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More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18

The new service gives Pittsburgh two daily trains to Harrisburg, Philadelphia and NYC.

News

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="second daily train" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/04/amtrak-second-pittsburgh-nyc-train" data-vars-content-id="ad28d0ba-977c-4bef-8055-328865e5ecd7" data-vars-headline="More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/04/amtrak-second-pittsburgh-nyc-train" target="_self">second daily train</a> between Pittsburgh and New York City via Harrisburg and Philadelphia will start Nov. 18, PennDOT announced Tuesday. Why it matters: This is the first time in decades that Pittsburgh is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adding passenger train service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/24/second-daily-amtrak-pennsylvanian-november-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="ad28d0ba-977c-4bef-8055-328865e5ecd7" data-vars-headline="More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/24/second-daily-amtrak-pennsylvanian-november-pittsburgh" target="_self">adding passenger train service</a>.

New exhibit brings Fred Rogers' lessons to life

A new Children's Museum exhibit turns kindness, bravery and patience into play.

Culture

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Children&#x27;s Museum of Pittsburgh" data-vars-click-url="https://pittsburghkids.org/" data-vars-content-id="74c573cc-5780-4d81-bc75-9c76a725fc2e" data-vars-headline="New exhibit brings Fred Rogers&#x27; lessons to life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pittsburghkids.org/" target="_blank">Children&#x27;s Museum of Pittsburgh</a> is debuting a new Fred Rogers-inspired exhibit that will tour the country.Why it matters: Rogers&#x27; ideas about childhood still influence the museum&#x27;s exhibits, including his belief that play should honor children as whole people and speak to the child in all of us.

Pens debut a monster Pittsburgh sandwich, and more

Pierogies, mozzarella sticks and waffle fries all land on one massive sandwich.

Food and Drink

Pittsburgh&#x27;s favorite foods have been stuffed into one ridiculously massive sandwich — and you can eat it at a Penguins game.The intrigue: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Pens season is upon us" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/30/penguins-season-preview" data-vars-content-id="03cf818c-13cc-4266-8278-8010480b7f4a" data-vars-headline="Pens debut a monster Pittsburgh sandwich, and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/30/penguins-season-preview" target="_self">new Pens season is upon us</a>, and that means new treats at PPG Paints Arena.

Nearly 1,000 Duquesne Light workers go on strike

The utility says service will continue, while the union warns outages could last longer.

Nearly 1,000 Duquesne Light workers who repair power lines, troubleshoot outages and assist customers are on strike after their union and the utility failed to reach a new contract Thursday morning.Why it matters: Duquesne Light says service will continue uninterrupted with non-union employees and outside contractors, while leaders with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 29 say the strike could slow power restoration during severe weather.<ul><li>The utility serves more than half a million customers across Allegheny and Beaver counties.</li></ul>

Fall colors creep closer to Pittsburgh

Here's when to expect peak fall colors and where to see the brightest leaves.

Leaf-peepers, get ready: Fall colors are creeping into Pittsburgh. The intrigue: Some recent cold nights have spurred foliage to peak in the coldest parts of the state, and vibrant fall colors are getting closer to the Pittsburgh area, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/2026-fall-foliage-oct-8#table" data-vars-content-id="2cb6b88f-f8a5-4f39-93c6-6c6c7356f399" data-vars-headline="Fall colors creep closer to Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/2026-fall-foliage-oct-8#table" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources</a>.

Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate

The hourlong showdown comes less than a month before Election Day.

Democratic Gov. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Josh Shapiro" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/josh-shapiro-ai-data-centers-pivot" data-vars-content-id="9b41fd5d-12a3-4dee-aca2-ef307b5557bb" data-vars-headline="Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/josh-shapiro-ai-data-centers-pivot" target="_self">Josh Shapiro</a> and Republican state Treasurer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stacy Garrity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/02/pennsylvania-treasurer-stacy-garrity-future" data-vars-content-id="9b41fd5d-12a3-4dee-aca2-ef307b5557bb" data-vars-headline="Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/02/pennsylvania-treasurer-stacy-garrity-future" target="_self">Stacy Garrity</a> traded barbs over data centers, taxes, skill games, and gas prices in an hourlong debate, setting the stage for November&#x27;s gubernatorial election.The big picture: Wednesday night&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="debate filmed at ABC27 studio in Harrisburg" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/@WHTM-abc27News/videos" data-vars-content-id="9b41fd5d-12a3-4dee-aca2-ef307b5557bb" data-vars-headline="Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@WHTM-abc27News/videos" target="_blank">debate filmed at ABC27 studio in Harrisburg</a> is likely to be the only debate in this year&#x27;s Pennsylvania governor contest.

Where to vote early in the midterm elections

Learn about the county's early voting locations, dates, times and rules

Voting has started in Allegheny County for the upcoming midterm elections.Why it matters: Pennsylvania has made it easier to cast your ballot before Election Day on Nov. 3 and Allegheny County has several options.

Sheetz wins over the Midwest

The Pennsylvania-born chain scored higher in the Midwest than it did nationally.

It&#x27;s debatable whether Southwestern Pennsylvania is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="part of the Midwest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/28/pittsburgh-midwest-appalachia" data-vars-content-id="c23ea9b5-8df2-43fe-8781-84f508c271a0" data-vars-headline="Sheetz wins over the Midwest" 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">part of the Midwest</a>, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="our popular convenience store chain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/04/sheetz-first-we-feast-show-youtube" data-vars-content-id="c23ea9b5-8df2-43fe-8781-84f508c271a0" data-vars-headline="Sheetz wins over the Midwest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/04/sheetz-first-we-feast-show-youtube" target="_self">our popular convenience store chain</a> is staking a claim there anyway.The big picture: The Sheetz empire has been expanding from its Altoona base, and customers in the Midwest are embracing it over its competitors, according to a new American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="survey" data-vars-click-url="https://theacsi.com/news-and-resources/press-releases/2026/10/06/press-release-convenience-store-study-2026/" data-vars-content-id="c23ea9b5-8df2-43fe-8781-84f508c271a0" data-vars-headline="Sheetz wins over the Midwest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://theacsi.com/news-and-resources/press-releases/2026/10/06/press-release-convenience-store-study-2026/" target="_blank">survey</a>.

Summer Lee wants a data center pause

The congresswoman says communities need safeguards as AI infrastructure expands.

<blockquote>&quot;Leading on AI doesn&#x27;t mean building more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/25/data-centers-local-opposition-western-pennsylvania" data-vars-content-id="e2508a50-9f2d-45f1-8ea2-6cadc83b8b92" data-vars-headline="Summer Lee wants a data center pause" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/25/data-centers-local-opposition-western-pennsylvania" target="_self">data centers</a> at any cost or racing toward superintelligence without considering the consequences. It means making sure that AI actually improves life for all of us, not just the CEOs or oligarchs.&quot;</blockquote><cite>— <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rep. Summer Lee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/02/12/summer-lee-ice-detention-brentwood-asylum-seeker" data-vars-content-id="e2508a50-9f2d-45f1-8ea2-6cadc83b8b92" data-vars-headline="Summer Lee wants a data center pause" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/02/12/summer-lee-ice-detention-brentwood-asylum-seeker" target="_self">Rep. Summer Lee</a> (D-Swissvale) said last week during Carnegie Mellon University&#x27;s Community-Centered AI Infrastructure Summit</cite>

Problem gambling rises in Pennsylvania

Nearly 9,700 Pennsylvanians were on the state's self-exclusion list last year.

The number of Pennsylvanians seeking help for gambling problems has increased significantly over the last year, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new data" data-vars-click-url="https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/117300%20PGCB%20Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf" data-vars-content-id="f422115e-72a9-4ce6-bf02-8bb94fc16913" data-vars-headline="Problem gambling rises in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/117300%20PGCB%20Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">new data</a> from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.Why it matters: The state&#x27;s gambling addiction hotline<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" saw record-high calls last year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/12/17/pennsylvania-problem-gambling-hotline-calls-soar-in-2025" data-vars-content-id="f422115e-72a9-4ce6-bf02-8bb94fc16913" data-vars-headline="Problem gambling rises in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/12/17/pennsylvania-problem-gambling-hotline-calls-soar-in-2025" target="_self"> saw record-high calls last year</a>, and problem gambling is continuing to increase as online betting, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="skill games" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/09/22/skill-games-pennsylvania-gambling-deadline-ban" data-vars-content-id="f422115e-72a9-4ce6-bf02-8bb94fc16913" data-vars-headline="Problem gambling rises in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/09/22/skill-games-pennsylvania-gambling-deadline-ban" target="_self">skill games</a> and sports betting proliferate.

Creator regrets (some of) "Star Wars" machine stunt

The creator says he should have been clearer that the viral heist was all in jest.

Content creator Braeden Days tells Axios he regrets how he communicated his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="influencer stunt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/01/star-wars-vending-machine-stunt-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="e3809788-b68a-4bc5-98fe-93ec2be9eec5" data-vars-headline="Creator regrets (some of) &quot;Star Wars&quot; machine stunt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/01/star-wars-vending-machine-stunt-pittsburgh" target="_self">influencer stunt</a> with Pittsburgh&#x27;s beloved &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine.The big picture: In August, Days swapped out Mt. Washington&#x27;s 1999 &quot;Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace&quot; Pepsi machine with an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="artistic rendition" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/star-wars-vending-machine-replaced-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="e3809788-b68a-4bc5-98fe-93ec2be9eec5" data-vars-headline="Creator regrets (some of) &quot;Star Wars&quot; machine stunt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/star-wars-vending-machine-replaced-pittsburgh" target="_self">artistic rendition</a>.

CMU gets $3 billion, expanding to Miami

The gift will also invest $1 billion directly in expanding Pittsburgh's CMU campus.

Carnegie Mellon University is getting a $3 billion gift from billionaire Ken Griffin, billed as the largest individual donation in higher education history.Why it matters: The donation will pour $1 billion into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CMU&#x27;s Pittsburgh campus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/12/bny-10m-ai-lab-carnegie-mellon" data-vars-content-id="6d4df6ab-9072-4611-be07-c00902c580db" data-vars-headline="CMU gets $3 billion, expanding to Miami" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/12/bny-10m-ai-lab-carnegie-mellon" target="_self">CMU&#x27;s Pittsburgh campus</a> while financing an ambitious expansion into Miami.

News 🗞

Fall colors creep closer to Pittsburgh

Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate

Where to vote early in the midterm elections

Sheetz wins over the Midwest

More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18