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  • Forward Township

    Sewage issues in Axelton bubble up with no solution in sight.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has pushed the township’s Board of Supervisors to resolve a longstanding sewage problem in the Axelton neighborhood.

    Survey

    Which approach should Forward Township take to address the Axelton sewage issue?

  • City Council

    Turning the gun range may cut the noise down.

    Gunfire from the police firing range can sound like warfare at a Highland Park playground, a council member said. On April 1, council advanced a plan to rotate the range, cutting decibel levels by up to 50%. She said residents have sought its removal for over 30 years. Still, the city hasn't found another site, though it'll keep looking.

    Survey

    Moving the police firing range to an indoor or off-site location should still be a priority for the city?

  • City Council

    City may publish what surveillance technology it uses.

    Residents may soon learn what surveillance technology Pittsburgh uses and what it can do. Now council has advanced a request for a city report on 18 types of tools, including license plate readers and biometric software. It would also cover data protection and how civil rights harms are prevented. The report is due July 1, with a public hearing to follow.

    Survey

    Which concern about city surveillance technology matters most to you?

  • City Council

    City may codify noncooperation with immigration enforcement actions.

    Stories have been circulating about immigration agents detaining people in Pittsburgh. On April 1, council weighed writing into city code that city workers, including police, won't cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. That proposal faces a final vote next week. Meanwhile, two others would bar leasing or lending city property for enforcement staging, and they're on hold a week for legal review.

    Survey

    Which of the following best describes how the noncooperation policy affects your sense of safety or trust in the city?

  • Westmoreland County

    Behavioral health and crisis services funding increased.

    Commissioners approved new contracts and increased spending on existing behavioral health and developmental health agreements. The money for many of the programs comes through a combination of state grants and federal behavioral health funding streams that the  county administers for residents.

    Survey

    Which behavioral health services should Westmoreland County expand?

  • Westmoreland County

    Elections: contracts approved while residents request ballot drop boxes.

    Residents urged Westmoreland County Commissioners to add ballot drop boxes during public comment at the March 5 meeting, as officials approved contracts in advance of the May 19 primary.

    Survey

    Should Westmoreland County make voting easier by implementing any of the following?

  • Westmoreland County

    Money originally for exterior repairs moved to make homes accessible.

    Commissioners also amended agreements tied to housing rehabilitation and lead safety programs.

    Survey

    How should Westmoreland County prioritize housing repair programs?

  • City Council

    Pittsburgh plans to borrow K9 units for NFL Draft policing.

    Between 60 and 90 explosive-detection dogs from 18 municipalities and agencies could be working the NFL Draft. On March 25, council agreed to bring them in, barring visiting municipalities from immigration enforcement while in the city. However, four participants are federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. Council didn't discuss whether the city could enforce the amendment with them.

    Survey

    The city amended the police dog agreement to prevent visiting officers from participating in immigration enforcement while in Pittsburgh. How do you feel about this amendment?

  • City Council

    Pittsburgh Police to launch leadership training after national review finds "a leadership issue here."

    A 2024 review by police departments nationwide found a leadership issue in Pittsburgh's police bureau, a commander said. On March 25, council advanced a $20,000 state grant for leadership training. About 50 officers have been trained, but 200 hold supervisory roles, he said. The academy also trains county and Duquesne University police, and he hopes it'll turn a profit.

    Survey

    The leadership academy is exploring becoming a revenue-generating program by training officers from other jurisdictions. Which outcome matters most to you?

  • City Council

    Land Bank seeks staffing funds as inventory grows to 5,000 parcels with thousands more eligible.

    The Pittsburgh Land Bank's roughly 5,000 parcels are now mostly buildings instead of land, its director said. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has asked council for $157,175 to help pay land bank staff. She said the shift requires in-house experts to review structures and plan stabilization work. Next week, council is scheduled to vote on the request.

    Survey

    What would you most want the Land Bank to prioritize in your neighborhood?

  • School Board

    Calendar questions answered.

    Pittsburgh Public Schools parents have asked a board member how to weigh in on the calendar. A committee of staff, parents, teachers, and a social worker drew up the draft. If the board approves the proposed 2026-2027 calendar, students won't get the Monday after Thanksgiving off. That day used to open deer season, but the state moved it this year.

    Survey

    When should families have the most input into the school calendar?

  • School Board

    Summer “Learn and Earn” applications open.

    Positions in Summer Learn and Earn fill up quickly, a school board member said. Applications are open now, and she urged interested families to apply soon. Students who've enrolled before only need to verify their address and parent income. For help, local librarians have been trained to assist, another board member said.

    Survey

    How should Pittsburgh Public Schools and partners improve access to programs like Learn and Earn?

  • School Board

    80% of COVID compensatory service funds remain unspent.

    Some Pittsburgh Public Schools families may not know their kids are owed services missed in the pandemic. The district says it owes students with disabilities over 600,000 hours, and most haven't received them. This spring, the district plans robocalls to families using under 15% of their hours. This week, the board is set to approve summer programs to provide them.

    Survey

    How should PPS notify families about service hours they are owed?

  • City Council

    Heinz Endowments' $750,000 grant revives city comprehensive plan.

    Council members say outreach for Pittsburgh's comprehensive plan has favored some neighborhoods over others. Now a $750,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments means the city won't have to cancel the plan. The mayor's chief of staff shared that concern and said the city plans one meeting per council district. The plan is projected to be done by summer's end.

    Survey

    Which groups do you think the city most needs to hear from in the comprehensive planning process?

  • City Council

    Proposed $20 million annual fleet fund put on hold as city spends $400,000 a month on vehicle repairs.

    During the late-January snowstorm, 37 city plows broke down in one night. On March 18, council put a proposed new-vehicle fund on hold for six more weeks. A council member sought the delay because the mayor plans to reopen the 2026 budget. Meanwhile, the city spends about $400,000 a month on repairs, a budget official said.

    Survey

    If the city can only upgrade a limited number of emergency vehicles, which services should be prioritize first?

  • City Council

    Council approves license plate reading software as questions mount over surveillance policy and data sharing.

    Pittsburgh police use license plate software that can track a car's travel history and routes. On March 18, a council member flagged an invoice for it, calling its data-sharing policy possibly too vague. That policy lets the city share data with outside agencies, which the administration told her excludes the federal government. Still, council approved paying the invoice.

    Survey

    How comfortable are you with Pittsburgh Police using license plate readers to track vehicle travel history and routes?

  • County Council

    Council votes to block immigration enforcement cooperation without a warrant after council president's son receives death threat.

    On March 10, Allegheny County Council voted to bar county officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. It passed 11 to 3. The council president, whose son received a death threat that morning, said he abstained so threats couldn't be seen as a factor. From there, the ordinance went to the county executive for her signature.

    Survey

    If you or someone you know had concerns about immigration enforcement when visiting a county office or service, which of the following would help?

  • County Council

    Council calls on state to invest $80 million in violence prevention after county homicides drop nearly 60%.

    Allegheny County shares homicide numbers with the public, but it doesn't publish data on non-fatal shootings. Its dashboard shows homicides fell almost 60% from 2024 to 2025. Council has now passed a resolution urging the state to put at least $80 million into violence prevention. It credits the state's program in part for fewer shootings and homicides.

    Survey

    Allegheny County publishes homicide data publicly but does not currently publish data on non-fatal shootings. How important is it to you that the county make non-fatal shooting data available to the public?

  • City Council

    City renews energy contract to keep costs below national average.

    Half of the city's electricity comes from renewable sources, and it costs less than the national average, officials said. Now council has advanced a six-year contract with Enel X, which advises the city on when to buy energy. The request says it comes at no added cost to the city. The current contract runs out March 31.

    Survey

    Pittsburgh currently pays below the national average for electricity while sourcing 50% from renewables through a regional consortium. Which is closest to your view?

  • City Council

    City may create one vendor fee with an add on for prime spots ahead of NFL Draft.

    Street vendors and peddlers may soon pay one $135 city license fee, plus extra to get the same spot every day. The new schedule combines fees from three city departments. The finance director said it's revenue neutral and will make permits easier to get before the NFL Draft. Council has given preliminary approval and is scheduled to vote next week.

    Survey

    The NFL Draft is expected to bring a large number of out-of-town visitors to Pittsburgh. Would you support or oppose giving Pittsburgh-based vendors priority when choosing vending locations?