Natasha Vicens

2 weeks ago | publicsource.org | Jennifer Szweda Jordan |Natasha Vicens

After laying his support dog’s leash on the red-carpeted altar, 27-year-old Vincent Mroz started to preach in two languages at once: English and American Sign Language. Mroz is vicar of Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf in Wilkinsburg. He is among the  few faith leaders in the area — across several major religious traditions — who can communicate in ASL. For people of faith, worship communities in their own language are important for both spiritual and material needs.

2 months ago | publicsource.org | Natasha Vicens

PublicSource, with Technical.ly, is exploring the landscape of work in Pittsburgh — famed for its industriousness and intense union-management conflict and collaboration — as it is pressure-tested by changes in governmental policy, technology and economics. It’s 2019, and you’re stuck in rush hour traffic on the way back from your job — maybe from an office, a hospital, a factory, a job site or a classroom. You ate lunch with coworkers or grabbed something between shifts.

2 months ago | publicsource.org | Allie Miller |Natasha Vicens

PublicSource examined asthma data, gathered insights from air quality experts and advocates, and queried Allegheny County on its air pollution control efforts. Read the full range of insights and perspectives here. And, check out the key takeaways below:Last year, there were 2,083 asthma-related emergency department visits recorded in Allegheny County hospitals. That’s down from 3,019 in 2019, though experts say this doesn’t necessarily reflect a decrease in asthma’s prevalence locally.

2 months ago | publicsource.org | Natasha Vicens

The beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term has been called “dizzying” in relation to the number of substantial changes to U.S. policies and norms. The effects are already reaching Pittsburgh. Fill out our brief formPublicSource has always covered the effects of federal government policies on Southwestern Pennsylvania. With the rapid shifts in so many areas of federal involvement, we’re asking our audience to help us to understand the ramifications for the Pittsburgh area.

Jan 21, 2025 | publicsource.org | Aakanksha Agarwal |Natasha Vicens

In the nearly four years since the pandemic disrupted its office-centric core, Pittsburgh’s downtown hasn’t emerged from crisis. Officials and observers are asking: Can Downtown be more than office towers and briefcases? Can it become a true neighborhood? “Downtown Pittsburgh is not what it used to be,” said Kyle Chintalapalli, chief economic development officer in the administration of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. “And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.