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City Cast Pittsburgh

Did you know a Pittsburgher founded Banned Books Week?

Born and raised in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood,  

, and in 1982, she started Banned Books Week as a time for librarians, teachers, and readers of all ages to celebrate “forbidden” titles and protect the public’s right to seek information and express themselves without barriers.

 of parents and stakeholders across the country have filed grievances with books representing LQBTQ+ themes and protagonists, as well as characters of color. 

PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans

 found that 75% of reported book bans in the last school year 

, mainly from advocacy groups, elected officials, or enacted legislation.

Luckily Pittsburgh and outlying communities have faced few challenges so far — but that could change.

Last year, Pennsylvania ranked third in the nation

 for book bans, with 457 challenges across 11 districts — many in Central Bucks County where our own Mallory Falk chronicled 

Legislators are weighing in, too. Lancaster Online shared a 

 to ban book bans at libraries and public schools and 

 that would require schools to notify parents about "sexually explicit content" in curriculums.

Banned Books Week runs this week through Saturday, Oct. 7 nationwide. If you’re fired up to fight for libraries and banned books, here’s how to participate in the ‘Burgh:

At the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s 

 branch, receive a complimentary copy of one of the library staff member’s favorite banned books.

The man who helped millennials fall in love with reading will be hosting 

 on his anti-censorship work in conversation with the Banned Books Week organization.

 with renowned authors, including Dave Eggers and Carmen Maria Machado, plus banned authors such as Maia Kobabe who wrote “Gender Queer,” and more.

Banned Books Week runs from Oct. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 7 nationwide. Here’s how to participate in Pittsburgh if you’re fired up to fight for libraries and banned books.

How to Observe Banned Books Week in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Explained

up to $7 billion to build six to 10 hydrogen hubs

 across the country — and Pennsylvania lawmakers want in.

 was on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast explaining 

. Here’s what we learned from that conversation:

Hydrogen is a clean alternative to natural gas.

 Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element, but it’s very scarce as a gas. More than 95% of hydrogen currently made in the U.S. is produced in a way that results in significant emissions.

But there's a better way. Clean hydrogen can be 

 like wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear. Hydrogen hubs would be regional clusters of facilities that would make the hydrogen, store it, and regulate its distribution. 

State lawmakers are excited about bringing billions of dollars to Pennsylvania — and with that money, 

, political clout, and short- and long-term jobs for locals. The Biden Administration sees these hubs as a way to reach global climate goals.

Some environmental advocates worry that without the right state regulations in place, these hydrogen hubs won’t be as environmentally friendly as they seem.

➕ For more on hydrogen hubs and what comes next, check out 

, and learn about the many colors in the hydrogen rainbow via 

her conversation with City Cast Pittsburgh

🎧 How clean is it, really?

Hydrogen Hubs and Why PA Wants Them

If a few of our state laws feel like they were written for another time, that’s because many of them were. While many aren’t enforced, they’re still code on the municipal level because the repeal process is time consuming and expensive. Reporter 

at City & State PA joined City Cast Pittsburgh to break down 

some of the weirdest rules still on the books

On our side of the state, it’s illegal to tie a horse to a parking meter or streetlight pole in Tarentum. Weirdly, it’s not illegal to tie a dog.

Reading cards and crystal balls, casting spells, and making potions — it’s all 

Whether it’s big or small, you can’t hunt and kill animals who are 

 You’re not allowed to send your dog after one either.

Fishers can’t use goldfish, comets, koi, or common carp as bait. It’s also illegal to fish with your bare hands.

No accidents allowed in Pennsylvania homes — your bedroom 

 more than 200 feet from your bathtub, shower, or toilet.

Sure, we have separation of church and state, but old laws were often made with Christian religions in mind. State blue laws or “Sunday Laws” stopped activities on the holy day. Laws prohibiting sports, musical, and theater performances before 1 p.m. on Sundays didn’t hold up. Can you imagine? In Pittsburgh?

🎧 See If You've Ever Broken These Laws

Weird Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Laws Still on the Books

Weird Pennsylvania Laws Still on the Books

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is beginning the first phase of construction on the 

 (or University Line). Changes will take effect Oct. 1. The University Line will cost $300 million and connect the city’s two largest business districts, Downtown and Oakland; the corridor serves around 30,000 people per day.

Of the eight buses that currently travel among Oakland, Uptown, and Downtown, half will be labeled “short” and turn around at Robinson Street and Fifth Avenue. Notices will also be posted at bus stops. The other four lines will continue the Downtown route, running every four minutes during peak hours.

Folks who pay cash will have to pay two fares, one for the first half and a second for their transfer bus. Laura Chu Wiens from Pittsburghers for Public Transit 

 it makes the whole system less accessible for older adults and people with disabilities.

 founder Alisa Grishman said: “I’m so frustrated. I built my life around access to these buses.” 🎧 She talked to me last year about 

what it’s like to navigate Pittsburgh in a wheelchair

Pittsburgh Regional Transportation will host a meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12 to explain upcoming service adjustments to the 61- and 71-series bus routes. 

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is beginning the first phase of construction on the bus rapid transit line (or University Line). Changes will take effect Oct. 1. 

Why Some Pittsburgh Bus Routes Are Changing

There’s a difference between spaces that 

 our best pals and the ones who are truly dog friendly. Pet expert Tori Mistick of 

 joined us on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast to share how to have the pawwwfect Pittsburgh day — plus the rules for her patented four-paw rating system.

Just like you would for a kid, bring a bag filled with necessities: water and a portable bowl, snacks, and toys. Check out 

. The North Side pet supply store carries healthy treats and even dog biscotti from 

Breweries are great for doggie dates, and we’re lucky to have so many in Pittsburgh. Mistick developed a 🐾four-paw rating system for what brew spots are best.

🐾 Your dog is allowed but has to be outside.

🐾🐾 You can order a beer while holding your dog’s leash.

🐾🐾🐾 There’s a place for your dog to sit that isn’t gravel.

🐾🐾🐾🐾 There’s a lot of open space for your dog to run around.

 in East Allegheny (they have dog treats behind the counter!). 

 in Millvale gets three paws because there are “sometimes more dogs than people.”

If you’re not a beer drinker, Mistick suggests checking out 

Mistick says it’s important to have manners if we want Pittsburgh to become more dog friendly because “one person can ruin it for everyone else.” This includes recognizing that some people don’t feel safe around dogs and keeping yours on a leash. “When I go out, I bring a towel or mat, and I’ve trained my dogs to go to their ‘place.’”

Take your pup’s needs into consideration too. “Get in tune with your dog,” Mistick says. “If they are barking or pulling, then they’re probably not having a great time, and it's time to go home.”

🎧 More Tips For A Perfect Pittsburgh Pup Day

Pet expert Tori Mistick of Wear Wag Repeat shares how to have the pawwwfect Pittsburgh day — plus the rules for her patented four-paw rating system.

How to have a dog-friendly day in Pittsburgh

How To Plan the Perfect Day With Your Pittsburgh Pup

A nurdle is a tiny plastic pellet — about the size of a lentil — that’s produced at petrochemical plants, like 

Shell Chemical Appalachia in Beaver County

. These small pieces of plastic, used to make everything from car parts to grocery store bags, are the second-largest source of micropollutants in the ocean, according to 

For reference, it takes more than a thousand nurdles to make a soda — err, I mean, pop — bottle. According to 

, the local ethane cracker plant is expected to make 1.6 million metric tons of plastic pellets a year. Many could end up in the Ohio River Valley.

Nurdles are so tiny that they’re often mistaken for fish eggs and pebbles and wildlife can die after accidentally consuming them. The Guardian calls them “rafts” for harmful bacteria.

surveyed the Ohio River for nurdles to establish a baseline in order to measure how much is coming from the plant. Their findings revealed that there were already nurdles in the Ohio River, but by 2022, there was a 

. The organizations determined that the nurdles were coming from Raccoon Creek, an Ohio River tributary about a half-mile downstream from the Shell cracker plant’s main outfall.

 says that outfalls can’t release solids or garbage, the Department of Environmental Protection has yet to penalize these companies. James Cato, regional organizer for the Mountain Watershed Association, and Evan Clark, waterkeeper for Three Rivers Waterkeeper, wrote about this 

“DEP’s lack of environmental enforcement here does not bode well for those concerned about the Shell cracker plant just upriver. The plant is the largest plastic producer in the eastern United States — the potential for more plastics pollution in our future is enormous. Local residents deserve to know that they will be held accountable.”

 Learn about how residents and activists are 

asking Beaver County leaders for stricter oversight

A nurdle is a tiny plastic pellet — about the size of a lentil — that’s produced at petrochemical plants, like Shell Chemical Appalachia in Beaver County. These tiny pollutions have a massive impact on Pittsburgh's waters, wildlife, and our own health.

Should Pittsburgh Worry About Nurdles?

 I bet you can’t read that famous slogan without hearing it 

 started in 1982, and the ice cream brand is still capitalizing on its prominence across generations — Klondike is hosting a 

 asking fans to post videos and photos on Instagram to find the hometown with the most creative answer.

The answer that includes at least four people and best celebrates a sense of community will win a block party for the winner’s area. Wouldn’t it be something if that space was here in Pittsburgh, one of Klondike’s hometowns?

It first began in the early 1900s in Mansfield, Ohio, with William Isaly, the son of Swiss immigrants, and his dairy company. The earliest reference to the Klondike bar was found in a  Feb. 5, 1922, article in the Youngstown Vindicator. Around the 1930s, Isaly’s stores started popping up in Pittsburgh.

Back then, you could buy a Klondike for 10 cents each. And some of the early flavors were surprising — standards like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but also cherry, maple, and grape.

The original Youngstown-produced Klondike was packaged on a stick, but Pittsburgh’s were always square. According to Brian Butko’s book, “Isaly’s Chipped Ham, Klondikes, and Other Tales from Behind the Counter,” Henry Isaly (the youngest of William and Louisa Isaly) always said that Klondike is an adult bar, that “He would never put it on a stick.”

🎧 We Unwrapped Klondike's History on the Podcast

What Would Pittsburgh Do for a Klondike Bar?

Some folks in tech and media are worried about artificial intelligence

, and the City Cast Pittsburgh team wanted to see if we should be worried. Can an AI robot be a better tour guide to Pittsburgh than us? Does it know about our city’s history, current events, and everything in between?

Where’s the best sandwich in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is known for its delicious sandwiches, and there are many great options to choose from. Some popular sandwich shops in the city include Primanti Brothers, DiAnoia's Eatery, and Fat Head's Saloon.

Primanti Brothers is a Pittsburgh institution famous for its unique sandwiches piled high with meat, cheese, coleslaw, and French fries, all on a thick slice of Italian bread. DiAnoia's Eatery offers Italian-inspired sandwiches made with house-made bread, meats, and cheeses, while Fat Head's Saloon serves up huge sandwiches with a variety of toppings and homemade sides.

Ultimately, the choice of the best sandwich in Pittsburgh is a matter of personal taste. I recommend trying a few different options to find your favorite!

While it is technically possible to swim in the Monongahela River, it is generally not recommended due to safety concerns. The Monongahela River, which flows through Pittsburgh, is an industrial waterway with a history of pollution from steel mills and other industries. As a result, the water quality is often poor, and there may be risks associated with swimming, including exposure to bacteria or other pollutants.

Furthermore, the Monongahela River is a busy waterway with commercial barge traffic and strong currents. It is important to exercise caution and be aware of the risks before entering the water.

If you are looking for a safe and enjoyable place to swim in Pittsburgh, there are several public swimming pools and water parks in the area, as well as the city's many beautiful parks and natural areas.

We also asked ChatGPT to plan activities for 24 hours in the city (pretty good, ChatGPT!), write a poem about Pittsburgh (hilarious, and oddly romantic?), name the best neighborhood (woof, not great), and more.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast & Hear Our Reactions!

How Well Does ChatGPT Know Pgh?

. Why May 23? It’s the 143rd day of the year, and Mr. Rogers often used “143” as a way to say “I love you,” because there’s one letter in “I,” four in “love,” and three in “you.”

Here are four ways you can celebrate with compassion:

, a volunteer organization of residents who “redd up” designated streets in our city’s 90 neighborhoods. Or volunteer for water and riverbank cleanups with 

Donate to or Volunteer With a Local Charity

Need some ideas? Give a kid in need a happy birthday celebration with 

, help your food insecure neighbors by recovering and redistributing healthy food through 

, welcome Pittsburgh’s newest neighbors seeking refuge through 

, or give back to those who serve us through the 

Put your heart on paper, and send a note to someone you haven’t seen in a while. Nothing quite lives up to the excitement of getting snail mail from a friend. I like 

Have you spotted these signs around town? Now you can create your own “Kindness Zone” with help from the Senator John Heinz History Center. 

 to purchase the sign, as well as magnets and stickers.

4 Ways To Celebrate 143 Day

February is wrapping up. Here are ways to explore the history of our city’s Black trailblazers, activists, artists, and sports teams year-round.


” exhibit helps you understand the enslavement of the African diaspora, as well as the history of the anti-slavery movement and the impact of 19th-century activism on the modern quest for civil rights in Pittsburgh.

Hooray! The History Center was just named second-best history museum in the nation as part of the 

USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2023 Awards

Pittsburgh was once the center of Negro League baseball, with teams like the 

 with a short film, memorabilia, and a virtual tour of the Hill District’s Greenlee Field.



📝 August Wilson African American Cultural Center+ The August Wilson House


Learn about the legendary playwright at the 

 and cultural hub on Bedford Avenue in the Hill District. This Thursday through Saturday marks the 

grand opening of the August Wilson Archive

with the University of Pittsburgh Library system.


corner on Crawford Street in the Hill District

 was once the site of community resistance in the Middle and Upper Hill, and in 1963, 2,000 Pittsburghers gathered there before witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, DC. Today, it lives on as a place for rallies, protests, and parades.


Mary Cardwell Dawson created the nation’s 

in 1941 inside of a Queen Anne-style mansion on Apple Street in Homewood, making classical music more accessible to Black audiences. Unfortunately, 


🚑 Hear the History of Freedom House Ambulance


In the 1960s, a trailblazing group of Black men from the Hill District started saving lives in their community, setting the stage for the country’s first emergency medicine system. 

American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America’s First Paramedics