📱 We grade Gov. Shapiro’s most viral TikTok

Most Legislative Races Will Be Decided Today

Because of Pennylvainia’s closed primary and fewer competitive legislative districts, millions of voters across the Commonwealth will have little choice in who represents them in the state House and Senate. This means that ultimate control of the legislature — the 203-member state House and 50-member state Senate — will be effectively decided during the primary elections today. [SpotlightPA]

Mon Incline & Mon Wharf Reopen

Mt. Washington residents and businesses rejoice! The Monongahela Incline is back in operation after being closed for six weeks for electrical repairs. PRT is reviewing the 154-year-old funicular in the hopes of making it more sustainable to operate for years to come.

• ✅ More good news for commuters: After being closed due to flooding, the Mon Wharf parking lot has reopened; snag your parking spot on the Wood Street or Stanwix Street sides. [TribLIVE]
• 🌊 What goes into flood cleanup in Pittsburgh? [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Columbus Debate Goes Back to County Court

In 2020, the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) sued to keep Christopher Columbus’ statue in Schenley Park after the Pittsburgh Art Commission unanimously voted to remove it. An Allegheny County judge threw out the complaint in 2022, and the ISDA appealed that decision in 2023, sending the battle to Commonwealth Court. This week, it got kicked back to the county. [Associated Press]

• ISDA President Basil Russo says that the statue was built with donations from poor Italian immigrants and symbolizes sacrifice. [ISDA]
• Some see the statue as a symbol of systemic racism. “It was (Indigenous) lands, languages, and lives that were decimated through the actions that began with Columbus and continues to this day through the ramifications of this white settler violence.” [Pittsburgh City Paper]
• 📣 Isn’t the city responsible for a statue on Pittsburgh property? Well, it’s complicated. Listen back to our episode from the fall to get some background. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Former Radio Host Larry O’Brien Dies

Longtime Pittsburgh radio host Larry O’Brien, one half of the morning duo “O’Brien & Garry,” has died at 81. Originally from Toledo, O’Brien claimed his fame in Pittsburgh during the 1970s on 1250 WTAE-AM and its sister station, 96.1 WHTX-FM. He and his radio partner John Garry Lindemulder were a staple on Pittsburgh’s morning airwaves until the ‘90s; Lindemulder died at 91 in September. [TribLIVE]

Let’s play a game! Where can you find this photo above? 👀

🌟 Shoutout to Matthew B., Kelly D., Alexander G., Tori E., Carla C., and Elizabeth C. who correctly guessed the last “Where Is It?” challenge!

April is Earth Month, the perfect time to celebrate Rachel Carson’s roots in Pittsburgh. I loved spotting her pop art-inspired portrait at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Carson, who grew up in Springdale, was a marine biologist, author, and conservationist best known for writing “Silent Spring,” a book detailing the dangers of pesticides. Her writings helped lead to the Clean Air, Wilderness, and Endangered Species acts, as well as the development of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.

Grading PA Governor Josh Shapiro’s TikTok

A proposed TikTok ban just cleared the House, and Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering their own statewide restrictions on the video app. We’re wondering what a ban could mean for Governor Josh Shapiro, a “prolific poster” with a few viral TikToks under his belt. We're talking about the latest legislation, plus a professional TikToker analyzes Shapiro’s account!