Jane Grey Swisshelm spent her life challenging the limits of 19th-century America, and much of that fight took shape in Pittsburgh.

Why it matters: Women's History Month often spotlights Pittsburgh trailblazers like Nellie Bly and Rachel Carson, but Swisshelm's impact on law, journalism and the abolitionist movement is mostly unsung.

The big picture: Born in Pittsburgh in 1815, Swisshelm founded several newspapers and leveraged them to oppose slavery and advocate for married women's property rights.

Zoom in: As a young woman, she married James Swisshelm and settled in Swissvale — a name she gave the area where his family owned a farmstead.

• The couple spent time in Kentucky, where she encountered slavery firsthand, an experience that cemented her as a staunch abolitionist.
• She published the influential anti-slavery and women's rights newspaper The Pittsburgh Saturday Visiter, and later launched a similar publication in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with the same mission.
• As a correspondent for the New York Tribune, she became the first woman admitted to the U.S. Senate press gallery. Some historians say this makes her the nation's first female political reporter.

Between the lines: She and James eventually divorced — a rare and stigmatized move.

• The law gave her husband control of the inheritance she received from her own family's property, so Swisshelm published letters calling for reform that contributed to Pennsylvania laws allowing married women to own and inherit property, says Leslie Przybylek, senior curator at the Heinz History Center.

What they're saying: "She was balancing this dichotomy between the things she wanted to do and what society is saying she should do," says Przybylek. "I don't think she ever quite finds the happy balance between those."

She published her autobiography in 1880 and died in Swissvale four years later.

The intrigue: Her national prominence gave the Swisshelm name its distinction, Przybylek says. Both the borough of Swissvale and Swisshelm Park are named after her.

• A historical marker honoring her life is at Braddock and Greendale Avenues in Edgewood. She's buried in Allegheny Cemetery's lot 10.

The Heinz History Center displays a self-portrait and holds copies of the Pittsburgh Saturday Visiter in its archives, available to the public by request.

Go deeper

We're returning to Pittsburgh normalcy: population decline.

Why it matters: Census estimates released yesterday show the eight-county Pittsburgh metro region is losing population again, continuing a well-trodden trend.

By the numbers: The metro population declined by 3,160 residents between July 2024 and 2025, about 0.1% of the population.

• The metro population is 2,421,992, down 1.4% from 2020, according to Census figures.

Zoom in: Most counties in the region lost population between 2024 and 2025, but three grew a little. All population changes were almost insignificant percentages.

• Allegheny led the decline (-2,139), followed by Westmoreland (-1,149), Fayette (-938), Lawrence (-176) and Armstrong (-57).
• Butler grew the most (+839), followed by Beaver (+263) and Washington (+167).

State of play: It appeared the metro's population was starting to inch up, but longer-term trends show the region is still stuck in a slow decline.

• Last year, estimates clocked the metro area actually gaining over 450 residents between 2023 and 2024, but those numbers were adjusted with these latest estimates, and about 3,000 were lost during that period.

Between the lines: Low births and a high number of deaths continue to weigh on the region.

• The metro saw nearly 7,800 more deaths than births between 2024-2025.

Stabilizing the population was a combination of international and domestic migration, though fewer immigrants moved to the region than is typical.

• The region netted 2,894 immigrants between 2024-2025, down 46% compared to 2023-2024.

The big picture

🎵 Nelly, 2 Chainz, and DJ Steve Aoki will perform at the newly unveiled Plaza at North Shore during the NFL Draft. Tickets are on sale now. (Axios)

🚫 Pittsburgh Public Schools is urging students to avoid a rumored "Downtown takeover" tonight, citing social media posts. The warning follows a fight involving about 40 juveniles in Market Square last weekend. (KDKA)

⚡ Westinghouse leaders joined suppliers on Capitol Hill yesterday to pitch lawmakers on a nationwide buildout of AP1000 nuclear reactors. (Press release)

Philly is a Guinness World Record holder for the longest cheesesteak.

By the numbers: It took 1,291 cheesesteaks to set the record during National Cheesesteak Day at Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday.

The bottom line: Philly's got nothin' on our wedding cookie table game.

"With Pennsylvania already lagging behind nearly every state in the nation for bringing new renewable energy online, the bureaucracy and red tape that's slowing down rooftop solar only adds another roadblock…"

Context: Pennsylvania earned an F in a new report grading how easy it is for homeowners to install rooftop solar panels.

Why it matters: U.S. electricity demand is rising fast, putting new strain on an aging grid that's increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather.

• Renewable energy advocates say rooftop solar paired with battery storage is part of the solution by easing pressure on the grid, keeping homes powered during outages.

How it works: The scorecard from PennEnvironment and Frontier Group evaluates statewide barriers.

• The authors urge policymakers to adopt instant permitting for solar projects, streamline virtual and third-party inspections and block HOAs from banning projects for aesthetic reasons.

By the numbers: The tab for those and other barriers is an estimated $6,000-$7,000 added to a typical installation, per the report.

The bottom line: Pa. earned high marks for allowing third-party solar financing that lowers steep upfront costs.