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The Confluence

U.S. Supreme Court session starts today with cases on abortion, Second Amendment

By Kevin Gavin,

Laura Tsutsui, Marylee Williams, Rebecca Reese

Published October 4, 2021 at 9:20 AM EDT

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On today’s program: The U.S. Supreme Court begins their session today with a docket full of divisive issues in our society, such as abortion, the Second Amendment, and affirmative action; Ken Gormley will stay on as Duquesne University’s president after his contract was extended, and he says under his tenure the university has grown and reconnected with the community; and we’ll hear one perspective on why the city doesn’t need businesses to build as many parking spaces as the municipal code calls for.

The Confluence

Kevin Gavin

See stories by Kevin Gavin

Laura Tsutsui

See stories by Laura Tsutsui

Marylee Williams

See stories by Marylee Williams

Rebecca Reese

Rebecca Reese is a production assistant for The Confluence.

See stories by Rebecca Reese

Arts, Sports & Culture

Slag structures, Downtown chandeliers, and the art of the Sixteenth Street Bridge

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

Remember the Pennsylvania Canal, Lock and Dam No. 1, and paddle to Brunot Island

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

Making the Pennsylvania Turnpike, carp fishing in the East End, and Skybus

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

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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

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Katie Blackley

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