New Park Toilets, County Wins & One Scandalous PA Judge

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato gave her quarterly address to County Council, and while there’s a lot of uncertainty around funding, there are also things to celebrate. Like more bathrooms in the parks! But if you see any downed birds, be mindful of bird flu and please don’t touch. Biden’s outgoing pardons are back in the news — including one granted to a judge convicted in the ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal — and we’re taking a dive into autopen lore. Plus, we’re recapping Pennsylvania’s special elections, celebrating the start of the Pirates new season and fewer potholes at Pittsburgh Mills, and it’s time to apply to be a lifeguard for both city and county pools.

Notes and references from today’s show:

Allegheny County Council Regular Address — March 25, 2025 [YouTube]
ACT NOW: Stop Catastrophic Service Cuts [Pittsburghers for Public Transit]
What's an autopen, and does it void Biden's pardons? [NPR]
The Autopen: How the Robotic Pen Has Changed Presidential History [Shapell]
Biden’s Commutation in ‘Kids for Cash’ Scandal Angers Some Pennsylvania Families [AP]
Justice in ‘Kids-for-Cash’ Scheme & PA’s Trip to Legalize Psychedelics [City Cast Pittsburgh]
The MySpace Misdemeanor [Crime Show]
Democrats keep control of Pennsylvania House with election win; GOP Senate district sees close race [AP News]
Site of former Donny’s Place gay bar isn’t historic, Pittsburgh planners agree [PublicSource]
Pittsburgh Mills pothole patching underway, but legal troubles seem unlikely to disappear [TribLive]
Multiple families of trans kids denied gender-affirming medications at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh [The Pitt News]
Tell UPMC: Stop Doing Trump’s Bidding Rally [Instagram]
Pittsburgh parks department hopes to open all 18 pools this summer [WESA]