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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.

Climate pressures hit Pittsburgh farms and tables

Farmers and restaurant owners say extreme weather is raising costs and risks.

Climate

Small <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="restaurant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/11/13/pittsburgh-restaurant-survival-doordash-2025" data-vars-content-id="2b4dfdb3-36cb-462e-ab7d-3b25f32dd1d6" data-vars-headline="Climate pressures hit Pittsburgh farms and tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/11/13/pittsburgh-restaurant-survival-doordash-2025" target="_self">restaurant</a> owners and farmers in Western Pennsylvania are bracing for escalating climate change disruptions that could further strain their bottom lines.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Record heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/30/pittsburgh-breaks-heat-record-2024" data-vars-content-id="2b4dfdb3-36cb-462e-ab7d-3b25f32dd1d6" data-vars-headline="Climate pressures hit Pittsburgh farms and tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/30/pittsburgh-breaks-heat-record-2024" target="_self">Record heat</a>, sharp temperature swings, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="extreme weather" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/30/severe-storms-kill-3-cut-power-pennsylvania" data-vars-content-id="2b4dfdb3-36cb-462e-ab7d-3b25f32dd1d6" data-vars-headline="Climate pressures hit Pittsburgh farms and tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/30/severe-storms-kill-3-cut-power-pennsylvania" target="_self">extreme weather</a> hit small agricultural producers and businesses hard, as many operate on razor-thin margins.

Pittsburgh homebuyers score big discounts

Nearly 62% of homes sold under asking, with average discounts outpacing the national rate.

Real Estate

It&#x27;s a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="good time to buy a home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/02/02/pittsburgh-homebuyers-down-payment-time" data-vars-content-id="6dae687f-dafc-4761-8fe6-b72556aa7095" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh homebuyers score big discounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/02/02/pittsburgh-homebuyers-down-payment-time" target="_self">good time to buy a home</a> in Pittsburgh.Why it matters: Though high mortgage rates are still <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sidelining many buyers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="6dae687f-dafc-4761-8fe6-b72556aa7095" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh homebuyers score big discounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">sidelining many buyers</a>, Pittsburgh home sales have one of the biggest discounts in the nation, according to a new Redfin <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/homebuyer-discounts-below-list-price-2025/" data-vars-content-id="6dae687f-dafc-4761-8fe6-b72556aa7095" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh homebuyers score big discounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/homebuyer-discounts-below-list-price-2025/" target="_blank">report</a>.

Pa.'s first passive house debuts in Wilkinsburg

The 700-square-foot home meets rigorous energy standards and runs on all-electric utilities.

News

A home in Wilkinsburg practically powers itself.Why it matters: Known as the Wilkinsburg Residence, it is the first single-family home in the state to earn a Passive House EnerPHit certification, and it debuted last month.

Legacy of Black Pittsburgh ambulances gets new look

Freedom House set the standard for modern EMS nationwide.

History

The Heinz History Center is digging deeper into the story of the country&#x27;s first ambulance service that went beyond first aid, created by Black men in Pittsburgh.Why it matters: The Freedom House Ambulance Service transformed emergency care in the U.S., but its history isn&#x27;t widely known.

Popular "The Paris of Appalachia" book returns

A popular book explores what makes Pittsburgh unlike anywhere else.

Culture

The debate about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pittsburgh&#x27;s regional identity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/28/pittsburgh-midwest-appalachia" data-vars-content-id="f3654c07-69bc-4ff6-a3e8-f8d6088137e7" data-vars-headline="Popular &quot;The Paris of Appalachia&quot; book returns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/28/pittsburgh-midwest-appalachia" target="_self">Pittsburgh&#x27;s regional identity</a> is ongoing, and the reissue of former Post-Gazette columnist Brian O&#x27;Neill&#x27;s popular book &quot;The Paris of Appalachia&quot; will add some points to Pittsburgh&#x27;s Appalachian bona fides.Why it matters: Let&#x27;s face it: We&#x27;re obsessed with ourselves. We might as well delve deeper into what makes us special.

Tracing George Washington's mark on Pittsburgh

From Fort Pitt to Washington's Landing, his legacy still shapes the region.

Our first president was not only integral in founding the nation, but he also played a role in Pittsburgh getting its name and its famous H.Why it matters: George Washington spent some important moments in the greater Pittsburgh region — including events that shaped his leadership skills, his political acumen and even his famous teeth — and Presidents Day is a perfect time for a history lesson.

New book explains how Pittsburgh moved "Beyond Steel"

An economist argues Pittsburgh's economy shifted long before steel collapsed.

Pittsburgh&#x27;s no longer a steel town — and hasn&#x27;t been for a long time, argues <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pitt economist Chris Briem" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/05/16/pittsburgh-population-growth-2024?utm_term=twsocialshare" data-vars-content-id="d22c1a22-a292-40f2-8d03-583ebd4a12be" data-vars-headline="New book explains how Pittsburgh moved &quot;Beyond Steel&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/05/16/pittsburgh-population-growth-2024?utm_term=twsocialshare" target="_self">Pitt economist Chris Briem</a> in his new book.The intrigue: &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Beyond Steel: Pittsburgh and the Economics of Transformation" data-vars-click-url="https://bookshop.org/p/books/beyond-steel-pittsburgh-and-the-economics-of-transformation-briem/2e3f08619c55a97d?ean=9781606355022&amp;next=t&amp;" data-vars-content-id="d22c1a22-a292-40f2-8d03-583ebd4a12be" data-vars-headline="New book explains how Pittsburgh moved &quot;Beyond Steel&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/beyond-steel-pittsburgh-and-the-economics-of-transformation-briem/2e3f08619c55a97d?ean=9781606355022&amp;next=t&amp;" target="_blank">Beyond Steel: Pittsburgh and the Economics of Transformation</a>&quot; was released this week aiming to bust some myths about the economic history of the Steel City.

What to do in Pittsburgh in February

Celebrate Black history, love and the arts across Pittsburgh this month.

Things to Do

After a quiet post-holiday stretch, events in Pittsburgh are back in full swing.Find ways to celebrate Black History Month and Valentine&#x27;s Day, and tap into the arts with these February things to do.

Kaufmann's crowned Pittsburgh's most-missed place

Kaufmann's beat The O and Civic Arena in a nostalgia bracket voted on by readers.

Nowhere holds a place in Pittsburgh hearts more than Kaufmann&#x27;s department store, according to Axios readers.Why it matters: We struggle sometimes to let go of the past — we all still give directions by landmarks that changed names — so turning that nostalgia into a contest felt appropriate.

Vote for Pittsburgh's most-missed spot

We're turned our collective love for the past into a contest.

It&#x27;s time to figure out which nostalgic Pittsburgh place we miss the most.The big picture: Change is hard here and we love to reminisce, so why not turn our love for the past into a contest?

The Johnstown Flood story lives on at these sites

These sites tell the human story behind a historic disaster near Pittsburgh.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Johnstown Flood National Memorial" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm" data-vars-content-id="cc0661d8-31f7-4aed-9b33-9ad38da36387" data-vars-headline="The Johnstown Flood story lives on at these sites" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm" target="_blank">Johnstown Flood National Memorial</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Johnstown Flood Museum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.heritagejohnstown.org/attractions/johnstown-flood-museum/" data-vars-content-id="cc0661d8-31f7-4aed-9b33-9ad38da36387" data-vars-headline="The Johnstown Flood story lives on at these sites" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.heritagejohnstown.org/attractions/johnstown-flood-museum/" target="_blank">Johnstown Flood Museum</a> offer an immersive look at one of the state&#x27;s most harrowing chapters just 90 minutes from Pittsburgh.Why it matters: Johnstown isn&#x27;t usually top-of-mind for a weekend trip, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cambria County" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cambriacountypa.gov/tourism/" data-vars-content-id="cc0661d8-31f7-4aed-9b33-9ad38da36387" data-vars-headline="The Johnstown Flood story lives on at these sites" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cambriacountypa.gov/tourism/" target="_blank">Cambria County</a> is loaded with history, recreation and space to slow down.

Rediscovering Kurt Vonnegut's early Pittsburgh ties

New records highlight a little-known part of Vonnegut's journey.

Before becoming one of America&#x27;s defining literary voices, Kurt Vonnegut was a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="young Army private" data-vars-click-url="https://live-cmu-news.pantheonsite.io/stories/archives/2025/october/kurt-vonneguts-little-known-carnegie-mellon-connection?auHash=1H6xAqr7bK0Yxojs0UPBJzM2MvCou72uYBWOY1Ml9B0" data-vars-content-id="d7dd89af-d46b-4bd1-8232-73a227bd3032" data-vars-headline="Rediscovering Kurt Vonnegut&#x27;s early Pittsburgh ties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://live-cmu-news.pantheonsite.io/stories/archives/2025/october/kurt-vonneguts-little-known-carnegie-mellon-connection?auHash=1H6xAqr7bK0Yxojs0UPBJzM2MvCou72uYBWOY1Ml9B0" target="_blank">young Army private</a> studying in Pittsburgh — a formative period that shaped his later masterpieces.Why it matters: Freshly unearthed archives from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Carnegie Mellon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2025/october/kurt-vonneguts-little-known-carnegie-mellon-connection?utm_campaign=2025-11-06+Piper&amp;utm_source=head&amp;utm_medium=all&amp;utm_content=cmuhistory_hss_0&amp;utm_term=0_0&amp;utm_id=Kurt+Vonnegut%E2%80%99s+Little-Known+Carnegie+Mellon+Connection" data-vars-content-id="d7dd89af-d46b-4bd1-8232-73a227bd3032" data-vars-headline="Rediscovering Kurt Vonnegut&#x27;s early Pittsburgh ties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2025/october/kurt-vonneguts-little-known-carnegie-mellon-connection?utm_campaign=2025-11-06+Piper&amp;utm_source=head&amp;utm_medium=all&amp;utm_content=cmuhistory_hss_0&amp;utm_term=0_0&amp;utm_id=Kurt+Vonnegut%E2%80%99s+Little-Known+Carnegie+Mellon+Connection" target="_blank">Carnegie Mellon</a>, then the Carnegie Institute of Technology, reveal how the campus became a World War II training hub.

Tree of Life museum campus designs revealed

Plans include a sanctuary, museum and classrooms honoring victims and fighting antisemitism.

Final designs were recently unveiled for the Tree of Life&#x27;s museum and campus dedicated to ending antisemitism and honoring a local tragedy.Why it matters: The campus of the Squirrel Hill synagogue experienced the deadliest antisemitic<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" attack in U.S. history" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/16/pittsburgh-tree-of-life-synagogue-shooting-gunman-guilty" data-vars-content-id="d9853d49-d4f0-4c84-92b9-a36435f477ae" data-vars-headline="Tree of Life museum campus designs revealed" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/16/pittsburgh-tree-of-life-synagogue-shooting-gunman-guilty" target="_self"> attack in U.S. history</a> nearly seven years ago when 11 congregants were killed in a mass shooting.