The Allegheny Front
Every week, our 29-minute podcast brings you all the environmental news and stories to keep you in the know in Pennsylvania and beyond.
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Episode for October 16, 2026: Solving the abandoned oil & gas well problem
10/16/2026
Episode for October 16, 2026: Solving the abandoned oil & gas well problem
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: Pittsburgh high school students raise money to get an abandoned gas well plugged. A retiree has also made it her mission to help fix the problem by finding the wells that others haven’t documented yet. Noise pollution from data centers is impacting the health of neighbors. A Philly company is developing equipment it hopes will support the future of the hydroelectric power industry. Never miss a story:
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Episode for October 9, 2026: Rise of black lung disease in Appalachia
10/09/2026
Episode for October 9, 2026: Rise of black lung disease in Appalachia
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: There is a steep rise in black lung disease cases among coal miners in Appalachia. Gov. Josh Shapiro and state Treasurer Stacy Garrity discussed data centers and other hot-button issues facing Pennsylvanians at the first and only 2026 gubernatorial debate. Shapiro joined 21 states suing the Environmental Protection Agency for its recent repeal of limits on climate-warming pollution from power plants. Light pollution is ruining our ancient connection to the night sky. Owls are not just for Halloween. Never miss a story:
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Episode for October 2, 2026: Fuel efficiency rollback
10/02/2026
Episode for October 2, 2026: Fuel efficiency rollback
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: The Trump administration announced new rules weakening fuel efficiency standards. Appalachian farmers are producing wool that could replace less environmentally friendly insulation in homes. Heavy rain is causing stress on native paw paw trees, attracting invasive ambrosia beetles. Environmental advocates are calling for Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass new efficiency standards for certain appliances. People in Southwestern Pennsylvania can get a discount on solar energy systems through a group buying program. Rufous hummingbirds show up in late autumn and early winter in our region. Never miss a story:
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Episode for September 25, 2026: Who is for & against data center development?
09/25/2026
Episode for September 25, 2026: Who is for & against data center development?
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: At a conference promoting AI in Pittsburgh, Governor Shapiro said that while he still sees promise in AI technology we cannot ignore the warning signs nor downplay the risks of the industry. Meanwhile, there is a movement in communities across Pennsylvania to slow down the data center development that powers AI, including a town in Westmoreland County where the community os already dealing with fracking. Pennsylvania utility regulators say unchecked data center growth could threaten the reliability of the regional grid within the next five years. The threshold has been raised for the amount of lead in a school ’s water that Pennsylvania districts have to report. Never miss a story:
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Episode for September 18, 2026: Films that explore the Rust Belt and Appalachian identity
09/18/2026
Episode for September 18, 2026: Films that explore the Rust Belt and Appalachian identity
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: Documentaries that are part of a film festival about Appalachia and the Rust Belt look at East Palestine after the derailment and the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline. In her new book, an author writes a love letter to her western Pennsylvania farm. Spetember is when birders flock to see chimney swifts roost. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found inadequate safety and training protocols led to a 2025 explosion and fire at Shell’s Beaver County plastics plant. The Environmental Protection Agency has eliminated rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that burn fossil fuels. Governor Shapiro says President Donald Trump must act to more closely regulate artificial intelligence. Never miss a story:
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Episode for September 11, 2026: Keeping National Forests "roadless"
09/11/2026
Episode for September 11, 2026: Keeping National Forests "roadless"
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: The U.S. Forest Service wants to repeal a rule that prohibits new roads and logging in some sections of National Forest land. A grove of trees at the Flight 93 National Memorial serves as a living monument to the passengers and crew who died there on 9-11. A group of friends hiked and looked for reassurance in nature and one another on September 12th, 2001. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined Shell $15 million for air quality violations at its Beaver County plastics plant. Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal now has an official designation as a green building. Our Environmental Travel Guide through Pennsylvania continues with one of western Pennsylvania's most scenic forests. Never miss a story:
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Episode for September 4, 2026: Mushrooms!
09/04/2026
Episode for September 4, 2026: Mushrooms!
We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: A morel mushroom hunter is willing to share his expertise but not his best morel hotspots, which are a family secret that's been passed down for generations. There's an underground network between fungi and roots that allows trees to communicate in forests. Our environmental guide through Pennsylvania continues, and this time we're chasing waterfalls. There are now over 30 routes and 2,000 miles for gravel cyclists to ride in northeastern Pennsylvania. Never miss a story:
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Episode for August 28, 2026: Lake Erie archaeology & art from coal pollution
08/27/2026
Episode for August 28, 2026: Lake Erie archaeology & art from coal pollution
This is your last chance to help us raise $35,000 by August 31 to keep this podcast going! We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: A team of archaeologists is looking for signs of early life in the Americas at the bottom of Lake Erie. A Pennsylvania environmental group is out with a new playbook to move the state away from fossil fuels. The landmark environmental rights amendment in Pennsylvania's constitution was created by a man who grew up in coal country. An artist is donating the proceeds from a series of drawings to a central Pennsylvania watershed group. The pigment used in the artworks comes from acid mine drainage pollution in Appalachian waterways. Allegheny County Council will consider a ban on building controversial AI data centers on county property. Never miss a story:
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Episode for August 21, 2026: The problem with fertilizer
08/21/2026
Episode for August 21, 2026: The problem with fertilizer
Help us raise $35,000 by August 31 to keep this podcast going! We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: Sludge from municipal sewage is often spread on farm fields as fertilizer. But it can contain PFAS forever chemicals. Regulators want to limit the amount of these chemicals, but monitoring could be expensive. Data centers have become a hot button issue across Pennsylvania, including in a small town where six projects have been proposed. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signs an executive order placing restrictions on data center development. A new survey shows fears of the impact of artificial intelligence and opposition to data center construction are bipartisan issues. State regulators have agreed to review the environmental impact of a coal mine in western Pennsylvania. A dragonboat team from Philly is headed to Taiwan for a global competition. Never miss a story:
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Episode for August 14, 2026: How a lack of safety procedures led to a fatal explosion
08/14/2026
Episode for August 14, 2026: How a lack of safety procedures led to a fatal explosion
Help us raise $35,000 by August 31 to keep this podcast going! We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: A federal agency faulted U.S. Steel for a lack of safety procedures which caused the death of two workers at one if its plants last year. A new report from Pennsylvania environmental groups finds more than half of monitored waterways statewide had at least one day with high levels of e-coli bacteria last year. We take a look at pollution from a chemical plant along the banks of the Monongahela River. An environmental engineer started a new act as a storyteller and educator for local waterways. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has unanimously ruled wildlife officers cannot enter open fields and woods without a warrant. With soaring energy demand and a friendly federal administration, coal companies are angling for a comeback. Never miss a story:
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Episode for August 7, 2026: A fascination with wildlife
08/07/2026
Episode for August 7, 2026: A fascination with wildlife
Help us raise $35,000 by August 31 to keep this podcast going: We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. On this week's show: We speak with the author of a collection of stories that has a furry recurring theme: bears. A reporter tags along into the woods with some birders to talk to barred owls. An environmental group is claiming the latest Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection publication about underground mining damages to properties and the environment has major issues. Never miss a story:
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Episode for July 31, 2026: Fighting a new invasive plant
07/31/2026
Episode for July 31, 2026: Fighting a new invasive plant
Never miss a story: Conservationists are trying to stop the spread of the invasive wavyleaf basketgrass in Pennsylvania's forests. A new exhibit of landscape paintings in Pittsburgh encourages rest and reflection. Concrete made with plants, like flax, has climate benefits. Several environmental groups in Pennsylvania are casting doubt on a report about landfill runoff released by the state regulators. Three Mile Island is on schedule to receive nuclear material by the end of the year. A grandson and grandmother visit all 63 national parks together. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for July 24, 2026: U.S. Steel's new plan and AI tornado forecasting
07/24/2026
Episode for July 24, 2026: U.S. Steel's new plan and AI tornado forecasting
Never miss a story: U.S. Steel is investing big money to modernize a mill in the Pittsburgh area. Some are worried about continued air pollution from the plant, while others in the area are excited about its economic impact. The data power of AI could help weather forecasters with some of their trickiest work, like tornadoes. A new book looks at the complexities of reintroducing large wildlife species like wolves and bison back to their original habitats. Pennsylvania has renewed its Solar for Schools program for a third time. Nonprofit environmental groups are seeking crowdfunding support for their legal challenge to a massive data center project in Indiana County. Our travel guide provides a glimpse of a rare bog habitat in the Laurel Highlands. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for July 17, 2026: Data center roundup
07/17/2026
Episode for July 17, 2026: Data center roundup
Never miss a story: There's a movement to slow down data center development in Pennsylvania, but state lawmakers weren't ready to repeal a key tax exemption. People who live near a gas processing facility in rural Pennsylvania are against its plans to expand. Operations have been stopped at four injection wells for fracking wastewater in southeastern Ohio, at the request of state regulators. Forests in Allegheny and Fayette Counties are also now part of the Old-Growth Forest Network. A new book explores the beauty of Pennsylvania's natural wonders. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for July 10, 2026: Removing dangerous dams
07/10/2026
Episode for July 10, 2026: Removing dangerous dams
Never miss a story: How a Bedford County community benefitted when two dams were removed. A court rules in favor of a stricter ambient air pollution standard to protect public health. Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity was in Western Pennsylvania to discuss data centers and criticize Governor Josh Shapiro. An artist provides tips for finding colorful beach glass on your next trip to Lake Erie. Pennsylvania’s elk country is featured on the season premiere of Discovery Channel show “RV There Yet?.” A week-long camp provides community, support and fun for young campers with brain injuries. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for July 3, 2026: History meets environment
07/03/2026
Episode for July 3, 2026: History meets environment
Never miss a story: As our nation celebrates its founding, we're looking at where the environment and history meet. This summer 70 paddlers in kayaks and canoes took a trip down the Delaware River, including the spot where Washington crossed in 1776. A group of Pennsylvania residents is working to revive the colonial practice of growing flax one square yard at a time. We'll hear about an effort to preserve the records of a Pennsylvania coal company. An environmental history book about Pennsylvania aims to include multiple perspectives. Plus, a bill introduced in the U.S. House could help coal miners disabled by black lung disease. Cases of alpha-gal syndrome, which causes a red meat and dairy allergy from tick bites, have been showing up around Pennsylvania. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for June 26, 2026: Buoys that fight toxic algae
06/26/2026
Episode for June 26, 2026: Buoys that fight toxic algae
Never miss a story: When the Army Corps of Engineers removed a dam on the Monongahela River a couple of years ago, the water level dropped more than some businesses expected. Researchers are working on buoys that combat harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie by releasing an algaecide. Council members in a Jefferson County borough are putting a nearly six-month pause on data center development, and state lawmakers have passed three measures this week to pump the brakes on data center development. Environmental groups say recent investments announced by Nippon Steel for its US Steel plants in the Pittsburgh area won’t do much to improve the region’s air quality. How restaurants are managing recycling, composting and sustainability, and training customers along the way. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for June 19, 2026: Shapiro on data centers
06/19/2026
Episode for June 19, 2026: Shapiro on data centers
Never miss a story: Opposition to data center development has been growing in Pennsylvania. We hear from an investigative reporter on Governor Shapiro's office offer to streamline the permitting process for Amazon. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is accepting public comment on a proposed water pollution permit for a coal mine planned in western Pennsylvania. Researchers are bringing back a nearly extinct beetle that buries dead animals. Eastern wildfires destroy thousands of acres of land every year. We take a closer look at the 100-year old fire tower system that identifies wildfires early to help prevent damage. A coalition of conservation groups in Westmoreland County is looking for property owners in the Laurel Highlands to help monarch butterflies. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for June 12, 2026: Balcony solar, frogs and Henry David Thoreau
06/12/2026
Episode for June 12, 2026: Balcony solar, frogs and Henry David Thoreau
Never miss a story: This week, we look at the life and legacy of Henry David Thoreau, who has been called the godfather of the environmental movement. We interview the directors of a new Ken Burns documentary about Thoreau, his evolution as a thinker, philosopher of the natural world and abolitionist. Affordable solar power could be coming to a balcony near you. That is, if Pennsylvania lawmakers legalize so-called "balcony solar." A festival celebrating frogs returns to Central Pennsylvania. Nippon Steel's new investment in U.S. Steel's Pittsburgh-area plants prompts questions. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Bonus Episode: Thoreau documentary is a lesson for the modern era
06/10/2026
Bonus Episode: Thoreau documentary is a lesson for the modern era
Never miss a story: In this special bonus episode, we're talking with the co-directors of the new Ken Burns documentary, Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau has been called the patron saint of early environmental thought in the U.S., from his transcendentalist writings of the mid-19th century to his decision to live a secluded life at a cabin on Walden Pond in Massachusetts. The three-part film, now streaming on , the PBS app, and on Prime Video, examines Thoreau not just through the lens of American history, but it also asks what his work means to us in our current era. The film was directed by brothers Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers, both frequent collaborators with Ken Burns, who is an executive producer along with Don Henley. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier spoke with the Ewers brothers about the film. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
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Episode for June 5, 2026: The Pigeons’ Last Passage
06/05/2026
Episode for June 5, 2026: The Pigeons’ Last Passage
Never miss a story: Passenger pigeons were once the most abundant bird in North America. But in 1914, they went extinct. Most of their last nesting grounds hugged the Great Lakes. What was it like to experience these birds? And what are we left with when we lose a species? This special episode is from a podcast about the land, water, and inhabitants of the Great Lakes. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for May 29, 2026: Forever chemicals in a fishing stream
05/28/2026
Episode for May 29, 2026: Forever chemicals in a fishing stream
On this week's episode: Pollution from the Pittsburgh airport has found its way into a nearby stream. Scientists are looking into how PFAS forever chemicals got there and what happens next. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would give Pennsylvania nearly $40 million to address PFAS contamination in drinking water; at the same time the agency also said it would roll back PFAS regulations. Researchers have found a link between the temperature outside and kidney disease. New railroad-safety reforms have made headway in Washington D.C., three years after the rail disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. Governor Josh Shapiro is making the rounds to talk about his policies on data centers after releasing final standards for the industry. In Pittsburgh you can drop off your food waste at city-run farmers’ markets. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for May 22, 2026: Award-winning favorites
05/22/2026
Episode for May 22, 2026: Award-winning favorites
On this week's episode: This week, a special show of award-winning and recognized stories. What advocates and residents who live near U.S. Steel plants are saying about the Trump administration's policies on the pollution drifting into their communities. A nature preserve is dedicated to saving an ancient creature that lives in our region: the hellbender salamander. The Monongahela River has been – and still is – an industrial river. That doesn’t stop people from using it for recreation, like swimming. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for May 15, 2026: Big changes at the U.S. Forest Service
05/15/2026
Episode for May 15, 2026: Big changes at the U.S. Forest Service
On this week's episode: The U.S. Forest Service is planning a massive overhaul that includes closing research stations in Pennsylvania. What's at stake? Some residents and environmental groups oppose the Pennsylvania Turnpike's proposal to reroute the highway over wildlife habitat. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are turning food waste like egg shells and mango skins into building materials. Fruit growers across Pennsylvania have experienced partial to total losses of their 2026 crops. Pittsburgh’s 2030 District says its building owners are beating their climate goals ahead of schedule. A new report finds Pennsylvania’s use of solar energy is on the rise, but the state still falls behind the rest of the country in putting more renewable energy on the grid. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for May 8, 2026: EV savings and spotted lanterfly AI
05/08/2026
Episode for May 8, 2026: EV savings and spotted lanterfly AI
On this week's episode: A new online tool calculates how much Pennsylvanians could save by switching from a gas-powered car to an EV. As Trump administration policies are impacting funding for scientists, some are choosing to move overseas. Pennsylvania is getting a federal grant to install a geothermal project at an existing natural gas site. Pennsylvania’s utility regulators are proposing guidelines that aim to protect rate payers from the proliferation of large data centers. A teenager wants to use AI to help neighboring farmers with spotted lanternflies. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for May 1, 2026: Greener steel and Great Lakes surfing
05/01/2026
Episode for May 1, 2026: Greener steel and Great Lakes surfing
On this week's episode: Coke from U.S. Steel near Pittsburgh fuels the company's steelmaking in Indiana. But there's a movement afoot to make greener steel without coal. The heavy industry along Lake Michigan's shore is impacting the surfing culture there. An environmental group issued a ‘notice of intent to sue’ the Neville Chemical Company for polluting the Ohio River near Pittsburgh. A watchdog warned Pennsylvania lawmakers that while there is currently enough energy supply on the grid, the buffer needed to prevent blackouts could shrink in the coming years. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for April 24, 2026: Fracking anxiety and native hawthorn trees
04/24/2026
Episode for April 24, 2026: Fracking anxiety and native hawthorn trees
On this week's episode: Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two Western Pennsylvania coal-fired power plants will push back their retirement dates by at least four more years. Ohio residents worry about more fracking planned for a remote natural area, becuase of their own experiences with the industry. Native hawthorn trees provide useful habitat to a carnivorous singbird species. Pennsylvania may soon adopt the scarlet tanager as its official state migratory bird. A farm and a nonprofit have forged a unique partnetship to fight food waste and hunger. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for April 17, 2026: Talking climate change
04/17/2026
Episode for April 17, 2026: Talking climate change
On this week's episode: At family-friendly event in the Laurel Highlands climate change communication tools were used to engage the public about the issue and what they can do. The Pennsylvania state House has approved two bills to regulate data center development. An energy company is seeking the right of eminent domain to build a high-voltage power line in southwestern Pennsylvania to feed data centers in Virginia. The updated map that milions of gardeners rely on reflects climate changes. We take a field trip in Centre County to find out what goes on after dark in vernal pools, and why they matter. Pennsylvania added its 125th state park, and it is underground. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for April 10, 2026: Connecting communities to rivers
04/10/2026
Episode for April 10, 2026: Connecting communities to rivers
On this week's episode: An environmental engineer is starting a new act as a storyteller and educator for local waterways. A state legislator in Ohio wants to bring back the state's elk. We take a peak into the springtime mating dance of the elusive American woodcock. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection held a public hearing to gather comments about a new permit for the Shell plastic production facility in Beaver County. A new report card gives Pennsylvania an F grade for how it governs rooftop solar permitting. Pennsylvania state lawmakers have introduced a flurry of legislation to address data center growth. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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Episode for April 3, 2026: Air pollution and lung cancer
04/03/2026
Episode for April 3, 2026: Air pollution and lung cancer
On this week's episode: The fast pace of data center development has caught many communities off guard. Environmental organizers are trying to help them find their voices. A study released in February finds that energy generated in Pennsylvania will be used for data centers out of state. US Steel’s new owner scored near the bottom in a climate ranking for steel companies. A new study tries to take smoking out of the equation for lung cancer risk. The results were surprising for areas with poor air quality. Allergy season is starting earlier because of climate change. We also talk with the author of a bird guide that's for enthusiasts and beginners alike. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks!
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