As 2025 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper‘s editorial staff members select their favorite stories from the year. Relive news editor Colin Williams’ 2025 highlights below:
Will the real John Fetterman please stand up? // Mar. 5, 2025
It hardly needs to be said that 2025 was a seismic year in politics. While grassroots activists and some elected officials stood tall, others lined up to grease U.S. President Donald Trump’s palms, and one U.S. Senator in particular caused a wave of local disappointment and outrage — I’m talking, of course, about former Braddock mayor and Pa. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. Far from being a pugilistic progressive, Fetterman has become “Trump’s favorite Democrat.” I was proud to see Pittsburgh City Paper ahead of the curve on concerns about Fetterman’s behavior and health, and we did it with an irreverence befitting our alt-paper status.
Under pressure from Trump, UPMC canceled a trans patient’s scheduled top surgery // Mar. 31, 2025
The flipside of so much politics in 2025 was the human cost of Trump and his ilk’s policy decisions. This year saw far too much suffering, with immigrants, people of color, and our LGBTQ community taking the brunt of the Trump administration’s second-term aggression. This isn’t my “favorite” story because it was fun to write, but because it was important to break this news and put a face on the local impact of anti-trans policies. Unfortunately, trans Pittsburghers, especially minors, continue to face barriers to life-saving care, so this will continue to be a story in 2026.
Jenn Taiga talks swords, sadomasochism, and synthesizers ahead of new album and tour // June 18, 2025
Covering extreme music is how I got my start in journalism, and it’s a subject matter I return to with glee. I had a blast talking to dungeon synth mistress Jenn Taiga and sharing her music with our readers. It feels like goth culture has been having a moment this past decade, and it’s glorious how many ways musicians have found to channel the darkness. Taiga is truly a one-of-a-kind Pittsburgh artist, and I’m stoked to see what she and others have in store next year.
Vision Zero Summit proves Pittsburgh is a rising star in the world of mobility // Oct. 17, 2025
In a year of difficult news, there were nonetheless bright spots, including Pittsburgh’s ongoing transit makeover. The city has undeniably gotten safer for non-drivers, and October’s Vision Zero Summit proved we’re just getting started. I frequently push for dreaming bigger when it comes to mobility, but it’s worth celebrating the fact that we’re already thinking bigger than we used to. Here’s to more safety improvements and bike lanes in 2026!
