expand citywide inclusionary zoning, a mechanism in place in some neighborhoods that forces developers to set aside 10% of total units for households making no more than 50% of the area median income. The post Pittsburgh zoning, development rules would see big changes in Gainey bid for affordable housing appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

In 2022, Allegheny produced nearly $119 billion in current-dollar total gross domestic product [GDP], representing an 11% increase from 2019, when the county’s GDP stood at $107 billion. The nation’s GDP in 2019 was $21.5 trillion, which increased to $25.7 trillion by 2022, far outpacing Pittsburgh’s growth. The post On prices, production and employment, campaigns offer wildly different takes. Here are the facts for the Pittsburgh area. appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

This election season, WESA and PublicSource are analyzing the political advertising you’re seeing on air and online. Look for Spot Check on Thursdays. The 30-second “Salary” is the first negative ad of the closely watched race in Pennsylvania’s 45th Senate District. (The seat, which encompasses eastern and southern suburbs via the Mon Valley, is being vacated by retiring Democrat Jim Brewster and is considered a key battleground this fall.) The ad contrasts the background of first-time Republican candidate Jen Dintini with that of two-term House member Nick Pisciottano, the Democrat. In doing so, it reprises a familiar charge long made against incumbents in Harrisburg: that they are overpaid and take generous expense reimbursements in addition to their salaries.

Union supporters say they are organizing for greater workplace stability and protections and a say in how green manufacturing is built in the Mon Valley. Eos Energy has said it is “pro-union,” but three union organizers were terminated earlier this year, each with pending cases before the National Labor Relations Board. The post Green collar workers organize for a union at Turtle Creek battery plant appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

The death of Courtney Carter while cycling in Homewood brought out neighborhood residents and bike advocates, who echoed longstanding calls for safer streets. The post The Glimpse: After 9-year-old’s death, Homewood grieves and cyclists join neighborhood’s call for safety measures  appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

The use of artificial intelligence platforms is severely limited under a policy the City of Pittsburgh released to PublicSource in response to a Right-to-Know Law request. Drafted in October and updated in February, the city’s policy on the use of generative AI — computer systems that create new content — bars city staff from including private city data in interactions with tools like ChatGPT and Bing Chat.

HARRISBURG — The state Supreme Court often has the final say on major policy decisions that affect virtually every Pennsylvanian, from no-excuse mail voting to the commonwealth’s congressional map. However, the seven justices have few hard deadlines and can take years to render their opinions on critical issues.