Higher Taxes, Ozempic Limits & 50 Years of Terrible Towels
Your taxes could be going up. City Council and Pittsburgh Public Schools both officially proposed increases for next year. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo explain how we got here and how much extra you might be paying if the tax hikes do, in fact, get approved. Plus, they discuss a new direct flight to one of Pittsburgh's favorite places, new state restrictions on GLP-1 drugs, the Terrible Towel's big milestone birthday, and your final opportunity to snag an exclusive City Cast Pittsburgh beanie.
Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm
Request a song for our holiday show! Call or text the HOLIDAY HOTLINE at 412-212-8893.
Notes and references from today’s show:
- Our Ultimate Pittsburgh Gift Guide [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- PODCAST: 'Sloppy' City Budget, Zombie Studies & Giant Eagle vs. Everybody [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Same budget, different universes: Pittsburgh council, mayor diverge on 2026 spending plan [TribLive]
- Pittsburgh City Council grapples with competing narratives surrounding budget [P-G]
- Sharply contrasting views of Pittsburgh budget emerge ahead of looming votes [WESA]
- Property Record Search [Allegheny County]
- PODCAST: Can Pittsburgh Afford the NFL Draft? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- PODCAST: Are Pittsburgh Schools Closing Or Not?! [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Without closures, Pittsburgh Public Schools projects $6M deficit with 4% tax hike [TribLive]
- Pa. cyber charter reforms give PPS budget unexpected 'wiggle room' amid last-minute revisions [WESA]
- Pennsylvania restricts weight-loss drugs for Medicaid patients amid budget woes [Spotlight PA]
- Pittsburgh-area ICE arrests through mid-October more than triple last year’s level [Public Source]
- PODCAST: What Actually Happens During an ICE Raid? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- PODCAST: Lo que realmente ocurre durante una redada de ICE [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait [NPR]
- Former Gov. Wolf, Pa. Democrats slam deadname of Rachel Levine portrait [Go Erie]
- The Terrible Towel Turns 50 [Pittsburgh Magazine]
- Pittsburgh lands direct flights to Dublin [Axios Pittsburgh]
Learn more about the sponsors of this December 12th episode:
Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Michelin Guide Proves Us Wrong! Plus, Music Crawl & Underground Park
The Michelin Guide is coming to Pittsburgh! The timing is kind of hilarious, since we just did an episode about why our city doesn't have...

The 13 Best Pizza Joints in Western PA
While we have a growing number of delicious pizza joints in and around the city, our pizza scene just doesn't compare to New York — at le...

Legal Weed, Raising the Minimum Wage & More High Hopes in the PA House
Pennsylvania is one of the few states with a split legislature, which makes it extra hard for a bill to become law. The Democratic-contro...

Carrie Blast Furnace Mystery Solved, Hollywood Money & Space Research
Rivers of Steel finally figured out who the Carrie Blast Furnace was named after! Roman Hladio, chief reporter at NEXTpittsburgh, joins h...

How Pittsburgh Became the World's Roller Coaster Capital
Kennywood's almost open, and we're not talking about your fly! The amusement park's first day of the season is April 18. To celebrate, we...

'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Both Denver and Pittsburgh wanted, but didn't get, a WNBA team. While more and more people are embracing women’s sports, Denver is only t...

$200 Parking, Money for Parks & Pour One Out for Fat Head’s
City Council's getting in on the NFL Draft action. They've approved security agreements with 18 law enforcement agencies — and that inclu...

Why Pittsburgh Doesn't Have (or Need) Michelin Star Restaurants
We've got so many fantastic restaurants in the city, and our local chefs are regularly recognized by the James Beard Foundation. But the...

Your Guide to April 2026 in Pittsburgh
From outdoor dance parties and Easter Egg hunts to spring fungi walks and cinnamon roll crawls, there are so many ways to get out in Pitt...

AI Tutors? Outdoor Classrooms? The Future of Learning in Pittsburgh {SPONSORED}
Episode Description: On this bonus sponsored episode by the Grable Foundation, we explore how learning is evolving in Pittsburgh and what...


