Pittsburgh's Public Source

Public Source interns mull the future of journalism, and their role in it In a shrinking industry and fractured media landscape, Public Source interns share their bold visions for a future in journalism.

New modes of storytelling excite these Public Source interns as they consider careers in the ever-changing landscape of journalism. www.publicsource.org/public-sourc...

Is this really the muggiest summer in Pittsburgh history? Here’s the data. Weather data from the region shows a growing trend of hotter, wetter summers. Average high temperatures for June broke records set in the 40s.

“If it has felt more humid this summer, it’s because it has been.” Meteorologist Tim Cermak confirms this Pittsburgh summer has been hotter and wetter. buff.ly/Q4DNJCZ

“When people cook together, they aren’t just making a meal; they’re building trust.” This is the philosophy behind Laurence Park’s efforts to break down cultural barriers in Pittsburgh. buff.ly/oTszOFK

Needed training upgrade or ‘cop city’? Here’s why Pittsburgh put an $84M plan on pause. City Council delayed a vote to develop a public safety training campus critics call cop city. Here’s what’s in the proposed plan and why the public is concerned.

Why did Pittsburgh City Council delay a vote on the proposed public safety training campus? From financial concerns to fears of police militarization, here’s where the project stands.

Schools and counties begin to see payment delays as Pennsylvania's budget stalemate hits a month Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration says billions in aid to Pennsylvania schools and human services will be delayed, as he and legislators struggle to end their month-long budget stalemate.

Pennsylvania’s budget impasse will delay billions of dollars in aid to schools and human services, says Gov. Shapiro.

Public Source interns mull the future of journalism, and their role in it In a shrinking industry and fractured media landscape, Public Source interns share their bold visions for a future in journalism.

The fractured media landscape is a worthwhile challenge for Public Source interns who pursue journalism with a passion for public service. buff.ly/7w42C6u

ICE activity is rising in Pittsburgh. Know what to do. Where ICE detains people in the Pittsburgh area, how many are affected and what to do. Rights and resources from Casa San José, ACLU and other local groups.

They may ultimately land at Moshannon Valley Processing Center. More info is here www.publicsource.org/resource-gui...

In this case John DeLuca said ICE was given permission to use the Ambridge PD station to process people who were arrested. The DHS location on Carson is commonly the first site for processing. After that they may go to Erie County Jail or Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville, WV.

ICE and allies hit Ambridge with ‘most intense’ roundup yet seen in Pittsburgh region Beaver County law enforcement partnered with federal immigration agents in the “most intense” roundup to date. Two bystanders were also arrested.

A “saturation patrol” rocked the Beaver County river town of Ambridge with 12 ICE arrests late last night. buff.ly/xiPPQ7M

Reporter @quinnglabicki.bsky.social spent weeks on the ground with volunteers tracking ICE activity in the Pittsburgh region. His photographs portray scenes of local resistance to federal pressure. buff.ly/3mmkfRR

At 16, I fused my passions for food and dialogue into a project bridging divides in Pittsburgh Discover how one student's multicultural cooking initiative is challenging prejudice, building bridges and feeding hungry communities in Pittsburgh.

As a South Korean immigrant to the U.S. Laurence Park has “always lived between cultures.” Now he’s building a culinary community to bridge cultural divides. buff.ly/oTszOFK

Did your latest electricity bill spark an energetic reaction? If you're in Pittsburgh and seeing big changes in power costs, we'd like to know more.
⚡️ Email hannah@publicsource.org

So far this year ICE arrests in the Pittsburgh area have spiked 267% from the same period in 2024.

Lea este artículo en español aquí. buff.ly/MZUxMvL

On the ground with the volunteers tracking ICE across the Pittsburgh region More than 250 Casa San José-trained volunteers respond to immigration enforcement at courthouses, businesses and neighborhoods.

“Ice melts in the sunlight, isn’t that what they say?” Meet Jaime Martinez, a community defense organizer working with hundreds of volunteers to monitor ICE arrests in Pittsburgh.https://buff.ly/3mmkfRR

PPS, Winchester Thurston students build tech tools to support people with disabilities At a summer intensive, students from Westinghouse and Winchester Thurston partnered to create devices to assist people with disabilities.

There’s a new generation of human-centered designers — and they are still in high school. buff.ly/We69Tfm

Do you live in Allegheny County and have you or a loved one experienced involuntary mental health commitment? Public Source would like to learn from you for our ongoing series When Care is Compulsory. Please email venuri@publicsource.org if you are in a position to share.

Needed training upgrade or ‘cop city’? Here’s why Pittsburgh put an $84M plan on pause. City Council delayed a vote to develop a public safety training campus critics call cop city. Here’s what’s in the proposed plan and why the public is concerned.

If Pittsburgh doesn’t finalize a master plan for the site of a proposed public safety campus by June 2026, the federal government could reclaim the land. buff.ly/2uH9rnw

Local housing justice advocates gathered on July 28 to commemorate the mass displacement of Penn Plaza residents. Photojournalist @stephstrasburg.bsky.social was on the scene to document their calls for affordable housing in Pittsburgh. buff.ly/Tg1ZJJA

PPS, Winchester Thurston students build 'human-centered' tech tools to counter disabilities At a summer intensive, students from Westinghouse and Winchester Thurston partnered to create devices to assist people with disabilities.

Cushioned headrests, textured condiment bottles and a selfie-stick for wheelchair users – these are some of the inventions area high school students created to assist people with disabilities.

Penn Plaza eviction notices, 10 years ago, energized Pittsburgh’s affordable housing debate Evictions driven by gentrification at East Liberty’s Penn Plaza changed the narrative of Pittsburgh displacement and alerted many to the affordable housing crisis.

When development and affordability collide: Penn Plaza changed Pittsburgh’s history of displacement, starting 10 years ago. Today, advocates and organizers continue the “call for affordable housing for all Pittsburghers.” buff.ly/pFEX1zQ

Study: Many Allegheny County psych hospitalizations do more harm than good Involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations — when they’re judgment calls by doctors — can lead to the kinds of harm they are intended to prevent, per a study of Allegheny County data.

As Allegheny County weighs approaches to involuntary mental health treatments, what are they doing to help those at risk?

Campus hunger may rise amid the ‘beautiful’ bill’s changes to SNAP food aid SNAP funding must now come from states, and new work requirements add pressure to vulnerable families, including college students across Pittsburgh campuses.

The “SNAP gap” is the difference in people who qualify for benefits and those who receive them. The national gap is around 18% — but for college students it’s 67%.

For Shannon Parris, running her own business meant taking control of her life and embracing her multiple disabilities, some of which she was only diagnosed with in her 30s. buff.ly/lt3hz6Q

Pittsburgh's police review board head says Gainey administration 'has not been transparent' A lack of cooperation and transparency fuels new complaints from the Citizen Police Review Board amid efforts to investigate a rough arrest.

In 2021, Ed Gainey campaigned on police accountability and transparency. The Citizen Police Review Board says his administration has been anything but transparent.

Pittsburgh officials look to generators to keep public safety station power on in storms Pittsburgh is working towards climate resilience in their disaster planning, following the April 29 storm.

A 10-minute storm in late April knocked out power across the city and overwhelmed 911. The event prompted a climate-resilience response plan for the city. Here’s where things stand.

Flood risks rise as stronger storms bring heavier rainfall. Oakdale residents were told the damage from Hurricane Ivan was a once-in-a-lifetime setback. Since then, floods have grown increasingly common. buff.ly/xR8Izck

For me, learning to be a person involved a diagnosis, self-advocacy and starting my own business In the U.S., 1.8 million people exist at the intersection of disability and entrepreneurship. Beyond employment support programs, the disability community can lead.

“The truth is, I feel like I don’t know how to be a person.” — Shannon Parris’ diagnosis changed that. And then she started her own business. buff.ly/lt3hz6Q

Pittsburgh officials look to generators to keep public safety station power on in storms Pittsburgh is working towards climate resilience in their disaster planning, following the April 29 storm.

Did you lose power in that April 29 storm? So did some Pittsburgh public safety stations. Officials are now looking at keeping police, fire and EMS stations powered using generators during heavy storms, and working on a full plan for climate change's new hazards www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-g...

Pittsburgh's police review board head says Gainey administration 'has not been transparent' A lack of cooperation and transparency fuels new complaints from the Citizen Police Review Board amid efforts to investigate a rough arrest.

How can the Citizen Police Review Board investigate officer conduct without access to body-cam footage? The local watchdog says Gainey’s administration has not been transparent. buff.ly/5JzmOTW