Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

ICE detainees seek freedom using medieval legal idea and 16-year-old website

Habeas corpus cases, once rare in Western Pennsylvania, now flood the federal docket as ICE detainees challenge detentions. Families are using GoFundMe to pay lawyers.

by Charlie Wolfson

ABORTION ACCESS

Pennsylvania judges say blocking Medicaid for abortion violates state constitution

by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

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ICE, immigration and local response

Death of Haitian immigrant still an unsettling mystery seven weeks later

by Sophia Lucente

Guest commentary

Pittsburgh is the right place to tap the brakes on the AI ‘race’

by Guest commentary by Max Blair

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

Pittsburgh’s kid athletes stage their own NFL-style draft ahead of the pros

by Lajja Mistry

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First person

The hard road from Pittsburgh culture shock to belonging

by First-person essay by Brenda Sanchez

WHO WE ARE

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

He didn’t know what was hurting his credit score. A free counseling session changed that.

ICE, immigration and local response

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

ICE, immigration and local response

ICE notified sheriff of 46 ‘targets’ for planned arrests at Downtown courthouses last year, emails show

by Quinn Glabicki

Digging deeper for Pittsburgh

Local Government

O’Connor seeking ‘long-term’ deals with UPMC, other nonprofits

by Charlie Wolfson

Quick Source

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

More local news

HEALTH

Ticks are the backyard threat Southwestern Pennsylvania homeowners keep ignoring

by Danielle Tufts and Emily Bache, for The Conversation

Guest commentary

Will the ambulance show up? An authority can keep the medics coming.

by Guest commentary by Dwight Boddorf

Education

PPS proposes feeder pattern shuffle as admin seeks support for facilities plan

by Lajja Mistry

BREAKING NEWS

Post-Gazette acquired by Baltimore news outlet

by Jamie Wiggan

HEALTH

Magee-Womens nurses take to streets, surveys to bolster bargaining with UPMC

In an unusual approach to collective bargaining, newly unionized nurses want to bring Pittsburgh-area patients’ experiences to the table as they pound out a first contract. UPMC said it’s committed to safe staffing, but not fixed ratios.

by Venuri Siriwardane

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

As NFL Draft nears, Point Park aims to turn location into opportunity

With a growing enrollment and proximity to Pittsburgh’s biggest-ever gathering, Point Park University is going remote but also hoping students reap the benefits of the April 23-25 event.

by Maddy Franklin

Outside law enforcement to assist Pittsburgh for NFL Draft patrols

‘Hundreds’ of FBI personnel will be in Southwestern Pennsylvania, an official said Friday.

by Charlie Wolfson

First person

Did AI kill my job, or open up a next chapter?

As a writer, I went from freelance uncertainty to full-time stability, but AI has brought me right back to where I started. Now, I’m focusing on the things that matter most.

by First-person essay by Austin Harvey

Economy & Housing

Plan to fund Downtown rebound to go for taxing body votes

The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority’s plan to fund Downtown improvements using tax revenue from future developments now goes to City Council, County Council and the Pittsburgh Public Schools board.

by Mia Hollie

DEVELOP PGH

Downtown Pittsburgh organization at a turning point — or an end

The Pittsburgh Downtown Neighbors Alliance has parted ways with its longtime leader and is pausing activities.

by Mia Hollie and Rich Lord

Environment

Hearing on Shell’s Beaver County cracker plant brings out economic benefits and health concerns

The Monaca plant has been the source of many emissions violations, but much of the testimony at a state permit hearing came from supporters of its role as a source of income.

by Katherine Weaver

NEWS PARTNERS

Pennsylvania could require paid family leave — if lawmakers can decide who bears the cost

One of the key issues dividing lawmakers, largely along party lines, is whether they need to protect businesses from costs associated with paid family leave.

by Jaxon White of Spotlight PA

DEVELOP PGH

Vape shops should be unwelcome Downtown and near schools, commission recommends

Legislation to restrict the locations of new vape shops now goes back to Pittsburgh City Council, which can consider the Planning Commission’s recommended amendments.

by Mia Hollie

ICE, immigration and local response

Council clears first of three bills limiting ICE cooperation in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is mulling a trio of bills that would go “above and beyond” the restrictions recently passed by Allegheny County to limit cooperation with federal immigration agents.

by Jamese Platt

Hospitals hope AI can reduce burnout, while workers push for staffing standards

AI tools are becoming more commonplace in Pittsburgh hospitals, promising productivity gains for practitioners amid the nursing crisis. But to local hospital employees, enduring understaffing and burnout, another solution is clear: Hire more workers.

by Will Curvan

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

The NFL Draft may be the ultimate sports exposition, but it’s far from the first for the North Shore

The Pittsburgh neighborhood hosting the draft has some 150 years of sports history.

by Stephanie Strasburg, Quinn Glabicki and Rich Lord

First person

Don’t tell anyone about Pittsburgh

After leaving a refugee-clogged city in Ukraine, Pittsburgh felt empty. It quickly filled me with its history and art, and I only ask that we keep its charms secret from capitalism’s armies of obedient functionaries.

by First-person essay by Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko

Arts & Culture

Behind the curtain, Pittsburgh’s theater business is undergoing a scene change

As demand increases for Broadway tours and production costs rise, local theaters are experimenting with new partnerships, funding models and creative strategies to sustain the city’s arts ecosystem.

by Aakanksha Agarwal

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Home

ICE detainees seek freedom using medieval legal idea and 16-year-old website

Pennsylvania judges say blocking Medicaid for abortion violates state constitution

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

Death of Haitian immigrant still an unsettling mystery seven weeks later

Pittsburgh is the right place to tap the brakes on the AI ‘race’

Pittsburgh’s kid athletes stage their own NFL-style draft ahead of the pros

The hard road from Pittsburgh culture shock to belonging

WHO WE ARE

He didn’t know what was hurting his credit score. A free counseling session changed that.

ICE, immigration and local response

ICE notified sheriff of 46 ‘targets’ for planned arrests at Downtown courthouses last year, emails show

O’Connor seeking ‘long-term’ deals with UPMC, other nonprofits

Quick Source

More local news

Ticks are the backyard threat Southwestern Pennsylvania homeowners keep ignoring

Will the ambulance show up? An authority can keep the medics coming.

PPS proposes feeder pattern shuffle as admin seeks support for facilities plan

Post-Gazette acquired by Baltimore news outlet

Our nonprofit newsroom needs your support.

Magee-Womens nurses take to streets, surveys to bolster bargaining with UPMC

As NFL Draft nears, Point Park aims to turn location into opportunity

Most Read

Outside law enforcement to assist Pittsburgh for NFL Draft patrols

Did AI kill my job, or open up a next chapter?

Plan to fund Downtown rebound to go for taxing body votes

Downtown Pittsburgh organization at a turning point — or an end

Hearing on Shell’s Beaver County cracker plant brings out economic benefits and health concerns

Pennsylvania could require paid family leave — if lawmakers can decide who bears the cost

Vape shops should be unwelcome Downtown and near schools, commission recommends

Council clears first of three bills limiting ICE cooperation in Pittsburgh

Hospitals hope AI can reduce burnout, while workers push for staffing standards

The NFL Draft may be the ultimate sports exposition, but it’s far from the first for the North Shore

Don’t tell anyone about Pittsburgh

Behind the curtain, Pittsburgh’s theater business is undergoing a scene change

Local events

Develop PGH

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First-person essays