📣 Your Pittsburgh weekend plans!

JD Vance Visits Lower Burrell VFW

The Republican vice presidential candidate continued his attack on Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz, who was not present, over his military record and once erroneously referring to his time in "combat," which Dems have said was an accident. Former local Democratic Congressman Conor Lamb defended Walz yesterday saying, “If you want to make this campaign about who has more instances of misspeaking, I think we could pretty much settle the entire thing today.” [90.5 WESA]

What’s Happening With the U.S. Steel Deal?

The federal government requested more documents from Tokyo-based Nippon Steel's proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. The company extended its sale deadline until the end of the year but continues to promote the merger (including in Hey Pittsburgh and on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast) and hired former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as an advisor. [Pittsburgh Business Times]

• 💰 Background: President Biden, former President Trump, and the steelworkers union all oppose the deal. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

First Freedom House EMT Class Graduates

Congratulations to Pittsburgh’s nine new EMTs who graduated this week from the Freedom House EMT Academy! [KDKA-TV]

• 🚨 History lesson: The training program is in honor of Freedom House Ambulance Service, the first emergency medicine service in the country, which was founded in the Hill District in the 1960s. [Hey Pittsburgh]

Local Tourism Rebounds & Rises

Over 1.76 million visitors came through Downtown last month, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says that’s a full recovery of pre-pandemic visitor traffic — mostly thanks to record-breaking Picklesburgh attendance. [PDP]

• 📈 It’s a trend! The “State of the Strip District” reports that businesses saw 7.49 million visitors in 2023, nearly 500,000 more than the previous year. And the number of residents has tripled since 2015! [Pittsburgh Magazine]
• 🤔 Is Pittsburgh upping its tourism game? [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

We love to give yinz the 411 on all of the yummiest new places to grab a bite or bev in the 412! Check out what’s on our plate this week 🤤

🌮 Tasty Taquitos

It’s not just a food truck anymore! Besides the Garfield and South Side locations, you can now get tasty tacos, burritos, and tostadas at a brick-and-mortar in Millvale. Don’t skip the adorable mini $1 street tacos!

🍊 Live Fresh

The juicery and smoothie bar has locations in Homestead, Allegheny West, Regent Square, and Oakland — and now in Robinson. Their “Gold Rush” juice (orange, pineapple, carrot, ginger, and tumeric) is the perfect fix when you’re sick!

🥞 The Breakfast Spot

You’ll want to spend a morning at this Brentwood pancake haven. Order a flight of pancakes — flavors include pineapple upside down, peach cobbler, and cinnamon swirl — or get a custom omelet stuffed with meat and veggies.