⚾ Why we’re loving the Pirates’ Thread account

Students and Parents Disagree with Cell Phone Rules

More than a dozen Pittsburgh Public Schools introduced measures to restrict cell phone use in classrooms to limit distractions and disciplinary infractions. Many students and their parents are pushing back, citing chaotic processes to check-in phones, the short notice parents were given, and anxiety for families who use their phones for health monitoring, emergency calls, and more. [90.5 WESA]

Fertility Clinic for Trans Patients Coming to Pgh

The facility will offer sperm and egg donations, surrogacy services, IVF, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. The clinic is expected to be running by spring 2024 in partnership with the Allegheny Reproductive Health Center and Mate Fertility. [Philadelphia Gay News]

Anti-Violence Orgs Receive Millions in Funding

It used to take the Reimagine Reentry team days to reach a victim of gun violence. But thanks to an infusion of funding from the county in the past year, the anti-violence prevention coaches can now get to someone within a day, often while they're still receiving treatment in the hospital. The team is among 13 local organizations receiving a combined $50 million in funding over the next five years to reduce community violence. Many of these orgs say the funding is already helping enormously, but worry of a “disaster” if the county doesn’t continue the funding beyond its five-year runway. [PublicSource]

Gisele Fetterman on Being a Realist, Firefighter, and Political Spouse

The Braddock resident and former Second Lady of Pennsylvania has had one hell of a year. From navigating the racism she's experienced as the Brazilian-born wife of Sen. John Fetterman, to her nonprofit and volunteer firefighter work, and supporting her husband through his stroke and depression, this piece takes a deep dive into her approach to honesty and putting out fires, both political and natural. [The Cut]

Have you read this piece yet? We’re big fans of Pittsburgh-based writer Virginia Montanez. She was recently on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast sharing the ultimate map for nostalgic Pittsburghers 🎧

Now back to her recent piece, we especially loved the third section, “Is that giant drunk bird with the beer belly … hitting on me?” As Montanez hilariously notes, the Pirates clearly have a new, rather forward approach to their latest social media account. Check out this clever catch from Montanez:

📣 Sound off, Pittsburgh! What do you think of the Pirates’ Threads personality? Are they representing Pgh well in the Threads-isphere?!

➕ Check out Montanez’s substack Breathing Space for more local hilarity.

🗺️ Plus, hear about her interactive map project Remains to be Seen and how you can get involved with the hunt for local relics.

🧘 Mindful Yoga | Wednesday | 6 p.m.

Engage in a gentle practice of restorative, yin, raja, and soft-flow yoga. [donation-based, Friendship]

🪘 African Drum Class | Thursday | 6:30 p.m.

Learn from the master drummer Fode “Lavia” Camara at Legacy Arts Studio. [$10, Homewood South]

🌳 Fair Shake Fest | Thursday | 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Celebrate 10 years of environmental justice for Appalachian communities at Tree Pittsburgh with food, drinks, and live bluegrass music. [$70, Upper Lawrenceville]

🍷 Italian Wine Series | Thursday | 6:30 p.m.

Head to the Pennsylvania Market to taste four different wines from Italy’s Campania region. [$40, Strip District]

What’s a Sister City & Why Does Pgh Have So Many?

This week, 67 years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the sister cities program, and in the decades since, Pittsburgh has become an especially popular international partner. How do these diplomatic hook-ups happen, who green-lights the match, and how did Pittsburgh end up with so many?

Kathy Risko, director of the Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh, says some of it is personality and a lot comes back to steel.