Richard Garland at the University of Pittsburgh’s public health building. (John Hamilton/The Pitt News)
Richard Garland: A few wrong turns
Today, Richard Garland is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a leading expert in violence prevention. Garland attributes some of his success to his own past as a young person just like those he works to protect in his work today.
In this profile, Garland reflects on his life as a gang member, prisoner and professor.
Mac Miller made it famous, but ‘Blue Slide Park’ has a long history
Some called the playground on Beechwood Boulevard “Crazy Park.” To others, the Squirrel Hill landmark was “blue slide Frick.” But to Mac Miller, it was “Blue Slide Park,” and after he released his debut album under that name in 2011, it’s hard to imagine the playground being called anything else.
I explored the history of the beloved playground, talking to experts, looking through archival photos and hearing from Miller’s fans about how the park influenced the late Pittsburgh rapper’s music.
Blake DeJulio, 5, of Hazelwood, tests the blue slide, Thursday, July 25, 2013. (John Heller/Post-Gazette)
Conor Lamb shakes hands with supporters after declaring victory, Wednesday, March 14, confident in his lead even as a few thousand absentee ballots remained uncounted. (John Hamilton/The Pitt News)
Lamb declares victory, election still too close to call
(Click here for a preview and live thread from the day of the election.)
With national attention on a special election in Pennsylvania’s 18th District, election workers couldn’t count ballots fast enough to declare a winner on election night.
It wasn’t until about 12:45 a.m. that Democrat Conor Lamb emerged at his election party. Though no news outlets had called the race, Lamb launched into a victory speech, holding a .2 percent lead in a district President Donald Trump won by 20 points in 2016.
Luckily, we had a 1 a.m. deadline at The Pitt News, so I was able to snap a few photos of the congressman-elect and transcribe some quotes, capping off one of the busiest nights of reporting I’ve had to date.
Column: Bourdain challenges Pittsburgh narratives in flawed ‘Parts Unknown’ episode
When Anthony Bourdain goes to any city, locals are bound to complain that he missed one of the best restaurants or didn’t talk to an important person.
But when Bourdain’s Pittsburgh episode of “Parts Unknown” aired on CNN Sunday night, many Pittsburghers were furious, claiming the show didn’t show the “real” Pittsburgh. Bourdain focused more on gentrification and the Hill District than putting fries on sandwiches and self-driving cars — and that’s a good thing. But many people on Twitter had a different reaction.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Marchers reflect on the year since Trump’s election
Thousands of Pittsburghers congregated at the City-Council Building Downtown Sunday, carrying signs supporting women’s rights, wearing “pussy hats” and gathering support for local candidates.
Held one year after the first march, the 2018 Women’s March pushed concrete changes through activism with the organizers adding a theme to the event — “Power to the Polls.”