Police Chief Search, Passover Primaries & Another Train Derailment
It’s the Friday news roundup! The team is discussing the finalists for Pittsburgh police chief and renewed calls for federal train safety regulations after a train derailment in the West End. Plus, why Pennsylvania might finally move up its presidential primary date — because of Passover.
As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism:
- A little background on the Penguins robo logo from The Athletic’s Rob Rossi
- The Post-Gazette’s Megan Guza wrote a great explainer on the three candidates for Pgh police chief
- PublicSource’s Rich Lord reports that complaints against Pittsburgh police dropped in 2022
- The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Gillian McGoldrick explains why it’s a problem that the 2024 presidential primary falls on the first day of Passover.
- City Cast Pittsburgh spoke with environmental health reporter Kristina Marusic about the Ohio train derailment
- WESA’s Jillian Forstadt looks at calls for train safety legislation after the latest Norfolk Southern derailment
- The Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s Kim Lyons breaks down proposed legislation to strengthen train safety regulations
Want some more Pittsburgh news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.
We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!
Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.
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
Sports Villains, Redemption Arcs, and the One Man We'll Never Forgive
Is it villainous to avoid Pittsburgh for over a decade? To get rich off our sports teams but never try to win? If a celebrity claims us,...

What Happened to Station Square?
Station Square has been many things: a festival marketplace ("think outdoor shopping mall with razzamatazz"), a home to megaclubs and war...

Your Guide to August 2026 in Pittsburgh
Whether you want to board a pontoon boat, catch free live music in the park, or follow up a round of mini golf with an ice cream sandwich...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Do you know how zoning laws affect Pittsburgh’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
It’s not a given that every Pittsburgher will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with writ...

Paid Leave, Doxxing & Teen Curfew Lawsuit
Allegheny County's paid parental leave proposal has sparked tons of debate, and now the conversation has veered somewhere darker. Host Me...

Rick Sebak on Hot Dog Doc, Pittsburgh Rites of Passage & Warhol's Burial Place
Beloved documentarian Rick Sebak has spent 50 years in public broadcasting, and WQED is celebrating with a Summer of Sebak marathon. (We'...

A Controversial Plan To Fund Downtown
Downtown Pittsburgh has seen a lot of investment lately, from a revamped Market Square to the newly built Arts Landing. Now City Council'...

Storms, Smoke & What To Do This Week
Pittsburgh's weather has been on a tear. After days of wildfire smoke, forecasters are warning that severe storms could bring damaging wi...

5 Things Worth the Money in Pittsburgh
Everyone on social media is sharing the five things they think are worth the money, and we're hopping on the trend! Producer (and treatma...

