Lydia Swanson founded Oakland TNR in 2019 as a Pitt student after discovering an abundance of stray cats in South Oakland that needed care. Since then, what started as an idea has grown into a successful operation that helps hundreds of stray cats find happy homes.

Pitt and UPMC will soon be subject to a review of their “purely public charity” status, which helps them avoid tens of millions of dollars in property taxes. The audit comes as a result of a new executive order from Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

Students, Homewood residents and members of the Community Engagement Center filled the Homewood-Brushton Branch YMCA’s meeting room, waiting for their chance to hear how the community workers had been...