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
Did Disney Do Us Dirty? Plus, Guerilla Crosswalks & Capo's Investigation
A new collaboration pairs Disney characters with every NFL team, and the choice to represent the Steelers has been… controversial. Did Di...

Your Guide to Making Friends in Pittsburgh
It can be daunting to make new friends in Pittsburgh. Lots of people are still tight with their buddies from kindergarten, and it's not a...

Is Flooding Getting Worse in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is on track to have its wettest August on record, which is especially concerning since flooding is our most frequent natural d...

Taco Bell Lawsuit, Unsafe Sidewalks & Cryptid Dance Party
Is a local woman suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over cyclosporiasis? Is Downtown finally getting a grocery store in the form of Trader...

Where To Eat Late in Pittsburgh
Back-to-school season means late nights are back — and sooner or later, you’re going to get hungry. We’re revisiting our 1,000th episode,...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Portland Made Its River Cool — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
How often are you out in nature in Pittsburgh? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban...

Pablo Pledgescobar, Impounded E-Scooters & Shapiro’s Data Center Play
Penn State frats are facing yet another scandal –– this time a cocaine trafficking ring that investigators say involved students, alumni,...

Allegheny County’s Giant Tax Reset, Explained
Allegheny County has been ordered to reassess every residential and commercial property in the county — about 550,000 — for the first tim...

The Bartenders' Guide to Pittsburgh Dive Bars
Who knows a great bar better than the people who’ve worked behind one? Pittsburgh bartenders Aubrey Halliburton and Lisa Considine, co-ow...

Can Butler County Flip? Plus TikTok Trouble & North Side Cats
A special election in Butler County could be a bellwether for Pennsylvania Democrats ahead of the midterms in November. Host Megan Harris...

