Pittsburgh was the city of choice for the U.S. Department of State’s annual Experience America trip this year, bringing 30 ambassadors from across the globe to explore the city's history, architecture, culture and technology.

The event, held May 21-23, gave world leaders the opportunity to engage with prominent economic, technological and creative pioneers in Pittsburgh to strike up new foreign partnerships. Ambassadors were given tours through facilities including Astrobotic Technology, Inc., Human Engineering Research Laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh and the Andy Warhol Museum.

The Rail~Volution conference has been a national leader on engaging communities to improve public transportation and development centered on transit, and to create walkable and bikeable neighborhoods. For more than 20 years, it has set up shop in booming cities that have experienced decades of growth in their respective regions.

In the early 2010s, the term “pop punk” had essentially become a slur that any melodic punk band who were too cool for Warped Tour (i.e. anyone who cited Weezer over Blink-182 as an influence) attempted to avoid at all costs. For many reasons, the embarrassment was justified.

Spooky! All the artists on this playlist just *happen* to be featured in tomorrow's issue. Hit play for music from Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, The Regrettes, Xenia Rubinos, BJ Barham and more. Due to this week's coverage of WYEP's Summer Music Festival on June 24, this playlist is funky as hell. Enjoy.

The Sierra Club and concerned local residents gathered last week at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to urge Gov. Tom Wolf and the DEP to take action by renewing the expired permits at Pennsylvania power plants, and to announce that the Sierra Club has filed suit against the DEP in commonwealth court. Speakers presented a jug of water from the Allegheny River, which they said is of particular concern due to the Cheswick plant, which is the subject of the lawsuit.

“I’m here on behalf of our 130,000 members and supporters in Pennsylvania to demand that Governor Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection meet their legal obligation to protect Pennsylvania residents from toxic pollution entering our streams and rivers from coal-fired power plants,” said Patrick Grenter, senior campaign representative with the Beyond Coal campaign of the Sierra Club.

Fans gathered at Highmark Stadium on the South Side on Sat., June 17 for a charity softball game organized by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pa.

Besides the game, there were other activities including a dance contest and a home-run derby won by Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus.

Photo Intern Krista Johnson was there and captured some of the action.

Each week, we post a song from a local artist online for free. This week, it’s new music from LEFTFIELD, the highly skilled MC/producer duo of Reason and DOC LVLY. “Agency,” featuring LKHD and Rhetorical Artz, serves as a good introduction to their earnest, old school mentality and crisp, smart production. The album is Learned Process. Go find it. Stream or download “Agency" below.

Fire up the grill and go wait in the car, Pittsburgh, because it's Dad-time! Show love to all the top-shelf dads in town with these 14 unique gift ideas that you've probably never thought your dad would want. Gifts that are sure to make him say "Thanks!"

Happy Father's Day!

Pittsburgh City officials say more than 650,000 people came Downtown today for a victory parade honoring the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup Championship. While that number seems almost impossibly high — the city's population is a bit more than 300,000 and there are just 1.2 million people in Allegheny County — there were tons of people in town today and they were ready to party. It got so crazy, apparently, that the Pens' Phil Kessel even signed a screaming baby a la Ricky Bobby and Donald Trump.

Our photo intern Jordan Miller was on hand to capture the sights and sounds of today's parade. Check out her photos below, including highlights and a slideshow of 50 images.

Spooky! All the artists on this playlist just *happen* to be featured in tomorrow's issue. Hit play for music from Nicole Atkins, Odean Pope, NVSV, The Ghost Wolves, Maw Paw and more! Two more.