🍪 Does Pgh say ‘cookie’ weird?

🏥 Staff Demand UPMC Reinstate Gender-Affirming Care

More than 100 UPMC employees signed an open letter calling on the hospital system to restore hormone therapy and puberty blockers for patients under 19. “We will not stand by or be complicit in this atrocious attempt to eliminate transgender people from society,” the letter declares. UPMC says it’s following directives from the federal government to avoid “risk of criminal prosecution.” [PublicSource]

• 🚨 Forcing patients to de-transition has “medical and mental health consequences,” said Katherine Anderson, a UPMC behavioral health therapist specializing in youth suicide prevention. [90.5 WESA]
• 📣 Staff plan to deliver the letter at a rally this Sunday at 3 p.m. outside of UPMC headquarters Downtown.

🌡️ Pittsburgh Cooling Centers Open

Six Healthy Active Living Centers are serving as cooling centers through Wednesday due to a Code Red Heat Advisory. Find centers in Beechview, Brighton Heights, Greenfield, Homewood, Sheraden, South Side, and more throughout Allegheny County. [City of Pittsburgh / Allegheny County]

• 🌊 Take a dip into our guide to Pittsburgh pools. [📝 Hey Pittsburgh / 🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

❌ City Cancels International Parade and Pittsburgh World Cup

The events, scheduled for this month, were declared potential targets for ICE raids. “We cannot in good conscience carry out an event that has the potential to directly harm those who participate or exclude a portion of our immigrant residents,” the city’s website says. [TribLive / City of Pittsburgh]

• 📣 Know your rights: Here’s what to do during an ICE encounter (English and Spanish). [📝 Hey Pittsburgh / 🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Let’s play a game! Where in Pittsburgh can you find the octopus sculpture in the photo above? 👀

I’m sorry yinz! Last week’s photo challenge was a tough one. No one got it 😢 Find the answer below ⬇️

Looking for a unique local gift? Fort Pitt Trading Co. on 19th Street is filled with housewares for just about every room in the house — including handcrafted wooden items like cutting boards, lazy susans, and charcuterie boards. They’re all made in-house by Jonathan Moran, who owns the store with his spouse Mindy. Have a specific request? They take custom orders, too!

👀 Looking for more to see and do?

• 🍓 Go strawberry picking at these local farms.
• ☀️ Finish out the month with our guide to June.
• 🏡 Buy tickets to these home & garden tours.
• 🌮 Dig in to these summer food & drink fests.
• 🚲 Explore Pittsburgh’s new pedestrian bridge.
• 💡 Test your knowledge with our latest trivia quiz.

It’s time for Neighbor shoutouts 📣 This is where City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbors get to shine a light on their fave local people and spots.

• 💻 John K. is excited about the Three Rivers Information Security Symposium happening this October and loves that the conference gives back through student scholarships.

Want to share your own shoutout? 🌟