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PNC return could boost Downtown Pittsburgh's daytime rebound

Thousands of PNC workers will return to Downtown later this spring.

News

Thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="PNC" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/02/13/pnc-unveils-new-indy-car-design" data-vars-content-id="4f2520b0-204b-4009-b50e-15bf6485874f" data-vars-headline="PNC return could boost Downtown Pittsburgh&#x27;s daytime rebound" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/02/13/pnc-unveils-new-indy-car-design" target="_self">PNC</a> workers will return to Downtown later this spring, and the company&#x27;s Pittsburgh regional head says it could help jumpstart the neighborhood&#x27;s daytime rebound.Why it matters: Since the pandemic, Downtown has recovered in terms of restaurant, entertainment and sports visitors, but weekday office worker recovery has been slow.

Penn Hills' new retro tech museum opens for tours

Free tours feature early computers and an '80s living room.

Things to Do

Penn Hills&#x27; long-awaited retro tech museum is now open for limited-capacity tours.The big picture: After months of renovations and exhibit buildout, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bloop Museum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/06/16/tech-museum-penn-hills-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="daf095ad-da55-466c-9b93-44e8ef39fd0f" data-vars-headline="Penn Hills&#x27; new retro tech museum opens for tours" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/06/16/tech-museum-penn-hills-pittsburgh" target="_self">Bloop Museum</a> in the former Penn Hills Municipal Building is opening in phases — first debuting early computing displays and a re-created &#x27;80s living room (think plaid couches, a console TV and Atari 2600).

Pittsburgh's abolitionist history gains new spotlight

New exhibit highlights the city's role in the Underground Railroad and Black-led activism.

History

Pittsburgh&#x27;s deep history with the Underground Railroad and abolitionist movement is still being uncovered.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s role in abolishing slavery hasn&#x27;t been widely taught, Museum of African American History at the Heinz History Center associate curator Alonna Carter-Donaldson told Axios.

Pa. travelers urged to take precautions in Mexico

Sen. Dave McCormick urges travelers to enroll in STEP and monitor flight updates.

Politics & Policy

U.S. Sen. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dave McCormick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/28/mccormick-urges-review-of-research-grants" data-vars-content-id="e3a13e27-9aa3-4f7e-9f9e-b03ebb6b7c91" data-vars-headline="Pa. travelers urged to take precautions in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/28/mccormick-urges-review-of-research-grants" target="_self">Dave McCormick</a> is advising Pennsylvanians in Mexico to stay in close contact with the U.S. State Department.The big picture: Violence following the killing of a Mexican cartel leader has erupted in Mexico, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leaving some Americans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/23/chicagoans-caught-mexico-drug-violence-el-mencho-death" data-vars-content-id="e3a13e27-9aa3-4f7e-9f9e-b03ebb6b7c91" data-vars-headline="Pa. travelers urged to take precautions in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/23/chicagoans-caught-mexico-drug-violence-el-mencho-death" target="_self">leaving some Americans</a> — and potentially Pittsburghers — stuck in a tough situation.

How Pittsburgh can cash in on biotech boom

Federal leaders say the region is well positioned to compete for billions in biotech investment.

<figure><img alt="A robotic arm placing a plastic dish into place inside a lab" height="450" id="7b6040e2-9247-408b-a2b4-97671c0980a0" src="https://images.axios.com/M92SOVmlS4CXYKcxvtkT1pm1A-o=/2026/02/19/1771533898807.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>A robot at work inside CMU&#x27;s Biological and Chemical Innovation Cloud Lab. GIF: Ryan Deto/Axios</figcaption></figure>Pittsburgh&#x27;s biotech industry is ahead of the curve, according to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB).Why it matters: The commission was created by Congress in 2022 to see how biotechnology can improve national security, and Pittsburgh&#x27;s biotech sector wants to show it&#x27;s worth federal investment and attention.

Pittsburgh death cafes are drawing crowds

Strangers are coming together over cake and tea to chat about death.

Culture

Strangers in Pittsburgh are coming together over cake and tea to chat about death.Why it matters: As anxiety about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="longevity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2025/12/29/longevity-companies-surging-2026" data-vars-content-id="bda90537-6afb-4eff-bb51-ded64a6c105f" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh death cafes are drawing crowds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2025/12/29/longevity-companies-surging-2026" target="_self">longevity</a> and end-of-life care grows, death cafes are normalizing conversations about death and creating spaces for shared learning, organizers say.

What to know about the "super flu" in Western Pa.

A new flu variant is spreading fast this season.

Health

Flu cases are climbing in Western Pennsylvania, driven by a fast-spreading strain that experts warn could prolong this year&#x27;s flu season.Why it matters: An unprecedented rise in nationwide flu cases comes as other sicknesses — such as the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="winter vomiting bug" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/24/norovirus-winter-vomiting-bug-variant-symptoms" data-vars-content-id="43b7c910-8301-4234-9df7-dcaae993412a" data-vars-headline="What to know about the &quot;super flu&quot; in Western Pa." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/24/norovirus-winter-vomiting-bug-variant-symptoms" target="_self">winter vomiting bug</a>&quot; and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="whooping cough" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/28/whooping-cough-pertussis-symptoms-cases-november-kentucky" data-vars-content-id="43b7c910-8301-4234-9df7-dcaae993412a" data-vars-headline="What to know about the &quot;super flu&quot; in Western Pa." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/28/whooping-cough-pertussis-symptoms-cases-november-kentucky" target="_self">whooping cough</a> — are slamming the U.S. this winter.

What Pennsylvania should know about the new flu strain

A new flu variant is now dominant, but experts say the vaccine still helps.

This year&#x27;s flu vaccine may offer less protection against a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newly circulating strain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/h3n2-new-flu-strain-symptoms-virus" data-vars-content-id="54977057-c003-4e23-a1ed-036253f904bc" data-vars-headline="What Pennsylvania should know about the new flu strain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/h3n2-new-flu-strain-symptoms-virus" target="_self">newly circulating strain</a>, but health experts still urge Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated to limit severe illness and prevent outbreaks.Why it matters: A new Influenza A (H3N2) variant, &quot;subclade K,&quot; emerged over the summer, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sparking fears" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/h3n2-new-flu-strain-symptoms-virus" data-vars-content-id="54977057-c003-4e23-a1ed-036253f904bc" data-vars-headline="What Pennsylvania should know about the new flu strain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/h3n2-new-flu-strain-symptoms-virus" target="_self">sparking fears</a> that this year&#x27;s flu vaccine may struggle against it because the strain wasn&#x27;t circulating when the shots were developed.

Pa. health insurance rates set to spike

Some counties face over 100% hikes if enhanced subsidies expire.

Rates for Pennsylvania&#x27;s Affordable Care Act insurance plans will jump significantly if Congress doesn&#x27;t pass tax credits before this weekend.Why it matters: Earlier this month, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pennsylvania Insurance Department" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/newsroom/aca-2026-health-insurance-rates" data-vars-content-id="91f60f1a-76a8-47a3-9eb2-2f92494e8faf" data-vars-headline="Pa. health insurance rates set to spike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/newsroom/aca-2026-health-insurance-rates" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Insurance Department</a> released its 2026 rates for its marketplace, Pennie, if nothing changes before the start of open enrollment on Nov. 1.

Carnegie Mellon's machine minds may outsmart cancer

A CMU-built model could help doctors identify high-risk patients faster and improve early detection.

A new AI tool developed by Carnegie Mellon researchers could help doctors identify patients at high risk of cancer — advancing early detection and potentially saving lives.The big picture: More hospitals and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="insurance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.abridge.com/press-release/highmark-health-ahn-abridge-prior-authorization" data-vars-content-id="ad2715ac-c531-426d-a984-543cec8ffaed" data-vars-headline="Carnegie Mellon&#x27;s machine minds may outsmart cancer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.abridge.com/press-release/highmark-health-ahn-abridge-prior-authorization" target="_blank">insurance</a> providers are investing in AI to ease clinician <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="burnout" data-vars-click-url="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12225174/" data-vars-content-id="ad2715ac-c531-426d-a984-543cec8ffaed" data-vars-headline="Carnegie Mellon&#x27;s machine minds may outsmart cancer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12225174/" target="_blank">burnout</a> and streamline care, from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="digital scribes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/03/10/ai-scribe-abridge-pittsburgh-roots" data-vars-content-id="ad2715ac-c531-426d-a984-543cec8ffaed" data-vars-headline="Carnegie Mellon&#x27;s machine minds may outsmart cancer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/03/10/ai-scribe-abridge-pittsburgh-roots" target="_self">digital scribes</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="diagnostic systems" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/18/pitt-leidos-use-ai-to-fight-cancer-and-health-disparities" data-vars-content-id="ad2715ac-c531-426d-a984-543cec8ffaed" data-vars-headline="Carnegie Mellon&#x27;s machine minds may outsmart cancer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/18/pitt-leidos-use-ai-to-fight-cancer-and-health-disparities" target="_self">diagnostic systems</a> that accelerate results.

Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline

About 57,000 Pittsburghers now live below the poverty line.

Pittsburgh&#x27;s poverty rate rose slightly last year despite declines across Pennsylvania and the nation, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per U.S. Census data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/p60-287.html" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/p60-287.html" target="_blank">per U.S. Census data</a> released in early September.Why it matters: Low-income households are already facing weaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal safety nets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/23/pittsburgh-funding-cuts-shutdown-impact" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/23/pittsburgh-funding-cuts-shutdown-impact" target="_self">federal safety nets</a> — from looming <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Medicaid cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/19/health-care-providers-impact-medicaid-cuts" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/19/health-care-providers-impact-medicaid-cuts" target="_self">Medicaid cuts</a> to stricter <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="SNAP rules" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/snap/snap-work-requirements-abawds" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/snap/snap-work-requirements-abawds" target="_blank">SNAP rules</a> — as rising <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grocery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/11/trump-tariffs-grocery-prices-rise-cpi" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/11/trump-tariffs-grocery-prices-rise-cpi" target="_self">grocery</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="utility" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wesa.fm/environment-energy/2025-09-03/pittsburgh-power-outages-higher-electric-bills" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wesa.fm/environment-energy/2025-09-03/pittsburgh-power-outages-higher-electric-bills" target="_blank">utility</a> prices push <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="family" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wtae.com/article/greater-pittsburgh-food-bank-2025-report/65959632" data-vars-content-id="1240291e-83fd-4308-945b-928a0484d425" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh poverty ticks up amid national decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wtae.com/article/greater-pittsburgh-food-bank-2025-report/65959632" target="_blank">family</a> budgets to the brink.

Federal cuts strain Pittsburgh programs as shutdown looms

Food, housing and child care programs are bracing for sharp federal funding cuts.

Federal funding cuts have strained key Pittsburgh-area programs and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a potential shutdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/19/senate-vote-fail-funding-bill-government-shutdown" data-vars-content-id="4c53f848-314e-4497-ae70-d322b868ada6" data-vars-headline="Federal cuts strain Pittsburgh programs as shutdown looms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/19/senate-vote-fail-funding-bill-government-shutdown" target="_self">a potential shutdown</a> could push them past the breaking point.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="DOGE" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/02/doge-food-bank-pennsylvania-farmers" data-vars-content-id="4c53f848-314e-4497-ae70-d322b868ada6" data-vars-headline="Federal cuts strain Pittsburgh programs as shutdown looms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/02/doge-food-bank-pennsylvania-farmers" target="_self">DOGE</a> and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="One Big Beautiful Bill Act" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/06/30/shapiro-gop-big-beautiful-bill-opposition" data-vars-content-id="4c53f848-314e-4497-ae70-d322b868ada6" data-vars-headline="Federal cuts strain Pittsburgh programs as shutdown looms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/06/30/shapiro-gop-big-beautiful-bill-opposition" target="_self">One Big Beautiful Bill Act</a> have stripped away funds from local affordable housing, child care, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="health care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/06/25/thousands-could-lose-insurance-under-medicaid-cuts" data-vars-content-id="4c53f848-314e-4497-ae70-d322b868ada6" data-vars-headline="Federal cuts strain Pittsburgh programs as shutdown looms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/06/25/thousands-could-lose-insurance-under-medicaid-cuts" target="_self">health care</a> and anti-hunger initiatives, said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) during a roundtable discussion on budget cuts Monday at the Allegheny County Courthouse.

Pa. breaks from fed guidance with public health, vaccine plan

Pennsylvania is joining several states to form a public health coalition that will set its own vaccine and health guidelines in response to Trump administration policy changes.

Pennsylvania is joining more than a half-dozen Northeastern states to form a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public health coalition" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/newsroom/launch-northeast-public-health-collaborative" data-vars-content-id="56cfd12c-4bb0-4538-805e-f8d8693381aa" data-vars-headline="Pa. breaks from fed guidance with public health, vaccine plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/newsroom/launch-northeast-public-health-collaborative" target="_blank">public health coalition</a> that will set its own vaccine and health guidelines in response to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump administration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/05/trump-rfk-jr-covid-vaccine-cdc" data-vars-content-id="56cfd12c-4bb0-4538-805e-f8d8693381aa" data-vars-headline="Pa. breaks from fed guidance with public health, vaccine plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/05/trump-rfk-jr-covid-vaccine-cdc" target="_self">Trump administration</a> policy changes.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Several states" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/05/rfk-vaccine-rule-states-democrats-vaccine-rules" data-vars-content-id="56cfd12c-4bb0-4538-805e-f8d8693381aa" data-vars-headline="Pa. breaks from fed guidance with public health, vaccine plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/05/rfk-vaccine-rule-states-democrats-vaccine-rules" target="_self">Several states</a> are moving to bypass federal vaccine restrictions, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per the Common Health Coalition" data-vars-click-url="https://commonhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-2026-COVID-19-Vaccine-Availability-by-State.pdf" data-vars-content-id="56cfd12c-4bb0-4538-805e-f8d8693381aa" data-vars-headline="Pa. breaks from fed guidance with public health, vaccine plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://commonhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-2026-COVID-19-Vaccine-Availability-by-State.pdf" target="_blank">per the Common Health Coalition</a>, with new laws, executive orders, standing actions and pharmacy board directives.

Pittsburgh wants to ban vape shops near schools, parks

Vape shops near schools could be blocked under proposed city rules.

New vape shops wouldn&#x27;t be allowed within 1,500 feet of schools, day cares, religious centers and parks under a newly proposed Pittsburgh City Council bill.Why it matters: Vape shops have been proliferating throughout Pittsburgh, and lawmakers are concerned their growing presence could increase youth vaping and potentially exacerbate existing health disparities in low-income communities.

Health 🩺

How Pittsburgh can cash in on biotech boom

Pittsburgh death cafes are drawing crowds

What to know about the "super flu" in Western Pa.

What Pennsylvania should know about the new flu strain

Pa. health insurance rates set to spike