Ethan Magoc has been named the new Interim Director of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Innovation News Center (INC). Since 2022, Ethan has served as Managing Editor, leading a commitment to student-centered journalism. www.jou.ufl.edu/2025/05/27/e...

Also for this week's PG goodness section, I was honored to talk with Wilkinsburg-born U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Autumn Caluya -- and I talked with her for about four times as long as I was supposed to. She is the USS Gettysburg's Sailor of the Year: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

I don't think I've ever seen such questionable passing as was made recently by the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf girls basketball team. Turns out, it was part of their late-in-the-game plan: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

This Keystone Trails Association Spring Hiking Weekend in the Laurel Highlands is going to be 🔥: www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoor...

Anybody have any bright ideas? thenextchallenge.com

highlight of my day is that I got connected to this guy and am sending him a copy of my book to thank him for the piece of perfect cinema.

Too bad this is just "seasonal": "[S]eeking enthusiastic and friendly individuals to join our team as the Easter Bunny character at our Easter photo set. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to bring joy to children and families as they capture special moments with the Easter Bunny."

My latest for the PG's goodness section: These exceptional students have been offered full-ride scholarships worth $188,000 to $256,000: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

Today at Phipps in Oakland! www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

I am going to hunt down Punxsutawney Phil. I will find him and then I will grind his bones to make my bread.

Licorice the Lizard is OK! blueskypit.com/customer-car...

Spoke with @davidenrich.bsky.social and @greenwell.bsky.social about current threats to press freedom and what ought to be done about them. Thanks to @columjournreview.bsky.social for hosting, and to all of the audience members who asked such great questions. www.cjr.org/kicker/the-l...

When someone asks how they got together, Deepa and Rakshith will have quite a story. “I feel like that’s how a lot of our stories go," she says. "We think we’re going on a hike and it ends up being this crazy adventure.” My latest for the PG's goodness section: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

'Za.

Kingfly Spirits closes. www.post-gazette.com/life/drinks/...

Imagine being a high school senior and you go to school on a Friday and get called to the office and you open a door and there's your family and a person holding a giant check made out to you for $158,080. My latest for the PG: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

Tonight is the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center's Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

Michael Papp’s body was cold and stiff inside his secluded Cuyahoga County jail cell when an officer finally opened the door. Officers reportedly walked the pod 50 times, peeking inside cells for signs of life. Yet, somehow, they missed a dead body. www.themarshallproject.org/2026/02/02/c...

A "slug" is the name newspaper people give to a story internally. I call this one GOODKARMA. www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

CUTENESS WARNING: My latest for the PG is a preview of events ringing in the Year of the Fire Horse: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

Interviewing @bobbatzjr.bsky.social, who spent three years on strike from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after 30 years at the paper, was a real joy. Hearing how he and his colleagues went from strike mode to employee mode and now to "save the paper" mode is a ride. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

Turns out those of us who went on strike for more than three years were right from the very start.

This morning’s joe.

Solidarity to the people of Minnesota today and every day.

Amazing! Way to go Minneapolis!

PG NEWS: On January 20th, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed contempt charges against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for defying court orders to restore workers’ health care plan. newsguild.org/labor-board-...

I love recommendations in this column on how to build a radically truthful news outlet. The truth is, ethical journalists are required to resist passing along lies and obfuscations, even when lots of people believe them. ESPECIALLY when lots of people believe them. READ: https://loom.ly/rF9t36k

NWU opposes the fascist coup that has taken over the US govt. We commit our union to work for the restoration of constitutional rule in the US, & to solidarity with all workers & others impacted by the coup, including workers in other countries facing US trade wars & tariffs. Join us: nwu.org/join

Bright spot.

I really enjoyed this 11-minute documentary on Montour Woods. My latest for the PG: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

Who steals dog and cat food and shelter supplies? www.post-gazette.com/pets/2026/01...

"Letters for the printing press had not been delivered in their entirety until the previous day. The first half of the alphabet, from A to M, had arrived the previous week, but the first issue nearly had to go to press without the second half of the alphabet." www.northcentralpa.com/business/cli...

The Blocks' statement said they "will exit with [our] dignity intact." Wanna bet, you weirdos? I have time today.

We're still fighting for quality journalism in Pittsburgh. Please join us. actionnetwork.org/forms/pledgi...

They lost $350M over the past 20 years but better health insurance is the breaking point? Seems spiteful Pittsburgh just lost its daily newspaper (shutting down in May) triblive.com/business/pit...

The people of Pittsburgh deserve so much better than newspaper bosses who violate federal law.

DOUBLE CHECKED THIS ONE: Trump DOJ sides with journalists' union & against @pittsburghPG in #SCOTUS fight over health care benefits. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

A teaser. Where it begins:

For today's PG, Stephen Karlinchak, @ZackTanner.com and I look back at the first quarter of this century and some of Pittsburgh's big stories. I helped cover many of them. For this I got to talk with @chrisbriem.bsky.social. Stories and timeline here: newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/pittsburgh-t...

I set up a GoFundMe for former @pghcitypaper.com staff. This will be used to help us submit last year's stories for awards, defray loss of income and insurance, and support laid-off single moms with childcare. Chip in if you'd like:

Here's a good story that starts out with a young couple missing their train: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

We are the world's bad guys. www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/we-are-the...

I love Guelph! www.narcity.com/best-places-...

If this keeps up, you can try snowshoeing for free at four state parks in the Pittsburgh region: www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoor...

Pennsylvania's First Day Hikes sound fun, if cold: www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoor...

Seems real now

New from me in the Sunday paper, a story about people from different faiths working together and making something useful and beautiful: www.post-gazette.com/life/goodnes...

Thank you all for supporting independent media in 2025. It is truly important even if it is a little ridiculous, sometimes. Together we will survive and thrive and smash fascism, amen. www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-year-i...

What I learned from 2025: mattdpearce.substack.com/p/four-big-t...

Fellow journalism students: Mt. Lebanon has a paid summer internship: mtlebanon.bamboohr.com/careers/287