👀 A Twitter account for nebby neighbors

Gainey Builds Infrastructure Commission

More than a year after the infrastructure commission was created, City Council approved a dozen of Mayor Ed Gainey’s nominees. The commission hopes to prevent incidents like the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse by identifying infrastructure projects that need immediate repairs and lobbying for government funding. [90.5 WESA]

Could Recreational Cannabis Get the Green Light?

A bill introduced this week would legalize recreational cannabis and expunge criminal records of low-level cannabis offenders; it has bipartisan support with sponsors Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia). Legalization is estimated to generate between $400 million and $1 billion in tax revenue per year, according to the state's Independent Fiscal Office. The state Senate will review the bill in September. [WITF]

A Twitter Account For Nebby Neighbors

Want to know about the weird happenings around town? Like the guy that chased people with a broom in Mt. Washington or the construction workers who fought with tire irons in Carrick? The Pittsburgh Scanner Twitter account shares an (often hilarious) daily curation of scanner calls led by “two guys with a couple radios” — Nick, a 34-year-old steelworker who grew up in Braddock, and his contributor, Mike. [Pittsburgh City Paper]

Did the Traffic Stop Ordinance Help Racial Bias?

Not really, according to the Police Data Accessibility Project. It's been a year since the city's Equitable and Fair Enforcement of Motor Vehicle Laws ordinance was passed, and data for 2022 suggests Black drivers remained 2.4 times more likely than white drivers to be stopped for traffic violations. Chief Larry Scirotto says that’s not due to bias but instead where police are deployed. The bill was reversed in January because the police force could lose its accreditation for not enforcing state vehicle code. Check out the graphs. [PublicSource]

🧶 Steel Valley Yarn Crawl | Friday-Sat., Aug. 6 | various times

Visit local shops for 10 days of fun and inspiration. [free, multiple locations]

🪨 WOW-tdour | Saturday | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Get an intro to outdoor climbing with Women On Walls, an ASCEND social club, at Seldom Seen Greenway. [$65, Beechview]

✂️ Collage Club | Saturday | 12-3 p.m.

Meet your crafty neighbors for some cut-and-paste fun at Wick Monet’s studio. [free, Shadyside]

🎨 Hill District Arts Fest | Saturday-Sunday | 12-8 p.m.

Enjoy local artists, food trucks, DJs, kids activities, and more with ACH Clear Pathways. [free, Hill District]

🎶 Blues and Roots Fest | Saturday-Sunday | 12-11 p.m.

Hear live tunes at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center with proceeds benefiting musical enrichment for kids with autism. [$35-60, Cheswick]

🎤 Nerd Nite | Saturday | 7 p.m.

Head to Velum Fermentation for a comedy show that’s a mix between stand-up, TED talks, and a social mixer. [$10, South Side]

🎸 Rockout To Knockout Cancer 21+ | Saturday | 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Jam at the Bridge Music Bar to fund cancer research. [$13-20, East Liberty]

🚲 Open Streets | Sunday | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Walk, run, bike, skate, or dance through car-free streets with activities along the way. [free, Bloomfield / Oakland]

📜 Jewish Roots in Allegheny City | Sunday | 1-4:30 p.m.

Join the Allegheny City Society for a bus tour to learn about the Jewish people, congregations, business, and social life in the historic city. [$40-45, North Side]

🌮 TacoMania Super Fest | Sunday | 1-7 p.m.

Try tacos from the city’s best makers, plus beer and margaritas. [$6-20, South Side]

🌿 Plantasia Fashion Show | Sunday | 3-6 p.m.

See an extraordinary fusion of fashion and sustainability at Trace Brewing. [$10-50, Bloomfield]

☀️ Summer Concert Series | Sunday | 7:30 p.m.

Groove to live music at Hartwood Acres Amphitheater. [free, Hampton Township]

How to Measure Heat, Police Staffing & Rediscovering Pgh

The heat is insufferable but does it qualify as a wave? A new police academy class is in session, but the bureau will need to recruit a lot more people if they plan to get back up to 900 like they plan. And Brittany Hailer, director of the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, shares one thing — on Facebook, of all places — that’s bringing her joy this summer.