Friday, October 16, 2026

My office, above the Supercuts at Forward and Murray avenues, will be open Monday through Friday next week from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

 

The deadline to register to vote or update your registration is Monday, Oct. 19. Remind your friends and neighbors so everyone who wants to vote can. Find more information in my voting resources guide at the end of this newsletter.

Holding UPMC Magee Accountable at its Board Meeting

 

This week, I spoke at UPMC Magee’s virtual board meeting as chair of the House Health Committee and the representative of many Magee patients, moms and nurses.

 

I urged UPMC to commit to evidence-based national staffing standards, including one nurse per woman in active labor, a standard West Penn already meets.

 

I also pointed out that Magee lacks the pay and benefits needed to keep experienced nurses at the bedside. In more than 30 negotiation sessions, UPMC has made no staffing or pay proposals, yet it has spent resources on one of the most expensive union-avoidance law firms in the country.

 

As our region’s preeminent family health care provider, and a tax-exempt organization that receives significant public funding, UPMC has a responsibility to ensure the hospital’s resources — public dollars — are spent appropriately.

 

I asked the board to negotiate meaningfully with the nurses, and I’ll be following up with the nurses’ bargaining team and the board chair.

A New Day at Chatham University

 

I was proud to speak yesterday at the inauguration of Dr. Lisa Lambert, the 21st president of Chatham University.

 

Chatham has been my neighbor since I was a kid. I grew up and raised my family a few blocks from campus, have welcomed Chatham students to Harrisburg, and have held hearings and spoken to classes on campus.

 

Dr. Lambert began teaching biology at Chatham in 1985 and has served as department chair, founder of the master’s program in biology, dean, and provost. In my remarks, I highlighted the university’s bold moves over the years: expanding into health sciences, welcoming students of all genders, developing the Eden Hall Campus, and preserving its beautiful grounds. This fall, Chatham welcomes more than 500 first-year students, the largest class in its history. I also noted Chatham’s legacy in sustainability, from alumna Rachel Carson to the work underway at Eden Hall today.

 

I told President Lambert that she will have a partner in government who values what Chatham does and wants it to thrive.

Free Dental and Hearing Clinic
Friday – Saturday, Oct. 16 – 17, 7 a.m. | David L. Lawrence Convention Center

 

Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is hosting a free dental and hearing clinic for anyone ages 2 and older. There are no eligibility requirements and no insurance is needed. Dental services include X-rays, cleanings, fillings, select root canals and limited extractions. Hearing services include evaluations, free hearing aids, fittings, troubleshooting and repair, and hearing protection. Bridges, crowns and full dentures are not available.

 

The clinic is walk-in only, with no appointments. Doors open at 6 a.m. and care begins at 7 a.m. Space is first come, first served, and doors close when capacity is reached, so plan to arrive early. Visitors can also receive an onsite referral to UPMC Vision Institute's Community Vision Day sister event.

 

Learn more here.

Free Flu Shots and COVID Vaccines in Hazelwood
Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – noon | 131 E. Elizabeth St.

 

Get a free flu shot or COVID vaccine, with or without insurance, at this Hazelwood event hosted by Fishes & Loaves Cooperative Ministries, Giant Eagle Pharmacy and Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community. Bring an insurance card if you have one, including Medicare Part B or pharmacy/medical coverage cards, and wear short sleeves or a loose top for easy upper-arm access.

Point Breeze Fall Festival
Saturday, Oct. 17, 4 – 7 p.m. | Sterrett Academy field

 

The free, annual Point Breeze Fall Festival offers food, live music and family-friendly activities, including hayrides in Homewood Cemetery.

 

Learn more here.

Community Campfire
Saturday, Oct. 17, 4 – 7 p.m. | Lower Frick Park, enter at Lancaster Avenue and Hutchinson Street

 

Celebrate fall around the fire in Frick Park Hollow. The evening will feature lawn games, pumpkin painting for kids and live music.

 

Organizers will provide the fire and sticks. Guests should bring their own roast-ables; some will be available to share. Seating is limited, so bring blankets and chairs.

 

Register here.

Pittsburgh Jewish Book Festival

Sunday – Sunday, Oct. 18 – 25 | Beth Shalom Synagogue, 5915 Beacon St.

 

The second annual Pittsburgh Jewish Book Festival returns to Beth Shalom Synagogue with authors and journalists. Headliners include cookbook author Joan Nathan and Nicholas Lemann, dean emeritus of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a New Yorker staff writer.

 

See schedules and register here.

Autumn Social on Prospect Drive
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 – 5 p.m. | Prospect Drive (Schenley Park)

 

This free, car-free autumn social on Prospect Drive in Schenley Park features cider and donuts, a bike zone for kids and fall games.

 

Prospect Drive is just off Hobart Street at the end of the houses if you’re approaching from Squirrel Hill. Coming from the park, take the hill up from the Greenfield Road and Bartlett Street intersection.

 

RSVP, learn more and volunteer here.

WORKshop: Career Ready
Monday, Oct. 19, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Carnegie Library, main branch

 

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh offers help starting a resume, finishing a cover letter or preparing for interviews. No appointment is needed for this drop-in session in the Job & Career Education Center on the second floor.

 

Learn more here.

Words & Pictures: Kelly Yang
Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. | Carnegie Library Lecture Hall

 

Kelly Yang, New York Times best-selling author of the Front Desk series, discusses her books about Mia Tang, a 10-year-old who manages her family's motel, keeps secrets about hidden immigrants and dreams of becoming a writer.

 

Free event. Get tickets here. For accessibility assistance, contact Customer Service at 412-622-8866.

2026 General Election, Tuesday, Nov. 3

Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Any voter in line by 8 p.m. is entitled to vote.

 

What's on the Ballot

Voters can look up their sample ballots here. If you don’t know your ward or precinct numbers, you can use the registration lookup tool to find them here.

 

Ballot Measure

You will see one measure on your ballot. To learn about it, please refer to the League of Women Voters’ ballot initiative guide.

 

Poll Workers Wanted

Poll workers can earn $150–$175 for serving on Election Day. Apply online here.

 

Voter Reminders

Pennsylvania law requires voters to return their own ballot or officially designate someone to do so. A mailed ballots must be sealed inside the yellow envelope marked “official election ballot” and that envelope should be placed in the signed and dated outer envelope.

 

ID Requirements

All first-time voters and anyone voting at a new polling location must show ID. Acceptable forms of ID include a Pennsylvania driver's license, state ID, passport or other government-issued photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, you may use other forms of ID, such as a current utility bill or bank statement showing your name and address.

 

Check Your Voter Registration

The deadline to register to vote or update your registration is Oct. 19.

 

Registered voters can verify their registration through the Pennsylvania Department of State portal, which also provides Election Day polling locations, mail-in/absentee ballot status and county Board of Elections contact information.

Voting with a Criminal Conviction

Pennsylvania allows individuals with misdemeanor or felony convictions to vote, including those in jail or prison (misdemeanor), on house arrest, probation, parole, in a halfway house or in pretrial detention. No action is needed to restore voting rights after completing a felony sentence. Some voters in these circumstances may need to request an absentee ballot.

 

College Students

Students may register and vote at either their college or home address — but only one. Students registered at home may request a mail-in or absentee ballot sent to their campus address.

 

Mail-in / Absentee Ballots

The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27. Voters should return their ballot as early as possible. It must arrive at the Elections Division by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 to be counted, regardless of when it was mailed.

 

If you have an emergency between now and Election Day, such as a sudden illness/disability or last-minute travel, you may be able to obtain an emergency mail-in ballot.

 

You can track your ballot here.

 

Allegheny County Ballot Return Sites

Voters who applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot may return it in person to the Allegheny County Elections Division, located in Room 312 of the County Office Building. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

 

The Carnegie Library of Squirrel Hill will be open as a ballot return site Friday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

You cannot vote in person at the Carnegie Library during early ballot return. You may bring your filled-out, signed and sealed ballot, and a county employee will collect it. You may return only your own ballot unless you have been officially designated to return another voter’s ballot.

 

Satellite Voting

Satellite election offices let voters apply for, receive, vote and return mail-in and absentee ballots in one visit.

 

Any Allegheny County voter may use any location, and voters with a completed mail-in ballot can also drop it off there. Satellite offices are at CCAC Homewood, North Park Ice Rink, South Park Ice Rink and the County Office Building. They are open Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 – 18 and Oct. 24 – 25, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 

Accessible Voting

All polling places must have at least one accessible way to vote. Check accessibility options before Election Day here. Permanent absentee ballots are available for voters with permanent disabilities.

 

Provisional Ballots

Voters whose registration cannot be verified at the polls or who do not have an acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are reviewed by the county Board of Elections after Election Day. Voters can check the status of their provisional ballot by calling 1-877-VOTESPA or tracking it online here.

 

Voter Education Toolkit

Find resources covering election deadlines, how to vote, and Pennsylvania's secure voting systems here.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

152 Main Capitol Building

PO Box 202023

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 705-1875

District Office

2345 Murray Avenue

Suite 205

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

(412) 422-1774