Police Chief Out, Broken Vending Machines, & Big Bucks for Downtown
It’s the Friday news roundup! Pittsburgh police chief Larry Scirotto officially retires today after just 16 months on the job. We’re talking about what happened and how his new career as a college basketball referee contributed to “broken trust” between Mayor Ed Gainey and City Council. Downtown’s getting over $600 million for a makeover, but we’re not counting our development chickens just yet. And a county program to make Narcan more accessible has had some ups and downs. Plus, we’re sharing some fun Pittsburgh celebrity news, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s stance on Gaza and rapper Wiz Khalifa’s WashCo house hitting the market.
We always cite our sources:
- There’s some tension between the Mayor’s office and City Council after Pittsburgh police chief Larry Scirotto retired to pursue a job as a basketball referee.
- Allegheny County’s Health Department is looking to distribute more Narcan, but some of their Narcan vending machines aren’t functional after getting installed in August.
- The City of Pittsburgh’s starting up their needle exchange program again.
- Gov. Josh Shapiro came to Pittsburgh to announce $600 million dollars for revitalization Downtown. Find an overview of the plan here.
- The Post-Gazette strike continues, and a recent hearing will continue in November.
- Mission of Mercy is running a free dental, vision, and hearing clinic Downtown this weekend.
Learn more about the sponsors of this November 1st episode:
BetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCAST
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

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...

