These topics air Wednesday March 19, 2014 at noon and 8pm on 90.5 WESA. To leave a question or comment before or after the show dial 412-256-8783. Join the conversation LIVE between 12pm & 1 pm weekdays at 412-246-2002. More Essential Pittsburgh segments can be heard here.
Dan Rather
Next week legendary broadcast journalist Dan Rather is appearing at Heinz Hall as part of the Pittsburgh Speakers Series presented by Robert Morris University. Mr. Rather anchored the CBS Evening News for 24 years. He is now the managing editor and anchor of the cable television news magazine "Dan Rather Reports." He'll join us by phone for a conversation about the state of journalism today.
New Respect for the Citizen Police Review Board?
It’s been roughly 17-years since the Citizen Police Review Board was formed in response to instances of poor community-police relations. In that time, Pittsburgh’s elected officials have routinely neglected to fill vacancies on the board, and interactions have been contentious. Pittsburgh City Paper reporter Alex Zimmerman recently referred to the CPRB as “the red-headed stepchild of city government.” But with a new mayor and a new city council president who have a positive history with the CPRB, could we see better community/police relations? CPRB executive director Beth Pittinger talks about her hopes for future cooperation with city government.
WESA Celebrates - Lueana Coward
Lueana Coward knows the pain caused by the loss of a child. She’s using her experience to help others cope with their grief and is the focus of this week’s installment of WESA celebrates.
New Firearms Legislation
The state House Judiciary Committee released an agenda on five firearms related bills including an approved measure that would let people sue cities that pass gun restrictions. They have yet to vote on the state database bill. 90.5 WESA's Mary Wilson joins us from the Capitol to discuss these developments.
