👻 Pittsburgh has a ghost bus problem

Officer Reinstated Despite Taser Overuse

The officer who repeatedly shocked Jim Rogers with a Taser in 2021 got his job back. Keith Edmonds was fired after using a Taser on Rogers at least 10 times in an interaction following a stolen bicycle report in Bloomfield. Rogers lost consciousness while in custody and died in the hospital the next day. Edmonds will get full back pay, benefits, and his record cleared, according to Fraternal Order of Police Local 1. The city maintains that police played a role in Rogers’ death and are “deeply disappointed by the arbitrator's award.” [90.5 WESA / City of Pittsburgh]

• 📣 “Officer Edmonds himself testified that he violated the policies of the City of Pittsburgh, however this award adopts a new standard that says that even an admission of guilt by the officer isn’t enough to warrant disciplinary action,” the city said in a release.

County Updates Healthy Housing Rules

The county’s Houses and Community Environment regulations were updated for the first time in more than a quarter century. The regulations establish standards for safe housing and how the Allegheny County Health Department can enforce those rules. These changes are expected to go into effect Oct. 1.

• 🏡 Do the changes do enough to protect vulnerable tenants? Housing advocates say no. They are pushing for the creation of a housing advisory committee, as well as a fundamental overhaul of the code. [PublicSource]

North Shore Garages Go Cashless

We’re less than a month away from Pirates opening day! Get your credit cards ready — parking lots and garages will no longer be accepting cash for special events. [KDKA-TV]

• 🚙 Making plans? Here’s where you can park on the North Shore.

Eat pie for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert at these 14 Pittsburgh bakeries and restaurants.

Piebird Pastry Kitchen

📍Lawrenceville

If variety is what you’re looking for, order a butter-crusted beauty from Piebird. Pick from mixed berry sour cream custard, chocolate bourbon pecan, apple brown butter crumb, and more. Check out their special Pi Day pop up from 6 to 8 p.m.

Food Glorious Food

📍Highland Park

Cookies, cakes, pies — you name it, they have it! Get a whole pie or just a slice in flavors such as coconut cream, walnut chocolate, or key lime.

The Pie Place

📍Bethel Park

The next time you’re shopping in the South Hill Village, swing by for a fruits of the forest or peanut butter chocolate pie.

Pittsburgh Pie Guy

📍Pop-ups all over Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pie Guy (which is actually two people) has sweet and savory pies in a range of sizes: mini, medium, and large. Find them popping up at the Bloomfield Farmers Market and 3 Rivers Outdoors Co, or order for delivery.

Let’s play a game! Where was the photo above taken? 👀

🌟 Shoutout to ALL 22 OF YINZ who correctly guessed the last “Where Is It?” challenge! That’s too many people to list here, but I’m jazzed to see so many of you playing along!

March 24 is National Cocktail Day. If you’re looking for a spot, Kingfly Spirits’ craft distillery has a great selection.

🍸 But we want to know: Where’s your favorite cocktail in the city? We might just give you a shoutout on the podcast next week!

Why Pittsburgh Has a Ghost Bus Problem

If you live in parts of the South Hills or the East End, getting around by bus or on the T might be pretty easy for you. But that’s not true for big portions of our city and county. Today we’re with the grassroots advocacy group Pittsburghers for Public Transit to talk about our regional provider, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, including what PPT loves, what data shows isn’t working, and the group’s vision for what public transit could be here in the Burgh.