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May 16, 2025

Robotrucks, Cannabis Bill Fails & Did ‘The Pitt’ Score AGH a Glow-Up?

City Cast Pittsburgh

Robotrucks, Cannabis Bill Fails & Did ‘The Pitt’ Score AGH a Glow-Up?

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Bad news this week for recreational cannabis fans, but good news for Steel Curtain stans. Kennywood’s newest steel coaster will open Memorial Day weekend, driverless trucks made in Pittsburgh are hitting Texas highways, there’s more pothole drama at Pittsburgh Mills mall, and the Pittsburgh Zoo has unveiled its giraffe enclosure renovations. Plus, we’re talking about why a few state bills — cannabis, school vouchers, early voting — can’t get off the ground, and whether we all have Max’s hit series "The Pitt" to thank for a big renovation at AGH.

Notes and references from today’s show:

  • Bill to sell legal marijuana through state stores rejected by GOP-led panel [SpotlightPA] 
  • Democrats endorse set of changes to Pennsylvania election rules, sending bill to state Senate [AP News] 
  • Pa. Senate passes bill banning trans girls and women from school sports [WITF]
  • Pennsylvania GOP Makes Another Attempt To Pass School Vouchers [Forbes]
  • Aurora rolls out driverless trucks in Texas [Axios Pittsburgh] 
  • The Most Common Jo in Every State [Planet Money]
  • Self-Driving Trucks Are Going to Hit Us Like a Human-Driven Truck [Medium]
  • Confusion among travelers at Pittsburgh International Airport amid TSA changes, looming Real ID deadline [KDKA]
  • Asphalt company says Pittsburgh Mills owner never paid them for filling potholes [TribLive]
  • Major $43M project will renovate, expand Allegheny General Hospital’s emergency department [WPXI]
  • What ‘The Pitt’ Gets Right About Pittsburgh [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Kennywood Park’s Steel Curtain Returns Memorial Day Weekend [Pittsburgh Magazine]
  • Community group sets public meeting on Pittsburgh Zoo's proposed giraffe barn [TribLive]
  • Baby Animals, Snake Emergencies & Why AZA Matters to the Pittsburgh Zoo [City Cast Pittsburgh]

Learn more about the sponsors of this May 15th episode:

Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off

Airport Corridor Transportation Association

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books

Pittsburgh Pride

Heinz History Center

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