Your Daily Guide

Celebrate Día de los Muertos in Pittsburgh

Rooted in Indigenous and Spanish Catholic traditions, Día de los Muertos brings families together Nov. 1 and 2 to honor departed loved ones and welcome their spirits home — and local celebrations are already in full swing.

• Community Ofrenda & Cultural Celebration (Downtown through Nov. 2) Visit a vibrant community altar from artists Lisa DiGioia-Nutini and Alison Zapatta at the Greer Cabaret and contribute a photo, flower, or written memory to honor a loved one. 
• Día de Muertos Celebration at Camino (Bloomfield, Oct. 30) Experience live mariachi music, salsa dancing, face painting, and a traditional altar where you can pay tribute to your loved ones at Camino Coctelería & Cocina. Tickets are $15 and benefit the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation.
• Día de los Muertos Ancestral Ceremony (Verona, Nov. 1) Connect with the ancestors at a sacred evening of remembrance at the Penn Forest Natural Burial Park. Look for an altar, fire and cacao rituals, a drum circle, dance, and meditation. Costumes welcome. Adults $50, children under 12 are free.

For more recs, check out our full list & listen to the podcast below ⬇️

Housing Incentive Program Passes

Pittsburgh City Council approved a long-debated affordable housing bill that gives developers incentives to include affordable units in new projects rather than requiring them. The legislation also makes it easier to build accessory dwelling units like backyard cottages, and eliminates parking minimums for new developments. [TribLive]

• Here’s how we got here. [City Cast Pittsburgh]

Warwick Says Tax the Rich!

The city is strapped for cash, and city councilor Barb Warwick has an idea. She's proposing a 2% tax on unearned income, including profits from investments, rental properties, and royalties. The tax could bring in more than $50 million annually, while leaving pensions and other retirement income untouched. [TribLive]

Expanding Access to Birth Support

Pennsylvania is the first state in the nation to launch a registered doula apprenticeship program. The year-long program combines classroom instruction and hands-on training to prepare doulas to support families before, during, and after childbirth. Graduates will also qualify for Medicaid reimbursement, helping make doula care more accessible to low-income and rural families. [WESA]

911 Operators Are Now First Responders

Call takers and dispatchers at 911 centers across Pennsylvania are now classified as first responders — alongside police, firefighters, and EMS — and will receive greater access to mental health benefits. The new law comes two years after a 911 operator died by suicide at Allegheny County’s emergency call center in Moon Township. [KDKA / 🔒 Post-Gazette]