😀 Good Monday morning.

• Happy 43rd birthday to legendary Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Panthers kick off the season against Miami University of Ohio on Saturday at 12:30pm at Acrisure.

⛅️ Today's weather: Partly sunny, slight chance of showers, high near 87.

🎧 Sounds like: "Sold," by John Michael Montgomery.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Susan Zimecki and David Bergad!

Today's newsletter is 999 words, a 4-minute read.

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.

Zoom in: This year's lineup includes a folding e-bike, Casio G-Shock watch, replica Rolexes (we won't tell), luggage, strollers, toys and rings — if your love language is a good deal.

• Electronics up for grabs include phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, hordes of AirPods, Oura rings and portable chargers.
• There are roughly 20 abandoned vehicles, among them a 2008 Mercedes, two Toyotas and a 2005 Acura.

How it works: The auction is online-only and run by Joe R. Pyle Auctions.

• All items start at $1, with bidding closing starting at 6pm on Sept. 8. It uses a "soft close" format, meaning any bid in the final 30 seconds extends bidding until no new bids come in. This mimics an in-person auction and keeps bidders engaged, auctioneers say.
• Pickup is Sept. 10-11, primarily at the company's Washington County warehouse, with shipping available.

Context: PIT holds lost items for 30 days. If they aren't claimed during that window, they become property of the Allegheny County Airport Authority and can be donated or auctioned.

• Auction proceeds benefit the ACAA Charitable Foundation, which supports workforce development and education in aviation.

Between the lines: Deals are common, from discounted tech to cars selling around wholesale value. Jalopies can go for under $1,000, and collectibles can fetch tens of thousands.

• Cars come with clean titles, but many have sat for up to two years and won't start, so expect to tow them.
• Bidders must be at least 18, and purchases carry a 15% buyer's premium.

What's next: Register to bid and browse the full catalog here.

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Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Aspinwall) was endorsed by the national progressive group Working Families Party, Axios learned today.

Why it matters: Deluzio is expanding his political base ahead of his election against Republican Tony Guy, which could carry him beyond the U.S. House and on to higher ambitions.

The latest: Working Families Party (WFP) is backing Deluzio for his advocacy for a congressional stock trading ban, support for Medicare for All, and his opposition to the Iran war, WFP Western Pennsylvania political director Ashley Comans tells Axios.

• "He knows that we need to end the corporate control of our government, get money out of our politics, and deliver for working families across Western Pennsylvania."

What he's saying: Deluzio said in a statement that "for too long, bootlicker politicians have carried water for the corrupt and powerful, ripping away the American Dream from so many hardworking people."

• Deluzio, a two-term congressman and a Navy veteran, has been upping his populist messaging, taking aim at "corporate jagoffs" who he says are hurting everyday Americans.

State of play: He represents Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District, which includes Beaver County and Allegheny County's northern, eastern, and western suburbs. The Cook Political Report shifted the race from Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic in January.

Go deeper

🎈 Allegheny County has banned balloons in the nine county-owned parks to help reduce litter and protect wildlife. County parks officials said too much balloon litter was necessitating substantial cleanup by rangers and volunteers. (Instagram)

🏉 New Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla told reporters he was originally a Steelers fan when he came to America in the 1970s, and he still watches and roots for the team. (X)

• Once you bleed Black and Gold, you never go back.

⚡TECfusions' New Kensington data center, one of the region's earliest data center projects, is now live. The 1,395-acre site is expected to reach 3 gigawatts of capacity within six years. (Business Times)

A Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze an hour from Pittsburgh is now open, celebrating the country music legend and 31 years of her Imagination Library.

The big picture: Irons Mill Farmstead in New Wilmington, near the Lawrence-Mercer County line, joins a national corn maze initiative celebrating Parton's literacy program.

• It's another way to honor Parton, who died last week at 80.

Context: Parton, who grew up on a small Tennessee farm, recently shared her support for the corn maze initiative benefiting her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5.

• A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the program.

Zoom in: The maze is one of over 40 attractions at Irons Mill's fall festival this season, open select days through Nov. 1.

If you go: Irons Mill Farmstead, 252 Greenfield Road, New Wilmington.

• This weekend's hours are Friday 4pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, and Sunday 10am-7pm.
• Full season calendar here.
• Festival day passes are $16-$27. Tickets here.

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"China knows the AI race will shape the future. Now we're learning Chinese money may be funding groups working to stop the data centers America needs to compete and meet our growing demand for AI. We cannot let the CCP sabotage American AI dominance from inside our own borders."

Context: Pennsylvania's AI debate reached a fever pitch after Gov. Josh Shapiro established strict controls on data center development in the state, an about-face of his earlier positions.

💎 Chrissy is excited to visit the Dolly corn maze.

🏈 Ryan enjoyed this story actor Ed O'Neill told about how kind Pittsburgh was the day he got cut by the Steelers in 1969.

Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing this newsletter.