🇷🇺 Prisoner swap skips Pgh teacher

Marc Fogel Left Out of Prisoner Swap

About two dozen people are being freed this week, thanks to an historic prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia. But a Pittsburgh-area teacher is not among them. Teacher and Butler native Marc Fogel, most recently of Oakmont, was arrested in August 2021 for possession of medical cannabis — legal in Pennsylvania — to treat spinal pain. [USA Today]

• He received a 14-year sentence in 2022, and his 95-year-old mother Malphine has been fighting ever since to bring him home — including an appeal to former President Donald Trump the day of the assassination attempt. [TribLive]
• The State Department could designate Fogel as "wrongfully detained," which would give his case more support. Malphine sued Antony Blinken in June for failing to act after the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution calling for his release. [WTAE]
• "This is a difficult day for Marc and his family," said Sen. Bob Casey, who has been advocating on behalf of the family. "I have not forgotten about Marc, and I will never give up on bringing him home." [WTAE]
• The Fogel family has shared their journey here.

A New Way to Complain About PIT

Need to air your grievances about local aviation? Pennsylvanians can now file a complaint about delays, cancellations, and other travel hardships through a new state watchdog service.

• 📥 Be heard. The complaint form requires a ticket number, itinerary, date of purchase, and forms of payment. [PA Attorney General]
• ✈️ Traveling soon? There’s an art to finding good flight deals. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

We love to update yinz about the yummiest new places to grab a bite or bev in the Burgh! Check out what caught our eye this week 🤤

🧋Chillin’ Drive Thru

No more boring coffee for your commutes through McCandless — not when you can customize your caffeine order with cold foam and boba and pair it with a burrito-bagel. Chillin’ also serves up frozen coffee shakes (“chillers”), Italian cream sodas, and lotus energy drinks.

🥞 Dor-Stop Restaurant

The beloved Dormont breakfast joint is under new ownership. Now, when you step inside you’re greeted by a giant Guy Fieri mural. (Dor-Stop was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”) Enjoy massive plates of hot cakes and French toast with specialty flavorings — think raspberry, apple walnut, and pumpkin. Or, sleep late and add an egg to one of their burgers, which clearly makes it a breakfast item.

🥃 Whiskey B’s Bar and Kitchen

Head to Market Square and sit at the black-and-white tiled bar while you sample a cantaloupe aperol chronicle with a dozen wings in your choice of sauce. Don’t sleep on the bao buns or the chicken sandwiches!

Prisoner Swaps, VP Picks & PA’s Claim to Pommel Horse Guy

It’s the Friday news roundup! We’ve got the latest on Pittsburgh’s so-called “jock tax,” how Pennsylvanians are showing out in the Paris Olympics, and what we know about a Pittsburgh-area teacher who was left off an historic prisoner swap with Russia. Plus, we’re checking in on the Trump rally investigation and decoding Kamala Harris’ choice to introduce her vice presidential pick in Philly next week.