The Pittsburgh area's economy could lose out on billions of dollars if federal health research cuts proposed by the Trump administration go through, officials say.

Why it matters: Pittsburgh's economy is largely driven by health care, universities and tech — the so-called "Eds and Meds" — and medical research is a huge part of that equation, according to Stefani Pashman, CEO of pro-business coalition Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

Context: The National Institutes of Health announced last month it would cut $4 billion in grant funding it sends to universities and other research institutions. That move was temporarily blocked by a judge while litigation plays out.

• The NIH awarded $35 billion nationally in the 2023 fiscal year, and $2.2 billion of that was awarded to Pennsylvania.

Driving the news: U.S. representatives met Monday in Downtown with state and union officials to discuss how potential NIH cuts on medical research at the University of Pittsburgh and other institutions would hurt the economy.

By the numbers: Pashman told Axios that NIH funding provides $2.5 billion in economic impact for the area.

• If the cuts are finalized, $163 million in direct funding to Western Pennsylvania universities and institutions is at risk, said U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Aspinwall).
• NIH funds support 21,000 jobs across Pennsylvania, said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale).

What they're saying: "This is an industry that is the backbone of this region," said Lee. "It would be as big as making cuts to U.S. Steel in its heyday."

Zoom out: Pashman said medical research is a cornerstone of Pittsburgh's "Eds and Meds" economy.

• "It is our brand now," she said. "It really would stall our economy if it came through. It would take some significant wind out of the sails of the region."

The other side: The cut proposals are being led by Elon Musk's DOGE. Musk said in February that some universities were disproportionately using the federal funds on overhead costs instead of directly on research.

Zoom in

We're down to the final four in Western Pennsylvania's best fish fry competition.

🗳️ The results: Swissvale Volunteer Fire Department, Community Kitchen in Hazelwood, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Polish Hill and St. Nicholas in Monroeville made it to the third round.

How it works: Vote in our tournament-style bracket to crown the region's top fry on Friday.

• Voting ends at 1pm, and winners will move to the final round tomorrow.

Zoom out: Pittsburgh is home to about 275 fish fries. Use Code for Pittsburgh's 2025 map to find one closest to you. Some locations hold fries today and Friday, and then Fridays through April 11.

Vote here

👮‍♂️ Acting Pittsburgh Police Chief Christopher Ragland has withdrawn his name from consideration for the vacant police chief position and is leaving the force.

• The city has been without a permanent police chief since October 2024, when then-Chief Larry Scirotto retired to referee college basketball games. (KDKA)

🇺🇸 Marc Fogel, the Oakmont resident who was freed from a Russian prison last month, joined first lady Melania Trump during the president's speech to a joint session of Congress last night. (WTAE)

🪧 Anti-Trump protests continue for second straight day in Downtown. Dozens from the local branch of the national 50501 movement demonstrated in front of the federal courthouse yesterday. (TribLive)

We recently wrote about the Pennsylvania Turnpike starting the process to eliminate the infamous Breezewood detour, and readers didn't hold back on social media.

Context: Millions of motorists each year have to drive 3 miles out of the way on trips between Pittsburgh and Maryland, D.C. and points southeast because Interstate 70 lacks a direct connection to the turnpike in central Pennsylvania.

🗣️ What they're saying: Many lamented the loss of the inconvenient detour, which has become a rite of passage for many Western Pennsylvania drivers, while others rejoiced in the news.

• Dominic C. posted wryly on X: "If there's no Breezewood detour, then America as a country, as we know it, is finished."
• Matt D. complained on Blue Sky: "PA Turnpike Commission make a good decision challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)."
• Alex Y. celebrated on X: "The best thing that can come from this is never having to see that damn image of Breezewood ever again."

President Trump issued an executive order last month declaring English the official language of the United States.

Why it matters: More than 350 languages are spoken in the "melting pot" of the U.S., but this is the first time the federal government has declared the country to have a single official language.

• About 22% of people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home, according to the Census Bureau.

Zoom in: About 13% of Pennsylvanians speak a language other than English at home.

• Spanish (5.9%) is the most common non-English language spoken in the state, as of 2023.
• Pennsylvania has one of the highest percentages of German speakers (0.9%) of any state thanks to a large Amish population, who speak Pennsylvania Dutch, a dialect of German.

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