Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

NFL Draft fans? Meet Pittsburgh’s roads, transit and hospitality sector.

“Our shared goal is to minimize disruption, keep the region moving and make travel as predictable and seamless as possible for both fans and locals,” said Alex Kenzakoski, communications director for VisitPittsburgh.

by Jamie Wiggan

Local Government

Allegheny County Council advances bill restricting ICE cooperation

by Charlie Wolfson

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Faith and Religion

These Pittsburgh churches are embracing LGBTQ Christians

by Meg St-Esprit

Arts & Culture

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

by Janel Young

First person

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

by First-person essay by Lauren H. Steele

Economy & Housing

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

by Mia Hollie

Featured

You Have the Floor: 7 town halls in 7 days

by Jennie Ewing Liska and Halle Stockton

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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

by Maddy Franklin

WHO WE ARE

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

Allegheny County DHS leader to leave for NYC job

by Charlie Wolfson and Venuri Siriwardane

ICE, immigration and local response

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

Technology

A Pennsylvania startup uses AI to turn doomscrolling into civic action

by Alice Crow

Digging deeper for Pittsburgh

Election 2026

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

by Charlie Wolfson

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

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

by Charlie Wolfson

Education

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

by Lajja Mistry

Trump Impacts

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

by Maddy Franklin

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

Pittsburgh artist and muralist Janel Young explores the North Side’s Troy Hill Art Houses.

by Janel Young

Guest commentary

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

January snow revealed one of the city’s needs, but the region has had clear evidence, since 2019, of another: a vast gap in quality of life along racial and gender lines. We need to bring the same urgency to that challenge.

by First-person essay by Sharnay Hearn Davis

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

An email circulated among county judges last year suggested sheriff’s deputies would detain people sought by ICE at the courthouse. The sheriff’s office maintains they never did, as council mulls a bill to ban cooperation with immigration enforcement.

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

ICE, immigration and local response

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