City Cast Pittsburgh
🤔 Pgh’s barely growing. Is that bad?
March 24, 2025 · — Francesca Dabecco
Good morning, neighbor! If you’ve ever thought about joining the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP, now’s the time. The century-old chapter needs to find more active members in order to elect new leadership — and continue its work for civil rights.
This group has deep roots in Pittsburgh. Scroll to learn about the local activist who spearheaded the NAACP’s growth here in the 1920s ⬇️
What's CITY Talking About?
🗳️ State House Control Hinges on Special Election
Tomorrow’s special election in the 35th district — between McKeesport Democrat Dan Goughnour and White Oak Republican Chuck Davis — will determine which party controls the state House. The House has been in a 101-101 stalemate since the death of Democratic state Rep. Matt Gergely in January. Libertarian Adam Kitta is also on the ballot. [Associated Press]
- 🏛️ Learn what’s at stake in our news roundup podcast. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
🏘️ Pgh’s HUD Office at Risk of Closing
Pittsburgh officials are urging the federal government not to close the local field office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which helps with housing assistance, homelessness services, affordable housing initiatives, and infrastructure projects. [90.5 WESA]
- ❌ HUD hasn’t officially announced any closures, but reports show that the Trump administration is looking to cut staff and field offices. [90.5 WESA]
- 📣 Congresswoman Summer Lee warned that if the office closes, more people will be stuck in unsafe living conditions and face evictions. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
🚫📚 Local School Board Can Now Veto Books
Despite community pushback, Pine-Richland School Board voted 5-4 to pass a policy that gives the board final say on adding or removing library books, a move that many are calling a book ban. The district previously formed a committee to review books challenged by parents, many with LGBTQ characters. [TribLIVE]
📈 Pittsburgh’s Growing … But Barely
The Pittsburgh region gained about 450 residents between 2023 and 2024, according to new Census data. Our metro area had been shrinking since the pandemic, but we stabilized partly thanks to new immigrants. [Axios Pittsburgh]
- 📍Why does it matter whether or not we grow? Hear from a regional economist. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
What To Do
Monday, March 24
- ✍️ Q Writers Roundtable with Write Pittsburgh | 6 p.m. | free | Edgewood
- 🍅 Vegan Chill Lounge at Antonio’s Pizza (Brookline)
- 🎉 Pittsburgh Fringe Fest (Garfield/Friendship/Bloomfield) — through March 29
- 🏃Run Club at Ascend (South Side)
Tuesday, March 25
- 🥟 Polish Comfort Food Cooking with In the Kitchen (Strip District)
- 🦋 Madama Butterfly at the Benedum Center (Downtown)
- 🎼 Sound Series: Flore Laurentienne at The Warhol (North Shore)
- 🥖 Easter Bread Making at Enrico Biscotti (Strip District)
- 🌳 Environmental Justice with UpStream Pittsburgh (East Liberty)
Wednesday, March 26
- 🧠 Innovation Summit at August Wilson Center (Downtown)
- 📺 Speaker Series: Chris Wallace at Heinz Hall (Downtown)
- ✍️ An Evening with Rob Zellers at O’Reilly Theater (Downtown)
- 📝 Neighborhood Memoir Workshop (Hazelwood)
- 🎶 Music of the Beatles at Con Alma (Downtown)
💛 I hope yinz enjoyed today’s feature for Women’s History Month! Test your knowledge on other local trailblazers with our Pittsburgh Pop Quiz!
🤝 PS! If you’re looking for more organizations to get involved with, we have a running list of groups that could use support right now.
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