The Fix
The Fix: The American system of recovery doesn’t always work. My journey is proof.
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Now is the time we must confront our approach to treatment and recovery.
Pittsburgh's lead problem
Test results show lead levels falling in Pittsburgh amid questions over PWSA’s future
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The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority [PWSA], plagued with an ongoing lead crisis, may finally have lead levels under control. New data, independently analyzed by PublicSource and verified by the state Department of Environmental Protection [DEP] on Wednesday, show that lead levels in Pittsburgh’s drinking water are going down, a sign that the authority’s efforts could be paying off. Lead test data collected from Pittsburgh homes between January and June show lead levels have fallen to 10 parts per billion [ppb], a significant drop from the last round of testing. Between July and December last year, the same tests produced lead levels of 21 ppb. While it’s not safe to consume any amount of lead, a known neurotoxin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets an “action limit” of 15 ppb, which the state DEP follows.
HEALTH
As the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches, Pittsburgh’s city government is poised to make the city more disability-friendly
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Although the city has increased accessibility over the years, barriers remain––and so do opportunities.
ENVIRONMENT
Pittsburgh is no longer a smoky city, but that doesn’t mean it has cleaned up its act
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This is the paradox of Pittsburgh’s current environmental identity: The city is claiming the role of environmental leader but still touts its success relative to its dirty past.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Pittsburgh City Council withholds approval of UPMC’s expansion plan after a four-hour hearing
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Advocates and community members gathered Monday and Tuesday to voice their concerns about UPMC's expansion plan. The meeting on Tuesday ended with the city council withholding their support for UPMC's plan unless there is a CBA in place.
The Fix
The darknet is transforming the drug trade. Pittsburgh is an epicenter of the FBI’s work to crack down.
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Federal law enforcement agents say that residents can get packages of fentanyl and other illicit drugs delivered right to their doorsteps, much like a product you would order from Amazon.
HEALTH
The Fix — An illustrated look: The opioid epidemic by the numbers
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The numbers alone are staggering.
PublicSource has used available data for Allegheny County and the state to communicate visually how this epidemic has affected our region.
ENVIRONMENT
Allegheny County plans to ramp up its efforts to make the air less stinky
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Jim Kelly, the deputy director of environmental health for Allegheny County, made a surprise announcement at the most recent board of health meeting last month.
He said his department was starting to develop more stringent emission regulations that would improve an air quality issue that has long gone unaddressed.
PUBLICSOURCE LIVE
Video: PublicSource Live interview with Rosa Davis
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Power from the ground up: A garden in Larimer shows collaboration across fault lines
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What kind of help is helpful? That’s the tension that Ben and Betty, the garden’s founder, are to this day navigating together. A predominantly African-American community, Larimer has endured decades of blight, racial bias and violence.