3 things to know today
⛑️ Pittsburgh and Western Pa. groups are prepping to help Afghan refugees resettle in Pittsburgh. According to Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS), the national resettlement agency, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and the Department of State have selected Pittsburgh as a resettlement area for new arrivals. One family has already finished the trip here, and another is on its way. Roughly 20,000 Afghans are pursuing Special Immigrant Visas to relocate to the U.S. amid the Taliban’s takeover of the troubled Middle Eastern country. JFCS will lead the local effort with the help of other nonprofits to make sure the new arrivals have housing, food, clothing, and other essential items. The groups will meet the refugees at the airport and take them to receive medical care, including COVID-19 testing and vaccination, before getting them resettled. (90.5 WESA / TribLIVE)
- How you can help: The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has launched an online fundraiser to support resettlement services.
🏞️ The City of Pittsburgh is making your daily walks and park visits easier with this website. The new, more centralized website is a one-stop shop for information on all things parks, ranging from amenities and recreation to service programs. You can also reserve event shelters, find special events, and even utilize the new interactive trail guide. (90.5 WESA)
💯 Today’s Battle of Homestead event marks the centennial of America’s largest labor conflict, the Battle of Blair Mountain. On Aug. 25, 1921, 10,000+ armed, pro-union miners confronted 3,000 state police, strikebreakers, and private security forces hired by coal companies. The conflict occurred after union leadership organized a 60-mile armed march to free striking miners and their families who’d been arrested after the governor declared martial law. The marchers were stopped in Logan County, and the five-day clash finally ended when federal troops arrived to suppress the uprising; as many of the miners were veterans themselves, several refused to take up arms against the soldiers. The Battle of Blair Mountain was the culmination of the West Virginia mine wars and was the largest pitched battle in the history of the U.S. labor movement. To focus on this historic event, Pittsburgh’s Battle of Homestead Foundation is observing this historic milestone tonight with an online panel discussion, “Battle of Blair Mountain 1921: What It Means for Working People in 2021.” (90.5 WESA)
