The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s weekly news program.
Each week reporters, editors and bloggers join veteran journalist and host Kevin Gavin to take an in-depth look at the stories important to the Pittsburgh region.
This week’s topics include a look at what could happen in Pennsylvaniaif the Affordable Care Act is repealed. We'll discuss the contract negotiations between Mayor Bill Peduto and the Fraternal Order of Police. Also, we'll look at plans to get funding to repair Pennsylvania's bridges and roads.
The ACA in Pennsylvania
For some time there has been talk about repealing the Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as Obamacare. We’re asking reporters Wes Venteicher of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Kris Mamula of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette what could happen in the commonwealth if the ACA is repealed?
Police Contract Negotiations
A recent contract negotiation between the mayor peduto and the Pittsburgh police union did not end well. In fact, the mayor walked out of the meeting. We’ll discuss the dustup with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Adam Smeltz and Bob Bauder of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Funding Infrastructure Repairs
On Tuesday, Governor Wolf announced the launch of the new Road Maintenance and Preservation programdesigned to provide money for interstates and highways. In January, U.S. Rep Bill Shuster also held a congressional hearing aimed at finding additional funding to repair aging infrastructure. Joining us to discuss these stories are reporters Ed Blazina of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Laura Olson of The Morning Call.
Past editions of The Confluence can be heard here.
