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The Confluence

State-Owned University System Moves Closer To Consolidating Six Schools

By Marylee Williams,

Laura Tsutsui, Kevin Gavin

Published May 3, 2021 at 9:20 AM EDT

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On today’s program: The chancellor for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education explains why he supports plans that would consolidate six universities into two, while leaving each campus open; the president of the state system faculty union weighs in on the consolidation plan and why members oppose it; and County Councilperson DeWitt Walton talks about the newly approved Independent Police Review Board.

The Confluence

Marylee Williams

Marylee is the editor/producer of The Confluence, the daily public affairs show on WESA. She got her start in journalism at The Daily Reveille and KLSU while attending Louisiana State University. She took her passion for audio journalism to UC Berkeley's graduate program and worked in public radio at WPR in Madison, WI, and WOSU in Columbus, Ohio.

See stories by Marylee Williams

Laura Tsutsui

Laura Tsutsui is a producer for The Confluence, WESA's morning news show. Previously, she reported on the San Joaquin Valley with the NPR affiliate station in her hometown of Fresno, California. She can be reached at ltsutsui@wesa.fm.

See stories by Laura Tsutsui

Kevin Gavin

Kevin Gavin is the host of WESA's news interview program "The Confluence." He is a native Pittsburgher and served as news director for 90.5 WDUQ for 34 years. Since the sale of the radio station by Duquesne University to Pittsburgh EPM, Inc. (now Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corp.), he served as Executive Producer of Special News Projects prior to being named as host of "The Confluence" five years ago. kgavin@wesa.fm

See stories by Kevin Gavin

Arts, Sports & Culture

The history of Squirrel Hill, Frick Park fire hydrants & the first Black and female City Councilors

Katie Blackley

Pittsburgh’s East End has some of the city’s largest parks, historic buildings and has long been home to trailblazers in city government. We’ll visit Squirrel Hill and answer some of your questions about the community’s past; we’ll hear the stories of two firsts in Pittsburgh City Council: Paul Jones, the first Black councilor, and Irma D’Ascenzo, the first female councilor; and we’ll walk through Frick Park, where old fire hydrants pop out of the woods.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Eisler Landscapes, the CPA firm Sisterson and Company and Baum Boulevard Automotive.)
Development & Transportation

The East Busway’s history, 40th Street colorful seals, and the scenic Allegheny River Boulevard

Katie Blackley

From streetcars to scenic Sunday drives, this episode looks at the transit projects that continue to shape our region. Episode four explains why the 40th Street Bridge has colorful seals; how the East Busway was routed and what led to those decisions; and we take a trip along Allegheny River Boulevard, complete with picnic pull-offs with picturesque views.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)
Arts, Sports & Culture

Pronouncing ‘Carnegie,’ Schenley bench art, and the origins of the Pirates’ name

Katie Blackley

Welcome back to 90.5 WESA’s Good Question! podcast. We’re thrilled to launch season two and bring you even more stories about Pittsburgh history and culture. Our first episode highlights city staples. We’ll visit the mind behind the colorfully painted benches in Schenley Park; we’ll look into how the Pirates got their marauding moniker and the team’s trendsetting past; and, why do locals say “Carnegie” when the rest of the country has a different pronunciation?
Arts, Sports & Culture

Pittsburgh’s panthers, Civil War fort remnants, and a trip to West View Park

Katie Blackley

Turn right where the Isaly’s used to be! Sound familiar? Pittsburgh loves to remember things that aren’t there anymore. For this episode, we learn about actual panthers that once roamed this region and how they live on at Pitt and throughout Oakland; we travel to the woods of Stanton Heights to find the remnants of a Civil War fortification; and we ride the dips at old West View Park.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)
Development & Transportation

Downtown wharfs, river depth, and the history of Czechoslovakia’s creation in Pittsburgh

Katie Blackley

If you’ve spent any time in Pittsburgh, you’ve likely been on or near its three rivers. Follow along with WESA’s Good Question podcast as we walk along the riverfront trails and remember the bustling wharfs that once occupied the space; take a dive into how river depth is measured; and, did you know the groundwork for the creation of the country Czechoslovakia took place in Downtown Pittsburgh?(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)

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