Marylee Williams

Pennsylvania played a key role in the election of President Donald Trump in the 2016 election. This year, both Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have their eye on winning Pennsylvania and securing the state's 20 electoral votes. 

On today's program: After a report found that Black students in Pittsburgh are referred to the juvenile justice system at much higher rates than their white peers, the Pittsburgh Board of Education says they will take steps to reimagine school safety; machine learning could help proactively identify children most at-risk for lead poisoning; and how fire hydrants ended up on trails in Frick Park.

On today's program: The long-lasting impacts of redlining are still felt in some Pittsburgh neighborhoods; the Pittsburgh Art Commission plans to debate the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park; and Puerto Ricans living in Pennsylvania after being displaced by Hurricane Maria look forward to voting in the U.S. presidential election. 

On today's program: The City of Pittsburgh has a budget shortfall of about $100 million due to the pandemic-induced recession, but Allegheny County’s finances are more stable; during the pandemic, the League of Women Voters adapts their voter outreach strategies; and hotel workers face difficult decisions as the industry remains in limbo. 

On today's program: COVID-19 cases are up slightly in Allegheny County since the start of the school year; a preview of the races for president, state row offices, and legislative seats in Pennsylvania; and a look at the 28th House district race to replace former House Speaker Mike Turzai. 

On today's program: A federal emergency assistance program for people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic is running out of money well ahead of schedule; voters can choose from multiple ways to cast their ballots this November; and local arts organizations say they’ve been harmed by a ticketing service that’s not holding up its end of the deal.

On today's program: The election is fast approaching, but lawsuits surrounding this fall’s vote are still tied up in court; college students face uncertainty and confusion about how to vote during the pandemic; and half of Pennsylvania schools do not employ any teachers of color. 

On today's program: A new report shows that Black students in Pittsburgh are referred to the juvenile justice system at a much higher rate than their white counterparts; and Pennsylvania could join a regional cap-and-trade program.

On today's program: Though the unemployment rate remains high, some sectors of the Pittsburgh economy are beginning the slow recovery process; the new school year poses additional difficulties for students who lack secure housing; and guidance on traveling during the pandemic can be confusing.

On today's program: Renters who lost their income due to COVID-19 have been caught in the middle of a changing tide of federal and state mandates; the Hazelwood community is being asked for suggestions for a plan to develop 27 acres along the Monongahela River; and the legacy of organized labor in Pittsburgh continues. 

On today's program: The political rhetoric in the presidential campaign has been polarizing over racial injustice and street protests; Dannielle Brown has been on a hunger strike for nearly ten weeks, and residents of the Hill District have been caring for her. 

On today's program: The University of Pittsburgh implemented a mandatory Black studies course to help students learn anti-racism; despite orders from the police chief, videos from some Pittsburgh protests have shown officers working without masks; and apprenticeships and technical schools welcome students back amid the pandemic.

On today's program: Trump and Biden make Pittsburgh-area campaign stops as both vie for Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes; a remote school year could leave kids feeling isolated and impact their mental health; and during the pandemic, some stores forgo reusable bags for single-use plastic bags.

On today's program: A Republican legislative proposal would limit where voters could deposit their mail-in ballots; a new report says many highway “stop-and-frisks” are conducted illegally and eventually thrown out in court; and some types of pollution may be increasing due to climate change.

On today's program: A conversation with Pittsburgh-area superintendents about the start of the new school year; some parents turn to small-learning groups to supplement online learning; and local teachers anticipate this fall’s hurdles to education. 

On today's program: Governor Tom Wolf says he cannot extend the state-wide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures; during the pandemic, some veterans lack internet access, causing difficulties when applying for work; and Black-owned businesses are closing at faster rates and are less likely to see federal aid. 

The Confluence launched as a daily program two years ago today. Our first program was a conversation with Police Chief Scott Schubert on tensions between police and protestors following the death of Antwon Rose II. We've come a long way from two years ago and not that far at all. From our team, thank you to our listeners and supporters. To the guests who shared their stories and expertise, thank you as well.

On today's program: The Pittsburgh Art Commission will consider the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park; the Delta Foundation, which has organized Pittsburgh Pride since 2007, plans to dissolve; and access to COVID-19 tests and results are still an issue.

On today's program: Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto ordered changes to how police respond to protesters; and the election is less than three months away, but Pennsylvania is still litigating mail-in voting.

On today's program: Critics say mixed messages and botched communication could have worsened the coronavirus pandemic; parents scramble to find childcare and learning assistance for their school-aged children; and nature organizations reach out to Black environmentalists. 

 On today's program: Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro joins 19 other Attorneys General in a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service; Pennsylvania parks experience an uptick in visitors; and a local high schooler receives one of the nation’s highest honors for student poets. 

On today's program: First-term state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta speaks at the Democratic National Convention; arts groups in Pittsburgh reimagine their productions during the pandemic; and the Pittsburgh Foundation organizes funds to help smaller nonprofits. 

On today's program: Black, Young, and Educated responds to the arrest of a bike marshall by plain-clothes officers with an unmarked van at a recent protest; the story of one Pennsylvania suffragette; and Trace Brewing plans to open despite difficulties posed by the pandemic. 

On today's program: The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh joins other organizations in a lawsuit against Pennsylvania over mail-in ballot procedures; the history and politics of the U.S. Postal Service; and a new episode of the PBS show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” addresses the pandemic and how to talk about it with your kids. 

On today's program: Allegheny County plans to open all polling locations, recruiting more than 6,500 poll workers for the November election; and two years after the Pennsylvania grand jury report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, some say more changes need to be made. 

On today's program: Newsroom employees at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette vote to walk out after three and a half years of negotiations failed to produce a new contract; groups in Pittsburgh and across the country work to preserve historic sites significant to communities of color; and amid the pandemic, some museums worry about their futures. 

On today's program: A new rule from the Trump administration could put homeless transgender people at greater risk; the Historic Review Commission considers six sites in Pittsburgh for historic designation; and some COVID-19 patients’s symptoms last beyond the expected two week range.

On today's program: Local colleges and universities plan to welcome students back to campus amid the pandemic; a Pittsburgh-based research firm says one third of parents surveyed are uncomfortable sending their children back into classrooms; and experiences with racism take a toll on the mental health of people of color.

On today's program: Pittsburgh-area employees filed 100 complaints related to COVID-19 concerns with OSHA in the early months of the pandemic; professional sports teams with racist names and logos consider rebranding; and RealTime Interventions, a local live-arts production company, takes its events online.