City Cast Pittsburgh logo
October 3, 2025

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

City Cast Pittsburgh

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

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

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.

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

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
June 28

'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

Just how good are the sidewalks in Pittsburgh? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 26

Pgh's Next Epidemic? Plus, Trash Talk & Playoff 'Passion'

Pennsylvania's state Supreme Court ruled that skill games — like those poker machines you see at gas stations — are effectively the same...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 25

Pittsburgh's Fireworks Boom

Pittsburgh's going all out for America250! We've got a Ferris Wheel on the North Side, a free Nelly and Third Eye Blind concert, and of c...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 24

Bike Pittsburgh's Best Kept Secrets

Tired of sitting in traffic? Try biking instead! But if you need a pep talk to get on the road with all those cars, we're here to help. W...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 23

ICE Drops PA Warehouse Plans. Plus, Sliding Bridge & Century III's Future

Earlier this year,ICE  bought two warehouses in Pennsylvania with plans to convert them into immigrant detention centers. Now they're loo...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 22

A Pittsburgher's Guide to Erie

If you're looking for a summer beach vacation but don't want to travel too far or spend a small fortune, consider a two-hour drive up nor...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 18

The Best Local Potato Chips

It's backyard barbecue season, and no cookout feels complete without a big bag of chips. And if you like your summer snacks to be locally...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 17

Debunking Pittsburgh Myths

As Pittsburghers, we have so much pride in our city. After all, we're the City of Champions and the City of the Bridges! But can we reall...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 16

Bone Rooms, Power Outages & Primanti’s ‘Stolen’ Art

Pittsburgh International Airport (briefly) lost power during the big storm last week – something that wasn't supposed to happen because o...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 15

Dirty Pasta, Swedish Candy & Dinner Under a Volcano?

Still mourning Stuntpig's closure in Squirrel Hill? Executive producer Mallory Falk and producer Sophia Lo have recommendations for new s...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art