Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

An autistic student’s path through college shows the power, and limits, of support

People with disabilities are half as likely as non-disabled peers to get bachelor’s degrees. McDonald native Gus Psaros found the accommodations, encouragement and resources he needed to graduate. His author-father says costs can hinder many people with disabilities.

by Rich Lord

Guest commentary

Allegheny County A-Team of behavioral health crisis responders should go countywide — without delay

by Guest commentary by Mason Joiner

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Economy & Housing

Affordable housing plans in Fairywood, Hazelwood, Hill District get new funding

by Mia Hollie

Investigations

Pittsburgh cosmetology school teaches on despite state probes, complaints

by Maddy Franklin

Local Government

Allegheny County may compel all employers to offer paid parental leave

by Matt Petras

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Artificial Intelligence

A state task force is hunting for misleading AI chatbots as the Shapiro admin vows legal crackdown

by Jaxon White of Spotlight PA

WHO WE ARE

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

ICE, immigration and local response

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

DEVELOP PGH

Pittsburgh restaurants face barriers, thin margins — and many don’t make it

by Aakanksha Agarwal

Digging deeper for Pittsburgh

Economy & Housing

Pittsburgh’s comprehensive plan, explained

by Mia Hollie

South Pittsburgh

PRT’s revamp of bus routes could change transit in southern, eastern suburbs

by Lucas Dufalla

Quick Source

Public Source stories (mostly) told in 90 seconds or less. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok.

More local news

Public-service guides

Hungry to garden in Pittsburgh? Here’s where to start.

by Jordan Stovka

Technology

Deepfakes laws not moving at the speed of AI

by Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

Economy & Housing

Pittsburgh residents call for action on rising costs

by Sophia Lucente

DEVELOP PGH

Plan to house federal offenders in Banksville gets thumbs down

by Mia Hollie

Pennsylvania

In the PR battle for AI data centers, tech giants have a blue-collar ally

Unions across Pennsylvania and American are embracing tech giants and their promise of jobs as the push for data centers fuels frantic construction.

by Marc Levy, Associated Press

HIGHER EDUCATION

CCAC’s push to sell off library books leaves empty shelves

This year the Community College of Allegheny County culled around 35,000 books from its collection, and library staff claim they had little say. Experts say academic book weeding should be a careful, gradual process.

by Jamese Platt

U.S. Supreme Court restricts Voting Rights Act, but effect on Pennsylvania likely limited

The court ruled race can’t play a factor in drawing voting districts. “Very idiosyncratic reasons” could dim the effects in Pennsylvania.

by Carter Walker, Votebeat

Election 2026

Voter Guide to the 2026 primaries: Congress, Pa. House and more

Seven competitive races will be on May 19 primary ballots in Allegheny County this midterm election year.

by Charlie Wolfson

Local Government

Controller: Pittsburgh’s real estate levies stable, but future grim without reassessment

A tax hike could further boost revenue this year, but Controller Rachael Heisler said city finances won’t likely stabilize unless property valuations are updated.

by Mia Hollie and Charlie Wolfson

Community storytelling

What should I do with a dining room table layered with joy and anguish?

It’s time to buy a new kitchen table, but I’ll never part with this centerpiece of family life where I spent my darkest evening.

by First-person essay by Amanda Hooper

Economy & Housing

‘Affordable’ Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough affordable housing — here’s why

Pittsburgh homes might skew cheaper than many metro areas, but the affordable housing stock is scarce. Divergent views on affordable housing policy fuel hot debates.

by Selena E. Ortiz

ICE, immigration and local response

Photos: Haitian woman released by ICE spent 24 cold hours in bus shelter prior to death

Daphy Michel’s death has increased the anxiety in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Haitian community as ICE steps up immigration enforcement and protected status awaits a court decision. Visuals released by PRT show her last day.

by Sophia Lucente and Rich Lord

Education

From snow storms to NFL Draft week, remote learning leaves behind some PPS students

Since the pandemic, remote learning has become a backstop when snow storms clog roads, heat waves threaten health or events promise to snarl traffic. Students with special education needs or without updated devices risk falling behind.

by Lajja Mistry

Economy & Housing

You paid how much for that? Let’s dive into affordability.

Are prices in and around Pittsburgh surging like an Allegheny County wave pool, or as placid as Pittsburgh’s Oliver Bath House before lap swim?

by Public Source

ICE, immigration and local response

Second critic of ICE pact with Springdale arrested on threat, assault charges

A frequent critic of Springdale Borough and its immigration enforcement collaboration now faces charges from a Feb. 14 protest and recent Facebook posts.

by Jamie Wiggan

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

We believed the NFL Draft hype and have the leftovers to prove it

One downtown Pittsburgh restaurant stretched the schedule, boosted the staffing, filled the fridge — and ended up feeling “bamboozled.” A local agency says it set “realistic expectations.”

by First-person essay by Lissa Brennan

ICE, immigration and local response

Embrace or shun ICE? These Southwestern Pa. counties and communities took stands.

The federal immigration enforcement crackdown relies in part on the 287(g) program, in which ICE delegates some power to local police. Here are the Pittsburgh-area agencies that have 287(g) pacts, and the governments that have voted not to cooperate with ICE.

by Public Source

ICE, immigration and local response

Emails between ICE and local police show cash incentives and voter loss fears

Why would local police team up with ICE? Reimbursement for officer salaries, benefits and overtime — plus new vehicles — may be part of the equation.

by Quinn Glabicki

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Home

An autistic student’s path through college shows the power, and limits, of support

Allegheny County A-Team of behavioral health crisis responders should go countywide — without delay

Care about Pittsburgh? Get local stories that matter, delivered to your inbox.

Affordable housing plans in Fairywood, Hazelwood, Hill District get new funding

Pittsburgh cosmetology school teaches on despite state probes, complaints

Allegheny County may compel all employers to offer paid parental leave

A state task force is hunting for misleading AI chatbots as the Shapiro admin vows legal crackdown

WHO WE ARE

ICE, immigration and local response

Pittsburgh restaurants face barriers, thin margins — and many don’t make it

Pittsburgh’s comprehensive plan, explained

PRT’s revamp of bus routes could change transit in southern, eastern suburbs

Quick Source

More local news

Hungry to garden in Pittsburgh? Here’s where to start.

Deepfakes laws not moving at the speed of AI

Pittsburgh residents call for action on rising costs

Plan to house federal offenders in Banksville gets thumbs down

Our nonprofit newsroom needs your support.

In the PR battle for AI data centers, tech giants have a blue-collar ally

CCAC’s push to sell off library books leaves empty shelves

Most Read

U.S. Supreme Court restricts Voting Rights Act, but effect on Pennsylvania likely limited

Voter Guide to the 2026 primaries: Congress, Pa. House and more

Controller: Pittsburgh’s real estate levies stable, but future grim without reassessment

What should I do with a dining room table layered with joy and anguish?

‘Affordable’ Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough affordable housing — here’s why

Photos: Haitian woman released by ICE spent 24 cold hours in bus shelter prior to death

From snow storms to NFL Draft week, remote learning leaves behind some PPS students

You paid how much for that? Let’s dive into affordability.

Second critic of ICE pact with Springdale arrested on threat, assault charges

We believed the NFL Draft hype and have the leftovers to prove it

Embrace or shun ICE? These Southwestern Pa. counties and communities took stands.

Emails between ICE and local police show cash incentives and voter loss fears

Local events

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First-person essays