City Cast Pittsburgh
🍟 Why does Pittsburgh put fries on everything?
June 21, 2023
Hi, neighbor! We’re a fries-on-salads-and-sandwiches town, but why do we have such a love for these crispy potatoes anyway? We’re dipping into that on today’s City Cast Pittsburgh podcast 🍟
What's CITY Talking About?
County Workers To Get Minimum Wage Increase
Council reversed Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s veto of a bill to raise the minimum wage for county employees. Full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers will receive a minimum wage of $18 an hour in 2024, with future increases to follow. [90.5 WESA]
- Related: The Pennsylvania House passed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. The current minimum wage, $7.25, was set in 2009. The bill has an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate. A new tax credit for teachers, police officers, and nurses was also passed its first hurdle. [Associated Press]
- 🎧 See what’s on the table with Pennsylvania’s budget this year. [City Cast Pittsburgh]
CMU Re-Writes Our ‘Smoky City’ Narrative
Carnegie Mellon University is getting a $3 million federal grant to create decarbonization technology for the steel industry, in an effort to lower the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the burning of fossil fuels. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee says it’s “just the beginning of our work towards a future where Western Pennsylvania sets the blueprint for cutting-edge green manufacturing, economic opportunity and innovation, clean air and water, and good-paying union jobs.” [TribLIVE]
Pittsburgh Gets the Uber of Lawn Care
The GreenPal app is now available for homeowners in Pittsburgh to order lawn care professionals right to their door, or rather, yard. You can check out reviews and pricing in advance, service is contactless, and payment is only accepted through the app. [Pittsburgh City Paper]
Sponsored Content
Meditation…Because You Can’t Google Everything
Discover the solutions to live a fulfilling, peaceful, and dynamic life with Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on June 22nd at the Omni William Penn. The Art of Living is a non-profit, humanitarian organization active in 180 countries that teaches meditation, non-violence, and service for humanity. Tickets available HERE.
What To Do
👻 Summerween | Thursday | 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Stop in to Harold's Haunt for creepy tunes and haunted drink specials. [free, Millvale]
📚 BELT Magazine 10th Anniversary | Friday | 7 p.m.
Celebrate a decade of covering the Rust Belt with regional writers at White Whale Bookstore. [free, Bloomfield / virtual]
🥂 Clocked Out | Friday | 8-11 p.m.
Join Creatives Drink on Over Eden’s rooftop for drinks and live music. 21+ [free, Lawrenceville]
🛍️ Local Vendor Market | Saturday | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Grab a cup of Commonplace Coffee and shop from small businesses. [free, Mexican War Streets]
Sponsored Content
Find Five Blocks of Fun at The Terminal!
This historic produce terminal is now an all-day destination for shopping, restaurants, fitness, and extraordinary experiences! Plus, every Saturday, shop a collection of local makers at Markets at The Terminal, and every Sunday dance to local musicians at Tunes at The Terminal! There’s always something happening at The Strip District Terminal!
Today on City Cast
Why Pittsburgh Puts Fries on Everything
From sandwiches to salads, Pittsburgh has a long history of putting fries on just about everything. But where does this tradition come from? We’re revisiting our conversation with O’Reilly Media’s Sarah Grey, who dug into Pittsburgh’s unique culinary tastes and history for Serious Eats.
See yinz tomorrow!
Francesca Dabecco
Free · Daily