🏊 Ranking Pittsburgh’s best pools

Extra Money for Environmental Education

The state Department of Environmental Protection is giving out almost $1 million to support more than 50 projects promoting environmental education and stewardship, including eight in Allegheny County. Locally, the grants will fund a climate adventures club, workshops focused on stormwater management and watershed protection, and more. [The Allegheny Front]

• 🥾 Weigh in: Hear about the state’s plans for improving our parks system and find out how you can participate. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Corporate Buyers Snap Up Pittsburgh Homes

Three large national companies are buying up and renting out lots of houses in the Pittsburgh region, which means there are fewer mid-priced, single-family homes available for residents. Pitt researchers say these corporate buyers have acquired nearly 1,000 local parcels, mostly in the last five years. Big companies can typically make cash offers and outbid local homebuyers; once they’ve taken over properties, studies show they’re more likely to try to evict renters than smaller-scale rental companies. [90.5 WESA]

• 🏡 Corporate buyers are just one reason there aren’t enough single-family homes on the market. Are Boomers also partly to blame? [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Why Is Weiner World Moving?

Weiner World has been slinging hot dogs on Smithfield Street for the past 50 years, but that’s about to change. After temporarily closing in late May, the longstanding glizzy purveyor will be reopening June 3 at new digs in the U.S. Steel, erm, UPMC Tower. Owner Denny Scott called the move “bittersweet,” citing repeated store break-ins and customer complaints about the overall safety around Smithfield. [TribLive]

Ranking Pittsburgh’s City Pools

Want to explore more city pools this summer? Make sure you consult Jill Terner’s intensely detailed rubric. She’s ranking her favorites so you can make the most of your Pittsburgh poolside summer.