The Confluence

On today’s episode of The Confluence: For 30 years, Dr. Jim Withers of Pittsburgh Mercy has been making “house calls” to people living on the streets; a look into the practice of search and seizure following the FBI raid at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home; and a conversation about how a state grant for early childhood learning will add another early childhood education class to Homestead. Today’s guests include: Dr. Jim Withers, medical director of Homeless Services at Pittsburgh Mercy; David Harris, law professor at the University of Pittsburgh and WESA’s legal analyst; and Hannah Sitz, executive director of Maple Unified Student Academy.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Pittsburgh Regional Transit is taking public comment about its bus rapid transit project, the cost of which increased by $61 million; and a look at the legacy of historian David McCullough, who passed away Monday.Today’s guests include: Katharine Kelleman, CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit; and Andrew Masich, president and CEO of the Heinz History Center.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The new Allegheny County Controller’s first audit will assess the effectiveness of two types of development incentives in the county; a new nonprofit is working to register 30,000 eligible voters by the November elections; and to support filmmaking in the region, the a new sound stage will be built at the site of the Carrie Blast Furnaces.Today’s guests include: Corey O’Connor, Allegheny County controller; Kadida Kenner, CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project; and Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We talk about what interventions still need to happen to help remedy pandemic learning loss and improve education as we head into the next school year; UPMC and a world-renowned transplant surgeon are at the heart of a federal investigation, we talk about the case and its implications; and how North Allegheny recent graduates are trying to help the next class of school activists make change.Today’s guests include: Briana Mihok, senior policy strategist for the Institute of Politics at the University of Pittsburgh; and Jonathan Silver, reporter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We look at the results of a recent survey on the regional businesses economic outlook for remainder of the year; the state Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s mail-in-voting law, Act 77; and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson’s Pittsburgh home is opening to the public. Today’s guests include: Vera Krekanova, chief research officer with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development; Stephen Caruso, Capitol reporter for Spotlight PA; and Chris Rawson, board member of the August Wilson House.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: A Fox News poll found Democrats John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro are more popular with voters ahead of November’s election; the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is constructing underground tunnels for stormwater overflow, but the cost and rising sewage bills are giving residents pause; and a definitive list of the best pizza in Pittsburgh. Today’s guests include: Jonathan Tamari, national political reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer; Oliver Morrison, reporter at WESA; and Hal B. Klein, senior food writer and dining critic at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We ask a state constitutional law expert about Gov. Tom Wolf’s lawsuit against the GOP-led legislature, which hopes to pass anti-abortion constitutional amendments; a look at how expanded state tax credits for waterfront development could affect the city; and BikePGH weighs in on priorities for improving cycling infrastructure, after a child on a bicycle was struck and killed by a motorist last week.Today’s guests include: Bruce Ledewitz, a law professor at Duquesne University; Matthew Galluzzo, president and CEO at Riverlife; and Eric Boerer, advocacy director at BikePGH.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: We learn what options the city might pursue to work with tax-exempt organizations, now that ties with OnePGH have been severed; and what’s new in the second edition of “100 Things To Do In Pittsburgh Before You Die.”Today’s guests include: Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey; and Rossilynne Culgan, journalist and author.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: In the coming months, a judge will rule on if the state violated its own constitution regarding how it funds K-12 education; work has begun to reconstruct the city’s Fern Hollow Bridge, which collapsed in late January; and how a local organization is teaching court etiquette and more to help Pittsburgh residents better navigate the court system.Today’s guests include: Katie Meyer, political reporter for WHYY; Ed Blazina, who covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and Mark Thompson, founder of the JASON Project.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Members of Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Kelly’s staff were involved in attempting to alter the count of Wisconsin’s electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election; two survivors of the Quecreek mine accident reflect on the rescue, 20 years later; and Greene County residents are seeking answers to whether a natural gas company’s drilling incident affected their water. Today’s guests include: Chris Potter, WESA’s government and accountability editor; and Ron Hileman and Bob Pugh, miners who survived the Quecreek mine rescue in 2002.