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October 3, 2025

'Sloppy' City Budget, Zombie Studies & Giant Eagle vs. Everybody

City Cast Pittsburgh

'Sloppy' City Budget, Zombie Studies & Giant Eagle vs. Everybody

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Giant Eagle says it's lowering prices on hundreds of products, jussst as the beloved Midwestern chain Meijer announced a new location north of Pittsburgh. Outgoing Mayor Ed Gainey released his draft for the city’s 2026 budget, and his most vocal critics are getting pretty creative with their complaints. Plus, Spirit Christmas is coming, Pitt announced a new Horror Studies Center, vaccination exemptions are going down for students countywide.

And it’s the last day of our fall membership drive. 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/ 

Notes and references from today’s show:

  • Gainey pitches budget plan with no tax hike [TribLive]
  • Why Corey O'Connor Wants To Be Pittsburgh's Next Mayor [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Why Tony Moreno Wants To Be Pittsburgh's Next Mayor [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • How the federal shutdown could disrupt daily life in Pa. [Axios Pittsburgh]
  • PA Candy Trivia! How Pennsylvania is Your Halloween Haul? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Giant Eagle is lowering prices on more than 300 grocery staples [WPXI]
  • Meijer's cryptic announcement of expansion into Pittsburgh sparks intrigue in competitive grocery market [Pittsburgh Business Times]
  • Here's where the region's first Meijer store is likely to set up shop [Pittsburgh Business Times]
  • Wawa to open stores in Centre County, inching farther into Sheetz's territory [KDKA]
  • University of Pittsburgh launches world's first center to study horror genre [WESA]
  • Religious, philosophical vaccine exemptions on the rise in Southwestern Pennsylvania [Next Gen Newsroom]
  • Spirit Christmas to open 2 Pittsburgh-area locations this holiday season [WPXI]

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 3rd episode:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh

Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

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