Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have seen some recent significant victories in terms of air quality — earlier this year, Allegheny County saw its first-ever days in compliance with all federal air quality guidelines under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. But, as environmentalists noted at the time, Southwestern Pennsylvania’s air quality still has a ways to go...

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center received a sizable grant to help support "emerging artists of color" in Pittsburgh, according to a press release. Today, April 22, the AWAACC announced that it received a $1.35 million grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, providing a major boost to the center's ongoing programming dedicated to showcasing Black artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives, and preserving the legacy of its Pittsburgh playwright namesake...

UPDATE — 2:05 p.m., Thu., April 22: Number of today's new positive cases in Allegheny County: 299 Number of today's new coronavirus deaths in Allegheny County: 1...

Pittsburgh will soon have its first ever literary festival bringing together different authors from around the globe. On April 15, City of Asylum announced it will be holding a Pittsburgh International Literary Festival...

Video Archive Lynn has started the show talking about SEX!

The conflict over how to transition Pennsylvania, and the rest of the country, from reliance on fossil fuels has always been focused on jobs. There are still over 1 million jobs in fossil fuel industries, and even though jobs in coal have been declining for years, there are still tens of thousands employed in mines and coal-related facilities...

The pandemic has made casualties of some beloved Pittsburgh venues. Fortunately, some places have managed to weather the crisis, including two of the region's historic cinemas...

Approximately 150 people gathered at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District for a Justice For George Floyd action after the verdict for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was announced, on April 20. A little after 5 p.m., the Minnesota jury found Chauvin guilty on all three counts — second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter...

Video Archive "The world became witnesses to this murder and it is why, because of that video, that George Floyd's name became known, and shouted in the streets, all over the nation, night after night after night."

For many authors, going on a book tour is the highlight of getting published. They get to meet fans, sign copies of their books, and have moving conversations with readers on what they have written...

Work-life balances are difficult, but Konscious Kel takes it up a notch. After a long day at a UPMC research lab, the research laboratory technician and musician often spends the evening mixing down some vocals or creating a new beat until it’s time to go to sleep...

After months locked indoors and huddled around space heaters, the weather is finally warming up — just in time for Earth Day. This annual celebration of the birth of the modern environmental movement focuses on a full day of eco-friendly action and appreciation for Mother Nature, and Pittsburgh is joining in on the celebration...

This week’s must-see arts and cultural events

Thu., April 22 LIT • VIRTUAL The story of American Reconstruction is often oversimplified and focuses on the American South. Pitt professor of history Alaina E. Roberts seeks to change that with a discussion of her book I've Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land for Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures...

After being canceled last spring due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, the JFilm Festival returns to immerse audiences in the Jewish experience with virtual screenings, panel discussions, and more. This year, the festival also has a clear mission of highlighting how communities can acknowledge and work together against social injustice and corruption...

Cal-Mex is a cuisine that Pittsburghers probably haven’t heard much about. Like how Tex-Mex combines Texan and Mexican cuisines, Cal-Mex is a combination of authentic Mexican fare and California flavors...

Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to envision a different world. Different versions of the conversations we heard growing...

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Blogger Emma Elsworthy wrote her "Self-Care List." I'll tell you a few of her 57 action items, in hopes of inspiring you to create your own list...

Pittsburgh City Photos: An exploration of the city through photographs

After about a year of being shut down for renovations, the Downtown branch of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh reopened on Tuesday, with more space than before. On Saturday, Carnegie Library Downtown held community tours for their Grand Reopening Celebration, and, of course, I went to photograph the new space...

Nature is healing. After being shut out for much of the last year, activists of all stripes are returning to the stately marble steps and gilded interior of the Pennsylvania Capitol...

On April 14, the city of Pittsburgh sent out a Formal Invitation for Bids requesting a long list of less-lethal weapons for the Pittsburgh Police force. This request includes hundreds of sponge rounds, thousands of projectile beanbags, and dozens of tear gas canisters, as well as other less-lethal weapons that Pittsburgh Police used last summer during Black Lives Matter protests in response to instances of police brutality...