On today’s episode of The Confluence:The American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report finds particle pollution in the Pittsburgh metro area was worse by 24-hour and year-round measures, compared to 2022’s report. Allegheny County has disputed the findings of this report, noting in a statement that it meets national standards. We speak to Kevin Stewart, the Association’s director of environmental health, about the report. (0:00 - 7:22) The federal death penalty trial for the man charged in the 2018 synagogue shooting begins next week. While court rules will dictate the pattern of those proceedings, survivors of the attack say there’s no guidebook for their healing journeys. 90.5 WESA’s Kiley Koscinski reports. (7:44 - 15:17) Westmoreland County was founded 250 years ago, and to celebrate, the Westmoreland Historical Society opened a new exhibit over the weekend titled, \“Westmoreland 250! Telling our Story with 25 Objects.\” We speak to Joanna Moyar, collec
On today’s episode of The Confluence:Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Board approved a $28 million contract for the first phase of its Downtown to Oakland Bus Rapid Transit Project. PRT’s Chief Development Officer David Huffaker takes us through what we can expect in the coming years. (0:00 - 9:33) It’s been about a year since the City of Pittsburgh got approval to launch a syringe services program, but a Downtown facility hasn’t yet been up and running as officials envisioned. We talk with WESA’s Kiley Koscinski about the city’s program and where it stands. (9:42 - 17:28) The City of Pittsburgh is full of infrastructure: 1,000 miles of roads, nearly 800 sets of steps, and close to 150 bridges, and much of it is in rough shape. 90.5 WESA’s Margaret J. Krauss reports the job of turning that around falls to a single city office, and it could use some help. (17:40 - 22:30)
City government leaders met with Downtown business owners and residents Thursday to share efforts to clean up the neighborhood and increase police patrols.
As Pittsburgh struggles with an uptick in crime Downtown, local leaders are contemplating whether to assign some Allegheny County officers to the patrol.
On today’s episode of The Confluence: The Gainey administration has announced a plan to assess the property tax exemptions of nonprofits, including some of the region’s largest employers; advocates want city and county officials to be more compassionate when closing homeless encampments; Downtown business owners are at odds with teenagers who they say the teens are causing problems in the Golden Triangle; and we answer a question about the role of the king piece in chess. Today’s guests include: Kiley Koscinski, city government reporter with WESA; Daniel Vitek, staff attorney with Community Justice Project; and Ashley Lynn Priore, founder and CEO of Queen’s Gambit.