Nearly one month after the death of Antwon Rose Jr., conversations about change are taking different forms.
As protests and mourning continue around the city, some progressives are arguing that lawyer Turahn Jenkins isn't the candidate Pittsburgh needs to unseat Democratic incumbant District Attorney Stephen Zappala. Meanwhile, Allegheny County Council passed a motion this week that begins creating a new citizens police review board to better monitor and train the area's more than 100 municipal forces.
90.5 WESA's government and accountability editor Chris Potter joins Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Theresa Clift to explain.
Next in the program...
The National Convention of the American Teachers Federation, one of the largest unions in the country, is in Pittsburgh this weekend, and three Democratic heavy-hitters are slated to speak: Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. The conference follows the Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, in which the court said that employees who are not part of a union are not required to pay dues, even though they may receive the benefits of union representation and negotiated contracts.
Elizabeth Behrman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joins to discuss what the speakers at the convention are likely to address.
Coming up...
After a 22-month grand jury investigation into Catholic clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania, the 800-page report was ready for release to the public. That is, until several individuals named in the report came forward and claimed that its publication would infringe upon their right to a good reputation as guaranteed under the commonwealth's state constitution. These anonymous individuals claim that they were not allowed to testify or be cross-examined before the grand jury, and therefore were denied due process. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an indefinite stay on the release of the report. One accuser, nine media organizations and Attorney General Josh Shaprio have filed an objection demanding that the courts release the report.
Liz Navratil of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Debra Erdley of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review have been reporting.
Later on...
Charlie Deitch, former editor of Pittsburgh City Paper, founded a new, rival alternative newspaper that celebrated its first issue this week. In addition to its successful kickstarter, Deitch says the Pittsburgh Current is gaining traction with columnists, cartoonists and financial backers.
And finally...
Soccer is the world's most popular sport, but America has been slow on the uptake. The men's World Cup ends Sunday as France takes on Croatia. Sean Gentille, sports writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, talks all things soccer and offers an update on both the Pirates and what should be expected from the NFL players' union and its latest response to the league's new anthem policy.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s weekly news program. Each week, reporters, editors and storytellers join veteran journalist and host Kevin Gavin to take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here.
