Your Daily Guide

Pgh’s $250M Budget Gap

Mayor Corey O’Connor has ‘til the end of the month to submit a budget to City Council. Even with $70 million in nonprofit gifts, the city expects a $30 million deficit this year and is facing a $250 million shortfall over the next five years. That amount is nearly twice what the city has in its rainy-day fund. [🔒 Post-Gazette]

• Can Pittsburgh go broke? City Controller Rachael Heisler says yes. She’s been sounding the alarm about Pittsburgh’s spending problems for years. [City Cast Pittsburgh / Triblive]

Duolingo Gets Swept Up in War

The Pittsburgh-based company cancelled its English proficiency test for Iranian students, due to the latest round of federal sanctions dubbed "Economic D-Day." The test is separate from its language learning lessons and is available virtually to students around the world, allowing them to study abroad in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries. Other organizations, including the group behind the widely-used TOEFL exam, also suspended their tests. [Al Jazeera / City Cast Pittsburgh]

Will PA Fund Free Books?

Local partners have made Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library available to 75,000 kids, but unlike many other states, PA does not contribute to the program directly. A state House bill to match nonprofit funds has idled in committee since December. If passed, the director of Parton’s Dollywood Foundation says 700,000 kids would get free books monthly. [WESA]

• In Allegheny County, three organizations distribute books through the Imagination Library: Reading Ready Pittsburgh, Fox Families Care in Fox Chapel, and Riverside Women's Association in Oakmont.

So Stinkin’ Cute

A pair of striped skunk sisters, born April 20 at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, have joined the National Aviary’s Animal Ambassadors crew. They’ll be ready to meet visitors during the “Forest Friends: Expert Talk” debuting next month and at a recurring Skunk Painting experience.

• Help name the skunks: Submit suggestions by Sept. 14. The Animal Care Team will then select three sets of two names for a paid voting round. Final names will be announced next month. [National Aviary]