City Cast Pittsburgh
🗳️ A possible ballot question?
February 26, 2025 · — Francesca Dabecco
Hi, neighbor. Have you ever been in a situation where your boss or landlord was doing something shady — maybe even discriminatory — and you didn’t know what to do? There’s an office in Pittsburgh that can help for free.
Tune in to today's City Cast Pittsburgh podcast to learn more 🎧
What's CITY Talking About?
💸 PA’s Federal Funding is Now Unfrozen
The state now has access to billions in federal aid previously frozen by the Trump administration. Gov. Josh Shapiro sued the administration earlier this month for “illegally and unconstitutionally” withholding funds already approved by Congress. [Associated Press]
- 📚 Should we worry about federal funding for schools? The PPS superintendent weighs in. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
🗳️ Divestment Question Could Appear on May Ballot
The pro-Palestinian advocacy group Not On Our Dime says it got enough signatures to put a question on the primary ballot asking voters whether the city should divest from companies that do business with Israel. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh filed a lawsuit to toss out the referendum. [90.5 WESA]
💻 DEI Language Stripped From University Websites
Pitt and CMU have removed some references to diversity and anti-racist programs from their web pages. This comes after the Department of Education sent a letter ordering schools to remove diversity-focused programming or otherwise lose federal funding. [PublicSource]
🏘️ Local Refugee Org Cuts Staff
Hello Neighbor reduced or furloughed 50 percent of its team this week. This comes after President Donald Trump abruptly halted federal assistance for refugee resettlement. Allegheny County is filling some of those funding gaps, but Hello Neighbor says the federal government still owes them $950,000 for work already done. [Hello Neighbor / Allegheny County]
- ❤️🩹 Want to help? We have a list of local organizations that could use a boost. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
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What To Do
Wednesday, Feb. 26
- 🧘 Wellness Evening Asana Yoga at the Roundhouse (Hazelwood)
- 👟 Yinz Run Club at Velum Fermentation (South Side)
- 🎤 Stand-Up Comedy at Happenstance Cafe (Bloomfield)
- 🌳 Volunteer Meetup with Allegheny Land Trust (virtual)
- 🪣 Pour Your Own Epoxy at Southern Tier Brewery (North Shore)
Thursday, Feb. 27
- 📷 Lifting Liberty Opening at Kelly Strayhorn Theater (East Liberty)
- ☕ First Days Project at James Cafe (Strip District)
- 🥢 Make Your Own Chopsticks with HackPGH
- 🌲 Forest Bathing at Frick Environmental Center (Squirrel Hill)
- 📽️ How to Get to Make Believe at the Mattress Factory (North Side)
- 🍷 Winter Wine Fest in Market Square (Downtown) — through March 2
- 🎉 Gala Porras-Kim Opening at the Carnegie Art Museum (Oakland)
- 🎺 Zoot Comedy + Jazz Showcase at Bottlerocket (Allentown)
- 🍻 Brewmaster’s Feast at The Woods House (Hazelwood)
Sponsored Content
Kara Walker Exhibition Opening Soon
In 2025, you can see Kara Walker’s work in three places: San Francisco, New York City, and Pittsburgh — and for the Steel City, the wait is almost over. Kara Walker: Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated) opens at the Frick this Saturday, March 1.
🍦A sweet tip! Mark your calendar for Bruster’s PJ Day March 8. If you wear or donate a new pair of pajamas to any Pittsburgh-area Bruster’s, you can get a free waffle cone — and the donations will be sent to local youth in foster care.
Free · Daily