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Shapiro: Mail voting unchanged for 2026 after SCOTUS ruling

Pennsylvania voters can still cast mail ballots as usual this November.

News

A U.S. Supreme Court <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruling favoring President Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/supreme-court-mail-in-ballot-rules" data-vars-content-id="951a2366-0689-4996-9d1d-fd450e14c7d9" data-vars-headline="Shapiro: Mail voting unchanged for 2026 after SCOTUS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/supreme-court-mail-in-ballot-rules" target="_self">ruling favoring President Trump&#x27;s</a> push to restrict mail-in voting won&#x27;t impact the upcoming midterm elections, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday. Why it matters: On Monday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="SCOTUS cleared" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/trump-usps-federal-power-state-elections-mail-voting" data-vars-content-id="951a2366-0689-4996-9d1d-fd450e14c7d9" data-vars-headline="Shapiro: Mail voting unchanged for 2026 after SCOTUS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/trump-usps-federal-power-state-elections-mail-voting" target="_self">SCOTUS cleared</a> one roadblock for Trump&#x27;s push to restrict mail-in ballots via the U.S. Postal Service, sowing uncertainty about how states will carry out their elections.

Cars, gadgets and odd finds at Pittsburgh airport's auction

A curious collection of things left behind at Pittsburgh International Airport is on the auction block.

A curious collection of things left behind at Pittsburgh International Airport is on the auction block, from jewelry and electronics to abandoned cars.The big picture: Each year, thousands of unclaimed lost-and-found items are auctioned off alongside retired airport vehicles and surplus equipment.

Shapiro, RFK Jr. clash over measles deaths

A dispute over two measles-associated deaths has fueled a broader fight over vaccine messaging.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are squaring off over vaccines.Why it matters: The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed two measles-associated deaths — including one infant — in Lancaster County earlier this week.

Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh

The fall attraction benefits Parton's Imagination Library.

Culture

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce_UTbOwP5/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce_UTbOwP5/?hl=en" target="_blank">Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze</a> an hour from Pittsburgh opens Friday, celebrating the country music legend and 31 years of her<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Imagination Library" data-vars-click-url="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" target="_blank"> Imagination Library</a>.The big picture: Irons Mill Farmstead in New Wilmington, near the Lawrence-Mercer County line, joins a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547704596579471" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547704596579471" target="_blank">national</a> corn maze initiative celebrating Parton&#x27;s literacy program.

More Amtrak service from Pittsburgh starts in November

More daily rail service arrives in mid-November, with tickets expected to go on sale in October.

Pittsburgh <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="train riders will have more options " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/04/amtrak-second-pittsburgh-nyc-train" data-vars-content-id="1dfc00a8-c30d-41f8-a074-14aff896321a" data-vars-headline="More Amtrak service from Pittsburgh starts in November" 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">train riders will have more options </a>heading to Harrisburg and points beyond starting mid-November, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Monday. Why it matters: The Pennsylvanian Amtrak route is getting one additional daily round-trip service, the first time Pittsburgh has seen increased passenger rail service in decades.

Stop dreaming about high-speed rail

High-speed rail sounds great, but the numbers don't work in Pennsylvania.

👋 Ryan here. I have to burst your bubble: Pittsburgh isn’t getting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high-speed rail" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/02/06/high-speed-rail-pittsburgh-possible" data-vars-content-id="fbdca05c-9dc7-42ce-b22b-9ab4960448e2" data-vars-headline="Stop dreaming about high-speed rail" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/02/06/high-speed-rail-pittsburgh-possible" target="_self">high-speed rail</a> in our lifetime.The big picture: We got <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a lot of comments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbnv4RSlVZf/" data-vars-content-id="fbdca05c-9dc7-42ce-b22b-9ab4960448e2" data-vars-headline="Stop dreaming about high-speed rail" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbnv4RSlVZf/" target="_blank">a lot of comments</a> on our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="story about Pittsburgh getting more Amtrak service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/04/amtrak-second-pittsburgh-nyc-train" data-vars-content-id="fbdca05c-9dc7-42ce-b22b-9ab4960448e2" data-vars-headline="Stop dreaming about high-speed rail" 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">story about Pittsburgh getting more Amtrak service</a>, and many were focused on how the route is too slow, saying it should be high-speed rail instead.

Pittsburgh's red-light cameras go live

Drivers will receive warnings for 60 days before $100 tickets begin.

Pittsburgh has installed its first automated red-light cameras at two city intersections.Why it matters: Pittsburgh has seen hundreds of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="crashes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/10/17/pittsburgh-traffic-deaths-vision-zero" data-vars-content-id="f38e2dad-8847-43b3-a019-a372c94c6158" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh&#x27;s red-light cameras go live" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/10/17/pittsburgh-traffic-deaths-vision-zero" target="_self">crashes</a> linked to drivers running red lights over the years, killing several people, and automated cameras in other cities like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Philadelphia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/09/12/broad-street-speed-cameras-tickets-philly" data-vars-content-id="f38e2dad-8847-43b3-a019-a372c94c6158" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh&#x27;s red-light cameras go live" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/09/12/broad-street-speed-cameras-tickets-philly" target="_self">Philadelphia</a> have proven to save lives.

Amtrak to add second Pittsburgh-NYC train

A second Pennsylvanian trip aims to improve travel and reliability.

Pittsburgh is getting more passenger <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="train service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/02/06/high-speed-rail-pittsburgh-possible" data-vars-content-id="ce16ce0d-8341-4e80-b4d9-e6c5f6517749" data-vars-headline="Amtrak to add second Pittsburgh-NYC train" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/02/06/high-speed-rail-pittsburgh-possible" target="_self">train service</a> to New York City and points in between, Amtrak officials confirmed in a board meeting last week.Why it matters: Amtrak saw a record 34.5 million riders last year and wants to capitalize on that growth.

Downtown city employees get free transit

Officials want more employers to offer discounted transit benefits.

Pittsburgh officials are building incentives into their strategy to get more people to take public transit Downtown.Why it matters: Downtown still <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hasn&#x27;t recovered all of its pre-pandemic crowds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/05/09/pittsburgh-small-business-downtown-revival" data-vars-content-id="4cff2794-f795-4ce0-9236-a002453f78d0" data-vars-headline="Downtown city employees get free transit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/05/09/pittsburgh-small-business-downtown-revival" target="_self">hasn&#x27;t recovered all of its pre-pandemic crowds</a>, especially weekday office workers.

Waymo tests new autonomous vans

The company is testing its latest vehicle as it prepares for robotaxis.

Autonomous vehicle giant Waymo is testing specialized vans in Pittsburgh, the company confirmed to Axios.The big picture: Waymo has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="testing manually in Pittsburgh" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/03/06/waymo-expands-robotaxi-push-in-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="b9ac429b-9a2a-48eb-9ff9-710d9524794d" data-vars-headline="Waymo tests new autonomous vans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/03/06/waymo-expands-robotaxi-push-in-pittsburgh" target="_self">testing manually in Pittsburgh</a> since late last year with the goal of launching fully autonomous robotaxis here.

Parkway East's Commercial Street Bridge reopens early

A fast bridge slide helped reopen one of Pittsburgh's busiest highways early.

The Parkway East&#x27;s new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commercial Street Bridge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/08/parkway-east-closes-bridge-project" data-vars-content-id="c0e38dac-1d2f-43e2-997b-f8c8fc2f6dc4" data-vars-headline="Parkway East&#x27;s Commercial Street Bridge reopens early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/08/parkway-east-closes-bridge-project" target="_self">Commercial Street Bridge</a> will reopen Monday evening — a week ahead of schedule, after 17 days of construction.Why it matters: A major highway project completed early?!

Parkway East bridge project could reopen early

Rain remains the biggest obstacle to an early reopening, PennDOT says.

<figure><img alt="A time lapse video of a highway bridge sliding into place over a ravine with green hills in the background." height="444" id="75c33f9e-6c23-4b35-951a-e2e85b5a3d59" src="https://images.axios.com/jYDzSDXWeXJ-7W1hGG77bdLIGNE=/2026/07/20/1784568810516.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Timelapse video of PennDOT live stream of Commercial Street Bridge sliding into place on Sunday. GIF: Courtesy of Reddit user mr_never_lift</figcaption></figure>The Parkway East could reopen as early as the middle of next week if everything goes to plan, PennDOT officials <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/parkway-east-penndot-early-opening-commercial-street-bridge-replacement/" data-vars-content-id="89706df3-a09c-48b8-897b-1a63663cee19" data-vars-headline="Parkway East bridge project could reopen early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/parkway-east-penndot-early-opening-commercial-street-bridge-replacement/" target="_blank">said</a> Monday.Why it matters: That would mean the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$95 million bridge replacement project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/08/parkway-east-closes-bridge-project" data-vars-content-id="89706df3-a09c-48b8-897b-1a63663cee19" data-vars-headline="Parkway East bridge project could reopen early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/08/parkway-east-closes-bridge-project" target="_self">$95 million bridge replacement project</a> that&#x27;s closed one of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pittsburgh&#x27;s busiest highways " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/05/22/drivers-slow-tunnels-traffic-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="89706df3-a09c-48b8-897b-1a63663cee19" data-vars-headline="Parkway East bridge project could reopen early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/05/22/drivers-slow-tunnels-traffic-pittsburgh" target="_self">Pittsburgh&#x27;s busiest highways </a>would reopen about a week ahead of schedule.

Browns Hill Road crowned worst sidewalk

Axios readers picked Browns Hill Road as the city's toughest stretch to walk.

Browns Hill Road was voted the worst sidewalk in Pittsburgh due to its narrow pavement, steep hill and forced interaction with traffic, Axios readers say.Why it matters: Pedestrian advocates and city officials are tracking sidewalk conditions to make streets safer and are recruiting more volunteers to gather data on sidewalks at places like Browns Hill Road.

Commercial Street Bridge demolished in controlled blast

A controlled blast cleared the way for the Parkway East bridge replacement.

<figure><img alt="A highway bridge exploding and releasing a cloud of dust on an empty highway with green hills in the background." height="444" id="f4737289-a867-4910-9760-8111bc4cdd43" src="https://images.axios.com/lT2HyIg8yvC9xoYNTVSpPAJzDPs=/2026/07/16/1784214262597.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>The Commercial Street Bridge exploded around 8am on Thursday morning. GIF: Courtesy of PennDOT</figcaption></figure>The old Commercial Street Bridge came tumbling down Thursday morning. 🌉 Why it matters: The aging bridge along the Parkway East is being <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="replaced as part of an upgrade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/08/parkway-east-closes-bridge-project" data-vars-content-id="a8820c44-2823-419c-ace0-069dfe23f0f6" data-vars-headline="Commercial Street Bridge demolished in controlled blast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/08/parkway-east-closes-bridge-project" target="_self">replaced as part of an upgrade</a> to one of Pittsburgh&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most congested highways" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/05/22/drivers-slow-tunnels-traffic-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="a8820c44-2823-419c-ace0-069dfe23f0f6" data-vars-headline="Commercial Street Bridge demolished in controlled blast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/05/22/drivers-slow-tunnels-traffic-pittsburgh" target="_self">most congested highways</a>. 💥 Zoom in: PennDOT demolished the Commercial Street Bridge in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="controlled blast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Da2uqgiJzrf/" data-vars-content-id="a8820c44-2823-419c-ace0-069dfe23f0f6" data-vars-headline="Commercial Street Bridge demolished in controlled blast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Da2uqgiJzrf/" target="_blank">controlled blast</a> just after 8am Thursday, a day after it was postponed.<ul><li>PennDOT previously cleared the area, and provided a short warning Thursday morning, and the bridge was demolished in a controlled explosion with little fanfare.</li></ul>🚧 Zoom out: The demolition is a big milestone in the $95 million project. Crews will now clear the debris and slide the new bridge into place. 👉 What&#x27;s next: The Parkway East has been closed since July 10 and is expected to reopen Aug. 3.

Transit 🚗

More Amtrak service from Pittsburgh starts in November

Stop dreaming about high-speed rail

Pittsburgh's red-light cameras go live

Amtrak to add second Pittsburgh-NYC train

Downtown city employees get free transit