Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

I was a PPS alum preparing to homeschool — but my daughter changed my mind

“School choice is an especially interesting conversation in Pittsburgh. In a city where Black people make up 22% of the population, our children are nearly 50% of Pittsburgh Public Schools’ student body.”

by First-person essay by Allyce Pinchback

Local Government

Sewer bills to surge 14% next year in most of Allegheny County

by Rich Lord

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

HIGHER EDUCATION

CCAC faculty weigh walkout amid push for wage hike

by Maddy Franklin

HEALTH

Lookback: The path to a novel paid parental leave law in Allegheny County

by Rich Lord

Local Government

Q&A: Paid parental leave law means decision time for Allegheny County businesses

by Oliver Morrison

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WHO WE ARE

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

Opponents of shelters should count their own benefits

by Guest commentary by Dani Wenner

Local Government

Allegheny County Council passes parental leave mandate in 11-4 vote

by Oliver Morrison

HEALTH

Here’s what happens when a $10,000 healthcare premium meets a tick-borne sickness

by Oliver Morrison

Fox Chapel

Why more Pittsburgh-area librarians are becoming ‘steelworkers’

by Octavia Liku

Education

Voting rights, Flock cameras, phone bans on students’ minds ahead of midterms

by Lajja Mistry

First person

I’m teaching my daughters consent so they can avoid what I endured. Will it be enough?

by First-person essay by Shannon Parris

HEALTH

Can GLP-1s trim more than weight? Effect on drug use, crime to be studied in Pittsburgh.

by Oliver Morrison

Education

Homeschool program challenges cease-and-desist order as hybrid options grow around Pittsburgh

by Lajja Mistry

NEWS PARTNERS

What happened to Pennsylvania’s hydrogen hubs?

by Rebecca McCarthy

Economy & Housing

Data center fears and job hopes heard at virtual meeting on Springdale proposal

by Mia Hollie

Mon Valley

Data center proves a tough sell at Elizabeth Township town hall

A developer proposing a 3 million square-foot complex above the Youghiogheny River presented to hundreds of people — many of them opponents of the plan — providing few new details.

by Lucas Dufalla

Local Government

Voter guide 2026: Where candidates stand on ICE, war and data centers

There are 17 contested legislative races in Allegheny County this year. Here’s what the candidates said on the issues you flagged.

by Charlie Wolfson

Economy & Housing

The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in Western Pennsylvania

For two decades the global oil market centered in Western Pennsylvania. Today, the navigability of Persian Gulf waterways largely dictates what we pay at the pump, but echoes remain from a market system developed 90 miles north of Pittsburgh.

by Brian C. Black for The Conversation

Climate

Blackouts are getting worse. Here’s what Duquesne Light is doing — and what it won’t do.

Pittsburgh’s above-ground power lines, abundant trees and worsening storms have residents buying generators, scoping out hotel rooms — and wishing the power company would do more to prevent blackouts.

by Lissa Brennan

Trump Impacts

Timeline: Feds subpoena Pitt, others alleging visa fraud

A timeline of federal higher ed changes and responses by Pittsburgh-area colleges and universities.

by Maddy Franklin

BREAKING NEWS

Health Department: Both children with measles attended same school

Allegheny County Health Department officials initially reported no connection between a measles case and exposure at a McKnight Road Target and a school exposure. News that the infected kids share a school “significantly expands” the investigation.

by Oliver Morrison

First person

In Pittsburgh, as an autistic person, finding joy is often a challenging journey

Whether it’s visiting a friend or attending a Penguins game, I need to weigh the sensory load and energy cost of finding fun — often with little support or accommodation.

by First-person essay by Eli Kurs-Lasky

Inside our Newsroom

Public Source’s reporting in Australia captures another statewide honor

Spotlight Award among nine by Society of Professional Journalists to Pittsburgh’s online newsroom.

by Halle Stockton

Investigations

City, county leaders want more diverse contracting from ALCOSAN

Pittsburgh Mayor O’Connor and Allegheny County Executive Innamorato called for improvement following a Pittsburgh’s Public Source report on the diversity numbers in a $1 billion sewer tunnel contract. Neither got specific.

by Rich Lord

HEALTH

Second measles case confirmed in Allegheny County

The Allegheny County Health Department is working with officials at the private religious school where the child attends to try to contain the spread.

by Oliver Morrison and Lajja Mistry

Environment

An orchard for all is taking root in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park

From apples and pears to the little-known hican nut, an acre of a city park will eventually be yours for the picking.

by Lissa Brennan

Investigations

Minority contractors largely absent from ALCOSAN’s billion-dollar tunnel plan

The sewer agency aims to steer 10% to 25% of project dollars to minority- or women-owned business enterprises. For its big dig along the Ohio River, the prime contract shows less than 1% of the work heading to MBEs, with 9% to WBEs.

by Rich Lord

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Home

I was a PPS alum preparing to homeschool — but my daughter changed my mind

Sewer bills to surge 14% next year in most of Allegheny County

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

CCAC faculty weigh walkout amid push for wage hike

Lookback: The path to a novel paid parental leave law in Allegheny County

Q&A: Paid parental leave law means decision time for Allegheny County businesses

WHO WE ARE

Opponents of shelters should count their own benefits

Allegheny County Council passes parental leave mandate in 11-4 vote

Here’s what happens when a $10,000 healthcare premium meets a tick-borne sickness

Why more Pittsburgh-area librarians are becoming ‘steelworkers’

Voting rights, Flock cameras, phone bans on students’ minds ahead of midterms

I’m teaching my daughters consent so they can avoid what I endured. Will it be enough?

Quick Source

More local news

Can GLP-1s trim more than weight? Effect on drug use, crime to be studied in Pittsburgh.

Homeschool program challenges cease-and-desist order as hybrid options grow around Pittsburgh

What happened to Pennsylvania’s hydrogen hubs?

Data center fears and job hopes heard at virtual meeting on Springdale proposal

Our nonprofit newsroom needs your support.

Data center proves a tough sell at Elizabeth Township town hall

Voter guide 2026: Where candidates stand on ICE, war and data centers

The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in Western Pennsylvania

Blackouts are getting worse. Here’s what Duquesne Light is doing — and what it won’t do.

Timeline: Feds subpoena Pitt, others alleging visa fraud

Health Department: Both children with measles attended same school

In Pittsburgh, as an autistic person, finding joy is often a challenging journey

Public Source’s reporting in Australia captures another statewide honor

City, county leaders want more diverse contracting from ALCOSAN

Second measles case confirmed in Allegheny County

An orchard for all is taking root in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park

Minority contractors largely absent from ALCOSAN’s billion-dollar tunnel plan

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