richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord
@richelord.bsky.social
780 followers 380 following 390 posts
Longtime Pittsburgh journo. Managing editor at Pittsburgh's Public Source. Author of American Nightmare: Predatory Lending and the Foreclosure of the American Dream. Part of a 2018 Pulitzer-winning team. Gardener, cyclist, husband, dad.
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 1d
And if you missed yesterday's launch of @publicsource.org's "The Homeownership Wall" ... Housing price hikes in Pittsburgh have nearly doubled income increases since 2020, and student debt, aging homes are delaying the American dream www.publicsource.org/homeowner-ch...
'A really steep lift': Pittsburghers in their 20s and 30s find homeownership less and less attainable
Student debt, rising costs, aging homes and corporate buyers are making it harder for young adults to buy a home in Pittsburgh.
www.publicsource.org
richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 1d
Once a homeownership haven, Pittsburgh now has a renter majority. @chwolfson.bsky.social shows the trends at the neighborhood level in 3 maps www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-h...
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 2d
 "A really steep lift" kicks off "The Homeownership Wall," a @publicsource.org series publishing this month.
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Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 2d
In the '90s, being a 20-something in Pittsburgh often involved homeownership. Now? More like mid-to-late 30s. @chwolfson.bsky.social analyzes the shift and its implications www.publicsource.org/homeowner-ch...
'A really steep lift': Pittsburghers in their 20s and 30s find homeownership less and less attainable
Student debt, rising costs, aging homes and corporate buyers are making it harder for young adults to buy a home in Pittsburgh.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 8d
We @publicsource.org asked university leaders three questions as part of "Gagging Academia," our series on academic freedom in Pittsburgh in 2025. The city has tussles over campus expression for a century. The history: www.publicsource.org/historic-pit...
6 flashpoints in the history of academic freedom in Pittsburgh
From Pitt to CMU to CCAC, Pittsburgh universities have faced clashes over speech, politics and academic freedom for nearly a century.
www.publicsource.org
richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 8d
With academic freedom under attack, leaders at La Roche, Carlow and Chatham are talking about its importance. Pitt, CMU and Duquesne leaders - not so much. www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-u...
Academic freedom is under attack. How have Pittsburgh higher ed leaders responded?
Universities face increased pressure from the Trump administration, and local leaders are choosing their words carefully. Here’s what some are saying.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 9d
Fixed, thank you!
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 9d
As the school doors open following the Carrick High stabbings, there’s more than thoughts, prayers and heightened security. Peace Makers will be working the building all day, every day. Here’s what they’ll do: www.publicsource.org/carrick-high...
‘Peace Makers’ go full-time at Carrick High following student stabbings
In the wake of Carrick stabbings, violence interrupters from the South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace bring trauma-informed care and resources to the school.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 12d
The Pittsburgh Transit funding crisis is averted - for a little while. But the agency's changes at The Waterfront, driven by property owner demands, epitomize a system in retreat www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-r...
Routes spared, but upgrades nixed in Pittsburgh Regional Transit funding fix
Pittsburgh transit riders won’t see route cuts or fare hikes as the agency diverts money for infrastructure improvements into operations.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 12d
Inspired to share your own Pittsburgh-area experiences and insights? Propose your own here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Your Pittsburgh-area story idea or tip for Public Source
This is for anyone in the Pittsburgh region (including all of Allegheny County and its bordering counties) or with information relevant to our area to share ideas, tips, stories that you think our new...
docs.google.com
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 12d
More of our first-person essays: www.publicsource.org/category/fir...
FIRST PERSON Archives
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 12d
"Sunshine" Rave has a powerful voice sharpened by loss and homelessness. @publicsource.org takes the time to share perspectives like hers. That's one reason I appreciate the opportunity to work here. www.publicsource.org/homelessness...
Finding grace in the discarded
With a family history of addiction and a personal struggle with homelessness, Samantha “Sunshine” Rave shares how small kindnesses helped her rebuild.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 12d
"Now that I have a place of my own, I’ve begun to build more than just a home for myself—I’ve built space for the people I love. One of the bedrooms is set up for my daughter, waiting for her." www.publicsource.org/homelessness...
Finding grace in the discarded
With a family history of addiction and a personal struggle with violence, Samantha “Sunshine” Rave shares how small kindnesses helped her rebuild.
www.publicsource.org
richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 16d
U.S. House Republicans asked universities to cut ties to China. The University of Pittsburgh is 1 of 8 that heeded the call, ending an institute that Pitt said "had run its course" www.publicsource.org/trump-admini...
Timeline: U.S. House Republicans praise Pitt for cutting China tie, the latest Pittsburgh response to D.C. higher ed action
Pitt ends partnership with a Chinese university, in latest local higher ed change under the Trump administration.
www.publicsource.org
richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 16d
Allegheny County inked a contract to open two peer-led behavioral health crisis respite houses, but 19 months later the locations haven't even been identified amid negotiations with a UPMC unit. What's the hold up? www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
Allegheny County inching toward more peer-led mental health help
Peer-led mental health helps bring better, cheaper outcomes than hospitals. Allegheny County has a contract, but not yet a facility.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 16d
The Trump administration favors involuntary commitment to "long-term institutional settings" for unhoused people. Is there a better solution to behavioral health problems? @venuri.bsky.social explores peer-led models www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
Allegheny County inching toward more peer-led mental health help
Peer-led mental health helps bring better, cheaper outcomes than hospitals. Allegheny County has a contract, but not yet a facility.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 20d
Thanks to @opencampus.org for its support of this series and of @publicsource.org's higher ed coverage generally!
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Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 20d
If you missed the opening story in "Gagging Academia" then you may not know that Pittsburgh has a 95-year history as a scene of back-and-forth on campus expression. Explore six flashpoints: www.publicsource.org/historic-pit...
6 flashpoints in the history of academic freedom in Pittsburgh
From Pitt to CMU to CCAC, Pittsburgh universities have faced clashes over speech, politics and academic freedom for nearly a century.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 20d
Scholars are scared. Who can blame them? If you choose to share your thoughts on Academic Freedom in 2025 for our recently launched series "Gagging Academia," we at @publicsource.org will work with you in whatever way you feel comfortable. Here's where to start: www.publicsource.org/academic-fre...
Do you have thoughts on academic freedom?
Share your input on academic freedom in higher ed — the freedom to research, publish and discuss relevant issues without censorship.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 21d
The frack-out that preceded New Freeport's water woes shows that state law falls far short of dealing with drilling mishaps, per a study that @quinnglabicki.bsky.social reports on today www.publicsource.org/new-freeport...
Study ties Southwestern Pa. towns’ water woes to 2022 EQT frack-out and narrow state law
New Freeport and Springhill continue to grapple with a 2022 fracking mishap, and local researchers point to EQT and the limitations of state laws.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 21d
"AI slop," "brainrot" and other junk content is "increasingly ... part of their [extremist] radicalization process, and somehow that is replacing ideology.” Notes from Eradicate Hate www.publicsource.org/eradicate-ha...
The sinister side of ‘brainrot’ and other AI takeaways from Pittsburgh’s Eradicate Hate summit
On a day in which Gov. Josh Shapiro criticized the “rhetoric of rage,” researchers detailed the use of AI to catalyze anger and described ways to “inoculate” vulnerable, young people.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 22d
Change coming to Hazelwood? “That zoning is left over from the Pittsburgh of yore where we would, you know, just put big industrial facilities, just stick them in low-income neighborhoods and right on the river because, ‘Who cares about polluting our rivers?’” www.publicsource.org/hazelwood-re...
Hazelwood waste proposal brings call for ‘environmental justice’ and rezoning
Hazelwood's riverfront may soon be rezoned to restrict “hazardous operations” and other industrial uses, as a recycling plant looks to include a garbage transfer station.
www.publicsource.org
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Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 23d
Trump's executive order targeting gender-affirming care for people younger than 19 cowed UPMC, and other Pittsburgh providers followed that lead. Here's what affected families are doing www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-t...
Pittsburgh families struggle to find gender-affirming care as providers follow UPMC's lead
Trans youth may still legally receive gender-affirming care in Pennsylvania, but families are looking across state borders to find new providers.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 23d
Emmy-winning "The Pitt" was modeled on Allegheny General Hospital's ER on the North Side. Here's the real story of that ER, its problems, and the changes in the works www.publicsource.org/allegheny-ge...
'The Pitt' put Pittsburgh’s ER problems in the spotlight. AGH’s $43M renovation hopes to fix them.
'The Pitt' depicts gritty emergency room scenes that are all too real for Allegheny General Hospital, the inspiration behind the HBO drama.
www.publicsource.org
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richelord.bsky.social
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 26d
You thought the news was all bad? Well, hear this: The Garbage Olympics now has an official artist. Here's Maria's story www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-g...
They said ‘be a secretary,’ but instead I’m the official artist of the Garbage Olympics
The artist behind Maria’s Ideas reflects on her role in the citywide cleanup, creating art to inspire community care.
www.publicsource.org
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