The Confluence

On today's episode of The Confluence: We speak with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey about the latest in his Plan for Peace, his administration's new Office of Equal Protection, and his thoughts about the now-public staffing study of the city's police force.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The jury has reached a sentencing verdict in the trial of the man who carried out the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018; we speak to Joe Rockey, the Republican nominee running for Allegheny County Executive; and the city is looking to change how it uses funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

On today's episode of The Confluence: We speak to Sara Innamorato, the Democratic nominee running for Allegheny County Executive; and we revisit the author of “100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die” for an update three years since the pandemic.

On today's episode of The Confluence: There seems to be slight movement in the budget stalemate, with Senate Republican leaders indicating they might return in August instead of September; local Republicans have nominated Erin Connolly Autenreith to run for the 21st House District seat left vacant by the resignation of Sara Innamorato; and Point Park University's Board of Trustees has appointed Chris Brussalis as the university's ninth president.

On today's episode of The Confluence: CMU is sending a rover the size of a suitcase to the moon, we talk about this and other robotic ventures happening in the region; and where business and development stand in the Strip District.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Pennsylvania Senate Republican leaders have decided not to appeal to the state Supreme Court a ruling that the state's education funding system violates the state constitution. We ask a panel of education experts where the state's school funding policies could go next.Today's guests include: Ron Cowell, founder and senior fellow at the Education Policy and Leadership Center; Michael Griffith, senior researcher and policy analyst at the Learning Policy Institute; and Matthew Kelly, assistant professor of education at Pennsylvania State University.The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA's daily news program. For those who have enjoyed listening to the show, find more episodes of The Confluence here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On today's episode of The Confluence: An Allegheny County Jail inmate died over the weekend while he was awaiting transfer to a state mental health facility; the oldest housing development in the city just received a federal grant to revitalize and develop the property; and the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania is calling for official recognition from the commonwealth.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A new study looks at how doctors could prevent the over-prescribing of antibiotics for a common childhood illness, sinusitis; the small Pittsburgh suburb of Etna is leading the state with innovative protections for animals; and three exhibits currently showing in Pittsburgh investigate the dangers Black Americans have historically faced while driving across the U.S., and how they have endured.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A third of providers for people with intellectual disabilities have reported closures since the start of the pandemic, largely due to staffing shortages, and many want the state to act on this crisis of care; Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has brought a cohort of student interns to Frick Park to teach them about forest restoration; and an Indiana County farm is running a trial to see if sunflowers can become a viable crop in Western Pennsylvania.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A Senate bill has been introduced that attempts to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania; training camp for the Steelers kicks off Wednesday in Latrobe; and a look at how the state is planning to manage $1.2 billion for broadband access across the commonwealth.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A dark money group has pressured state lawmakers to approve school vouchers, which has held up the budget after Gov. Josh Shapiro told Democrats he would line-item veto the program. Following the resignation of Rep. Sara Innamorato, we discuss the balance of power in the state House on our state politics roundtable.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The city hired an outside consultant to assess staffing among the Pittsburgh Police, we hear about the results of that study; the Children's Museum turns 40 years old, and is celebrating it's growth and impact; and a look at an investigation into whether new accountability measures at Penn State have tamped down misconduct.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Many consider Pennsylvania's probation system to be outdated, but the most recent push to fix it is opposed by some civil rights advocates who say this update could make the system worse; Medicaid will now reimburse Pennsylvania providers who practice street medicine, giving medical care to unhoused people in non-clinical settings; and a look at whether poor air quality alerts in the Mon Valley apply to those living further away from the Mon River.

On today's episode of The Confluence: We speak to Lt. Gov. Austin Davis about the delayed state budget, which has been stalled in the legislature, while Davis embarks on a tour of local initiatives to reduce gun violence and address the health of communities; and we speak to a child abuse prevention advocate about where things stand in expanding statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

On today's episode of The Confluence: We discuss what's to come in the final phase of the federal trial for the man who carried out the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting; Pittsburgh City Council is developing a framework for how to use federal dollars to address food insecurity; and an amendment to a state law will allow the city to more easily take control of privately owned, blighted properties.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A jury has found the person responsible for a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 is eligible for the death penalty; and it has been more than five months since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio — we discuss railroad safety and policy changes on the horizon.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has ruled that autopsy records are public records after a Pittsburgh journalist sued Allegheny County for not making such records available through a Right-to-Know request; a local organization has been awarded $300,000 from the state for the inaugural First Change Trust Fund Program to support at-risk students; and the National Aviary is now home to two Guam Kingfisher chicks who are helping repopulate a species that has become extinct in the wild.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The state Attorney General's office charged five Jehovah's Witnesses with rape and exploitation of children, and a survivor of sexual abuse is suing the leaders of her former congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses for allegedly destroying records and ignoring the state's Child Protective Services Law; we look at the impact of raising the minimum wage as proposals to raise it for county employees and statewide are percolating in the respective legislatures; and a study about how machine learning can identify patients at a high risk for complications after surgery.

On today's episode of The Confluence: We speak with reporters about their coverage of the closing of the downtown Smithfield Shelter, and how some of the residents who relied on this shelter are doing without this option; a look at how a proposed bill could relieve medical debt for some Pennsylvanians; and a live-performance series profiling Braddock resident Mary Carey.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Last week Gov. Josh Shapiro said he will sign the budget after the state Senate sends it to his desk, but with the next Senate session not scheduled until September, it could be a while; the Penguins have been busy during the free-agency period, with the new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas bringing in several new forwards and shaking up the team's roster; and a conversation with the Pittsburgh Silent Film Society director who's bringing the medium to local theaters with a festival this fall.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The state House has passed a budget after Gov. Josh Shapiro reversed his position on school vouchers, a program many Republicans support. We speak to a roundtable of reporters covering Pennsylvania politics about the latest among state government. Today's guests include: Marc Levy, who reports on government and politics for the Associated Press; Gillian McGoldrick, reporter covering state government for the Philadelphia Inquirer; and Justin Sweitzer, managing editor with City & State PA.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Allegheny County released the 2022 data of overdose deaths and found a slight decrease in deaths from the previous year; the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects summer air travel this year to surpass pre-pandemic levels, we speak to officials of Pittsburgh's airport about how flights over the latest holiday weekend went; and with the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act now in effect, an attorney shares their experience working with pregnant clients.

On today's episode of The Confluence: We speak with the owner of a local childcare center about how their facility operates as a public-private partnership and what gaps need to be addressed in childcare; Pittsburgh is hosting the 2023 National Senior Games, competitions start on Friday; and a look at how low-income residents displaced from their Downtown Pittsburgh apartments last December are faring six months later.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Gov. Josh Shapiro had directed the state Department of Aging to develop a master plan for older adults. We look at what the economics of caring for an aging state population involve, and how the state and county are preparing for the so-called “silver tsunami.”Today's guests include: Kevin Hancock, special advisor to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging; Shannah Tharp Gilliam, deputy director for the Area Agency on Aging in the Allegheny County Department of Human Services; and Nick Pretnar, a postdoctoral scholar studying economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Data obtained by the ACLU of Pennsylvania found a disproportionate number of students who received summary citations in Pittsburgh Public Schools during the 2021-2022 school year were Black, a trend advocates and parents are asking the district to change; research from the University of Pennsylvania found taking race into account when assessing the lung health of Black and white patients led to disparities in treatment; and we talk about how a collaborative project among local institutions is commissioning art for “Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh.”

On today's episode of The Confluence: Enrollment at state university branch campuses for Penn State and University of Pittsburgh has declined, and the trend has been years in the making; the federal government has waived a requirement called an x-waiver, which was required for doctors wanting to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder, potentially widening the pool of clinicians who can prescribe it; and a look at how and why keys to the city are distributed.

On today's episode of The Confluence: State lawmakers have proposed legislation to give the state oversight of carbon capture wells, taking enforcement out of the hands of federal regulators; local theme and amusement park Kennywood is celebrating its 125th anniversary; and a local entrepreneur has created a smartphone app that seeks to incentivize consumers to shop at Black-owned businesses.

On today's episode of The Confluence: Mayor Ed Gainey joins the show to discuss his Plan for Peace, which aims to address gun violence through a public health perspective, homelessness and what's ahead this summer.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The Pennsylvania House has passed a minimum wage increase for the first time since 2009, but its fate will be decided in the Senate. Also, an update on state budget negotiations. It's our state politics reporter roundtable. Today's guests include: Stephen Caruso, capitol reporter for Spotlight PA; Gillian McGoldrick, who covers state government for The Philadelphia Inquirer; and Chris Potter, WESA's government and accountability editor.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board has been sued for allegedly violating the Sunshine Act by limiting the public's access to information about the jail, including deaths, overdoses, and facility conditions; a patient navigator with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania weighs in on the year that has passed since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and leading some states to limit abortion access; and a conversation about the work by Johnstown resident Steve Ditko, who co-created Spider-Man.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality found not all teachers are trained in scientifically proven strategies for teaching children to read; what Duquesne University is doing to educate future teachers about these reading strategies; and a look at why one Pennsylvania Republican is advocating for the removal of a tool that prevents voters from casting ballots in more than one state.

On today's episode of The Confluence: A jury found Robert Bowers guilty on all counts in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, still leaving in question whether he will receive the death penalty; and a conversation with WQED's incoming president and CEO, Jason Jedlinksi.

Despite no mention of the COVID-19 pandemic in his budget address, Gov. Josh Shapiro's first spending plan includes a number of health-related priorities for the commonwealth, such as increasing appropriations for local health departments, along with funds to address maternal mortality and capitalize on potential future revenue from legalized adult-use marijuana. We speak to Ed Mahon, an investigative reporter with Spotlight PA, about how Shapiro's budget approaches public health. (0:00-8:50) Last week, Mayor Ed Gainey nominated Larry Scirotto to be the city's police chief. City Council still has to approve the former Pittsburgh police assistant chief before he can officially assume the role. WESA reporter Kiley Koscinski sat down with Scirotto to talk about his priorities. (8:50-22:30)

A newly published study from the RAND Corporation found through a Pittsburgh-based experiment that when legal counsel is provided to defendants at bail hearings, the use of monetary bail and pretrial detention decreased. We speak to the lead author of the study, Shamena Anwar, about the impact of this finding. (0:00 - 8:09) Declining enrollment at the Community College of Allegheny County accelerated during the pandemic; in 2022 the institution had half the students attending in 2010. Emma Folts, higher education reporter with PublicSource, tells us what the consequences of the declining student body could be. (8:12 - 14:55) Former president Harry Truman became a household name in the 1940s as senator and chair of the so-called congressional “Truman Committee,” which investigated wasteful and inefficient spending in the country's National Defense Program. NPR senior editor Steve Drummond's new book, “The Watchdog,” explains the committee's work, its investigation in Pittsburgh, and how it helped Truman rise to prominence and later, the White House. (14:58 - 22:30)

Pittsburgh Public Schools has hired Jason Rivers as the district's inaugural director of narrative transformation, conflict resolution and violence prevention. Rivers joins us to explain what kind of programming can be enacted to support violence prevention. (0:00 - 10:17) Local school board elections in Pennsylvania are one of the few where candidates can cross-file, meaning they appear on more than one party's ballot. Kate Huangpu, government reporter for Spotlight PA, reports that while some prefer the practice, others say it's confusing to voters. (10:22 - 17:21) Pittsburgh-based poet Kevin Finn has just published a new collection, “Consequence of Dream,” and he discussed it with 90.5 WESA's Bill O'Driscoll. (17:24 - 22:30)

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed his first bill last week, requiring insurers to cover the costs of breast cancer screenings for those at high risk of developing the disease. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland), a breast cancer survivor herself, joins the show to discuss the bill she sponsored, and other legislative priorities. (0:00 - 10:35) State legislators want hospital companies to give communities more notice, and resources for care, ahead of reducing services or closing hospitals. We speak to Representatives Jennifer O'Mara, (D., Delaware) and Eddie Day Pashinski (D., Luzerne) about their proposal and intended impacts. (10:40 - 22:30)

More than three years since the first U.S. shutdowns to address the spread of COVID-19, women are still experiencing strain and haven't recovered in the same ways as their male counterparts. We speak to business leaders and researchers about what impact they've seen on women in the Pennsylvania workforce.Today's guests include: Melanie Marie Boyer, executive director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Lily Brown, assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry and director at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania; Denise Rousseau, H.J. Heinz II Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Tepper School of Business; and Doris Carson Williams, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has nominated Larry Scirotto, a former assistant chief with the city, as the next police chief. We speak to WESA's Kiley Koscinski about the choice, now that council has to weigh in. (0:00 - 7:14)United Way of Pennsylvania has released its latest report on asset limited, income constrained, employed (ALICE) households. We speak to Alyssa Cholodofsky, chief program and policy author of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, about how Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania area residents are reflected in the report. (7:20 - 14:57)Early May is when bees might leave their hives looking for a new home, and the warmer weather drew some of these insects out sooner. Chad Seibel, president of the Laurel Highlands Beekeepers Association, explains best practices if you find yourself near a swarm of the fuzzy fliers. (15:04 - 22:30)

Gov. Josh Shapiro has been in office for 100 days; the former Alcoa plant in New Kensington will be home to a new manufacturing plant backed by former Amazon leader and billionaire Thomas Tull; and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's 2023 list of Best Books for Babies.

On today's episode of The Confluence:Black pregnant women delivering babies are more likely to get tested for drugs when delivering than white women, suggests a new study of a health system in the commonwealth. We speak to Marian Jarlenski, author of the paper and an associate professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, about this disparity. (0:00 - 6:53) The Pittsburgh Public School board approved using grants to cover the cost of police training for school security guards. We speak to Ghadah Makoshi, an advocacy and policy strategist with the ACLU of Pennsylvania, about the implications of interactions between students and law enforcement. (7:00 - 14:38) The Steelers have completed their 2023 college football draft, picking up Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones in the first round. We speak with The Athletic's Mike DeFabo about the team's choices. (14:43 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence: The state's Human Relations Commission released its first whitepaper on the state of Pennsylvania's affordable housing, which included recommendations on how state and municipal governments can better serve those in need of housing. Adrian Garcia, the director of fair housing and commercial property, discusses the recommendations the report offers. (0:00 - 7:53) A University of Pittsburgh professor received the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. Adam Lowenstein will use the grant for his book, which will focus on Jewish horror films and their cultural significance. (7:56 - 14:43) Bill Hillgrove, the play-by-play announcer, remembers his friend Pirates great, National League MVP, and longtime broadcast partner Dick Groat, who died Thursday at the age of 92. (14:52 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence: Pennsylvania House Democrats had their first full week of session since solidifying their majority. We discuss what priorities are on the table. Also, we are less than three weeks from the May primary where voters in Allegheny county will choose their candidate for the November election. Today's guests include: Katie Meyer, government editor and reporter at Spotlight PA; John Micek, editor-in-chief at Pennsylvania Capital Star; and Chris Potter, WESA's government and accountability editor.

On today's episode of The Confluence:Legislation that would expand discrimination protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians has passed a second vote in the House and is expected to face one final vote before being considered by the state Senate. Meanwhile, lawmakers have also introduced new legislation to address hate crimes. We speak with state Rep. Dan Frankel (D - Allegheny) about this package of bills. (0:00 - 8:13) As warm weather returns, so do seasonal bugs, like the invasive spotted lanternflies. We speak to Pennsylvania State University entomologist Kelli Hoover about their return. (8:16 - 14:21) The state of Pennsylvania is the only one in the country to not fund public defense; that responsibility falls to counties. Spotlight PA investigative reporter Danielle Ohl reports Governor Josh Shapiro is proposing $10 million in his budget to fund public defense. (14:25 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence: Jury selection continues in the capital murder trial of the man accused of shooting and killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue on October 27, 2018. WESA's Oliver Morrison reports that so far, no jurors have been selected. (0:00 - 6:01) Property owners in Allegheny County have made 11,660 appeals to their 2023 tax assessments. Rich Lord, managing editor with PublicSource, and Julia Zenkevich, reporter with WESA, explain who is making the appeals and what that will mean for local services. (6:05 - 13:23) We discuss how courtrooms and judges can better help those with autism when they interact with the judicial system. Judge Jennifer McCrady, who sits on the Court of Common Pleas, tells us what accommodations Allegheny County courtrooms have made, and how they're sharing these tools with courtroom staff. (13:30 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence: Some are questioning if Pennsylvania's laws are strong enough to protect the elderly from fraud when they are declared legally incapacitated and appointed a guardian. Angela Couloumbis, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA, tells us what she's learned about the issue. (0:00 - 6:32) Film Pittsburgh's annual JFilm Festival kicked off last week. This year's lineup includes, “The Cure for Hate,” a documentary about a former Holocaust denier, Tony McAleer, who is telling his story to combat extremism and white supremacy. We speak with McAleer ahead of tonight's film screening, and an in-person discussion with McAleer and director Peter Hutchison. (6:37 - 13:38) University of Pittsburgh alumnus and Olympic-medal winner Herb Douglas passed away Saturday at the age of 101. The Confluence spoke to Douglas in 2019 after a book about his life and legacy entitled “Launched: The Life of Olympian Herb Douglas” was published. We revisit that interview. (13:48 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence: The Allegheny County Controller's office recommended new standards to the county jail regarding notifying families of death, injury, or illness for incarcerated people. Ankur Sakaria, legal counsel with the Controller's office, joins us to explain this policy and what it could do for those with loved ones incarcerated. (0:00 - 10:43) Chatham University's board of trustees voted unanimously to appoint Rhonda Phillips as its 20th president. Phillips is currently dean of the Purdue University Honors College, and joins us to discuss her next role in Pittsburgh. (10:52 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence: The federal trial of the man charged with carrying out a mass shooting at the Squirrel Hill Tree of Life Synagogue, affecting three congregations in 2018, begins next week. We ask a panel about how the city's Jewish community is preparing, and what the community can expect as the trial unfolds. Today's guests include: An-Li Herring, reporter with WESA; Kiley Koscinski, reporter with WESA; Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership; and David Harris, professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, and the legal systems advisor and educator for the 10.27 Healing Partnership.

On today's episode of The Confluence:Election irregularities from years ago could cast a shadow on the primary contest for county executive. WESA government and accountability editor Chris Potter shares how the drama in Kennedy Township pitted Allegheny county executive candidates John Weinstein and Dave Fawcett against each other. Also we touch on some endorsements for the county executive race. (0:00 - 7:26) According to a 2022 report from the CDC, almost 1 in 2 women and more than 2 in 5 men in the U.S. have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking victimization by an intimate partner. To provide more resources and support for those facing domestic violence across the country, The Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh helped launch a multinational smartphone app called Bright Sky. The Center's CEO and president Nicole Molinaro tells us how an app can give a survivor the information they need. (7:30 - 15:31) Arcade Comedy Theater is putting on an interactive comedy experience for kids ages 4 to 8 years old called “Penny Arcade” this weekend. We catch up with Mike Rubino, director of marketing and Arcade co-founder, about how they can bring young audience members into the show. There will be four performances this weekend. (15:38 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence:The American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report finds particle pollution in the Pittsburgh metro area was worse by 24-hour and year-round measures, compared to 2022's report. Allegheny County has disputed the findings of this report, noting in a statement that it meets national standards. We speak to Kevin Stewart, the Association's director of environmental health, about the report. (0:00 - 7:22) The federal death penalty trial for the man charged in the 2018 synagogue shooting begins next week. While court rules will dictate the pattern of those proceedings, survivors of the attack say there's no guidebook for their healing journeys. 90.5 WESA's Kiley Koscinski reports. (7:44 - 15:17) Westmoreland County was founded 250 years ago, and to celebrate, the Westmoreland Historical Society opened a new exhibit over the weekend titled, “Westmoreland 250! Telling our Story with 25 Objects.” We speak to Joanna Moyar, collections manager at the Westmoreland Historical Society about the exhibit. (15:30 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence:Pennsylvania is expected to receive billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds, and most of that money is going to counties and other local governments. 90.5 WESA's Kate Giammarise and Spotlight PA's Ed Mahon tell us what the money can – and cannot – be used for, and the concerns people have about transparency. (0:00 - 13:01) Pittsburgh native and influential jazz musician Ahmad Jamal died Sunday at the age of 92. We speak to Nelson Harrison, a longtime friend of Jamal, about his life and legacy. (13:14 - 22:30)

On today's episode of The Confluence:The nation is experiencing drug shortages for certain medications, which could impact patients in need of antibiotics, cancer treatments, and more. What can customers do when their pharmacies don't have the drugs they need? We speak to Dr. Rob Maher, who teaches pharmacy management at Duquesne University's School of Pharmacy and is the pharmacy services director for a local, family-owned chain of pharmacies. (0:00 - 9:11).The death penalty trial begins in a week for the man charged with carrying out the 2018 synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill. The proceeding is expected to last through July. 90.5 WESA's An-Li Herring has this report on why it will take so long. (9:16 - 13:51).The Pittsburgh Penguins have fired team leaders: general manager Ron Hextall, president of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant general manager Chris Pryor. This comes after the team broke its 16-year streak of making the NHL playoffs. We discuss the latest with Rob Rossi, senior writer for The Athletic. (13:56 - 22:30).