Hired Guns in City Parks, Steelers Day Care & School Closures
After two rounds of deer culling in a few city parks, archers have provided thousands of venison meals, but it turns out, that’s not enough to keep the animal population at bay. We’re talking about how and why guns are getting added to the mix. Pittsburgh Public Schools announced the next phase in proposed school closures, Steelers players reported another round of failing grades in the annual union report card, and we still have not recovered from a recent police substation press conference that got Mayor Gainey so fired up. City Cast’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are talking through some of Pittsburgh’s biggest stories!
Notes and references from today’s show:
- Superintendent’s report endorses closures and consolidations for PPS schools [PublicSource]
- PPS leadership supports consultant recommendations to close 14 schools [WESA]
- Facility Feasibility Report [Pittsburgh Public Schools]
- PPS Superintendent on School Closures, ICE Policy & Funding Freezes [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Sharpshooters Will Begin Culling Deer in Pittsburgh’s Frick and Riverview Parks [Pittsburgh Magazine]
- Gainey defends public safety record a day after Downtown shooting [TribLive]
- Is Ed Gainey okay? [Breathing Space]
- Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card [NFLPA]
- Pitt resumes PhD admissions after pause over NIH funding cap concerns [WTAE]
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 28th episode:
The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens
Pittsburgh Marathon - Use code CITYCAST15 for 15% off any event
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! Call or text us at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Your Guide to September 2026 in Pittsburgh
September in Pittsburgh means fall is coming! Check out a new regal-looking harpy eagle at the National Aviary, drive some golf balls off...

Pittsburgh’s High-Speed Rail Fantasy
Should Pittsburghers stop dreaming about high-speed rail and start celebrating the trains we already have? The reality of having one is a...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is PIT the Gold Standard?
Pittsburgh’s airport might not be the international hub it once was (RIP USAir), but it stands alone in a newer, lesser-known way: having...

Did Disney Do Us Dirty? Plus, Guerilla Crosswalks & Capo's Investigation
A new collaboration pairs Disney characters with every NFL team, and the choice to represent the Steelers has been… controversial. Did Di...

Your Guide to Making Friends in Pittsburgh
It can be daunting to make new friends in Pittsburgh. Lots of people are still tight with their buddies from kindergarten, and it's not a...

Is Flooding Getting Worse in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is on track to have its wettest August on record, which is especially concerning since flooding is our most frequent natural d...

Taco Bell Lawsuit, Unsafe Sidewalks & Cryptid Dance Party
Is a local woman suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over cyclosporiasis? Is Downtown finally getting a grocery store in the form of Trader...

Where To Eat Late in Pittsburgh
Back-to-school season means late nights are back — and sooner or later, you’re going to get hungry. We’re revisiting our 1,000th episode,...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Portland Made Its River Cool — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
How often are you out in nature in Pittsburgh? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban...

Pablo Pledgescobar, Impounded E-Scooters & Shapiro’s Data Center Play
Penn State frats are facing yet another scandal –– this time a cocaine trafficking ring that investigators say involved students, alumni,...

