City Cast Pittsburgh
CMU Miami, Bleak Budgets & Duquesne Light’s Strike
Carnegie Mellon University is opening a new campus in Miami, thanks to a $3 billion gift from hedge fund manager Ken Griffin. It's the largest single donation ever made to a U.S. university. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and contributor and City Paper Managing Editor Colin Williams discuss the school's Florida expansion (spring breaaaaaaak forever), Griffin’s status as a GOP megadonor, and why so many colleges are opening branch campuses in the Sunshine State. Plus, Mayor Corey O’Connor just released his proposed city budget — long story short, our finances are still looking pretty bleak — paid parental leave is one step closer to reality in Allegheny County, and a long-lost candy bar gets resurrected just in time for Halloween. And in our members-only bonus segment, we take you on a tour of former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s truly massive virtual city in Minecraft. Notes and references from today’s show: Carnegie Mellon University Announces Historic $3 Billion Gift from Ken Griffin, Pioneering a New Model for Higher Education [CMU] Carnegie Mellon to open Miami campus after multibillion-dollar gift from hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin [Post-Gazette] Hedge Fund Executive Gives $3 Billion to Carnegie Mellon in Largest-Ever Gift [New York Times] Billionaire investor Ken Griffin calls on Harvard to embrace ‘Western values’ [Reuters] Pittsburgh's Point Park University exploring potential partnership and location in Florida [KDKA] Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor proposes 2027 budget that raids reserves but avoids tax increase and layoffs [TribLive] Rec center roulette: Critical Pittsburgh facilities suffer from uneven funding [TribLive] Allegheny County’s paid parental leave approved by health board, moves to council [WESA] Long-forgotten Clark candy bar variation returns [TribLive] PODCAST: PA Candy Trivia! How Pennsylvania is Your Halloween Haul? [City Cast Pittsburgh] Duquesne Light Company and union fail to reach agreement, strike begins [WTAE] Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members-only events, and more. Join the City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbors program! Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893 or email pittsburgh@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! You can get more Pittsburgh news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Pittsburgh morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Pittsburgh? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, October 1st episode: The Frick Pittsburgh P3R Pittsburgh Opera Visit Athens Ohio
