Pittsburgh's Public Source: Deep, independent Pittsburgh news

HEALTH

Ahead of UPMC ambulance deal, Pittsburgh medics rely on makeshift fixes — even using vomit bags to warm cabs

A surprise $10 million gift from UPMC will speed up replacement of the EMS fleet, and could lead to better public health outcomes and a new kind of partnership between the city and tax-exempt corporations.

by Venuri Siriwardane

Local Government

Will UPMC’s ambulance gift inspire other nonprofits to contribute?

by Charlie Wolfson

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2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh in April. Will you be cheering, or hiding?

by Public Source

ICE, immigration and local response

Punches thrown by counterprotester at Springdale anti-ICE demonstration

by Stephanie Strasburg and Rich Lord

ICE, immigration and local response

ICE: Detained Springdale man entered U.S. illegally and missed court date

by Rich Lord

NEWS PARTNERS

U.S. Steel fined $118K for safety lapses in Clairton Coke Works fatal explosion

by Jack Troy and Megan Trotter, TribLive

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Arts & Culture

Video: This Pittsburgh-area hidden art gem is a tribute to the children of Aliquippa

by Janel Young

WHO WE ARE

Pittsburgh’s Public Source informs and inspires the Pittsburgh region through the power of deep, independent journalism.

We need brave institutions to support transgender youth in Pittsburgh

by Guest commentary by Ansel Bloom

ICE, immigration and local response

Reporting on the reach and impact of immigration enforcement in Pittsburgh and across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

ICE, immigration and local response

Allegheny County Council says it doesn’t know how much county employees interact with ICE

by Charlie Wolfson

Digging deeper for Pittsburgh

DEVELOP PGH

Pittsburgh agency poised to borrow up to $50 million for Downtown improvements

by Rich Lord

CLAIRTON AFTER THE BLAST

After deadly explosion, safety and environmental lapses at U.S. Steel’s flagship coke works now rest with Nippon

by Quinn Glabicki and Josh Kelety, Associated Press

ICE, immigration and local response

Springdale arrest and ICE cooperation prompt Allegheny Valley schools to weigh options

by Jamie Wiggan

CLAIRTON AFTER THE BLAST

Clairton sees hope but a history of disappointment six months after explosion

by Quinn Glabicki

CLAIRTON AFTER THE BLAST

‘Beartopia’ boosts school spirit in the shadow of the Clairton Coke Works

by Lajja Mistry

ICE, immigration and local response

Turn-signal stop prompts ICE detention for father of two in Springdale

Borough police, who have an agreement to cooperate with ICE, pulled the Peruvian man over on his way to work, according to family who said he is in compliance with asylum processes.

by Jamie Wiggan and Stephanie Strasburg

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

Can Pittsburgh’s arts scene wow incoming NFL Draft fans?

Ahead of the April NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, some — but not all — of the city’s arts venues are looking to cash in on the swell of visitors.

by Matt Petras

Oakland danger zone sees safety upgrades, and community wants more

Users of the thrice-deadly Terrace Street area have gotten the ears of Pittsburgh officials, UPMC and Pitt. Now they hope to build on the bike lane and bollards that have made West Oakland a little safer.

by Maddy Franklin

Inside our Newsroom

Curiosity cures coyness for budding journalists and Public Source interns

Our spring interns might have found themselves working in labs or law firms if inquisitiveness and the call of public service hadn’t turned them onto journalism.

by Jamie Wiggan

First person

Six weeks in the Amazon’s headwaters helped me to love post-industrial Pittsburgh

Seeing illegal gold mines despoil remote Ecuadorian forests helped me to understand what happened to Pittsburgh — and to appreciate what we still have.

First-person essay by Dalia Maeroff

2026 Pittsburgh NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is juicing Pittsburgh’s short-term rental market — but for how long?

The April event is on track to push occupancy at Airbnbs and VRBOs in Pittsburgh toward 90%. Does that mean a long-term increase in short-term rentals?

by Katherine Weaver and Rich Lord

ICE, immigration and local response

What is the fate of some two dozen ICE bills before Pa. state lawmakers?

Immigration arrests increased more than three-fold in the commonwealth.

by Emily Previti

Education

Education leaders name their K-12 priorities for 2026

Public Source asked six education stakeholders to outline big trends in the region’s K-12 landscape.

by Lajja Mistry

HIGHER EDUCATION

Pitt ‘powerhouse’ team grapples with significant funding loss

The William Pitt Debating Union, a top-ranked team with more than 30 members, may not be able to travel to competitions following a steep cut.

by Maddy Franklin

Guest commentary

Before we talk about Pittsburgh media’s future, how about some deep listening?

I’ve researched Southwestern Pennsylvania news. The loss of a newsroom is a tragedy. If we fail to listen to communities before responding, it will be compounded by missed opportunity.

by Guest commentary by Letrell Crittenden

GENDER & IDENTITY

‘Armed queers don’t get bashed’: Pink Pistols Pittsburgh marks year as Second Amendment community

“We teach queer people to shoot. Then we teach others that we have done so.” A gay gun rights group takes stock after a year of local growth and national turmoil.

by Stephanie Strasburg

Local Government

UPMC to give Pittsburgh $10 million for new ambulances

The announcement arrives as the city fights off snow with a faltering truck fleet, and follows many attempts by mayors to squeeze funds from major nonprofits.

by Charlie Wolfson

Local Government

Maps: Pittsburgh has more decaying homes than it can demolish

The city saw a three-year surge in demolitions of abandoned structures, but the federal funds are gone and disrepair is again outrunning the wrecking crews.

by Charlie Wolfson

Education

PPS board resumes closures discussion after axing plans in November

Two years of planning ground to a swift halt late last year when the board voted down the proposal amid mounting public opposition. A change in representation — and for some members a change in heart — means those plans are back in play.

by Lajja Mistry

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