Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

Inside the taxpayer-funded payroll of Allegheny County’s courts

Public Source has tracked city and county government pay data for more than a decade. This year, we are expanding this project with complete pay information for the Allegheny County court system, covering more than 1,000 employees.

by Charlie Wolfson

First person

An MS diagnosis gave a sense of relief, and now I’m figuring out how to live with it

by First-person essay by Tabitha Weaver

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Equity

Band Infinity gives voice to schizophrenia with key concert in the balance

by Bill Zlatos

ICE, immigration and local response

Video: Critic of Springdale police ICE pact did not break rule prior to rough arrest

by Charlie Wolfson

PPS' Path Forward

PPS approves plan to close and consolidate schools, reversing board’s November rejection

by Lajja Mistry

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WHO WE ARE

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

Allegheny County Council elects environmental advocate as president, replacing Catena

by Charlie Wolfson

Person holding a black t-shirt that says "Pittsburgh journalism with backbone," alongside promotional text for publicsource, highlighting independent news and the spirit of Pittsburgh reporting.

Education

Pittsburgh school takes last year’s 100+ fights down to single digits

by Lajja Mistry

First person

Please don’t laugh: Improv improved me in so many ways

by First-person essay by Rachel Bachy

Digging deeper for Pittsburgh

ICE, immigration and local response

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

Pennsylvania

Small historical societies keep big stories alive

by Hannah Frances Johansson

Election 2026

Primary loss by Allegheny County Council president a sign of the times

by Charlie Wolfson

Election 2026

Who’s running for office in Allegheny County in 2026?

by Charlie Wolfson

Election 2026

Stacy Garrity and Josh Shapiro’s quiet primary for Pennsylvania governor is over

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA, Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

Economy & Housing

Citywide inclusionary zoning swapped for bonus program

More than a year after Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission said yes to inclusionary zoning for affordable housing, it’s now considering an optional alternative.

by Mia Hollie

Election 2026

Election results: Pittsburgh-area primaries for Congress, state House and more

Pennsylvania has voted in the 2026 primary elections. Congress, the office of governor, the state House and half of the state Senate are on the ballot this midterm.

by Charlie Wolfson

Primary Day 2026: How to vote, what’s on the ballot

Pennsylvania’s primaries will set the stage for the midterms.

by Charlie Wolfson

Disabilities

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

Barely 1 in 1,000 of the emergency calls made in Pittsburgh and its suburbs draws the 18-month-old A-Team of specialized behavioral health responders. More empathetic, less punitive 911 response can’t wait.

by Guest commentary by Mason Joiner

Economy & Housing

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

Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority board approved millions for plans across the city that will focus on households earning less than the area median income, including seniors and public housing residents.

by Mia Hollie

Investigations

Pittsburgh cosmetology school teaches on despite state probes, complaints

Students of Fountain of Youth Academy, in Squirrel Hill and Bellevue, have long complained to state regulators, but their accounts are largely hidden from the public and almost always result in mediation, not sanction.

by Maddy Franklin

Local Government

Allegheny County may compel all employers to offer paid parental leave

County Executive Sara Innamorato’s administration has started a push for the new benefit with a briefing to the Board of Health, and a County Council vote could be months away.

by Matt Petras

Artificial Intelligence

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

A Shapiro administration lawsuit alleges that Character.AI, which creates fictional personalities for users, posed as a doctor and offered medical advice to a state investigator.

by Jaxon White of Spotlight PA

DEVELOP PGH

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

Financing gaps, costly build-outs, uneven foot traffic and rising food prices: Restaurant operators say the real struggle begins long before the first plate hits the table.

by Aakanksha Agarwal

Economy & Housing

Pittsburgh’s comprehensive plan, explained

Pittsburgh’s planners will spend the summer drafting a blueprint for the city’s next 25 years of development. It could guide which neighborhoods are stabilized, strengthened or transformed.

by Mia Hollie

South Pittsburgh

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

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking feedback on its bus route update as it faces declining ridership. At a meeting Wednesday, public transit users voiced concerns over elimination of routes in Allegheny County’s southern and eastern suburbs.

by Lucas Dufalla

Public-service guides

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

When crises mount, Americans garden. From greenhouses to educational workshops, Pittsburgh offers bountiful resources for the urban gardener looking to get dirty, calm nerves and eat affordably.

by Jordan Stovka

Technology

Deepfakes laws not moving at the speed of AI

Experts say Pennsylvania and federal efforts to address the explosion of AI-generated abusive deepfakes of children may give a false sense of security and still leave gaps in their handling of mandatory reporters.

by Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

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Home

Inside the taxpayer-funded payroll of Allegheny County’s courts

An MS diagnosis gave a sense of relief, and now I’m figuring out how to live with it

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

Band Infinity gives voice to schizophrenia with key concert in the balance

Video: Critic of Springdale police ICE pact did not break rule prior to rough arrest

PPS approves plan to close and consolidate schools, reversing board’s November rejection

WHO WE ARE

Allegheny County Council elects environmental advocate as president, replacing Catena

Pittsburgh school takes last year’s 100+ fights down to single digits

Please don’t laugh: Improv improved me in so many ways

ICE, immigration and local response

Quick Source

More local news

Small historical societies keep big stories alive

Primary loss by Allegheny County Council president a sign of the times

Who’s running for office in Allegheny County in 2026?

Stacy Garrity and Josh Shapiro’s quiet primary for Pennsylvania governor is over

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Citywide inclusionary zoning swapped for bonus program

Election results: Pittsburgh-area primaries for Congress, state House and more

Most Read

Primary Day 2026: How to vote, what’s on the ballot

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

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

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

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

Deepfakes laws not moving at the speed of AI

Local events

Develop PGH

Board Explorer

Public-service guides

First-person essays