City Cast Pittsburgh logo
August 8, 2025

Ketchup Smoothies, Bills Going Up & Would You Live Downtown?

City Cast Pittsburgh

Ketchup Smoothies, Bills Going Up & Would You Live Downtown?

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

Downtown is in flux — a high and growing office vacancy rate, but also big goals for building conversions, more residential housing (market and affordable!!), and stunning new art. Your household bills like water and electricity are likely to rise soon, but it’s not too late to invest in solar. And a bunch of companies headquartered here in Pittsburgh have found themselves in the news, from THAT American Eagle Sydney Sweeney ad to PNC making Project Runway more “boring.” Plus, some celebrities were spotted at Kennywood! City Cast’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are talking about some of the biggest stories of the week.

Can someone please get their hands on this Heinz x Smoothie King ketchup smoothie collab and tell us how it tastes??! Leave us a voicemail on the KETCHUP SMOOTHIE HOTLINE at 412-212-8893.

Notes and references from today’s show:

  • Best of Pgh 2025 [City Paper]
  • Pittsburgh’s Downtown Office Vacancy Still High at More than 18% [Pittsburgh Magazine]
  • Downtown offices continue to empty, but efforts to reimagine them take hold [WESA]
  • First round of artists named for Pittsburgh civic space Arts Landing [WESA]
  • Market Square businesses are stable three months into construction, but brace for winter [Next Pittsburgh]
  • Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership details "encouraging shift" in downtown office market [Pittsburgh Business Times
  • Barrage of weekend violence not a bellwether for Pittsburgh or region, officials say [TribLive]
  • How Well Do You Know Pittsburgh? Take This Quiz! [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Why Pennsylvanians may see higher electric bills this summer — and next [SpotlightPA]
  • PA Power Switch 
  • ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ casts shade over Pennsylvania’s solar boom [Allegheny Front]
  • Public Input Meetings [Pittsburgh Water
  • Health insurance in Pennsylvania may see biggest hike in years [WESA]
  • Giant Eagle Pharmacy joins Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs discount program [WESA]
  • Heinz Just Launched a Ketchup Smoothie and It Might Actually Be Good [Food & Wine]
  • Pete Davidson spotted hitting the rides at Kennywood [TribLive]
  • PNC's marketing strategy takes center stage on 'Project Runway' [Pittsburgh Business Times]
  • American Eagle stock soars after Trump hails Sydney Sweeney ad [Axios]

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 8th episode:

Fulton Commons

Overlook Maps

Barrel & Flow

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!

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
May 20

Sara Innamorato on Paid Leave, Term Limits, and a Fancy New Hotel

Allegheny County could become the first in the U.S. to require 18 weeks of paid parental leave for all employees. County Executive Sara I...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 19

What's On Your Primary Ballot?

It's primary election day! Local voters are being asked to weigh in on one ballot measure: If Pittsburgh loses its print newspapers, shou...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 18

Pittsburgh's Dangerous Drop in Vaccination Rates

Measles is on the rise across the U.S., and experts say outbreaks aren't hypothetical anymore. At least 40,000 PA students are missing re...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 17

'Your City Could Be Better': Do DC’s Hated Traffic Cameras Really Make the City Safer? — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

Would Pittsburgh be safer if there were more automated traffic cameras? In 2025, Washington, DC, brought in nearly $270 million from more...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 15

Tattoo Regulations, Steelers in Paris & Debating the Essence of Sheetz

Allegheny County Council is taking steps to oust Pat Catena as the group's president, after his campaign sent out a mailer claiming his o...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 14

Can Pittsburgh Fix Its Budget Problems?

City Controller Rachael Heisler has been sounding the alarm on Pittsburgh's budget for actual years, and her latest report shows the city...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 13

Mid-Century Sleepover, Tiki Cruise & More Pittsburgh Milestone Birthday Ideas

Got a big birthday coming up? Sure, you could make a fancy dinner reservation, but there are so many more exciting ways to celebrate. The...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 12

What To Eat (and Avoid) at PNC Park

Let's be honest, the Pirates aren't always the main draw at PNC Park. Many of us go for the views, the pierogi race, and inventive ballpa...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 11

7 Ideas To Make Voting Better in PA

Our primary election is just around the corner on May 19, so it feels like a good time to take stock of how well our voting process actua...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
May 10

'Your City Could Be Better': Philly's Bold Nightlife Experiment — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

Pittsburghers, would your city be better if the bars stayed open later? This summer, Philadelphia is anticipating a record-breaking numbe...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art