🚨 Runaway barges on the Ohio River!

Barges Break Loose on the Ohio River

Amid another bout of heavy rain and flooding, 26 barges broke loose near the West End Bridge and floated uncontrolled down the Ohio River, plunging over dams. The rogue barges destroyed at least 150 slips at two marinas and caused the temporary closures of the West End, McKees Rocks, and Sewickley bridges. Most barges were carrying coal and none were carrying hazardous material. [TribLIVE]

• 👀 As of Sunday, one barge is still missing. The Army Corps believes it sank, but officials can't start looking until river conditions change. [USA Today]
• 🌧️ Pittsburgh has had more than 10.5 inches of rain since March 1, our wettest start to spring on record since 1871. [The Weather Channel]
• 🌊 Here’s what goes into a Pittsburgh flood cleanup. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Cyclist's Death Prompts More Talks About Traffic Safety

The next time you’re at the corner of Stanwix Street and Liberty Avenue, you’ll notice a “ghost bike” at the median. Safety advocates chained it there during a vigil for bicyclist James Mills, 67, of Squirrel Hill, who was hit March 26 by a semi-truck while crossing the intersection. He died four days later. According to the city’s crash data report, about 1 in every 20 of the 20,247 crashes reported between 2018 and 2022 involved a pedestrian or bicyclist. This accident happened the same month Mayor Ed Gainey announced his goal to end traffic deaths through the Vision Zero program. [TribLIVE]

• 🚲 Will more traffic calming help? BikePGH’s executive director tells us about the problems with official crash report data and what it’ll take to slow Pittsburgh drivers down. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

WYEP Celebrates its Golden Anniversary

The commercial-free, public-supported station at 91.3 FM is turning 50 this month. The station started during the community-radio movement of the ’70s inside of an unfinished South Oakland basement. Rosemary Welsch, who has been playing music on WYEP since 1981, calls it the “little radio station that could.” Today, it’s known for its mix of indie rock, soul, hip hop, and local music. [Pittsburgh Magazine]

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” — Pittsburgh native scientist, writer, and conservationist Rachel Carson, “The Sense of Wonder.”

🌳 Neighborhood Cleanups & Plantings

• April 20: Cleanup in South Side Flats, Brighton Heights, Etna, Bridgeville, and Greenfield
• April 20: Tree planting in Lawrenceville
• April 20: Workday at Beechview Community Garden
• April 20: Workday at Girty’s Woods in Millvale
• April 20: Frick Park Earth Day Trail Projects in Squirrel Hill
• April 21: Cleanup in East Allegheny
• April 22: Cleanup in Knoxville

♻️ Eco-Friendly Shopping

• April 20: Thriftburgh Vintage Mart at Construction Junction
• April 20: Spring Clothing Swap at Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library and Playspace
• April 20: Clothing Repair Workshop with Otto Finn + Old Flame Mending
• April 20: The Second Annual Earth Day Event at The Refillery
• April 21: Spring Seconds Sale at Studio 1225

🌎 Celebrations, Workshops & Fundraisers

• April 20: Intro to Invasive Plants with Western PA Conservancy and Highland Park Garden Club
• April 20: Earth Day Food Drive at the Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
• April 20: Wild Earth Day Festival at the Pittsburgh Zoo
• April 20: Upcycled Postcard Workshop with Associated Artists Pittsburgh
• April 21: Among the Wildflower Sanctuary Fundraiser at Velum Fermentation
• April 26: City Nature Challenge in Schenley Park

The Best Dog-Friendly Spots in Pittsburgh

There’s a difference between spaces that allow our best pals and the ones that are truly dog friendly. Pet expert Tori Mistick of WearWagRepeat is with us to share her favorite local spots for a paw-fect Pittsburgh day — plus how to pack ahead, what to consider about temperament and environment, and the quick rules for her newly christened four-paw rating system.