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Heinz Museum in a Pickle Over Ketchup

At a zoning board meeting Thursday, the leader of our region's largest history museum took questions on how and why the Smithsonian affiliate affixed a 52-foot Heinz ketchup bottle outside its Smallman Street building in the Strip District back in December. The bottle, or "artifact," is one of a pair that once lived in the red zone inside Heinz Field, and runs afoul of the building's zoned height limitations for its external signage. Museum CEO Andy Masich told city planners, "It's my mistake. I didn't realize it (qualified as) a sign." [City of Pittsburgh via YouTube]

Short on Narcan, Council Seeks State Funding

Pittsburgh City Council approved a $41,000 grant application this week to try to get more Narcan. The life-saving medication rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, but our supply is low. The city also wants to bolster its supply of testing kits for xylazine, an animal tranquilizer commonly known as “tranq.” [KDKA-TV]

PPS Creates Ethnic Studies Course

Starting next year, all Pittsburgh Public high schools will offer an ethnic studies course, where students can learn about “social movements, forms of oppression and examples of resilience within cultures.” The school board approved $1 million in materials and teacher training, including helping teachers identify their biases. PPS will be among the first in the state to make ethnic studies a requirement for graduation, starting with the class of 2028. [90.5 WESA]

Stormy Daniels, Open Streets & Pittsburgh Books We Can’t Put Down

It’s the Friday news roundup! Ben Roethlisberger is being talked about in connection with Donald Trump’s first criminal trial, and it’s not the first time the former Steelers QB has faced unsavory allegations. There’s a ton of literary love coming to our city this weekend via the Pittsburgh Festival of Books, and we’re recommending a few by local authors. Plus, a few last minute ideas ahead of Mother's Day.