Pittsburgh’s cooling centers might not be able to open this summer. The facilities are typically housed in senior centers, which serve a community most vulnerable to severe effects of the coronavirus.
According to a city spokesman, senior centers will be primarily focused on offering meals and activities to the elderly. It’s unclear if the facilities will later be able to open to the general public as a place to cool off.
Cleanup crews got to work all over Downtown Pittsburgh on Sunday morning to remove debris, spray paint and broken glass. Public Works and Pittsburgh citizens scrubbed graffiti from statues, windows and buildings.
High school students finishing their coursework at home can now access Carnegie Mellon University-quality robotics instructions on television. WQED has launched a new show called “The Robot Doctor” geared toward supporting STEM teachers with curriculum anyone can access.
State Health Secretary Rachel Levine has stressed the importance of taking it slow when reopening businesses in Pennsylvania. “Yellow means caution,” she said at a recent press conference. That sentiment has been echoed by Pittsburgh’s religious groups grappling with whether or not to reopen their doors to worshippers.
Public health officials have cited contact tracing as a key part of lifting lockdowns and continuing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus; a new app developed at Carnegie Mellon University could make the effort easier.
Farmers markets are beginning to return to the Pittsburgh region and like most entities, COVID-19 has changed the way they operate. Some markets have pushed back opening dates to make time to figure out what needs to change in order to maintain social distancing and keep vendors safe.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday, May 12, 2020.
On today's program: A preview of what to expect from the Supreme Court’s oral arguments this week; an epidemiologist explains what life might look like as Southwestern Pennsylvania prepares to reopen; nursing home workers bear the brunt of caring for coronavirus patients; and parents become teachers’ assistants as kids transition to online schooling.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Monday, May 11, 2020
On today's program: Hospitals want more money from the state after taking big financial hits during the coronavirus; Point Park University launches a new play reading series; and some Pennsylvania daycares are reopening amid major challenges.
A new virtual reality device gives users another sense when it comes to VR experiences: touch. It was developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" on Thursday, May 7, 2020
On today's program: Takeaways from Pittsburgh first major virtual marathon; Mercer county election officials prepare for a record number of mail-in ballots; and sports bettors turn to table tennis while mainstream sports remain on hiatus.
This week, the Polish Hill skate park looks more like a sandbox than a place to try out new tricks. Pittsburgh Public Works has dumped pounds of sand around the park’s bowl and at the base of the park’s ramps.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Wednesday, May 6, 2020
On today's program: How a lack of Spanish-language material about the coronavirus is affecting Pittsburgh’s Latinx community; an update on preparations ahead of the Pennsylvania primary in June; and an Erie-based ride-share driver shares his experience with the shutdown.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday May 5, 2020.
On today's program: How state and local leaders decide when Pittsburgh will reopen; why PA’s overburdened unemployment system still hasn’t delivered to lots of would-be recipients; and how local manufacturers are pivoting as the shutdown continues.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Monday, May 4, 2020
On today's program: What to listen for as the U.S. Supreme Court livestreams oral arguments for the first time; historians and archivists set out to document life during coronavirus; and a new biography of Andy Warhol reexamines his impact on the art world.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Thursday, April 30, 2020
On today's program: Journalists share the pros and cons of press conferences in the time of coronavirus; PA teachers are relearning how to do their jobs; and local arts groups explore new ways to work during the pandemic.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Wednesday, April 29, 2020
On today's program: Dozens of cancelled and postponed conferences, festivals and concerts are resulting in lower tourism and less money for local businesses; and four voters weigh in on how the pandemic has impacted their voting preferences.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday, April 28, 2020
On today's program: A new survey finds parents need more help and resources to deal with changes caused by coronavirus; Morning Edition’s David Greene discusses covering the pandemic for a national audience; why two rural PA counties were hit hardest by business closures; and WPIAL cancellations could impact scholarships and jobs for some student athletes.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Monday, April 27, 2020
On today's program: Custody exchanges are being adapted for social distancing measures; why misinformation and disinformation spread in uncertain times; what’s available for the thousands of Pennsylvanians who’ve filed for unemployment; and the pandemic’s impact on the coal industry.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Thursday, April 23, 2020
On today's program: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation faces construction setbacks due to pandemic; one expert imagines what it will mean to reopen the state; local restaurants face uncertain futures; and poets maintain community during difficult times.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
On today's program: Business owners could get a second chance at assistance if Congress acts; parents navigate special education at home during the pandemic; and local farms figure out new ways to connect with customers.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday, April 21, 2020
On today's program: Activists are calling on state officials to release certain prisoners to encourage social distancing in jails; IT departments are busier than ever as more companies are working from home; and an invasive weed could be an ally in defending against rising sea levels.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Monday, April 20, 2020.
On today's program: How will disruptions to the beef and pork production industry affect farmers and consumers long term; Pennsylvania hospitals are keeping their emergency plans from public scrutiny; and a local group is teaching Pittsburghers how to make their own cloth masks.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Thursday, April 16, 2020
On today's program: A physicians group asks for protections against malpractice lawsuits; a look at who has the legal authority to reopen the government; and a string of middlemen, including a Pittsburgh businessman, were duped by one of the largest scams of the pandemic.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Wednesday, April 15, 2020
On today's program: A market research firm polls locals about how they’re dealing during the pandemic; Pittsburgh’s foundation community pledges millions in relief aid; residential child care centers weigh the consequences of staying open; and why the state’s largest school districts are still struggling to start online learning.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday, April 14, 2020
On today's program: Coroners say they can help officials get an accurate count of COVID-19 victims; how federal prisoners are faring since local courts expedited the release of some jail inmates; and Port Authority urges people to stay home despite the financial hit.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Monday, April 13, 2020
On today's program: Pittsburgh scientists apply nimble rules to the coronavirus treatment testing process; how some PA manufacturers are adapting to make protective equipment, with and without government approval; Meals on Wheels continues with new best practices during the pandemic; and an update on the long-awaited Mon-Oakland Connector plan.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Thursday, April 9, 2020
On today's program: Pittsburgh Public Schools begins distributing more tech for at-home instruction; Gov. Tom Wolf faces legislative and legal pressure over what it means to be essential; and how the pandemic and its accompanying isolation is affecting people with substance use disorder.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Wednesday, April 8, 2020
On today's program: Local farmers might be benefitting from the demand for home-delivered fresh produce; the state liquor control board is struggling to keep up with online liquor sales; and before railroads carried goods through Pittsburgh, canals did the job.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday, April 7, 2020
On today's program: PA’s attorney general is urging banks to voluntarily grant their customers grace periods; worries grow about health care inequity during the coronavirus outbreak; and most Americans seem to agree about a slow approach to reopening the economy.
90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Monday, April 6, 2020
On today's program: Diapers remain in short supply for some Western PA parents; CMU’s virtual tip jar already boasts 6,000 names; scientists worry that poor air quality could make the Pittsburgh region more susceptible to coronavirus; and without reliable internet, rural school districts are struggling to provide equitable education.
