Hired Guns in City Parks, Steelers Day Care & School Closures
After two rounds of deer culling in a few city parks, archers have provided thousands of venison meals, but it turns out, that’s not enough to keep the animal population at bay. We’re talking about how and why guns are getting added to the mix. Pittsburgh Public Schools announced the next phase in proposed school closures, Steelers players reported another round of failing grades in the annual union report card, and we still have not recovered from a recent police substation press conference that got Mayor Gainey so fired up. City Cast’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are talking through some of Pittsburgh’s biggest stories!
Notes and references from today’s show:
- Superintendent’s report endorses closures and consolidations for PPS schools [PublicSource]
- PPS leadership supports consultant recommendations to close 14 schools [WESA]
- Facility Feasibility Report [Pittsburgh Public Schools]
- PPS Superintendent on School Closures, ICE Policy & Funding Freezes [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Sharpshooters Will Begin Culling Deer in Pittsburgh’s Frick and Riverview Parks [Pittsburgh Magazine]
- Gainey defends public safety record a day after Downtown shooting [TribLive]
- Is Ed Gainey okay? [Breathing Space]
- Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card [NFLPA]
- Pitt resumes PhD admissions after pause over NIH funding cap concerns [WTAE]
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 28th episode:
The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens
Pittsburgh Marathon - Use code CITYCAST15 for 15% off any event
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Call or text us at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Can Waymo Crack Pittsburgh?
Have you had a Waymo sighting lately? It suddenly seems like these robotaxis are everywhere. Pittsburgh has been a testing ground for aut...

Restaurant Week, '90s Nostalgia & Cathy's 100th Birthday
One of Pittsburgh's most iconic buildings is 100 years young. Host Megan Harris and audience development manager Rachel Carlson share wha...

Pittsburgh's Grocery Store Showdown
Giant Eagle has long been the main grocery game in town — it's celebrating 95 years in the Burgh with special merch — but that's about to...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
As much as you love Pittsburgh, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have co...

Pittsburgh’s Measles Risk, Explained
Measles cases are on the rise in Pennsylvania. We just notched 200 cases, with more than 45 reported in the last week alone. This is es...

Sports Villains, Redemption Arcs, and the One Man We'll Never Forgive
Is it villainous to avoid Pittsburgh for over a decade? To get rich off our sports teams but never try to win? If a celebrity claims us,...

What Happened to Station Square?
Station Square has been many things: a festival marketplace ("think outdoor shopping mall with razzamatazz"), a home to megaclubs and war...

Your Guide to August 2026 in Pittsburgh
Whether you want to board a pontoon boat, catch free live music in the park, or follow up a round of mini golf with an ice cream sandwich...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Do you know how zoning laws affect Pittsburgh’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
It’s not a given that every Pittsburgher will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with writ...

