Plus, a power outage warning ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Thursday, July 2 

Your Daily Guide

I knew we were iconic, but this just seals the deal. USA Today ranked Pittsburgh No. 1 on its list of the best fireworks displays in the nation, just in time for America 250 celebrations this weekend 🎆 Here’s how to mark the occasion, plus more to look forward to this month.

Heads up: We won’t publish tomorrow in observance of the holiday. But be sure to tune into the latest episode of our national podcast, "Your City Could Be Better," for a U.S. trivia battle. It drops here tomorrow morning.

Alt text: "Pedal PGH 2026 banner featuring abstract bike art and 'Register for Western PA's biggest bike ride' text. Photos show cyclists on urban trails with a city skyline and yellow bridge. Event date: August 30th, 2026."

What Pittsburgh's Talking About

Kroger To Buy Giant Eagle for $1.65 Billion

Kroger Company agreed to buy the local grocery chain and is financing the purchase with cash. It’s an interesting turn of events considering Giant Eagle was actually born out of a 1928 Kroger buyout. [KDKA / Giant Eagle]

Heat Wave Triggers Power Outage Warnings

Duquesne Light is urging customers to prepare for possible power outages as the region is experiencing extreme heat until Friday. To put less strain on the grid, avoid running appliances, like your dishwasher or washing machine, during the hottest part of the day in the early afternoon.

  • Communities are also opening cooling centers and moving trash pickup days because of the high temps. [WESA / City of Pittsburgh]

Should You Swim in Pittsburgh’s Rivers?

While our rivers are much cleaner than they used to be, they still carry lingering industrial pollution, and swimming in them can be unsafe due to sewage overflow. The local sanitary authority is working to prevent these overflows, but the process could take a long time. [The Conversation / City Cast Pittsburgh]

PODCAST

Can You Swim in Pittsburgh's Rivers? Plus, Teens in Public & Train Tours

Pittsburgh Settles With Bridge Collapse Victims

City Council approved $445,000 in settlement payments for victims of the 2022 Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, resolving lawsuits that alleged the city failed to properly maintain the bridge. The victims also sued private engineering firms responsible for inspecting the bridge; those settlements have not been made public. [TribLive]

A group of excited kids sit and stand on a picnic table, cheering with raised arms. They display joyful expressions, set against a cloudy sky and grassy area.

Come Play Outside The Lines At Woodward

Woodward PA is the ultimate overnight summer camp for action sports & creatives: skateboard, scooter, BMX, mountain bike, parkour, BMX race, creative arts, and roller skate. The goal isn’t to keep kids busy. It’s to give them the kind of space where imagination turns into motion. These camps are a high-energy playground for kids and teens (ages 7-17) who want to ride, create, have fun, and level up. Code CITYCAST for $300 off!

Work at City Cast Pittsburgh!

City Cast Pittsburgh is seeking a Creative Producer to help shape the daily conversation across our podcast, newsletter, and social channels. We’re looking for someone who’s plugged into the city, full of great ideas, comfortable on the mic, and excited to create smart, engaging local content.

If you have experience in editorial content, strong writing skills, a passion for local news and culture, and want to help tell the stories that make Pittsburgh unique, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply here!
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What To Do

Thursday, July 2

Friday, July 3

Saturday, July 4

More Pittsburgh Events
Colorful geometric art pieces on a white wall.

Paper art at Brighter Days Gallery. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)

Heading to Unblurred’s First Friday art crawl in Bloomfield and Garfield tomorrow?

Be sure to stop at the new Brighter Days Gallery on Penn Avenue. I was so inspired by the colorful displays by owner and artist Amanda Witucki. Swing by for a visit, or attend one of her upcoming craft socials where you can BYO craft and work alongside other creatives 🎨

I already can’t wait to go back and see new art on the walls!

— Francesca Dabecco

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