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The Confluence

Child Tax Credit Expansion Could Reduce Childhood Poverty, But Some Worry Families Aren’t Signed Up

Published July 15, 2021 at 9:20 AM EDT

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On today’s program: Some analysts say the child tax credit expansion could greatly reduce childhood poverty, but advocates are scrambling to help low-income families who don’t file tax returns to opt in; Nicole Molinaro with the Pittsburgh Women’s Center and Shelter says the center saw an increase in survivors reaching out for services; and Pittsburgh-based photographer Mikael Owunna celebrates his first public art, portraits featured on local digital billboards.

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.

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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

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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.

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Rebecca Reese

Rebecca Reese is a production assistant for The Confluence.

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Eoin Trainor

Eoin is a production assistant for The Confluence and a senior at NC State University studying political science. He got his start in broadcasting at WKNC, NC State's college radio station. When he's not working, he enjoys hiking, surfing, and listening to music.

See stories by Eoin Trainor

Arts, Sports & Culture

Good Question! Podcast Episode 6

Katie Blackley

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city for many reasons, and that’s what we’re going to explore in episode six. From the reuse of industrial waste and slag structure public art, to the number of crystals in two of downtown’s most beautiful theaters, we’ll highlight the creativity of this region. And, we’ll answer the question: Why are the large globe structures on the Sixteenth Street Bridge different colors? (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and CASTUS.)
Arts, Sports & Culture

Good Question! Podcast Episode 5

Katie Blackley

On this episode, we take to the water! Many listeners were curious about the history of the Pennsylvania Canal, which included aqueducts and inclines and mules and was an early way to transport goods in the region. We figure out why there’s no “Lock and Dam No. 1” on the Allegheny River (there used to be!). We’ll paddle to Brunot Island with WESA’s Chris Potter for a history lesson on the land, including its past as a race track. (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and CASTUS.)
Development & Transportation

Good Question! Podcast Episode 4

Katie Blackley

Let’s take a ride! Be it on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (“America’s First Super Highway,” and a model for the national interstate highway system), the massive Brilliant Viaduct over Washington Boulevard, or Skybus (futuristic transit system that never took off), we’ll explore all the different ways to get around Pittsburgh past and present. (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and CASTUS.)
Arts, Sports & Culture

Good Question! Podcast Episode 3

Katie Blackley

Our third episode revisits stories about why Pittsburgh looks the way it does. It goes into why we have 90 distinct neighborhoods, and talks about annexation (or a lack thereof in Mt. Oliver borough’s case). Plus, we look at a fun architectural feature on one of our most historic downtown streets. (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.)
Arts, Sports & Culture

Good Question! Podcast Episode 2

Katie Blackley

Many of our questions come from listeners who are driving and start to notice unusual signs or names. We touch on why many roads have the word “run” in them, as well as the colorful belt system that tried to help drivers navigate Allegheny County. And, of course, a history of our storied inclines (there are two now, but there used to be many more). (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.)

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