City Cast Pittsburgh

Your taxes could be going up. City Council and Pittsburgh Public Schools both officially proposed increases for next year. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo explain how we got here and how much extra you might be paying if the tax hikes do, in fact, get approved. Plus, they discuss a new direct flight to one of Pittsburgh's favorite places, new state restrictions on GLP-1 drugs, the Terrible Towel's big milestone birthday, and your final opportunity to snag an exclusive City Cast Pittsburgh beanie. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm Request a song for our holiday show! Call or text the HOLIDAY HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Notes and references from today’s show: Our Ultimate Pittsburgh Gift Guide [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: 'Sloppy' City Budget, Zombie Studies & Giant Eagle vs. Everybody [City Cast Pittsburgh] Same budget, different universes: Pittsburgh council, mayor diverge on 2026 spending plan [TribLive] Pittsburgh City Council grapples with competing narratives surrounding budget [P-G] Sharply contrasting views of Pittsburgh budget emerge ahead of looming votes [WESA] Property Record Search [Allegheny County] PODCAST: Can Pittsburgh Afford the NFL Draft? [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Are Pittsburgh Schools Closing Or Not?! [City Cast Pittsburgh] Without closures, Pittsburgh Public Schools projects $6M deficit with 4% tax hike [TribLive] Pa. cyber charter reforms give PPS budget unexpected 'wiggle room' amid last-minute revisions [WESA] Pennsylvania restricts weight-loss drugs for Medicaid patients amid budget woes [Spotlight PA] Pittsburgh-area ICE arrests through mid-October more than triple last year’s level [Public Source] PODCAST: What Actually Happens During an ICE Raid? [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Lo que realmente ocurre durante una redada de ICE [City Cast Pittsburgh] HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait [NPR] Former Gov. Wolf, Pa. Democrats slam deadname of Rachel Levine portrait [Go Erie] The Terrible Towel Turns 50 [Pittsburgh Magazine] Pittsburgh lands direct flights to Dublin [Axios Pittsburgh] Learn more about the sponsors of this December 12th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code 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.

Are you the kind of Pittsburgher who always shows up to Light Up Night and puts up your holiday decorations right after Halloween? Today, we're bringing together a few local media outlets to see who knows the most about our city's seasonal traditions, and we want you to play along with us! We're asking questions about our prolific pop-up bars, iconic local commercials, and favorite winter events.  What was your final score? Tell us how you did at our TRIVIA HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Thanks to our guests Colin Williams at City Paper, John Rhoades at Next Pittsburgh, and Jeff Freedman at QBurgh, and special shout out to CCP contributor and quizmaster Kevin Gavin. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm Notes and references from today’s show: PODCAST: The Story Behind Eat’n Park’s Iconic Christmas Commercial [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Why Pittsburgh’s Menorah Went to the U.S. Supreme Court [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: The Best Holiday Pop-Up Bars in Pittsburgh in 2025 [City Cast Pittsburgh] Find Holiday Cheer at These Pittsburgh Pop-Up Bars [City Cast Pittsburgh] Learn more about the sponsors of this December 11th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Pittsburgh Public Schools spent two years and a quarter million dollars on a plan to save money and make the district more equitable — only for the school board to reject it in the 11th hour. The controversial plan would've closed and consolidated a bunch of schools and made other dramatic changes to address declining enrollment, a growing deficit, and student achievement gaps, but many worried it was happening on a rushed timeline. Now the district is back to the drawing board and considering a tax increase. Host Megan Harris is with James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools, to explain what happened, what comes next, and why the fate of our local schools should matter to everyone who lives here. Want to learn more about the district, including its bright spots and successes? Read A+ Schools' latest report on PPS. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the sponsors of this December 10th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

Some of our favorite restaurants are celebrating their 10th anniversaries! That includes places like Driftwood Oven (home of the ever-popular sourdough pizza) and Butterwood Bake Consortium (known for its late night cakes). What was happening a decade ago that allowed these restaurants to flourish — and how did they change Pittsburgh's food scene? Post-Gazette dining critic Hal B. Klein joins host Megan Harris to discuss his Class of 2015 series and share how spots like Senti and Scratch & Co. totally rocked our local dining scene. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm or gift a membership at https://membership.citycast.fm/gifts. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 9th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

We are inching closer and closer to the holidays, and if you've been putting off your shopping, we want to help you find the perfect Pittsburgh gift! Host Megan Harris is with writer and historian Virginia Montanez, who's been putting together a yinzer gift guide for nearly two decades, to share their topics for 2025. Plus, the rest of the City Cast Pittsburgh team got in on the fun. Get our recommendations for home decor, food and drink, and more.  Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm or gift a membership at https://membership.citycast.fm/gifts Learn more about the sponsors of this December 8th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.