The Allegheny County Health Department wants to require employers in the county to provide 18 weeks of paid leave to new parents and legal guardians.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania does not have any parental leave laws, and Allegheny County would be the first county in the state to enact one.

Driving the news: The health department proposed the parental leave rule yesterday to the county's Board of Health as an amendment to its paid sick leave policy.

• Health director Iulia Vann said in a statement the rule is necessary to improve public health outcomes and address the region's poor maternal health record.

Zoom in: The rule would require paid parental leave to full- and part-time employees who have at least 30 days on the job, per the amendment.

• Leave must be taken within 12 months of birth, adoption or start of foster care.
• It could be taken intermittently or continuously and would be paid at one's full weekly pay rate.

Zoom out: Fourteen states and Washington, D.C. require employers to provide some form of paid parental leave.

By the numbers: About 42% of county parents are currently offered paid parental leave through their employers, per preliminary data of a survey conducted by the county.

• Another 29% said they did not have a job, 25% took unpaid leave from their job and just under 4% took no leave.

Between the lines: Vann said research shows paid parental leave improves maternal recovery and postpartum mental health.

Flashback: Allegheny County passed a paid sick leave ordinance in 2021 modeled after a Pittsburgh ordinance passed in 2015.

• The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association sued following the city ordinance, claiming it overstepped municipal authority and would hurt businesses.
• In 2019, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the rule.

What's next: The rule must pass the board, complete a 30-day public comment period, pass the board again, and be approved by Allegheny County Council and County Executive Sara Innamorato.

What they're saying

Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, introduced a bill late last month to cut costs and speed up production of energy projects across the nation.

Why it matters: Electricity and gas utility prices are rising, and some blame the tepid buildout of power plants.

The big picture: The Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act seeks to release $1 trillion in infrastructure projects tied up in federal permitting, per McCormick.

Zoom in: The bill would set a one-year deadline on state review of Clean Water Act requirements for energy projects. It would also:

• Speed up approvals and limit veto points for liquid natural gas export projects.
• Extend licensing agreements for nuclear plants from 40 to 60 years.

Between the lines: McCormick said energy companies want to invest, and cost isn't the main issue; it's how long it takes to get projects approved and completed.

The other side

🇫🇷 The Steelers will play the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Oct. 25, marking the league's debut in France and the Steelers' growing international presence. (Steelers.com)

🗳️ Allegheny County Council is expected to vote on a motion to remove Pat Catena as council president at its May 26 meeting after his state House campaign sent mailers claiming his Democratic primary opponent is backed by an "extreme left group" that supports transgender athletes.

• Catena has apologized for the mailers. (Post-Gazette)

🧑‍🌾 Market Square's seasonal farmers market returns Downtown today from 10am-2pm and will run each Thursday through Sept. 29.

🚌 PennDOT is working with Pittsburgh Regional Transit on a Monroeville Mall park-and-ride plan for this summer's three-week Parkway East closure during the Commercial Street Bridge replacement — modeled after the Football Flyers used during the NFL draft. (KDKA)

Friday

Browse 350 musical acts, plus 60 visual artists, comedians and more at the Millvale Music Festival through Saturday.

• 📍 Various locations
• ⏰ Hours vary
• 💰 Free!

Saturday

Watch local bakers compete with creative takes on a classic at the Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad Stand-Off.

• 📍 The Block Northway, 8013 McKnight Road, Ross Township
• ⏰ Noon
• 💰 $12.50

Shop vendors and meet local artists at Art on Braddock.

• 📍 Braddock Avenue, Frick Park and Regent Square
• ⏰ 10am-2pm
• 💰 Free!

Sample brews and bites at Pour at the Park, the Allegheny County Parks Foundation's annual fundraiser in South Park.

• 📍 South Park Museum Building, 1888 Brownsville Road
• ⏰ 6-9pm
• 💰 $50

Sunday

Watch elite bodybuilders at the Pittsburgh Power & Fitness Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

• 📍 David L. Lawrence Convention Center
• ⏰ 9am-5pm Saturday, 9am-4pm Sunday
• 💰 $30+

"The Pitt" stars Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa confirmed yesterday that Season 3 of the Pittsburgh-set medical drama will take place in early November, per Deadline.

Zoom in: "It's set ... just before the holidays, ushering in a whole new set of emergencies and confrontations and complications," Wyle said.

Flashback: Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill told TribLive in April that the crew will return to Pittsburgh to film this November. Season 3 is expected to premiere January 2027.

Context: Season 1 took place during a single ER shift as Dr. Robby and crew responded to a fictional "PittFest" shooting, and Season 2 spanned a Fourth of July shift.

The intrigue: What major Pittsburgh event will drive Season 3?

💭 Ryan's thought bubble: Light Up Night is usually late November, but it would be a perfect large event to focus on.

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