🛶 Your guide to August in Pittsburgh

Food Justice Fund Moves Forward

Pittsburgh’s 2023 budget included $3 million to improve fresh food access across the city, but none of the money has been spent yet. Half of the funds are intended for small organizations working on food justice efforts. City Council just approved a collaboration with a Millvale-based nonprofit to handle grant applications and oversee fund distribution, but organizers are frustrated that the process has taken so long. [TribLive]

A Test for PA’s Medical Marijuana Law

A medical cannabis patient filed a lawsuit against a plastics lumber manufacturer in Westmoreland County for rescinding his job offer after a positive drug test. The company said it was a “safety sensitive position,” which doesn’t have the same hiring protections as other jobs. [TribLive]

• Both employers and workers say the state’s medical marijuana law doesn’t provide enough clarity around job protections. [Spotlight PA]
• Pittsburgh’s City Council is considering making medical marijuana patients a protected class, but there are a lot of exceptions. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

$5 Million for Clean Air Fund Projects

Allegheny County is accepting the next round of applications for projects that improve air quality, like expanding the local tree canopy or electrifying vehicle fleets. The money comes from fines paid by polluting companies, but a recent audit from the County Controller’s office found that only a small portion of the fund had been spent on air quality projects. [WESA]

🛶 Explore Our Three Rivers

Summer is the perfect time to get out on the water. We recommend enjoying our rivers from the safety of a boat, kayak or canoe. (Swim in the Mon at your own risk!) You can watch the Perseid Meteor Shower on a peaceful night paddle from August 10-12, take a boat tour to learn the secrets of the Ohio River, or brush up on kayaking basics along the Allegheny.

If you prefer to simply sit by the water, you can catch a river circus performance by a traveling troupe of musicians, circus artists and puppeteers. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and check out the free show.

🍦 Enjoy a Summer Treat

Did you know the banana split was (most likely) invented in Latrobe — and there’s a local festival dedicated to the dessert? Take a roadtrip to check out the Great American Banana Split Celebration, then continue on to Chambersburg for freshly-grown peaches. (If you need an extra ice cream fix, Shatzer Fruit Market has peach sundaes.)

Closer to home, you can bring your own banana to Bruster’s on Thursdays and get half off a banana split, or dig into a yinzer sundae at Page’s Dairy Mart.

• 🍽️ Want more food recommendations? Check out our roundup of the best food festivals to close out the summer.

Your Guide to August in Pittsburgh

It’s officially August and there is so much to do in and around the city, from kayaking under a meteor shower to catching live music in the park. The City Cast team is sharing our recommendations for making the most of Pittsburgh this month, whether you’re looking for a festival dedicated to banana splits or an alpaca obstacle course.