Equity & Research

Pittsburgh news leaders presented plans to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within their newsrooms and in how they cover communities of color. 

Six local authors with disabilities will share their work in a free reading at the University Pittsburgh on Friday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in room 548 of the William Pitt Union in Oakland. 

A new multimillion dollar loan fund aims to preserve local affordable housing that’s at risk of becoming market rate housing or where tenants are at risk of being displaced. 

Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12 University Preparatory opened nearly 15 years ago with Ivy League ambition, but now faces tanking test scores and slumping graduation rates. Its principal aims for a new identity. 

For the past year, The Heinz Endowments has supported Child Trends, a national research organization focused on child and family well-being, to create Prenatal-to-Three (PN-3) resources and tools. 

The nonprofit research organization enlisted the use of focus groups for the report, which was funded in part by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. 

One of the blessings of the most recent months at the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health has been the ability to go back to in-person meetings and conferences between the local nonprofit and its membership,

Jasiri X remembers a time in Pittsburgh when Black men were portrayed in local media almost solely in stories about crime or sports, and never about quality of life issues.

Pittsburgh’s new mayor, Ed Gainey, reiterated his campaign promise of making Pittsburgh a city for all during his inauguration Monday.

In Pennsylvania, those convicted of life sentences will die in prison. Incarcerated individuals with life sentences have no opportunity for a parole hearing in the commonwealth. According to the state Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania has

Adriana Quinones moves beyond a crippling car accident — finding her voice and identifying what kind of relationship she wants. And working on getting a driver’s license. 

Formerly incarcerated individuals are getting a chance at changing their trajectories, thanks to a West Coast-based collaboration.

Members of the Pittsburgh Planning Commission and representatives of Shadyside-based developer Walnut Capital sparred over a proposal for a large-scale development in the city’s Oakland neighborhood during a meeting that lasted more than two hours

For many Latinx immigrants to the Pittsburgh region, including those who gather at Casa San José, the winter holidays are very different from the celebrations they’re accustomed to in their home countries.

Adriana Quinones is happy caring for three children as a nanny, painting with colorful plastic diamonds and hanging out with her mom. But something else she’d like in her life — a good man —

Jane Ondrusek played Christmas carols, Broadway standards and pop on a digital piano and baby grand. She raised her eyes from the keys to glance at a visitor and smile, basking in the attention like

RUTHIE WALKER, of Stanton Heights, stands next to her custom-made throw blanket honoring the life of her grandson, Raymond Akil Ager, who was stillborn. The “Baby Ray Fund” is now established to help Black families get

With Allegheny County’s hyper fragmentation — containing 130 municipalities and 108 police departments — Pitt’s Center for Analytical Approaches To Social Innovation created a resource to gather and consolidate police information in one place.

With protests having erupted in cities across the country over police violence targeting Black men and women, the civil rights and social justice movements have shot to the forefront of U.S. politics in a way

A new report found “deep-seated racial and ethnic health inequities” in every state, including Pennsylvania, where the mortality rate for Black infants was more than twice the rate for white infants.

One happy surprise during the coronavirus pandemic is how technology and flexible thinking enabled many workplaces and workers to stay connected and productive even outside a traditional office setting.

With the end to a Trump-era appeal in the courts, same-sex couples can now claim fully equal Social Security survivors benefits, Axois reports.

Achieving the American dream—the opportunity to succeed, to provide food and shelter for family members, education for children, hope for a better life, and freedom of opportunity— requires capital. 

When Pittsburgh artist Tonee Turner disappeared on Dec. 30, 2019, friends and family shared missing persons posters of the then 22-year-old. As time passed, however, little new information was uncovered, and fewer posts made their

According to a newly approved piece of legislation, Pittsburgh police will be required to publish data about certain incidents with breakdowns by demographics like race and gender.

Port Authority has had some success encouraging development around its bus stations, but the agency should do more to make sure that development reaches those who need public transit the most.

Ron Idoko said the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is working to establish an official land acknowledgement — a formal acknowledgement that Pitt is currently occupying land that belongs to Indigenous communities — for

When a commercial real estate brokerage firm recently ranked Pittsburgh as the most diverse tech hub among the top 50 markets across the U.S. and Canada, the distinction made Maggie Oates pause.

Race-based trauma describes the mental and emotional injury caused by racially motivated violence and discrimination. For many Black Americans, the past year and a half was particularly traumatizing.

Vibrant Pittsburgh is watching local corporations and nonprofits like a hawk.

The 2020 census results have made clear that America’s “diversity explosion” is continuing, now with an absolute decline in the white population. Yet the country’s racial and ethnic diversity, as shown in national statistics, takes

Black people in Pittsburgh are getting little to no help from the private banking community, so says a recent study that has Pittsburgh Black Councilmen Rev. Ricky Burgess and R. Daniel Lavelle sick to their

n 2008, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health released a report. In it, the commission examined reasons for differences in people having good and bad health—in essence, a long or

A school safety officer removed a third grader from class, took him to a staff bathroom, closed the door and berated him, telling the frightened child to “stop crying like a little girl.

The Department of Human Services announced that, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, the Commonwealth was awarded more than $249 thousand in funding over two years from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to

From unnecessary confrontations with police to uninformed judges and needless incarceration, autistic people in Pennsylvania say the criminal justice system has long failed to meet their needs. 

Most organizations have experienced profound changes over the last year or so, but few more so than the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.

With less than a month until a Pennsylvania public school funding lawsuit is set to begin, a Commonwealth Court judge recently ruled some evidence pertaining to racial disparities in the state education system will be

The wellness revolution seems to be making inroads everywhere, but there are some populations who are often left out, including people with disabilities.

The American Bar Association recently reported in their 2021 Profile of the Legal Profession that Pittsburgh has less than 3% of law firm partners of color as of July 2021, the lowest percentage of any

A national car rental company has set out to support nonprofits doing important work in their communities, including two such groups in Pittsburgh.

My barber is a sensible guy. While trimming my beard recently, our conversation hit upon the intersection of his business interests and the community’s health — vaccine hesitancy. 

As the country continues to increase COVID-19 vaccinations, businesses and consumers alike still struggle with evolving versions of daily life. At the same time, there is little disagreement that sustained effort is needed for a

When attorney Milton Raiford accused the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office of systemic racism in court, other Black attorneys said it laid bare the truth about unequal justice in Allegheny County.

President Joe Biden pitched his infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh earlier this spring, but since then, the proposal has hit some roadblocks in Congress. Some Congressional leaders are insisting on keeping the infrastructure package a bipartisan

Diane Powell understands what it’s like to watch a friend slip away.

Local Black community leaders are calling for a portion of the money granted to the Pittsburgh region via the American Rescue Plan be earmarked for the improvement of Black communities.

It’s not going to solve the affordable housing crisis in Pittsburgh on its own. But Inclusionary Zoning is a great tool for creating more below-market-rate housing units, and has been fairly successful so far in

In June, Pittsburgh City Council voted to give Lawrenceville permanent inclusionary zoning, which means that large, new developments are required to include a certain percentage of affordable housing units in the neighborhood. The decision was

Police departments and city officials have come under increasing pressure to address incidences of excessive force. Besides mass protests over how law enforcement treats Black Americans — spurred by the killing of George Floyd at the hands

As students in Pennsylvania trickled back into classrooms during the 2020-2021 school year, Black and Latino children were more likely to remain remote than White students, according to a report released by the Centers for

After all these years, encountering homophobia in my everyday life, from friends, neighbors and family, still takes my breath away. Each day is filled with microaggressions in spite of my privilege as a white, cisgender,

The head judge said in a letter posted to the Allegheny County court’s website that it is time to acknowledge systemic racism in the county judicial system.

The Coalition to Reimagine Public Safety gathered at the steps of the Pittsburgh City County building on June 19 to discuss their goals towards decreasing the Pittsburgh Police budget, and instead funneling those funds to

A recent study shows that if Pennsylvania’s undocumented immigrants received citizenship, the state budget would benefit from tens of millions of new dollars.

As people around the country celebrate Pride month, Gov. Tom Wolf again called on the state’s Republican-led legislature to pass non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians.

Pittsburgh City Council passed a bill on May 11 that recognizes certified LGBTQ-owned businesses as eligible for professional aid and support and has the goal of tracking and boosting LGBTQ-owned businesses in Pittsburgh city affairs. Mayor

A local hate crime ordinance that goes beyond state law, extending protections to the LGBT and disability communities, was unanimously passed Tuesday by Pittsburgh City Council.

Pittsburgh City Council will hold a public hearing today to address concerns about the decrease in the city’s Black population.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended education for Pittsburgh youth in ways the community is still working to recognize.

Pittsburgh City Council will hold a public hearing Wednesday for community members and activists to address their concerns on what they’re calling a “mass displacement” of the city’s Black population.

The city has unveiled a new police bureau website that tracks the implementation of changes recommended by the Community Task Force on Police Reform.

Prison culture and environment are essential to public health and safety. 

In 2020, the Campus Pride Index gave the University of Pittsburgh a 5/5 rating, indicating that Pitt is making progress in its LGBTQIA+ policies, programs, and practices, but that it doesn’t represent the breadth of

My teacher and mentor, Rabbi Richard Levy (z”l) was an incredible shaliach tzibur, service leader. You could hear his devotion and heart in each prayer. He felt the prayers and, through his intonation and his

On Feb. 27, 2020, Daniel Baird and his roommates received a letter under their door. Costello Management had purchased the North Oakland building they lived in just two days earlier and was terminating their lease

A person’s sexual orientation or gender expression are not protected classes under Pennsylvania’s “ethnic intimidation” statue — the state’s equivalent to federal hate crime protections — but the administration of Mayor Bill Peduto wants to strengthen

Nearly three years after its initial introduction into Allegheny County Council, the ordinance to form an independent police review board passed Tuesday evening.

In a newly released report, the Abolitionist Law Center Court Watch asks, “Is there anywhere in Allegheny County where African-Americans can escape the overwhelmingly greater risk of getting arrested?” 

As the nation reacts to the conviction of Derek Chauvin, a new study from a group of U.S. researchers shows the significant negative toll police killings of Black Americans has on the mental health of

Protesters gathered at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District Tuesday evening after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all of the counts he faced over the death of George Floyd

There are several stakeholders who are invested in improving policing and creating an equitable life for everyone in the city of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter David Kaplan spoke with them following the Derek

About 150 Pittsburghers gathered in the Hill District to celebrate the conviction of the Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd.

After the statements of solidarity are put out and calls for justice ring in the air, the feelings of grief and pain linger. 

Following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, local community activists told Channel 11, they became overcome with emotion when the former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty in the death of George Floyd.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the country’s leading infectious disease experts, said a decision will likely be made about the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine by Friday.

This year, issues at Pittsburgh Public Schools have taken on an increased scrutiny in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a big budget deficit, and a proposed — then rescinded — plan to close several school

Khara Timsina seems tireless in his efforts to help others, including fellow refugees from the Asian nation of Bhutan.

An issue of why Black residents are leaving the city of Pittsburgh made its way to a virtual mayoral candidate forum on Thursday.

Established in 2009, the county commission often overlaps with a city commission doing similar work. Coordination has been limited.

About a decade ago, Shreya Kangovi and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania interviewed 1,500 people in Philadelphia on porches, at hospital bedsides, and in shelters — people who were living in high-poverty communities.

What is an angelic troublemaker and what does that quote mean to you regarding human rights?

Our current immigration system is frozen in time. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, the most recent comprehensive reform bill, proposes to update the system. However, the bill does very little to ensure that updates

The study is the first of its kind to conduct a statewide survey of LGBTQ residents and ask about their willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

 In a virtual discussion on inclusion and diversity with police chiefs across the country, Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert made it clear he is working to create change.

Nearly one in five Black Pennsylvanians was unemployed as 2020 ended, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning D.C. think tank. That was the highest rate of unemployment for Black people

A private Facebook group where local police officers reportedly made racist and transphobic comments has drawn swift condemnation, with critics saying it underscored the need for accountability.

Anti-racist demonstrators gathered in Oakland Wednesday afternoon to highlight concerns of growing violence against Asian Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began. It was the third local demonstration since a shooting in Atlanta took the lives

Local LGBTQ advocates are celebrating a recent announcement that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will look into discrimination filings based on gender identity or sexual orientation. The move came after President

Hundreds gathered at the steps of the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh on Sunday evening for a tearful candlelight vigil remembering the victims of a shooting spree at Atlanta-area massage businesses last week that killed

A large crowd gathered Sunday night on the portico of the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh for a candlelight vigil remembering the victims of recent shootings around Atlanta.

Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh are joining forces in a new research center designed to study and seek ways to halt the proliferation of extremist hate.

On Thursday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves defied reason, compassion, and the constitution as he signed into law the first bill of 2021 institutionalizing discrimination against transgender residents in his state.

Pittsburgh was recently put on another list of cities that are great to live in, but the question remains: for who? The directors of North Side’s Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation’s new LGBTQ group say the

Race and ethnicity data is key to informing vaccine outreach efforts to communities disproportionately affected by the virus, local health officials told Spotlight PA.

When Janice Roundtree, 58, first enrolled in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, she called it “a miracle.”

Since becoming Allegheny County Chief Executive in 2012, Rich Fitzgerald has never attended a Jail Oversight Board meeting. Instead, he sends a proxy, or employee in his place. In recent years, this employee has been Barbara

Four trans people of color have died in Western Pennsylvania in February, three of whom were killed within one week. Chyna Carrillo was killed in Lawrence County, an hour north of Pittsburgh, on Feb. 18,

When Janice Roundtree, 58, first enrolled in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, she called it “a miracle.”

When public health historian Aishah Scott wrote her Ph.D. dissertation on the effects of the AIDS epidemic on Black Americans two years ago, she warned that even if a cure for HIV were found tomorrow,

Over a decade ago, I was walking along a muddy and crowded alleyway between hundreds of shanty houses in Alexandra.

Activists pushing for an overhaul of police oversight in Pittsburgh drew at least several dozen people to a virtual gathering Saturday.

The link between poverty and disease extends to COVID-19, with residents of low-income neighborhoods more likely to die from the highly contagious virus than those living elsewhere, according to a new study.

Pitt’s Dara Mendez started her work in health equity as an undergraduate student at Spelman College. For her senior thesis, she conducted interviews with Black women about their experiences giving birthing and raising children.

Written Testimony of Dreisen Heath Submitted to the US House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

As the leader of an organization whose mission is to support individuals with disabilities, I believe inclusion is always important. During the pandemic, inclusion is more important than ever.

Despite numerous studies predicting the likelihood of racial disparities and a supposed focus on equity in the rollout, Pennsylvania’s data tracking race and ethnicity in vaccine distribution currently is lacking.

When Destiny Mann sat in on a diversity training recently, she said her thoughts quickly shifted to her mother.

As an LGBT-affirming marriage and family therapist in Westmoreland County, I see many people who lack any access to important resources and care. It’s disheartening to know that so many people don’t get the support

For the past seven months, Christopher West has been sitting in the Allegheny Jail for protesting the murder of George Floyd last spring in Minnesota.

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh confirmed it received a $20 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to advance its mission of providing for those who are most vulnerable in southwestern Pennsylvania with an emphasis on women and

For California native Keyva Clark, the city of Pittsburgh was a somewhat daunting and isolating place when she first moved here. Searching for community and connection, Clark joined the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater

In the weeks since Pennsylvania began its coronavirus vaccine rollout, the Wolf administration has stood by its localized, do-it-yourself system for finding and booking appointments, despite widespread frustration among residents.

The Biden administration’s new executive orders on immigration seek to address some of the last president’s most controversial policies, and will have repercussions for immigrant communities and families in detention across Pennsylvania.

Nearly nine months after Pittsburgh City Council voted to create its LGBTQIA+ Commission, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto announced appointees to the group designed to address challenges facing LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has presented the names of the first members of the city's new LGBTQIA+ Commission. City Council will take up the nominations tomorrow morning.

Surveys from Carnegie Mellon University researchers show vaccine distribution is lower among Black and Hispanic Americans than white people across the U.S.

As the spread of COVID-19 continues to rage along with rising death rates, many people are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the vaccine. While the vaccine

Pennsylvania is failing to ensure that vaccine providers are collecting crucial data — including the race of recipients — leaving gaps that can impact the ability of health officials to respond to minority communities ravaged

Black and Hispanic children are less likely to receive diagnostic imaging during an emergency room visit compared to white children, according to a new study from UPMC and University of Pittsburgh researchers.

Hope for LGBTQ equality was dashed again on Jan. 26 when the state House voted against including anti-discrimination legislation in a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would limit the governor’s executive power during

William Marshall has organized Juneteenth celebrations in Pittsburgh since 2013, and since that time, he says he has had numerous discussions with Mayor Bill Peduto, city council and county council to recognize the celebration as

Juneteenth is a step closer to becoming an official holiday in the City of Pittsburgh.

PPG is committing $20 million over five years to diversity initiatives that the paints- and coatings-maker says will address systemic racism and boost STEM and other education opportunities for minorities.

COVID-19 has killed Americans of color out of proportion to their numbers in the general population, but that disparity can only be corrected in the context of the larger racial and economic inequalities in American

When Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District was redeveloped to make way for the Civic Arena more than 60 years ago, thousands of people and hundreds of businesses were displaced.

President Joe Biden’s flurry of day-one reversals of Trump-era immigration policies amounted to keeping campaign promises. It was also a welcomed shock to the system for some Latinos who have spent the last four years

In arguably the most direct assault on systemic racism by any American President since Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, President Joe Biden made a bold case for equity.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services released its racial equity report on Thursday. It’s the first-of-its-kind and addresses inequity and racism across the state and its programs. The department starting by looking internally at its employees,

In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, Biden team LGBTQ+ Engagement Director Reggie Greer often said that, if victorious, the new administration would need to "walk and chew gum" at the same time if

The Pennsylvania State Police announced Tuesday that it had resumed collecting racial data during traffic stops, nine years after the department quietly ended the practice and in direct response to a previous investigative report by

This piece is part of a series titled "Nonstate armed actors and illicit economies: What the Biden administration needs to know," from Brookings's Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors.

The leaders of the Pennsylvania National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Pittsburgh Black Lives Matter say the protest at the U.S. Capitol would have ended differently if the people involved were not

Ardrick Butler lost count of how many times his barbershop chair doubled as a therapy couch.

As state and local officials work to speed up the administration of coronavirus vaccines to the first segments of the population eligible to receive them, local leaders are already looking ahead to when the shots

Pittsburgh Public Schools on Tuesday announced the development of a new task force to recommend and influence policies that combat racial disparities in school safety.

Last week, the first out LGBTQ woman was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature as Jessica Benham (D-South Side) won state House District 36. She is also now one of only a few openly autistic

Records show African Americans in Pittsburgh are far more likely than whites to be stopped, frisked or arrested by police while driving.

Groups that support LGBTQ students are trying to connect with young people in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, but say virtual learning spaces create challenges. 

Eight women and one man sit on Pittsburgh’s City Planning Commission. Mayor Bill Peduto would like to adjust that ratio.

A Friday program at Gwen’s Girls is a flurry of activity. A small group of young women and teen girls, all gathered in the West Commons building on the North Side, enjoy pizza as they

The independent board tasked with reviewing police conduct in Pittsburgh received an endorsement from voters Tuesday, who overwhelmingly voted to expand the board’s power.

A local nonproft, Hello Neighbor, helped the immigrant and refugee community in Pittsburgh on Thursday by providing essentials that they may need due to the pandemic.

Structural inequality can be, literally, structural. According to a new study by researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering, low-income neighborhoods with mostly Black, Hispanic and single-parent families are likely to have fewer

It was October 2016 when a friend approached me and said, “Pittsburgh Public Schools has adopted a nondiscrimination policy for transgender students. Our team is looking for a writer to help create professional development materials

People’s Pride returns to Pittsburgh this weekend as a hybrid of virtual and in-person events. 

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is looking for a Director of Equity and Inclusion; and City of Asylum has a new executive director. 

On Monday night, a political ad for a local state House seat hit Pittsburgh TV screens informing viewers that candidate Rob Mercuri (R-Pine) supports allowing businesses to “actively discriminate against gay people.” The ad (see

Repetitive thoughts about the high-profile deaths of George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery. Reliving the recent news that no one truly has to answer for the death of Breonna Taylor. And hypervigilance due to the possibility

The official Election Day is not until Nov. 3, but voting has already started in Pennsylvania, with thousands of people using mail-in ballots. Ballots include voting in the presidential election and state legislative contests, but,

Black Pittsburghers would be protected from hairstyle discrimination in legislation Mayor Bill Peduto is submitting to City Council this week.

Overcriminalization of Black youth in Allegheny County has been a persistent issue, and a new report shows that schools are playing an outsized role in referrals to the juvenile justice system.

Central Outreach Wellness Center, a holistic, multicultural, LGBTQIA, HIV, and Hep C health organization located in Pittsburgh, Aliquippa, and Washington, was, like many businesses and health centers, forced to tackle the pandemic head-on.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday night in honor of Breonna Taylor, to protest the lack of harsh charges against the Louisville officers involved in her killing and to amplify the voices

The long-lasting impacts of redlining are still felt in some Pittsburgh neighborhoods; the Pittsburgh Art Commission plans to debate the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park; and Puerto Ricans living in Pennsylvania

On “Blackout Tuesday” in early June, many organizations across the country took to social media to signal support for the nationwide uprising against racism, the movement sparked by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna

The state Department of Education today launched an “Equitable Practices Hub” that is aimed at getting school districts to perform a deep analysis of equity practices and make the changes needed to ensure that academics,

As one of the city’s major philanthropies, the Pittsburgh Foundation has established a reputation for providing support to people of color.

In Pittsburgh, a city not known for its livability for Black residents, Black girls are 10 times more likely than white girls to be referred to the juvenile justice system. Black boys are seven times

Hundreds of people marched across several Pittsburgh neighborhoods in the name of social justice and police accountability during an hours-long, peaceful event Saturday afternoon.

Robert Aldred finished his shift as a waiter one June night in 2017, went out with friends, returned home and thought little of the broken screen door on his Mount Washington rental house. Aldred went

Data from the Allegheny County Health Department show that racial disparities in COVID-19 cases increased after the early summer surge of infections.

September is Black Girls Equity Month in Allegheny County, and Gwen’s Girls is ready to celebrate — and educate.

A Pittsburgh judge who allegedly referred to a Black juror as “Aunt Jemima” was accused of misconduct in office Wednesday by the state's entity that investigates and prosecutes judicial wrongdoing.

A new rule from the Trump administration could put homeless transgender people at greater risk; the Historic Review Commission considers six sites in Pittsburgh for historic designation; and some COVID-19 patients’s symptoms last beyond the

The current civil rights movement has been an emotionally and intellectually taxing experience for many Black Americans who are confronting injustices that stretch back generations.

It’s a well-established fact that African Americans suffer disproportionately from most all chronic health disorders, including heart disease, diabetes and higher rates of various cancers. Researchers and health care providers have identified some African Americans’

Poise Foundation, a Black-led philanthropy, is ramping up fundraising for its Human Equity and Justice Fund in the wake of widespread racial unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pa. Health Department Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine started her daily coronavirus response briefing Tuesday with a response to the “multiple incidents of LGBTQ harassment, and specifically transphobia directed at me, that have been reported in

The 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] was marked with celebration in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh hosted the 2016 Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disabilities Conference and showcased many

In this reported op-ed, journalist Jewel Wicker examines what the Black Lives Matter uprising of 2020 has meant in the media, one industry of many reckoning with race and anti-Blackness.

“Racial Trauma”—seldom is this two-word condition ever uttered, but often is how much African Americans truly experience it.

María Manautou Matos has always been passionate about cultural exploration and education. From her first experiences at an international school in Puerto Rico, where she grew up, she loved hearing about the lives of her

The city is seeking applicants for a new LGBTQIA+ Commission that hopes to make Pittsburgh more inclusive; a Nigerian disability rights advocate makes a virtual journey to Pittsburgh to mark the 30th anniversary of the

A pilot program announced by Pittsburgh officials could be another step toward enacting the law enforcement reforms that community activists have asked for in regular protests in the region that followed the May 25 killing

Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday gave final approval for legislation that authorizes the creation of a racial equity commission and commits the city to a 10-point plan for erasing inequalities.

On July 1, the Persad Center in Lawrenceville lost funding for its LGBTQ youth programs, spelling an uncertain future for the region’s LGBTQ young people. The program at Persad, which provides resources and services for

Carnegie Mellon University has unveiled an action plan designed to make the campus community more inclusive and address systemic racism.

Gov. Tom Wolf will sign the first bills passed by Pennsylvania’s Legislature in response to widespread protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd, his office said Tuesday.

Amanda Neatrour worked for the City of Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2017 to help cultivate a more diverse pool of job applicants. 

The city’s Gender Equity Commission issued several policy recommendations as a follow-up to its findings last year that revealed Black Pittsburghers, particularly Black women, would find better health and economic outcomes just by leaving town.

“Listen to Black women,” #SayHerName or #BlackLivesMatter are hashtags, mottos, words emblazoned in a bold font on T-shirts, social media posts or tote bags. For some, those words stay there, laying flat, as a two-dimensional

On Saturday afternoon hundreds of people gathered in front of Pittsburgh’s City-County Building. They filled Grant Street between Fourth and Forbes avenues in a giant circle to oppose police brutality and call to amend Pennsylvania’s

Clyde Wilson Pickett, a leading expert in higher education diversity and inclusion strategy, has been named the University of Pittsburgh’s vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion. Charged with ensuring a welcome, inclusive and equitable environment

Pennsylvania's House and Senate began passing legislation Wednesday spurred by widespread protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd, including legislation designed to prevent “bad apples” from continuing to find employment in police

Less than a year after producing a harrowing report on the health crisis facing black women in Pittsburgh, the city’s Gender Equity Commission has offered some solutions – with a focus on crises in policing

More than 100 protesters gathered outside a Downtown Pittsburgh bar Wednesday, protesting a dress code they say discriminates against Black individuals and Black members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Mayor Bill Peduto assembles a Community Task Force on Police Reform;  Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center deals with the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the state; and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership expands outdoor dining and walking

When it comes to state economies with the most racial equality, a report ranks Pennsylvania near the bottom of the list.

What’s happening at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — the uprising caused by a decision to ban two Black journalists on staff, Alexis Johnson and Michael Santiago, from covering Black Lives Matter protests — is in alignment with the

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced today the launch of a new online tool to help the public report civil rights violations.

Marita Garrett, the first female African-American mayor in Wilkinsburg history, spoke with Larry Richert and Kevin Battle of the KDKA Radio Morning Show and shared her view of what's happening around the country and in

Today, the Supreme Court passed a landmark ruling expanding non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country. This includes Pennsylvania, where statewide civil rights protections for LGBTQ people have lagged, thanks to Republicans in the

Protests and demonstrations demanding an end to racism and police violence against people of color continue across the country; Mike Turzai retires as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House; and local nonprofits are working hard to

It is now illegal for a Pennsylvania employer to fire someone for being gay or transgender.

If air pollution levels in all of Allegheny County were lowered to match the levels seen in its least-polluted neighborhoods, about 100 fewer residents would die of coronary heart disease every year, according to a

In 2018, our Pittsburgh reporter Kristina Marusic talked with Summer Lee who became the first Black woman to represent the Pittsburgh region at the state capital.

Two faith leaders of prominent congregations that have been rocked by mass shootings came together Wednesday night to talk about how to fight racist and hateful attacks, as protests against police violence and systemic racism

As protesters locally and globally cry out against police use of force, Pittsburgh and its police union are in the midst of a legal and contractual tussle over how officers are questioned after they hurt

Officials in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Pennsylvania proposed several reforms on Tuesday to address the burgeoning demand for accountability on police and the criminal justice system as a whole.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh has announced a new organizational strategy focusing on programs supporting race and gender equity, especially for women of color, officials said.

Public defenders, social workers and activists on Monday kneeled in front of the Allegheny County Courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh to protest institutional racism in the criminal justice system.

Black deaths from COVID-19 are higher than white deaths due in part to institutional racism and social impediments, such as poverty. The Pittsburgh-based Black COVID-19 Equity Coalition is a group of public health researchers, businesspeople and elected officials

Police were called about John Mahone, a black man having an argument with his wife. A cop shot and killed him because he thought Mahone had a knife. Mahone had a can opener.

Michael Santiago, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and one of the few people of color on staff there, stood in front of his newspaper’s building and tried to explain to reporters why

On the sixth day of Black Lives Matter protests in Pittsburgh, Mayor Bill Peduto outlined an agenda and series of specific actions for police reform, some of which, he said, he expects to be enacted

According to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, a Black reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has been recently barred from covering protests in honor of George Floyd, a Black man killed last week by a Minneapolis

Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced his proposals to implement more training, transparency and oversight of Pennsylvania police departments in response to the killing of George Floyd.

Gov. Tom Wolf will appoint a watchdog and create a commission to investigate alleged misconduct by the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies under his purview, he announced Thursday.

In an hour-long conversation where panelists highlighted Pittsburgh’s history, elected officials’ responses, and their own emotions, 1Hood Media and the UrbanKind Institute held a discussion on what Black Pittsburgh needed to know about protests. 

Hundreds of people filled the sidewalks surrounding the blockwide East Liberty Presbyterian Church on Wednesday in a midday vigil calling for racial justice and an end to discrimination by police and other institutions.

Pittsburgh was under an 8:30 p.m. curfew Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights due to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. These protests — which have thus far occurred in Downtown and East Liberty, among other

“To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage.” —James Baldwin, author and civil rights activist

In April, New Orleans health officials realized their drive-through testing strategy for the coronavirus wasn't working. The reason? Census tract data revealed hot spots for the virus were located in predominantly low-income African-American neighborhoods where

When it comes to reopening states’ economies, the one word that always comes up is testing. Knowing exactly who has COVID-19, and who doesn’t, is crucial.

President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders announced the $2 trillion economic stimulus package—the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to great fanfare, touting the deliverables of different aspects of the provisions and their

It’s in times such as the ones we each and as a community are going through that highlight how wonderful is Pittsburgh. People who aren’t from around here often think of our sports teams when

Darwin Molina left his native Honduras two years ago to escape people close to him who he feared were entrenched in a dangerous drug culture.

A few weeks ago, prior to a trip to the grocery store with his family, Jerry Dickinson says he hesitated before wearing his face-mask out in public. 

Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved housing protections for renters no matter their immigration status or native language.

Without someone keeping careful watch, people who need help the most could miss out on the federal support Congress sent to nonprofits and local governments in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Mary Reynolds Babcock

As coronavirus progressed from a word barely anyone’s ever heard of to a word that no one will ever forget, the one constant that health experts have preached into the minds of the public is

Monday, May 4, marked the start of Teacher Appreciation Week. And this year, teachers are being recognized in a new light, as the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually, teachers continue to bring students

Andre Perry could not have anticipated a pandemic would lay bare the central premise of his new book about the devaluation of black lives and black property in the United States. But, after working on

Two Pittsburgh city councilmen on Tuesday proposed a task force that would ensure the city’s minority communities receive equal treatment in government initiatives aimed at helping people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit Pittsburgh, there has been an increase in discrimination, specifically against the Asian community, according to the city’s Human Relations Commission director Megan Stanley.

Edward Monk’s job was tough — even before a global pandemic hit. Mr. Monk is a caregiver for two men with Down syndrome in a residential home.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, Mayor Bill Peduto, community leaders and representatives of the city’s Commission on Human Relations are planning to introduce a new bill at a Zoom press conference Tuesday that would further

Pittsburgh would ban discrimination based on a person’s citizenship or immigration status under legislation City Council is scheduled to introduce on Tuesday.

As Pittsburgh-area residents filled grocery carts in preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic, language barriers and a lack of information left many local immigrants unable to stock up before shelves emptied.

In nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 cases, the infected person’s race and ethnicity is unknown — an “unacceptable” statistic during the pandemic, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania told commonwealth officials Wednesday.

About 25 cars circled the Allegheny County Courthouse on Grant Street Wednesday to protest conditions at the jail and the continued incarceration of more than 1,600 inmates there during the COVID-19 pandemic — the same

“People lose jobs all the time,” said Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis, past president of the American Psychological Association. “But those living just above the poverty rate have lost jobs with food insecurity and no way

One hundred and seventy national, state and local LGBTQ+ and allied organizations have joined in a second open letter to health and policy leaders highlighting the importance of measures to prohibit discrimination in COVID-19 treatment

In cities like Milwaukee, New Orleans and Boston, black residents have been dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than white residents. Local public health researchers and advocates worry the same might be happening in Allegheny

Why isn’t there comprehensive racial data on coronavirus cases? Many states, including Pennsylvania, aren’t keeping records on the races/ethnicities who test positive for the virus, raising concerns from Democratic lawmakers, civil rights groups, and prompting

What does Black Pittsburgh need to know about COVID-19?

Sassy Outwater-Wright has fought off cancer three times in the last 33 years, losing most of her eyesight to a rare form of the disease at the age of three.

Pennsylvania corrections secretary John Wetzel said earlier this week that his department is taking steps to reduce the state’s incarcerated population, in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus behind bars. But prison-reform advocates

Coronavirus is going to batter us far longer than the worst of hurricanes. We must not let environmental justice communities be flattened in the process.

Nine Allegheny County Council members on Tuesday rejected the fast-tracking of an ordinance that could allow the release of nonviolent or juvenile offenders or those with health conditions from the jail and other facilities as

Since the early days of the COVD-19 outbreak in Pennsylvania, most of our public leaders have done a good job telling the public how they should be taking care of themselves.

At the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), the School of Education recently adopted a mission-vision of creating equity in schools.

Flashback to 1970, when the Temptations had a hit song called, “Ball of Confusion, That’s What the World is Today.”

This year’s presidential election will propel many issues into the spotlight: the economy, health care, foreign policy, our education system and much more. One issue that gets far too little attention, often mentioned as just

Propel McKeesport elementary teacher Timesha Cohen said she is uncomfortable talking about race in her classroom. But, she said she knows it’s vital for her students.

A task force set up three years ago issued recommendations Wednesday about how to improve the process of reentering outside society among prisoners who have finished their sentences.

Local residents voiced trepidation at a meeting in Homewood Tuesday about the use of algorithms to guide criminal justice, law enforcement, and child welfare decisions.

The State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Twp. that Gov. Tom Wolf wants to shut down along with state centers at White Haven and Polk has closed before.

Pittsburgh’s two black councilmen Tuesday continued efforts to combat racism in the city by introducing legislation that would create an equity commission and commit the city to a 10-point plan for erasing inequalities.

Diversity refers to having or being composed of different elements, including individuals of different race, age, gender, religion and sexual orientation. Inclusion refers to  behaviors and social norms that make people feel welcome.

This essay is the first in a series on having conversations about legacy oppression, confessing complicity, reducing the harm we cause others, assimilation racism, building emotional resilience, and the practice of knowing and telling the

Black Americans have progressed considerably, especially in the areas of education and wage increases. However, we still lag far behind when it comes to accessing certain economic opportunities, especially in Pittsburgh.

Kellie Ware-Seabron was 31 years old and a mother to two young children when she started law school at Northeastern University in 2015. She wasn’t looking for a large paycheck — but a way to

Voting-rights groups have asked a federal court to be included in a lawsuit alleging improper maintenance of voter rolls in Allegheny County — a suit the groups fear could result in voters being unintentionally disenfranchised.

Victoria Hess and her 13-year-old sidekick, Eric Garcia, knocked on all the odd-numbered doors in the 1800 block of Tonopah Avenue in Beechview last Saturday.

On Saturday, February 29, Black History Month for the year 2020 will officially come to an end.

A glaring reality stands out to Diamonte Walker — that not all communities are afforded the same opportunities. 

THE 22ND ANNUAL PITTSBURGH RACIAL JUSTICE SUMMIT was held, Jan. 25, at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, with the opening ceremony held at the Union Project on North Negley Avenue, Jan. 24. The summit included sessions

Hundreds of people rallied in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on Tuesday, calling on Attorney General Josh Shapiro to “show mercy” by supporting more commutations.

Human-rights groups plan to hold rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Tuesday to protest state Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s record on commutation. While Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons recommended more commutations last year than at any time

Studies have shown that racism and prejudice have contributed to racial gaps in health, education, economic stability and housing. Healthy People 2020 is the federal government’s “road map” agenda for building a healthier nation.

Pennsylvania’s law governing legal name changes was up for debate before the state’s Commonwealth Court in Pittsburgh Thursday. Three transgender women have challenged a provision of the statute that bars people from changing their names

Licensed mental health providers may soon be barred from providing so-called conversion therapy to LGBTQ youth in Allegheny County. In a 13-2 vote Tuesday, Allegheny County Council approved a measure to prohibit the treatment for

For most people, waking up and getting ready for work is a fairly straightforward routine. You get up, probably drink some coffee, take a shower, get dressed and head out the door. I’d guess it

How overwhelmingly white Pittsburgh media outlets cover black lives; day-to-day concerns of rural Americans aren’t being addressed in campaign stump speeches; the Wilkinsburg murder trial moves into deliberations; and VA Pittsburgh wants more veterans to

Andrea Stanford knows Amber Farr, but does she know Charles Carrier? Tracey McCants Lewis knows Jerome Jackson, but does she know Shannon Austin? What’s guaranteed to come from the second-ever cohort of The Advanced Leadership Initiative’s Executive

On Wednesday, Carnegie Mellon University was criticized for distributing a map of Pittsburgh that excluded many of the city’s Black neighborhoods. Yet the university isn’t alone.

Ah, another February, another Black History Month. This is the time of year when racking up intentional slights and unintentional indignities is easier than ever. There’s something about February that draws out the stupid in

Carnegie Mellon University posted a map of Pittsburgh online several weeks back in which it described for prospective students and families a city of nearly 90 neighborhoods, a place where "you can always find something

Pittsburgh’s branch of the NAACP on Wednesday announced the hiring of a new executive director.

Allegheny County Council will resume efforts to gather feedback from the public, law enforcement experts and other stakeholders — including municipal officials, police chiefs and grassroots organizations — regarding legislation to form a countywide police

De’netta Benjamin-Miller, executive director of Sojourner House, is passionate about empowering communities to achieve mental wellness and heal from trauma.

They, according to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, are just four of the many examples of minorities and women who accomplished outstanding feats while employed with the county, and who have gone on to “bigger

Pittsburgh’s city council voted to declare racism a health crisis, following precedents set by Madison and Milwaukee. Here’s what it means—and what it doesn’t.

When the Association of American Universities released a report last year detailing sexual misconduct on 33 university campuses, including Pitt, Yemi Olaiya said personal experiences with sexual misconduct inspired her to help survivors.

Turtle and their little brother, Philip, play make believe, conjuring relationships and modeling adult life. Philip always plays the mom because Turtle always wants to be the dad. When their aunts or uncles send dresses

When you hear “refugee crisis,” you may automatically picture some foreign nation in distress, but for thousands of Pittsburgh students, the subject hits way too close to home

On today's program: GOP leadership is changing in Harrisburg; some U.S. waterways might lose federal protection; a new report reveals companies did not report hospitalizations of those with intellectual disabilities; and Pitt’s Department of Africana

The Allegheny County Council is reviewing a proposal that would create a civilian police review board.

City councilors decided on Wednesday to hold off on voting for a new bill that would add "hateful activities" to the city's code of conduct, and to see what the city's law department has to

As promised, Allegheny County Councilor DeWitt Walton re-introduced a measure Tuesday to create a countywide police review board. The legislation was among the first proposals council took up this year.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg are looking at legislation they say will help dismantle what they call a school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately impacts communities of color.

On Monday, the nation paused to honor the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In church services and service projects, Pennsylvanians from all walks of life heeded the call to

Pittsburgh City Council postponed a vote Wednesday as it sought a legal opinion from the city’s solicitor on legislation proposed by Councilman Ricky Burgess that would prohibit “hateful activities” by city employees.

Pitsburgh is a city of contradictions when it comes to race relations.

Some of the last big changes Pennsylvania made to its juvenile justice system came almost a decade ago, after the “kids for cash” scandal in which judges in Luzerne County took bribes for keeping minors

A study led by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that transgendered teens are more at risk for suicide than their cis-gendered counterparts.

If you haven’t discovered Repair the World PGH, put them on your radar. The nonprofit’s work supports racial, economic, environmental and educational justice through an intersectional lens and continues to inspire and motivate communities to

The title of the day’s observances, “The Struggle Continues,” gave an indication of the tone in the words, song and dance at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland on Sunday.

A fight to block Gov. Tom Wolf from closing two state centers for the intellectually disabled produced a second large majority in Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday, even as Wolf vowed to continue a decades-old

After a hot mic incident, two heated community meetings, and months of debate, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections moved Wednesday to close State Correctional Institute Retreat, a 1,200 bed facility in Luzerne County.

A pair of Allegheny County lawmakers joined domestic violence prevention advocates and the parents of a murdered Pitt student Tuesday in Harrisburg in a renewed push for the passage of Alina’s Law.

The longtime head of the Delta Foundation has stepped down; New Light Congregation makes a decision about its future; a new book looks at how police-community relations have evolved a decade since the Jordan Miles

At Pittsburgh City Council's first full meeting Tuesday, Distict 9 City Councilor Ricky Burgess offered a bill that may either advance an anti-racist agenda for the future — or settle some old political scores. 

In a story about local population decline that officials are actually celebrating, the average daily population in the Allegheny County Jail has fallen 7 percent since late 2017, according to a report the county released this week.

As a young girl, Evelena McFarland was well known to her Hill District neighbors. Her mom sold chicken and rib dinners, and Evelena was the runner, delivering meals up and down Centre and Wylie avenues.

Livability indexes can obscure the experiences of non-white people. CityLab analyzed the outcomes just for black women, for a different kind of ranking.

People with criminal histories can explore options for erasing their records at a clinic in Homewood Saturday. 

Allegheny County should create a department dedicated to improving early childhood education and after-school programs, according to the report of a 25-member working group created in March by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

Redesigning for equity in workforce development would ensure job quality for all workers, increase competitiveness, and drive inclusionary growth.

Pittsburgh’s elected leaders should own up to historical barriers as well as persisting structural and institution-driven ones that contribute to the city’s drastic racial inequities and poverty-based segregation between whites and blacks, several residents told

Pennsylvania’s governor is telling President Donald Trump he won’t be using state authority granted last month to refuse to accept refugees.

Community activists want an official apology and a reparations package from the city of Pittsburgh — including land and cash — to make up for lost time, wealth and opportunity stolen by past and current

In many ways, it’s a completely ordinary interview, with some ice-breaking talk about the Steelers’ most recent loss, his basketball playing injuries, Pittsburgh’s intimate neighborhoods and our shared love of the glory days of Big

Researchers, nonprofit leaders and advocates who gathered Monday continued to criticize a September report on racial and gender inequity for its predominantly white research team and the failure to engage Black leaders and community organizations

An internal review of Pennsylvania’s parole system spurred by five parolees getting charged in quick succession with homicide is, in theory, acknowledging a long-standing complaint of parole agents over a long-term policy shift designed to

Suicidal thoughts are a common occurrence among transgender teens, according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh.

In September, hundreds of angry state workers and concerned family members packed a church auditorium in rural Venango County, less than 100 miles north of Pittsburgh. 

A coalition of activist groups and two city commissions have joined to tell the United Nations what human rights look like in Pittsburgh.

Having just watched the country’s first openly gay presidential candidate speak at the country’s first ever nationally televised presidential event devoted to LGBTQ+ issues, it was time for Chuck Knoles to step away from the

A bill that aims to let more people with disabilities access a program that gives them medical services appears primed to move quickly through the state Senate.

In a nutshell, the U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to decide a fundamental question.

Author Sean Beauford writes about how his work with local museums has shown the lack of diversity in staff and artists amplified and creates a disconnect with the community.

An exasperated Tiheba Bain gave her colleagues on the Council on the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Record a stern reminder Tuesday morning: “A lot of people think they know what formerly incarcerated people need, but

For several months, I had the pleasure — grim as the subject matter was — of working with my colleagues Steve Mellon and Michael Santiago researching and writing an interactive series for the PG about

Surgery can be scary for anyone, but gender-affirming surgery for transgender people may provide better long-term mental health benefits, according to new research from the Yale School of Public Health.

Four local teens were each jailed for up to 15 months despite alibi evidence that proved their innocence, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report Sunday. And on Monday, the independent candidate for Allegheny County District

Three cases headed to the Supreme Court of the United States on Tuesday will determine if LGBTQ people are protected under federal employment discrimination laws. The arguments are particularly significant in Pennsylvania, one of the

They all had alibis. The four teenagers charged in a 2017 Hill District shooting that wounded three children knew there was proof they didn't do it. But they were prosecuted anyway.

Protesters filled intersections and marched down Penn Avenue through the East End Friday night as part of the Protect Black Women march. 

Pittsburgh announced Friday it will use a $250,000 state grant to help find housing for homeless people and prevent residents from becoming homeless, officials said.

When I was 6 years old, I sat cross-legged in my grandmother’s living room. My hands framed my face as I hung onto her every word. She told a story highlighting horrific ways human beings

Israeli, Jewish and pro-Israel groups all applauded the publication of an ‘unprecedented’ United Nations report on anti-Semitism.

Medical and mental health care for transgender people is improving, but still has a ways to go. 

The LGBTQ+ realm is a diverse community with endless stories to tell. But we live in a society that has a fear of deviating from telling the stories of those who have more power under

A year ago, a federal jury ordered PPG to pay nearly $3 million to a female scientist who sued the global coatings company for gender discrimination.

The progress made by LGBTQ Americans throughout the last decade has been remarkable. Winning marriage equality in all 50 states was one of the most important victories to allow LGBTQ people to live fulfilling and

Local doctors say the rising number of maternal deaths in the state is “unacceptable” and “scary,” and they are working to create more comprehensive ways to care for pregnant and postpartum women.

On Tuesday afternoon, a state House committee is slated to start voting on a slew of bills related to gun violence.

While she was playing high school lacrosse, Bethany Hallam tore ligaments in both of her knees. As the Allegheny County Council member-elect has acknowledged, the Vicodin prescribed for her injuries led to her becoming addicted to

The Pennsylvania State Police, the third-largest statewide law enforcement agency in the country, has stopped collecting data on the race of drivers its troopers pull over, making it far more difficult to detect bias.

A quarter century ago, downtown Hartford was 8/5 rather than 24/7. People drove in for work or UConn games and then headed back to the suburbs. It was hard to even buy a cup of coffee

More than 5,000 people are serving life sentences in Pennsylvania prisons, without the possibility of release. Ralph “Malakki” Bolden is one of them. He was convicted of first-degree murder after killing a man during a

A new report from Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission (GEC) comparing gender and racial inequality in Pittsburgh to other cities shows African Americans in Pittsburgh have less favorable outcomes than those in other cities.

Pennsylvania has the second-highest rate of people on probation and/or parole of any state in the U.S., according to 2018 statistics from the Prison Policy Initiative. In Pennsylvania, there are 2,220 people on probation and/or

If you’re a white Pittsburgh resident, your health, education and employment outcomes are about average across most other cities in the United States. Move somewhere else, and you’re unlikely to have a drastically different experience

Black women in Pittsburgh are more likely to have a baby die during pregnancy than black women in most other cities in the country, according to a report released Tuesday. But that’s only one serious

For immigrant communities and their allies, the last several years have been a trying time in Pittsburgh and around the country.

Pittsburgh City Council approved a future public hearing on possible reparations for black residents. The idea was proposed by the New Afrikan Independence Party, which delivered a petition to council on Tuesday. 

Pennsylvanians sentenced as adults to life in prison without parole can only be released if the governor commutes their sentences. For most of the past 25 years, that's happened no more than once annually.

Our society leans toward the neurotypical. Tight spaces, loud noises, bright lights — minor and everyday annoyances for most of us — can trigger intense discomfort for those who are not typical.

The venerable Elizabeth Pittinger doesn’t pull her punches. We’re talking about the misfire by Allegheny County Council in its effort to form a civilian police oversight board — something like the Pittsburgh board she has overseen

Pittsburgh is well known for its Eastern European, German and Italian communities, and the many festivals that celebrate their food and culture.  But what about the other, more recent immigrants that also are a part

With its clusters of stately red-brick buildings and manicured lawns, set amid the farm fields and state game lands of Venango County, Polk Center almost looks like a college campus.

How we get from one place to another can have a big impact on our lives. Conjure up the feeling of sitting in a hot car, stuck in gridlock, and compare it to taking a short bike

People with criminal backgrounds can get help clearing their records at an event in Wilkinsburg Tuesday evening.

All across the country, students are returning to school, and in Pittsburgh, that includes youth housed at the Allegheny County Jail. The jail runs a full high school for juveniles charged as adults.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA)– For three Friday nights, Market Square will be filled with food, fun, and activities of the international communities of the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

As the body positivity movement grows in Pittsburgh, people are looking for more inclusive alternatives to the often toxic culture familiar to the fitness scene. This is one of the reasons why Marissa Vogel turned her attention

For many families like mine—with members who are on the spectrum or have other sensory or mental disorders—parks and playgrounds are vitally important

After coming out as queer, Silas Maxwell Switzer craved a space in Pittsburgh where he could express himself creatively with other queer people. There was only one problem — as far as he could tell,

Earlier this summer, activists in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8 held two vigils on the same day—one for a pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run and the other for a young man lost to gun violence. In

Despite high employment and wage increases for Pennsylvanians last year, black residents aren't seeing the same amount of growth. 

Allegheny County Council voted down a proposed ordinance Tuesday to create a county-wide civilian police review board. The bill, which was in the works for over a year, failed, 9-6.

A Dauphin County grand jury has issued a slate of recommendations for the state legislature on how it handles sexual assault and harassment.

Nan Feyler  has been named executive director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project — a nonprofit law firm working to exonerate the convicted innocent and to prevent innocent people from being convicted.

A year after it was established, the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs has helped local governments pass inclusive laws, establish policies for transgender students and worked to end discriminatory practices in the state.