Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

Am I family? A stepparent? A bonus adult? Messy questions led me to real community.

I didn’t plan to have children, but I now live with one and have a significant impact on her life. And as many of us know, “family” doesn’t just happen because you live under one roof.

by First-person essay by Lauren H. Steele

Arts & Culture

Video: The art-filled Pittsburgh retreat for traveling Black artists

by Janel Young

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Economy & Housing

Push to turn former Downtown heating plant into affordable housing gains steam

by Mia Hollie

HIGHER EDUCATION

Pitt shared a border patrol recruitment event. Here’s how colleges are responding to the immigration crackdown.

by Maddy Franklin

Local Government

Allegheny County DHS leader to leave for NYC job

by Charlie Wolfson and Venuri Siriwardane

Technology

A Pennsylvania startup uses AI to turn doomscrolling into civic action

by Alice Crow

Featured

You Have the Floor: 7 town halls in 7 days

by Jennie Ewing Liska and Halle Stockton

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Election 2026

Democrat cruises to victory in South Hills special election for state House

by Charlie Wolfson

WHO WE ARE

Pittsburgh’s Public Source informs and inspires the Pittsburgh region through the power of deep, independent journalism.

What Green Bay says about hosting last year’s NFL Draft

by Charlie Wolfson

ICE, immigration and local response

Reporting on the reach and impact of immigration enforcement in Pittsburgh and across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Education

Once assaulted over his identity, Riverview school board president stood with immigrant community

by Lajja Mistry

Digging deeper for Pittsburgh

Trump Impacts

Timeline: Feds say CMU among 31 schools to stop working with Ph.D. diversity nonprofit

by Maddy Franklin

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Economy & Housing

Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs

by The Associated Press

Arts & Culture

Video: One of Pittsburgh’s coolest art experiences is hiding in Troy Hill

by Janel Young

Guest commentary

People over plows: A call for urgent investment in Pittsburgh’s Black women

by First-person essay by Sharnay Hearn Davis

ICE, immigration and local response

Sheriff’s ICE interactions, in flux for nearly a year, at center of Allegheny County debate

by Quinn Glabicki

ICE, immigration and local response

Talk of ICE activity around schools prompts advocacy and a walkout

Reports of an immigration-related arrest brought observers to Wilkinsburg schools and Westinghouse High, while Allderdice students left early and marched to express anti-ICE sentiment.

by Mia Hollie, Lajja Mistry and DS Fleegle

ALCOA MINES AUSTRALIA'S FOREST

Alcoa pays Australian feds $36 million for ‘unlawful’ forest clearing

The payment, dubbed “unprecedented” by Australia’s mining minister, settles a question of whether the Pittsburgh giant enjoys exemptions to Australian environmental law. Separate tussles continue with state and local governments.

by Jamie Wiggan

Oakmont votes against immigration enforcement role, while Springdale officials say little

Two Allegheny Valley boroughs have seen high-profile detentions of immigrants. One is cooperating with ICE while the other voted against collaboration, as area schools try to keep immigration enforcement at arm’s length.

by Quinn Glabicki, Matt Petras and Lajja Mistry

CLAIRTON AFTER THE BLAST

Federal agency flags safety shortcomings that ‘exposed’ workers to explosion at U.S. Steel plant

OSHA said that U.S. Steel’s written procedures, practices and training to safely maintain equipment and flush the gas valve were incomplete, outdated or inadequate.

by Marc Levy, Associated Press

Pennsylvania

A special election in the South Hills could set tone for midterms

The 42nd District of the Pennsylvania House has recent history of electing Democrats. Results in a Feb. 24 special election could be a preview of voter mood with the General Assembly and U.S. House on the ballot in November.

by Jamese Platt

Local Government

Will UPMC’s ambulance gift inspire other nonprofits to contribute?

The region’s biggest health system quickly greeted Mayor O’Connor’s new administration with a $10 million donation. Whether that gesture marks a turning point in Pittsburgh’s feuding with nonprofits or a one-time gift remains to be seen.

by Charlie Wolfson

HEALTH

Ahead of UPMC ambulance deal, Pittsburgh medics rely on makeshift fixes — even using vomit bags to warm cabs

Ambulance breakdowns can cost lives. Pittsburgh’s EMS leaders have been so concerned about old vehicles with six figures on the odometer that they’ve used tragedies that happened elsewhere to appeal to city officials.

by Venuri Siriwardane

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh in April. Will you be cheering, or hiding?

The last few drafts have been attended by hundreds of thousands of fans. Share your thoughts and plans as the North Shore and Downtown prepare for an influx.

by Public Source

ICE, immigration and local response

Punches thrown by counterprotester at Springdale anti-ICE demonstration

A protest spurred by Springdale Borough’s stop, and ICE’s detention of a resident originally from Peru drew a counterprotester who threatened and punched participants.

by Stephanie Strasburg and Rich Lord

ICE, immigration and local response

ICE: Detained Springdale man entered U.S. illegally and missed court date

Springdale Borough turned over Randy Cordova Flores to ICE, in an exchange that has roiled some in his Allegheny Valley community.

by Rich Lord

NEWS PARTNERS

U.S. Steel fined $118K for safety lapses in Clairton Coke Works fatal explosion

The company was cited 10 times by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

by Jack Troy and Megan Trotter, TribLive

Arts & Culture

Video: This Pittsburgh-area hidden art gem is a tribute to the children of Aliquippa

“The Tomorrow Project: Aliquippa” by the Genesis Collective represents the community’s dreams and pride. Artist Janel Young interviews muralist Guy Ruff on the meaning of this public art piece and what it took to create it.

by Janel Young

Guest commentary

We need brave institutions to support transgender youth in Pittsburgh

In the face of authoritarian crackdowns on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, we need bravery more than ever.

by Guest commentary by Ansel Bloom

ICE, immigration and local response

Allegheny County Council says it doesn’t know how much county employees interact with ICE

The legislators are considering a bill that would ban many forms of cooperation between county employees and the federal agencies leading the immigration crackdown.

by Charlie Wolfson

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