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Our elected officials are supposed to work for us. Purples shows you what they're up to, so you can show them who's boss.

Use PURPLES to follow Pittsburgh’s biggest stories and track exactly how our elected officials are involved. Built by Yinzers for Yinzers to hold our politicians accountable.

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East Carson Street business owners say South Side is on the rise →

NEXTPittsburgh - Jan 22, 2026

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Pa. Supreme Court upholds Philadelphia judge suspension over partisan Facebook posts →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 22, 2026

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Beyond NIMBY vs. progress: How Pennsylvania can secure a “durable yes” for data centers →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 22, 2026

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Letter to the editor: Rail merger will negatively impact Western Pa. →

Trib Live - Jan 22, 2026

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Lessons of Springdale: Towns must prepare if they want any say over data centers →

Pittsburgh's Public Source - Jan 22, 2026

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R. Daniel Lavelle (Pittsburgh City Council Member) Remember that weird scandal where our former Police Chief was secretly refereeing college basketball games? Apparently, one of the biggest developments to come out of it is a new requirement that nominees for top city roles, like the Police Chief, must now conduct their job interviews under oath. Lavelle, who serves as the President of the City Council, is pleased with the change:

Lavelle on Wednesday told TribLive the new regulations around interviews will give council recourse to remove officials if they are found to have lied under oath. Council can only remove directors “for cause,” meaning they must have a specific reason for firing them. Council would now have cause to remove a director from their position if they lie under oath. For example, a director may tell council members while they’re under oath that they live in the city. If council members later find out that person was actually living beyond Pittsburgh’s borders, “we now have cause — because you lied under oath — to remove the director,” Lavelle explained.

Pittsburgh Council to interview Lando, department heads under oath →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Chris Deluzio (United States Representative) Already, an estimated 70,000 Pennsylvanians have dropped their health insurance for this year because they could no longer afford it without the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that Republicans cut last year. Deluzio and other Representatives in the US House have passed a bill to bring them back, and now he’s urging US Senators to seal the deal:

I recently voted to lower health care costs by extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care tax credits. The bill passed the U.S. House with votes from both Democrats and Republicans. It’s a big win in the fight to lower health care costs. But the fight isn’t won yet — the Senate needs to take this bill up ASAP.

Deluzio: Senate, president need to follow House lead in extending health care tax credits →

West Hills Gazette - Jan 21, 2026

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500 show for training in rapid response to ICE in Pittsburgh →

Pittsburgh's Public Source - Jan 21, 2026

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Gene Walker (Pittsburgh Public Schools Director) Last year, Walker was one of the biggest advocates for Pittsburgh Public Schools’ proposal to shut down under-filled schools and consolidate resources across the PPS district. But, when public opinion turned against the plan due to a major lack of details in how it would be executed, Walker joined the majority of School Board Directors in voting against the proposal. Since then, a new group of Directors have joined the Board, and Walker is ready to pick the conversation back up:

While school board president Gene Walker said he doesn’t expect the district’s proposal to change, he does hope to see administrators hire a deputy superintendent to oversee implementation. “I think there's going to be some project management work that needs to happen,” Walker said. “And hopefully, if approved, we will have six to seven more months than we would've [had] the last time to give us that room to make sure things are done well."

Pittsburgh school board members to vote next week on whether to reconsider building closures →

WESA - Jan 21, 2026

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Sara Innamorato (Allegheny County Executive) This comes in the midst of Pittsburgh’s massive effort to revitalize Downtown:

“The next iteration of Downtown Pittsburgh will include upgraded public spaces and a significant increase in the number of housing units,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said in a statement. “As this project demonstrates, the public has a key role to play as a catalytic investor in making Downtown a neighborhood where everyone feels welcomed and everyone can call home.”

Historic Downtown Pittsburgh buildings set to become mixed-income apartments →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Bob Charland (Pittsburgh City Council Member) The Trib reports that City Council this week approved two new board members for Pittsburgh’s Equipment Leasing Authority, the organization responsible for the city’s vehicle fleet. The new members—Mayor Corey O’Connor’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Werner, and nominee for Public Safety Director, Sheldon Williams—will have to help figure out what to do with Pittsburgh’s fleet of hoopties. Charland wants them to make more informed choices:

Council members urged the newest Equipment Leasing Authority board members to consider input from workers who may have insight on how well a specific piece of equipment would work. For example, Councilman Bob Charland, D-South Side, pointed out that Department of Public Works crews have been vocal about how the extended cab trucks the city recently purchased for them are “completely unusable for tight streets.”

Pittsburgh City Council OKs appointments to Equipment Leasing Authority board amid fleet struggles →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Liberal group announces plan to target Pennsylvania state elections in 2026 →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 21, 2026

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Editorial: Workers returning to the office will help Downtown, but it needs more residents, too →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 21, 2026

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Pa. dairy farmers celebrate the Whole Milk Act →

Herald-Standard - Jan 21, 2026

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Pitt receives $53.5M gift to expand orthopedics research →

WESA - Jan 21, 2026

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Summer Lee (United States Representative) Lee sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the Congressional panel investigating the Epstein Files. She voted to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State (and Presidential candidate) Hillary Clinton in contempt for refusing the Committee’s demands to testify in the investigation. But, as the Trib reports, Lee was unable to convince Republicans on the panel to also hold Pam Bondi (who, as Trump’s Attorney General, is the person ultimately responsible for the Epstein Files) in contempt:

“Meanwhile,” Lee continued, “the Department of Justice has been legally obligated to hand over the full, unredacted Epstein files to this committee since August — the same exact subpoena that they are using to hold the Clintons in contempt.” Lee said the Justice Department has turned over 1 percent of its Epstein-related files to the committee since August. “We are five months overdue, Mr. Comer [Chair of the Oversight Committee],” Lee said. “You have made no effort to bring in Pam Bondi. So no, the difference is not clear. You have made no effort to demand any answers, to exert any type of pressure.”

Summer Lee votes to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress for defying Epstein-related subpoenas →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Sara Innamorato (Allegheny County Executive) As the Allegheny County Executive, Innamorato is responsible for overseeing a number of County agencies, including the Allegheny County Health Department and Department of Human Services. The Post-Gazette reports that, this week, the two agencies linked up to install Downtown’s first vending machine for Narcan, the overdose prevention drug. It's all part of the County’s harm reduction work:

The result of a collaboration between Allegheny County’s Health Department and Department of Human Services, the county announced in a Wednesday news release, the aim is to save lives by providing centralized access to the opioid-reversing medication. “The 24/7 outdoor placement of the vending machine downtown is sure to prevent deaths, as more individuals can access life-saving medication on their own terms — especially those discouraged by retail prices or who want to remain anonymous,” Katie Wooten, overdose prevention program manager at ACHD, said in the release.

Health department installs free Narcan vending machine in Downtown →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 21, 2026

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Pa. Game Commission proposes change to start of firearms deer season →

WESA - Jan 21, 2026

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Barb Warwick (Pittsburgh City Council Member) The city’s fleet of official vehicles, like our snow plows and fire trucks, is aging and prone to breaking down. At this point, we’re behind the eight-ball in terms of taking care of these things, and the costs required to maintain/replace the vehicles is extraordinary. This week, Warwick introduced legislation that would, finally, create a dedicated trust to fund city vehicles now and in the future:

“We have heard from the Office of Management and Budget that if we don’t significantly invest in our fleet, that we can expect significant service disruptions by 2030,” Councilwoman Barb Warwick said during a meeting Wednesday. “We have been told over and over again that [$20 million] is the bare minimum to keep our head above water … we have been consistently under investing. That’s why I feel that it’s time for this council to put its foot down.”

City Council mulls fund that would guarantee millions go to fixing fleet →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 21, 2026

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Dave Sunday (Attorney General of Pennsylvania) The Trib reports that Sunday’s office is pursuing what is, frankly, an incredibly small-time case, about a school board candidate that allegedly forged signatures during her campa:

An investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s public corruption section has resulted in charges against a Pine woman who the AG says forged at least four signatures on her election paperwork last year.

Pa. attorney general accuses former Pine-Richland School Board candidate of forging signatures →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Pittsburgh Regional Transit now offering sign language interpreters through app →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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New Pa. loan program seeks to expand affordable rentals for at-risk populations →

WESA - Jan 21, 2026

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Lindsay Powell (Pennsylvania State Representative) There’s already a federal FACE act that’s meant to reduce the risk of violent encounters outside of sites like family planning clinics. But, the federal government’s increasing ambivalence toward abortion rights has meant that states need to enforce their own protections. Powell recently published an op-ed to argue in favor of her local version of FACE protections:

As a direct result of Trump administration actions, enforcement of the FACE Act has weakened; earlier this year, nearly 50 FACE Act violators were pardoned at the federal level. Among them were individuals connected to the Delaware County clinic invasion. When laws are not enforced – and when violators are rewarded – extremists are emboldened. In response, my office began working with the Women’s Law Project in 2024 to explore what Pennsylvania could do to fill this dangerous gap. The answer became clear: our commonwealth needs its own Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances law.

OP-ED: Pennsylvania Must Act to Protect Safe Access to Health Care →

The Reporter - Jan 21, 2026

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Dan Frankel (Pennsylvania State Representative) Kennedy was in the PA capitol to promote, among other things, his new food pyramid. Frankel and other PA Democrats were more focused on Kennedy’s continued efforts to sow doubt around the safety of childhood vaccinations:

Squirrel Hill Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel, who chairs the House Health committee, put out a statement condemning Kennedy’s policies. “Cloaking long-discredited misinformation in the language of ‘health’ does not make it true, and it does not make it safe,” Frankel said. “Parents deserve clear, fact-based information and full context when making decisions about their children’s health. What they do not deserve is a national figure deliberately sowing mistrust in pediatricians, scientists and public health professionals whose work has saved countless lives.”

RFK Jr. promotes food pyramid overhaul in Harrisburg while Pa. Democrats challenge vaccine guidance →

WESA - Jan 21, 2026

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Pa. Game Commission considers Saturday start before Thanksgiving for deer season →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Study: A dozen more Pennsylvania hospitals could face closure by 2030 →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 21, 2026

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PA Gaming Control Board Reports Record Gaming Revenue For 2025 →

Politics PA - Jan 21, 2026

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Corey O’Connor (Mayor of Pittsburgh) This comes in the midst of Pittsburgh’s massive effort to revitalize Downtown:

A broader $600 million effort to revitalize Downtown is underway. That initiative focuses on converting unused buildings — especially the offices that saw demand decline since the pandemic — into mixed-income housing. Also included are upgrades to Market Square and Point State Park and the creation of a new outdoor civic center dubbed Arts Landing. “Downtown is the heart of our region, and revitalization means we have to work together to create not just opportunities for businesses but housing for everyone,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said.

Historic Downtown Pittsburgh buildings set to become mixed-income apartments →

Trib Live - Jan 21, 2026

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Pennsylvania lawmakers hold hearing on how to make energy more affordable →

Fox43 - Jan 20, 2026

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Abigail Salisbury (Pennsylvania State Representative) The Post-Gazette reports that Salisbury doesn’t like what she’s hearing from consituents about the district’s operations:

State Rep. Abigail Salisbury is calling on the state to investigate the Woodland Hills School District for misuse of taxpayer money — allegations school district leaders are pushing back against and saying are not true. In a statement released on Facebook, Ms. Salisbury said she was “deeply concerned” about concerns community members voiced in recent weeks around “accusations of misuse of taxpayer dollars, as well as the district superintendent being placed on paid leave for several months without any explanation from the school board.”

State Rep. Salisbury calls for investigation into Woodland Hills School District’s finances →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 20, 2026

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Bethany Hallam (Allegheny County Council Member) Though, she’s denying any interest in campaigning to be appointed to the position in the meantime:

Hallam, a progressive firebrand on council, told WESA she was “seriously considering” running for a full term next year. But Hallam can be a lightning rod in political circles, and her prospects for being confirmed in the Senate would be uncertain at best. In any case, she said she has no desire to be appointed to the role in the interim, citing the political maneuvering it would take to get into office. “I am not interested in seeking the approval of the Republican-led Senate,” she said.

State officials could appoint a new Allegheny County controller to replace O'Connor. Will they? →

WESA - Jan 20, 2026

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Corey O’Connor (Mayor of Pittsburgh) It’s an issue that’s vexxed Pittsburgh for years: Some of our biggest organizations—like UPMC, Pitt, an AHN—are nonprofits, so they don’t contribute any tax revenue to the city. Our last Mayor, Ed Gainey, tried unsuccessfully to sue the nonprofits in order to get them to pay their share. Corey O’Connor has pledged to take a different approach by trying to get the organizations to voluntarily support specific city programs. In a chat with City Cast, he says those discussions have started:

We've had some general conversations. For us, it's going in with specific asks to all of the nonprofits, within their mission, to get a community benefits agreement that's gonna benefit everybody. So does it go to rec centers? Does it go to buying us more equipment, to our fleet, which is down? So focusing on ambulances, fire trucks, police — can we get an agreement that is very specific in where the money goes. And making sure that if something like that is finalized, that the money is audited annually so that more eyes are on it and the public knows the dollars are being spent properly.

Mayor Corey O’Connor Talks Budget Gaps, Filling Storefronts & Fresh Ideas for Downtown →

City Cast Pittsburgh - Jan 20, 2026

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Wayne D. Fontana (Pennsylvania State Senator) As the West Hills Gazette reports, the funds come from two state programs, Multimodal Transportation Funds and the PA Small Water and Sewer Program:

Fontana said clean water continues to be one of his priorities. “Much of the sewer and storm water infrastructure in our communities is over 100 years old and can too easily be overwhelmed, resulting in pollution of our streams and rivers,” he said. “The projects this money will help fund will directly result in cleaner water and healthier waterways throughout Western Pennsylvania.”

Infrastructure, water and sewer grants benefit West Hills communities →

West Hills Gazette - Jan 20, 2026

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Erika Strassburger (Pittsburgh City Council Member) Among the many other things cut by Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” were tax credits that helped to support investments in clean energy jobs. Strassburger, in a recent op-ed, argues that local officials can pick up where the federal government left off:

In 2024, Pennsylvania’s clean energy industry employed 104,499 workers, representing a 3.7% increase from 2023. Before Trump’s second term, federal investments in clean energy had spurred more than $1.3 billion and created more than 4,500 jobs in Pennsylvania, including a $500 million expansion of Eos’s Turtle Creek battery manufacturing facility. Unless state and local leaders take proactive and decisive action, all of that progress is in jeopardy.

Erika Strassburger: Clean energy provides jobs, consumer savings →

Trib Live - Jan 20, 2026

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Penn calls federal commission’s request for personal employee information ‘unconstitutional,’ ‘disconcerting’ and ‘unnecessary’ →

Trib Live - Jan 20, 2026

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Stacy Garrity (Pennsylvania State Treasurer) In the past, Garrity has criticized her political opponents for their amibitions to pursue higher offices. But now she is, of course, pursuing higher office herself by running for Governor of PA in this year’s election. The hypocrisy isn’t lost on her opps:

“[Josh Shapiro]’s more concerned with Pennsylvania Avenue than solving the problems facing Pennsylvania families,” [Garrity] said last week in a Harrisburg speech. It’s a familiar line of attack. In her 2020 state treasurer’s race, Garrity launched her political career by similarly arguing that incumbent Democrat Joe Torsella would use a second term to seek another office. But that, critics observe, is what Garrity is doing now that she’s mounting a gubernatorial run in her second term. “She got elected by trashing me and Joe Torsella for seeking a government salary, and now she’s doing it to Josh Shapiro,” said Democrat Erin McClelland, who ran a losing bid to challenge Garrity in 2024. “And she’s doing the same thing. She might be the biggest hypocrite in Pennsylvania.”

Stacy Garrity's attacks on political ambition are hypocritical, Democrats say →

WESA - Jan 20, 2026

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Amy Weise Clements (Allegheny County Controller) She’s currently serving as the “interim” Controller, and could be replaced by an appointment from Governor Josh Shapiro. While she may choose to run for the office full-time herself, she’s demured:

“Amy is focused on the important work of the Controller’s office at a critical time for oversight of County finances and will consider future opportunities for service at the appropriate time," her office said in a statement.

State officials could appoint a new Allegheny County controller to replace O'Connor. Will they? →

WESA - Jan 20, 2026

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Pa. officials urge lawmakers to tax data centers, offset home energy spikes →

WITF - Jan 20, 2026

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PRT adds free ASL service to hearing-impaired riders →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 20, 2026

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Pa. lawmakers hear warnings on data centers, rising electric costs →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 20, 2026

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Pittsburgh’s Venezuelans exhale, then brace for what comes next →

Pittsburgh's Public Source - Jan 20, 2026

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Colin McNickle: Is Pittsburgh trading one vacancy problem for another? →

Trib Live - Jan 20, 2026

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Daniel Deasy (Pennsylvania State Representative) As the West Hills Gazette reports, the funds come from two state programs, Multimodal Transportation Funds and the PA Small Water and Sewer Program:

Deasy said the grants will make communities safer and more walkable while addressing needed infrastructure improvements to protect residents and the environment. “I’m pleased to see these state dollars coming back to our district to support projects that will have a lasting, positive impact on our neighborhoods,” he said.

Infrastructure, water and sewer grants benefit West Hills communities →

West Hills Gazette - Jan 20, 2026

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Pa. Senate Democrats back bill requiring employers to provide leave for family care →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 20, 2026

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As Pittsburgh Post-Gazette closure looms, local journalists ponder a path forward →

WESA - Jan 20, 2026

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Broadband expansion on hold as feds miss self-imposed deadline to review Pa.’s spending plan →

Spotlight PA - Jan 20, 2026

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Pa. GOP leader voids Washington County Republican Party’s no-confidence vote against state Sen. Bartolotta →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 19, 2026

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John Fetterman (United States Senator) WPXI reports that Fetterman joined other Democrat US Senators in introducing the Credit Card Fairness Act:

The lawmakers state that consumers currently pay $14 billion per year in credit card late fees. The standard late fee is $30-$41, which is up to five times higher than the cost for banks of collecting late payments. “Big banks profiteering off people by charging $41 for a single late credit card payment is absolutely wrong,” Senator Fetterman said. “At a time when people are struggling to get by, these late fees are only doing more harm. This legislation will protect hardworking Americans from predatory fees, and I’ll work with anyone to get this over the finish line.”

Sen. John Fetterman introduces bill that would cap credit card late fees at $8 →

WPXI - Jan 19, 2026

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Election year budget fight looms as Pennsylvania lawmakers brace for another clash →

WITF - Jan 18, 2026

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Pittsburgh DPW Salt Truck Destroyed by Engine Fire →

The Reporter - Jan 18, 2026

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Sewer Socialism Comes to the Pennsylvania Suburbs →

Jacobin - Jan 17, 2026

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Bobby Wilson (Pittsburgh City Council Member) As part of Pittsburgh’s 2026 budget, the City Council approved a 20% increase on the city’s real estate taxes. Wilson voted against this increase:

I want to be clear — I did not vote to raise taxes. I did not agree with my colleagues on the severity of the budgetary issues and wanted to take the time to look more closely at the spending of each department; I believe there was a way to deliver government more efficiently without cutting services and without raising taxes.

District 1 Column: Addressing the city budget’s 20% tax increase →

The Northside Chronicle - Jan 17, 2026

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Summer Lee (Pennsylvania State Representative) This comes as Noem, whose DHS oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pushes more ICE agents into Minnesota, following the killing there of Renee Good, an unarmed woman, by an ICE agent.

Two Pa. Democrats sign onto Noem impeachment, as others weigh path forward to rein in ICE →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 16, 2026

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Bob Charland (Pittsburgh City Council Member) Charland is the newest member of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) board, and will likely be appearing in more housing-related discussion this year. This week, he proposed building a new tool to keep track of the city’s housing stock — something that, incredibly, does not currently exist:

The dashboard would include monthly data of newly constructed units that are available for occupancy as well as units that are no longer available. The legislation notes that it “may be useful to collect other data in this process, such as value, affordability, subsidy, code violations, construction time, bedroom count.” It does not, however, say if collecting additional data is permissible.

Tracking housing stock, two referendums for the May primary and the mayor’s first appointees →

InformUp - Jan 16, 2026

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Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania State Representative) This comes as Noem, whose DHS oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pushes more ICE agents into Minnesota, following the killing there of Renee Good, an unarmed woman, by an ICE agent.

Two Pa. Democrats sign onto Noem impeachment, as others weigh path forward to rein in ICE →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 16, 2026

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Renewables could help with energy affordability in Pennsylvania, advocates say →

WESA - Jan 16, 2026

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John Fetterman (United States Senator) Fetterman has, for the most part, voted alongside other, more vocally progressive Democrats. But, our tall senator continues to vex progressive voters with his continued support for Israel’s war in Gaza, military intervention in places like Iran, and willingness to go along with things like President Trump’s interest in “acquiring” Greenland. Now, the progressive Working Families Party has already launched a campaign to primary Fetterman in his election, two years from now:

On Friday, the Working Families Party launched a new website, PrimaryFetterman.com, that will serve as a hub for its effort to unseat the senator. It features pages dedicated to opposition research on him, volunteer recruitment and even a link to request donation refunds from his campaign — which the party said it will promote via digital ads.

Progressive effort to primary Sen. John Fetterman ramps up →

NBC - Jan 16, 2026

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Child care providers recovering from budget impasse worry federal search for fraud could affect Pa. →

Spotlight PA - Jan 16, 2026

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Coraopolis overturns ICE agreement following community pushback and council shakeup →

Pittsburgh's Public Source - Jan 16, 2026

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Josh Shapiro (Governor of Pennsylvania) The Board of Pardons is the state-level body that decides on things like whether an incarcerated person can get out of prison early. It includes three people appointed by the Governor. Late last year, Shapiro let the term of one of those appointees expire after criminal justice advocates raised concerns about the appointee’s judgement. Now, Spotlight PA reports that advocates don’t much like Shapiro’s replacement nominee:

Keisha Hudson, Philadelphia’s chief public defender, said [Dr. O’Brien, Shapiro’s new nominee] is a known “wind-up expert” for prosecutors who seek to dismiss mental health defenses. In her work on death penalty cases, her office has gathered extensive mitigating evidence on behalf of their clients — including neuro-psychological tests, brain scans, analysis of any childhood traumas — and “time after time after time again, Dr. O’Brien would come in and question and challenge and say there’s nothing wrong,” Hudson said. “I’m a little alarmed that this would be the governor’s nominee,” she said. “He will be doing the same on the pardon board. He’s going to be assessing with that eye and the eye is prosecutorial, which is not what we need on the pardons board.”

Shapiro pick for Board of Pardons vacancy opposed by clemency advocates →

Spotlight PA - Jan 16, 2026

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Pa. lawmakers hear testimony about regulating intoxicating hemp products →

WESA - Jan 16, 2026

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Josh Shapiro (Governor of Pennsylvania) PJM is the electric grid operator for PA and other states. That means that it serves, essentially, as the middle man between our utilitiy companies, like Duquesne Light, and the actual power stations that generate electricity. In 2024, Shapiro successfully sued PJM to put caps on the cost of electricity. Now, the Trump Administration has joined Shapiro and other governors in pushing to extend these price caps for another two years:

The group of bipartisan officials is pushing PJM to adopt rules that would get more power on the grid as quickly as possible — without passing new costs onto consumers who are already struggling with higher grocery, housing, and energy bills. The principles provide consumers critical protection by extending for two more years the price cap that Governor Shapiro won after he sued PJM in 2024 to stop unjustified price hikes. Shapiro made clear that his involvement in the meeting was contingent on extending the price cap he negotiated following his lawsuit — ensuring consumer protections remained at the center of all discussions. If implemented as proposed, the extended price cap would save more than 67 million consumers — including 13 million Pennsylvanians — within the PJM region approximately $27 billion over the next two years with $5 billion in Pennsylvania alone.

Shapiro Signs On To Plan To Slow Rising PJM Electric Grid Prices →

Politics PA - Jan 16, 2026

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Pa. farmers and agriculture experts highlight need for mental health support at public hearing →

WESA - Jan 16, 2026

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Austin Davis (Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania) Which makes sense, since he and Shapiro are running it back as a team. They're met by a number of Republican contenders, detailed by WHTM at the link below.

Who is running for Pennsylvania Lt. Governor? →

WHTM - Jan 15, 2026

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Donald Trump (President of the United States) The President’s Secretary of Agriculture visited the PA Farm Show to stump for Trump’s policies:

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sought to reassure farmers facing a litany of challenges during a visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Thursday. “The farm show is an important reminder that we can not make America great again without making agriculture great again,” Rollins said. “We will never forget that, and certainly President Trump has put that at the top of his list.” ...But as farmers wait to feel the positive impacts, Rollins said, her agency is supplementing the agriculture industry across the country with $12 billion in what she called, “bridge payments.” Farmers will begin to receive the federal funds in February.

Federal agriculture secretary asks struggling Pa. farmers for patience →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 15, 2026

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Late on your student loans? There are ways to avoid garnishment. →

Pittsburgh's Public Source - Jan 15, 2026

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Lindsay Powell (Pennsylvania State Representative) Pittsburgh’s Urban Development Authority (URA) proposed the new fund, called the Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID). The money would come from tax on new developments in the hottest markets in the city, including Downtown and the Strip. The current proposal calls for that funding to be reinvested downtown, but Powell wants to spread the love:

URA board member Lindsay Powell, a state representative, D-Lawrenceville, whose district includes the Strip, questioned the plan’s all-for-Downtown emphasis. “I think this opens up a lot of opportunities,” Powell said, citing riverfront transit, trails and housing investments as potential uses. “Obviously if Downtown does well, then all of Pittsburgh, all of our neighborhoods do well. … I just don’t want all of the value to go to one” area.

O’Connor development era starts with board vote for Downtown investment →

Pittsburgh's Public Source - Jan 15, 2026

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John Fetterman (United States Senator) As President Trump sends thousands of ICE agents to Minneosta (following the killing of Renee Good, an unarmed woman, by an ICE agent earlier this month), progressive Democrats are calling to eliminate the agency. Fetterman disagrees:

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is rejecting calls from some fellow Democrats to abolish the federal government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement following last week’s deadly shooting of a woman by an ICE agent and continuing unrest in Minneapolis. “The party must resist the destructive tendencies to push extreme positions,” Fetterman, D-Braddock, wrote on X. “Secure the border. Deport all the criminals. Stop targeting the hardworking migrants in our nation,” Fetterman added.

Fetterman opposes calls to abolish ICE →

Trib Live - Jan 15, 2026

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Many Pa. residents don’t want data centers in their communities. State leaders are welcoming them. →

Spotlight PA - Jan 15, 2026

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Advocates urge Allegheny County Jail officials to act after DOJ memo signals shift in sexual abuse protections →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 15, 2026

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Bobby Wilson (Pittsburgh City Council Member) The Land Bank is a city organization that takes control of abandoned and often crummy ( “blighted”) properties so that they can be sold without getting stuck in red tape. WESA details a recent report that found that the Land Bank will need $32 million over the next five years to get through Pittsburgh’s stock of blighted homes. Wilson had a kind of non-comment on the report:

The City task force report’s recommendations include a commitment for recurring appropriation from the City to pay for the Pittsburgh Land Bank’s operations as well as the pursuit of state legislation that ties land bank funding to the process of land recycling, similar to Ohio’s use of delinquent taxes or Erie’s use of gaming revenue to help fund its land bank. “I think it just takes the right administration, the right city council to fund the land bank in a sustainable way,” said Bobby Wilson, task force member, Pittsburgh Land Bank board chair and Pittsburgh City Council member. Wilson plans to continue the conversation at City Hall with a post-agenda discussion at Council next month.

Task force outlines 5-year plan to eliminate blight in Pittsburgh and fund the land bank →

WESA - Jan 15, 2026

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Josh Shapiro (Governor of Pennsylvania) Phonics sounds like a return to an older way of doing this — but, hey, what’s old is new again:

For the 2027-28 school year, all schools in the state will be required to use evidence-based reading curriculum, which uses methods such as phonics, a method that teaches students to decode words by sounding them out. The new requirements – which also call for new literacy instruction training for teachers – come as part of Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 budget. It calls for reading instruction in early years to follow research-led methods, particularly those aligned with the science of reading, a body of research showing that young children benefit from phonics and vocabulary-building teaching. Gov. Josh Shapiro said the approaches will help children to “learn to read well” and equip teachers to “teach reading effectively.”

Pennsylvania moves to evidence-based reading curriculum →

Herald-Standard - Jan 15, 2026

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Zoning Board rejects Strip District condos, but developer holds out hope for O’Connor →

NEXTPittsburgh - Jan 15, 2026

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Corey O’Connor (Mayor of Pittsburgh) The Mayor joined his nominees for Police Chief and Public Safety Director for a press opportunity at a police station:

Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and his top public safety officials on Wednesday vowed to focus on building relationships between police and the communities they serve, improve officer wellness and address violent crime. “First and foremost, we always have to focus on violent crime and quality of life issues,” Acting Police Chief Jason Lando told reporters as he finished a visit to the Zone 5 station in the city’s Highland Park neighborhood, where he had once served as commander. “That has to be the officers’ No. 1 priority.” Lando joined O’Connor and Acting Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams in thanking officers at Zone 5 — the precinct that consistently sees the city’s highest crime rates — Wednesday afternoon.

O’Connor, top public safety officials vow to better Pittsburgh police relations with citizens →

Trib Live - Jan 14, 2026

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EOS CEO calls AI data centers an 'accelerant' for company's batteries →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 14, 2026

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Plans for $500M Bakery Square expansion retooled by Walnut Capital →

Trib Live - Jan 14, 2026

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Josh Shapiro (Governor of Pennsylvania) Shapiro used the event, which brings together people who work in farming and agriculture, to tout his administration’s accomplishments for PA’s farmers, like the state’s multimillion dollar agriculture innovation fund. Shapiro also threw shade at Trump, in the latest example of making this year’s Gubernatorial election another referendum on the President:

During the speech and in comments made to reporters later in the afternoon, Mr. Shapiro stressed the need to keep investing in agriculture. He said it was particularly important when — in Mr. Shapiro’s description — the tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump are hurting farmers. “It is no secret,” Mr. Shapiro said. “The president knows it, that’s why he’s offering a handout.” It was an apparent reference to last month’s federal announcement of the availability of $12 billion in “one-time bridge payments” to farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. Mr. Shapiro also is getting a lot of talk as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential nominee.

Gov. Shapiro tells farmers he's 'got your back' while Trump tariffs cause pain →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 14, 2026

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Shapiro stumps at Pennsylvania Farm Show →

The Center Square - Jan 14, 2026

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Supreme Court makes it easier for candidates to challenge election laws →

Votebeat - Jan 14, 2026

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Town hall exposes growing backlash to Pennsylvania school bus camera law →

lehigh valley news - Jan 14, 2026

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Pa. lawmaker moves to ban warrantless civil immigration arrests near state buildings →

WESA - Jan 14, 2026

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Democrats in Congress seek to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 14, 2026

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SNAP cuts due to Trump administration’s work rules & time limits start this month in Pa. →

WESA - Jan 14, 2026

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Summer Lee (United States Representative) The Housing Authority is curently looking for a new Executive Director to lead the agency after the current ED’s contract expries in March:

Chairman of the housing authority board Wasi Mohamed, who also serves as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, said the board is “engaged in a careful and responsible process” to seek a leader for the agency. “The goal is to select a leader with clear vision, a collaborative leadership style, a commitment to operational excellence, and a strong, resident-focused approach,” Mohamed said in a statement to WESA. “This process is designed to identify and deliver that leader, and I appreciate the Board members’ diligence and commitment to this important work.”

Pittsburgh’s housing authority seeking new leader →

WESA - Jan 14, 2026

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Shapiro admits violent attack almost drove him from governor’s race →

Herald-Standard - Jan 13, 2026

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Corey O’Connor (Mayor of Pittsburgh) The Draft is just a few months away, starting on April 23rd, and it’s expected to be Pittsburgh’s biggest tourism event ever. O’Connor seems to see it as an opportunity to give local business a boost that will outlive draft festivities:

“We know Pittsburgh’s going to be in the international spotlight for the NFL Draft in April and that’s brought a lot of energy, collaboration and momentum to Downtown,” O’Connor said in a statement to the Pittsburgh Media Partnership Newsroom. “My administration is focused on the overall growth, including opportunities for our small businesses, so I say let’s make the best of that energy to support existing efforts — like the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s — to get local businesses into storefronts to build a vibrant Downtown not just for the draft, but for every day.”

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership hopes to fill empty storefronts ahead of NFL Draft →

Trib Live - Jan 13, 2026

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Pittsburgh launches new initiative to bolster business districts — starting with Homewood →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 13, 2026

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Lindsay Powell (Pennsylvania State Representative) Pittsburgh City Council Members, meanwhile, are working on their own local legislation. Powell hopes to standardize things across PA:

City officials aren’t the only ones seeking to regulate short-term rentals. State Rep. Lindsay Powell, who co-chairs the bipartisan Pennsylvania Housing Caucus, said in the wake of the shooting that she’s working on regulatory legislation, and trying to get more legislators involved. She and Montgomery County state Rep. Mary Jo Daley, who chairs the House committee that oversees development policy, are working on a plan to allow individual municipalities to create their own regulatory plans, but would require baseline safety standards. The rules would also clarify what information is available about the rentals to first responders and local officials. Powell said that as things stand, “Some municipalities have rules and regulations on how these businesses should operate, and some don't.”

Neighbors, officials seek regulation of short-term rentals in Pittsburgh after North Side shooting →

WESA - Jan 13, 2026

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Pa. lawmaker moves to ban warrantless civil immigration arrests near state buildings →

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 13, 2026

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Pittsburgh schools see math scores improving →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 13, 2026

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Dave McCormick (United States Senator) He followed the general Republican talking points:

“President Trump ran on enforcing law. The ICE officers that are in our communities are enforcing a law, and I think we should support them. The thing that happened in Minnesota was a tragedy. I mean, you had a woman who was a mother of three children. I think she acted inappropriately. I think that officer probably did feel his life was at some risk,” he said.

McCormick responds to fatal ICE involved shooting →

WHTM - Jan 13, 2026

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Anthony Coghill (Pittsburgh City Council Member) Coghill seems to see this as an opportunity to limit predatory businesses from buying up local housing stock:

In Beechview, a neighborhood of about 8,000 people, one LLC owns about 80 homes, Councilman Anthony Coghill said. “This corporate plundering is happening throughout the city of Pittsburgh,” he said. “It’s destructive to the neighborhoods.” Under the proposal, all short-term rentals would be required to become licensed. Owner-occupied rentals would face no additional requirements beyond obtaining a license. Corporate-owned properties would be subject to stricter rules, including the need to secure a special zoning exemption.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman proposes new limits on short-term rentals amid safety concerns →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 13, 2026

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Deb Gross (Pittsburgh City Council Member) This comes in response to public outcry after mutliple shootings have taken place in the last few years at short-term rentals in the city. The new legislation would require property owners to register for licenses to rent their spaces, and impose new restrictions on how many short-term rentals can be located within a certain area. It’s unclear how likely this is to actually work, though, since much weaker legislation from 2023 is tied up in the courts:

The proposed legislation builds on the city’s nearly two-decade effort to establish a rental registry. City Council passed a short-term rental registry in 2023 that requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a permit. That legislation is currently being held at the Court of Common Pleas after groups like the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh sued, claiming governmental overreach and unlawful fees.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman proposes new limits on short-term rentals amid safety concerns →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 13, 2026

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R. Daniel Lavelle (Pittsburgh City Council Member) Voters will get to decide whether to approve the measure, which solves for situations (like the one that happened last month) where the City Council passes a budget that the Mayor doesn’t want to make a decision on:

From the moment council votes on a budget, the mayor has 10 days to sign it, veto it, or do nothing. In the latter case, it becomes law following the waiting period. However, if there weren’t 10 days between the vote and the end of the year, according to council President R. Daniel Lavelle, officials would’ve had to restart the budget process from scratch... Lavelle, D-Hill District, introduced a ballot referendum asking voters to add language to the city’s Home Rule Charter clarifying the budget becomes law on the first day of the new year if the mayor doesn’t sign or veto it before the end of council’s legislative session.

Pittsburgh councilman pushes referendum to avert future budget pitfalls →

Trib Live - Jan 13, 2026

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John Fetterman (United States Senator) With public unrest rising in Iran, Fetterman is open to new US strikes:

“I do, I do support, if that makes sense, absolutely,” Fetterman said of military action. “Why can’t we all agree that Iran is a terrible force in our world, and why isn’t it better to help end their regime?” “I was the only Democrat to [vote to] destroy their nuclear facilities, and that was the right thing. So that’s where I am right now,” he added. “And if you think Iran should have a nuclear bomb, and you think their regime is just peachy, then you and I can disagree on that.”

Fetterman open to armed US intervention in Iran, while GOP defers to Trump →

NOTUS - Jan 13, 2026

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Bobby Wilson (Pittsburgh City Council Member) Wilson previously introduced another attempt at regulating the rentals:

Councilman Bobby Wilson, co-sponsor of the legislation, spearheaded the previous iteration of permitting for short-term rentals after a deadly shooting at an Airbnb in his district on Easter in 2022. Two teens, Jaiden Brown and Matthew Steffy-Ross, were killed, and dozens others were injured. On New Year’s Day, another shooting believed to be associated with an Airbnb in Deutschtown left a woman injured and renewed calls for stricter regulations on short-term rentals. “The East Deutschtown neighborhood and many throughout the city are fed up with the lack of regulations and accountability for these poorly run short-term rentals,” Mr. Wilson said in a statement. “Enough is enough — people’s lives and safety are at risk.”

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman proposes new limits on short-term rentals amid safety concerns →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 13, 2026

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Corey O’Connor (Mayor of Pittsburgh) While the details of the seem pretty slim, it sounds like an effort to cut red tape in order to support small businesses:

Main and Main will support business districts across the city. This could be achieved through several ways, such as business loans, housing development incentives, and zoning reform. "We have to grow Pittsburgh. But we have to do it that, in a way that blends with the existing community, and that they have a voice and that they're part of it. But it's not just building bricks and mortar -- it's anywhere from lighting, from facades, from small-business loans, things that we can provide so that we can invest again in our small-business districts," O'Connor said.

Mayor Corey O'Connor hopes Main and Main initiative will help Pittsburgh neighborhoods →

WTAE - Jan 13, 2026

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