Grumpy Bus Pickles, Vintage Kennywood & How To Get a Real ID

Make room in your wallet for your Real ID and your season passes for our local amusement parks, including Kennywood, Sandcastle, and Idlewild. We’re making the case for both — plus how and when to get them — and introducing yinz to Kennywood’s new-old mascot, Jeeters. Pittsburgh Regional Transit is using pickle cartoons to shame us for bad behavior on the buses and T stops. The University of Pittsburgh has issued a hiring freeze, and officials say it’s not entirely because of changes in federal policy and funding. Pittsburgh technology startups KEF Robotics and Swan are working with Ukraine on drone technology and testing on the front lines against Russia. The National Labor Relations Board is reviewing claims by the United Steelworkers union against U.S. Steel, but it’s not clear whether they can make an official ruling. And Pittsburgh’s Fringe Fest is coming! We’re sharing a bit about its history and how you can get involved.

Notes and references from today’s show:

How Well Do You Know Pittsburgh? Take This Quiz! [Hey Pittsburgh]
How to Get Your Real ID in Pittsburgh [City Cast Pittsburgh]
REAL ID Document Check [Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]
Kennywood's Steel Curtain roller coaster won't be ready for 2025 opening day [WTAE]
Kennywood knew Steel Curtain would be closed before asking people to buy season passes: lawsuit [KDKA]
Jeeter’s Instagram Account [Instagram]
Rider Etiquette Pickle Campaign [PRT]
America Turns to Ukraine to Build Better Drones [Wall Street Journal]
Steelworkers' union accuses U.S. Steel of discouraging workers from speaking out against company sale [KDKA]
How Trump’s Firings “Paralyze” the NLRB [Mother Jones]
The University of Pittsburgh orders a hiring freeze for faculty, staff [WESA]
Pitt says hiring freeze not entirely Trump’s fault [PublicSource]
Pittsburgh Fringe Festival 2025 Shows [Pittsburgh Fringe]