Good morning, Pittsburgh.

Local students and officials met at Heinz History Center on Oct.

15 (the fourth annual Allegheny Youth Vote Huddle) to discuss homelessness, voting rights and school funding before midterms, aiming to improve civic engagement (as part of a longstanding voter registration drive).

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire celebrated its first-ever Citizens Fire Academy graduation this week — concluding seven weeks of training with CPR, live-fire drills and fireboat operations — as community members become fire safety ambassadors across the city.

Ron Wallace’s 3,156-pound pumpkin, the world’s largest, will be on display today at the Monster Pumpkin Festival in the Strip District’s Stack Courtyard; the free event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and will feature contests, rides + food vendors.

On Wednesday, University of Pittsburgh officials and students celebrated the opening of a new (306,000 sqft) health sciences building on Fifth and Halket in Oakland that will house several departments to boost student career preparation.

Displaced coal workers and union electricians will join a three-year training program led by Pitt and RMU researchers to build AI data centers—funded by a $1.62 million grant—to gain skills for high-paying manufacturing jobs.

Allegheny County received two state grants totaling nearly $500K to boost climate resilience.

The awards will support a 12-county partnership, including the Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD), which will offer training and resources with work planned for early 2027.

Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh provided free dental and hearing care to hundreds on the first day at the David L.

Lawrence Convention Center. The two-day event started with appointments at 6 a.m. and saw 806 patients scheduled for services like cleanings + root canals, delivered by 1,940 volunteers.

Pa. health officials are working to manage a measles outbreak amid differences over its causes and missed routine vaccinations; the CDC will send an epidemiologist next week to help contain the spread.

Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh has scheduled its annual free dental and hearing clinic today at the David L.

Lawrence Convention Center — offering no-cost care to community members.

Pittsburgh Pirates fans gathered on Oct.

13 to honor Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run during the 1960 World Series at the red brick wall near the Cathedral of Learning (the only remnant of Forbes Field). The annual tribute grew from a personal homage to a cherished community tradition.

The Savannah Bananas will return to Pittsburgh in 2027 to play two games against the Indianapolis Clowns at PNC Park on Aug.

6 and 7 — ticket access opens via an online lottery until Oct. 31 with a drawing in February.