Nearly 95% of Pittsburgh's arts and cultural institutions say they expect to be hit by federal funding cuts, per a new PA Humanities CultureCheck report.

Why it matters: As federal support dries up, museums, theaters and libraries risk losing hard-won ground post-pandemic.

The big picture: Pittsburgh is home to a relatively high concentration of nonprofits.

• The Trump administration has frozen or revoked hundreds of thousands of dollars in arts and humanities grant funding from Pittsburgh nonprofits as the administration shifts spending priorities to defense, border security, immigration enforcement and more.

By the numbers: Nearly 60% of the 65 organizations surveyed earlier this year said they would be forced to delay or cancel programming if their federal funding were cut or changed as proposed under President Trump, per the report.

• 69% said they were concerned specifically about cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Threat level: Allegheny County's nonprofit arts and cultural sectors generated $1.3 billion in economic activity in 2022, per an Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 report.

Between the lines: The nonprofits deliver more than entertainment and education — 43% of organizations said they offered some type of mental-health-related programming, and 50% said they focus on economic development.

What they're saying: "At a time when the federal government is targeting our most vulnerable communities, protecting the arts is more urgent than ever," said Patrick Fisher, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.

The other side: The Trump administration has said the funding cuts are part of a broader effort to reduce what it considers wasteful government spending.

Zoom out: Pennsylvania has received more than $123 million in federal arts funding since 2020, Axios Philadelphia's Isaac Avilucea reports.

• Those are critical dollars since the state's per-capita spending (91 cents) is significantly less than neighboring states like New Jersey ($4.45), New York ($4.45) and Maryland ($5.63).
• More than 90% of Pennsylvania's arts and culture organizations that took the survey said they will be affected by the cuts.

What's next

What once was a quirky giveaway has exploded into one of the hottest trends in sports memorabilia: bobbleheads that are more coveted than the games themselves.

• People in Pittsburgh and across the country are lining up hours early to snag a collectible they can flip for hundreds on the resale market.

Why it matters: In a marketplace that's seen everything from stocks to cryptocurrencies to hideous dolls surge in price, a simple kids' collectible has emerged as a surprisingly valuable asset.

By the numbers: Resale website StockX told Axios the coveted Pittsburgh Pirates "Mac Miller" bobblehead — which drew lines well beyond PNC Park and across the Clemente Bridge — had multiple sales on the platform around $300 this week.

• Shortly after last week's game, the bobbleheads were listed for as much as $2,000 on eBay, WXPI reports, frustrating fans who waited in line for hours.

Zoom in: Not all bobbleheads are created equal. Popularity, edition size, and stadium quantity all influence resale prices.

• In April, a Pirates Paul Skenes bobblehead created another frenzy where fans lined up across the bridge to snag just one of 20,000. The team ended up giving all fans one.

What they're saying: "We're seeing bobbleheads sell for hundreds — even thousands — of dollars" on the resale market, Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, tells Axios.

• Resellers often grab multiples to flip them same-day.

State of play: It isn't just about sports. The Pope, Elon Musk and others have become fast-selling bobbleheads.

The bottom line: It's a big moment for toys that nod and wobble.

📵 A bipartisan group of legislators plan to introduce a bill to ban smartphone use in Pennsylvania schools, citing a decrease in academic achievement and increase in mental health issues among youths. (WPXI)

💰More than 43,000 city residents had $58 million in medical debt erased after Councilman Bobby Wilson sponsored a bill directing federal COVID-19 relief funds to a company that purchased and forgave eligible hospital debt. (TribLive)

⚡ The rapid expansion of data centers has driven up electricity demand and costs nationwide — contributing to a 3.5% rise in electricity prices in Pennsylvania last year. (Washington Post)

🍃 Air quality in parts of the Mon Valley is improving, the EPA announced this week, noting the reduction in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, and other volatile organic compounds. (WPXI)

✈️ Pennsylvania Republicans are backing legislation to ban so-called "weather modification," alluding to the "chemtrails" theory that planes are spreading chemical agents on an unsuspecting public.

• Experts have criticized these efforts for spreading false claims that scientists or governments are controlling weather patterns. (NBC News)

Beat the heat with the city's coolest (and coldest) fountain.

The intrigue: The water feature underneath the David L. Lawrence Convention Center runs during the warm months, providing a stroll surrounded by waterfalls and soothing lights.

• It functions essentially as an outdoor air conditioner by creating a natural wind tunnel with the air cooled by the falling water.

Pro tip: Take a break from the sweltering heat on your way to a kayak launch at the end of this path.

If you go: Enter at the corner of 10th Street and Penn Avenue in Downtown.