36 minMar 7, 2025

Potholes, Political Football & Federal Cuts Hit Home

Show Notes

Pittsburgh’s acting police chief, Christopher Ragland, is stepping down just a few months after taking over the bureau (and just a few weeks after he was nominated to become permanent chief). Host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo discuss the latest development in the ongoing saga. Plus, they share how the state and county are trying to help federal workers who’ve been laid off, why public library use is up while public transit use is down, and one crafty and extremely Pittsburgh way people are measuring potholes at a local mall.

Notes and references from today’s show:

Federal workers:

US announced job cuts surge 245% in February on federal government layoffs [Reuters]
How NIH cuts could stall Pittsburgh's economy [Axios Pittsburgh]
At Steelworkers HQ, Deluzio and Lee speak with Pitt researchers about impact of NIH funding cuts [WESA]
3 Western Pa. federal buildings listed, then removed, to be closed or sold [TribLive]
Employees cut by feds could get Pa., Allegheny County jobs [TribLive]
From psychosis to sleep to drug resistance, these Pittsburgh research efforts are threatened by Trump spending cuts, orders [PublicSource]
Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo [AP]
JOBS: Career Opportunities for Impacted Federal Workers [Allegheny County]
JOBS: Continue Your Public Service with the Commonwealth [Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]

Acting police chief resigns:

Mayor Ed Gainey's pick for Pittsburgh police chief, Christopher Ragland, is withdrawing name, leaving force [KDKA]
Leadership vacuum: Ragland withdraws as Pittsburgh police chief candidate, plans to retire [TribLive]
Pittsburgh City Council members say 'good riddance' to former acting police chief in ethics debate [WESA]
Police Chief Out, Broken Vending Machines, & Big Bucks for Downtown [City Cast Pittsburgh]

Library & PRT:

Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library sees rise in patrons, but worries about balancing books in the future [WESA]
Pittsburgh Regional Transit service report shows minor ridership drop [Pittsburgh Union Progress]
Annual Service Report [Pittsburgh Regional Transit]

What else we’re thinking about:

How Well Do You Know Pittsburgh? Take This Quiz! [City Cast Pittsburgh]
Pittsburgh Mills potholes — much frustration, few answers [TribLive]
A young great horned owl is rescued after falling down 100 feet from its Pittsburgh nest [KDKA]
Waddle-ful News: The National Aviary is overjoyed to share the arrival of not one but TWO African Penguin chicks! [@national_aviary]

Learn more about the sponsors of this March 7th episode:

The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens

City Theatre

Fulton Commons

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

KESEM

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