PA Ranks 40th in Helping Young People to Vote

A first ever report by "Rock the Vote" ranks each state on how effectively they prepare and help young people (18-29) to engage in the voting process.
Heather Smith, President of the non-partisan, non-profit organization, says it was founded to register and engage young people to make sure they "have the information they need to get out to the polls and have their voices heard."
The scorecard looked at state laws and policies and how they affected 3 criteria: voter registration, the voting process (how ballots are cast), and, preparation: civic education and making sure young people have the information they need to navigate the process.
According to Smith, the voting systems, policies and laws are different in every state...
"(They) really are not supporting the participation of today's electorate. So we wanted to look at what was working and put together a template, a benchmark to look at in order to call for a more modern election system in our country that supports the needs of today's young voters."
Pennsylvania tied with Rhode Island for 40th and the Commonwealth scored a "zero" in preparation..."There's no pre-registration at 16 or 17 when they are still in high school or get their driver's license. There's no required civic education that's tested in their schools," said Smith. She says Pennsylvania has not done a lot in terms of convenience voting...
"There's no early voting, allowing young people to cast a ballot on days that are not Tuesday, election day, which for young people who have school, who have classes, who work hourly jobs, it's hard for them to get away. So, expanding that time period is something the state (Pennsylvania) has yet to do."

Smith says the process could be made easier through online registration and same day registration at the polls.
Washington, Iowa and Montana were the highest scoring states while Connecticut, Virginia and South Carolina were at the bottom.

Tanning Salons Under the Spotlight

This morning a state House Committee will consider whether or not Pennsylvania should ban teens from tanning salons.

The proposal keeps anyone under 18 from using an indoor tanning bed. Sponsor RoseMarie Swanger, a Lebanon County Republican, is convinced the beds cause melanoma, which her younger sister is currently battling. “One of my colleagues did ask me – he said, ‘don’t people have the right to make stupid decisions?’ And my response to him was, yes, if you’re an adult,” she explained. “But if you’re a child, I think we owe children our protection from anything we could control that would prevent them from having to go through this later in life.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently called for a national ban on teens using tanning beds, warning, "The intensity of ultraviolet-A radiation produced by large, powerful tanning units may be 10 to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun."

A national trade group, the Indoor Tanning Association, insists the concern is unfounded, and the legislation is a government overreach. “I can just assure you that there’s absolutely no proof that using a tanning bed causes melanoma,” said its executive director, John Overstreet. He argued the beds’ ultraviolet lights aren’t any more dangerous than the sun. “Ultraviolet light is ultraviolet light, whether it comes from the sun or whether it comes from an indoor tanning bed,” he said. “And moderation is the key. And just like outdoor sunlight, you have risks and you have benefits. And you have to avoid overexposure. You definitely have to avoid…getting a sunburn.”

The bill would charge salons with a criminal offense, if they let teens in to tan. Swanger called the penalty an oversight, and promised to amend the legislation in committee. “I don’t agree with sending anyone to jail for violating this law,” she said. “But I would certainly advocate for a civil penalty of a substantial fine for a first offense. And then any other offense after that, just a loss of license.”

Most Young Adults Ineligible for Military

A group of military leaders says 80% and maybe as many as 90% of 17 to 24 year olds in the Pittsburgh area would not qualify for military service. Members of "Mission: Readiness," a non-profit comprised of 200 retired military officers, say a 2009 Pentagon study shows that nationwide 75% of young adults are unfit for military service.
The reasons include obesity, health problems such as asthma, criminal records, failure to graduate high school or being unable to pass the entry exams.
Retired Major General John Stevens says these numbers are not just a problem for the military....
"When you have people who are unfit, uneducated and unscrupulous, if they don't get into the military, they're probably not going to be successful as diplomats, in politics, in local or national or international business. They;re not going to be the innovators, the technologists, professors of medicine. So we have a problem everywhere in this country in terms of securing the nation and defending our vital national interests."

At an event at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, Stevens and other retired generals spoke about the importance of early education to build the foundation for disciplined, law-abiding, achieving adults.

DHS Encourages No Screens

Back away from the screen, and no one gets hurt. That is what the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) is trying to get children to do from April 18th to the 24th for "Screen-Free Week." Screen time includes television programs, movies, video games, Internet time, etc. Anything that involves a screen is discouraged during this week. Glenna Wilson, DHS Office of Community Service Safe Start coordinator says participating will create long and short term benefits. "If they begin to reduce the amount of [screen] time before the age of six, then it's not a definite. It's just like quitting smoking: anytime is a good time to quit." Wilson says that it's not just the content of screen media materials that negatively impacts children. She says that less time in front of a television or computer screen can prevent childhood obesity and psychological problems down the road. "It's important for parents to realize the impact that this has on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under two, and less than two hours a day for older children." Wilson adds that preschool children spend about 32 hours a week with screen media, and children ages 8 to 18 consider themselves to be addicted to video games. The DHS encourages children to use the time they are not spending in front of a screen with family, friends, and physical activity. Alternative activities and certificates are available online for parents to use as incentive for children to participate in Screen-Free Week.

Pittsburgh Young Musicians at Monterey Jazz Festival

In Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood, the desire to help empower a community has resulted in a group of young musicians representing Pittsburgh at the Monterey Jazz Festival's upcoming Next Generation Festival. As part of our occasional series "This Musical City," DUQ’s Bob Studebaker spoke with Tim Smith, the founder of The Center of Life, and two of the musicians in the band.

Listen to the report

Pgh Ranks High for High School Diplomas, Low for Degrees

Lower unemployment than most, poorer roads than most: those are a couple of the findings of a new benchmark study comparing a 22 county Pittsburgh region with 14 other cities. The report was compiled by the Regional Indicators at Pittsburgh today dot org.
In the 2nd part of our look at this study, DUQ’s Kevin Gavin talks with the director of the Regional Indicators, Doug Heuck about some of the 10 categories including economy, arts, health, education and demographics.

Listen to the interview

Listen to Part 1

PA Rep: Teens Need More Drive Time

State Rep. Kathy Watson of Bucks County says the bill she introduced this week would help to save the lives of young drivers. Her bill carries three main changes to the state’s driving laws. The first would extend the number of behind-the-wheel hours a permit holder needs before moving on to a driver’s licenses, from the current 50 hours to 65 hours. Watson says ten of the additional hours would have to be logged at night and the other five during “inclement weather.” “We have found in reviewing crashes for this age group, these are factors that occur, that often young people are not prepared to handle,” says Watson. She says she hopes parents will abide by the rules and not just sign off on the specialized hours. “If your child is really good at sports you get them out there to practice soccer or baseball, or if you’ve got the concert pianist in the family, or whatever it is, you work with them because you get better with practice,” says Watson, “this is the same thing and this has really deadly consequences if they don’t get that experience.”

The bill would also force anyone from birth to age 18 to wear a seatbelt while seated anywhere in the car and it would make that law a primary offense, which means a police officer could pull over a car based solely on that violation. Watson says more than 50-percent of all automobile accident fatalities among 16 to 18 year olds can be traced back to not wearing seatbelts.

Finally, the bill calls for the number of teens that can be in the car with a young driver to be limited to just one. “They can not text or they can put the cell phone away but they can’t tune out the others who are in the car with them talking, laughing, asking questions,” says Watson, “that is very difficult for a new driver to deal with and process all that is going on on the road around them.” Exceptions would be made for family members.

Watson says she will work hard to make sure the bill is not bogged down with amendments. She says while, issues such as texting while driving and the use of hand held cell phones are important, they should not be added to this bill. She says those items are better handled in stand-alone bills that impact all drivers, not just teens.

Jewish Youth to Convene In Pgh

About 140 Jewish teens will arrive in Pittsburgh this week for a multiple-state convention that includes volunteer work and education on special needs.

Hailing from Ohio and its surrounding states, the youths of the Central Region of United Synagogue Youth will gather at the Beth Shalom synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

Beth Shalom Youth Director Carolyn Gerecht says the teens will volunteer with Ronald McDonald House, several food pantries, and Thriftique, a Swissvale thrift store run by the National Council of Jewish Women.

Gerecht says the theme of the convention’s workshops will be “viewing special needs through a Jewish lens.”

“For example, they’ll talk about what it’s like to do some of the different prayers or different rituals that are associated with holidays … what it’s like to experience that if you have a physical or mental disability.”

Gerecht says the teens will also experience the “excited” Pittsburgh Jewish community by staying overnight with Beth Shalom families.

“Not all of these kids are coming from a community like that. Some of them are the only Jew in their high school, and I think it will be exciting for them to see what this kind of community looks like.”

Because United Synagogue Youth is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Beth Shalom is also seeking past USY members to speak with the group about what the organization has done over time.

“Two-Second Turnoff Day” to Stop Texting While Driving

On September 17, AAA, Seventeen Magazine and the Department of Transportation are asking everyone to save a life by taking two seconds to turn off their cell phone before driving during the Seventeen Two-Second Turnoff Day.
AAA and Seventeen Magazine teamed up and surveyed nearly 2,000 males and females between the ages of 16-19 to discover what risky behaviors they’re engaging in while driving, and how they justify those behaviors.
AAA’s Spokesperson Bevi Powell says the results were frightening:
• 84% of teenage drivers know distracted driving is dangerous.
• 9 out of 10, or 86%, engage in distracted driving behaviors anyway.
• 73% have adjusted their radio.
• 61% have eaten food.
• 60% have talked on the phone or text messaged.
They justified the above information with this:
• 41% think their action will only take a split second.
• 35% don’t think they’ll get hurt.
• 34% said they’re good at multitasking.
• 32% don’t think anything bad will happen to them.
Powell says traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teen drivers. She says it's especially imperative for them to be completely focused on the road while driving because of the lack of driving experience, and their willingness to take risks. She says the chances of a car accident are doubled when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road for just two seconds.
Powell says texting while driving is among the riskiest common driving distractions. She says according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than a half million were injured…so it is a very serious problem.”

Children’s Museum Earns National Award

Every year the Institute of Museum and Library Services honors 5 libraries and 5 museums with a National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The Award has been described as the highest honor in the library and museum community. Among this year’s prizewinners is the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Museum Executive Director Jane Werner says she was surprised and humbled by the award announced today. The Museum was nominated by a staffer and Werner says when they cut the cake to celebrate, “They get the big icing rose on top.” Werner says the museum was chosen for its commitment to the community. She says often Museums don’t “get outside their walls… but we feel we need to be agents of change in the community.” The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize and an opportunity to present at a national museum and library conference in Washington. Werner says she will focus on the museum’s many community projects including their afterschool programs, the Head Start partnership with the Pittsburgh Public School District, and the “Charm Bracelet Project.” The project brings together 17 different cultural, educational, and recreational organizations on the North Shore to work together to “transform traditional understandings of how institutions make community impact.” Werner says her vision of the future has Pittsburgh know worldwide as “Kidsburgh.” She says, “wouldn’t it be great, the next time the G20 comes here, they come here because we are such a great place for children.” Werner says along with a small gathering for staff and board members the cash will be used to extend their mission.

City Youth Work Program Twice as Big

The Pittsburgh Summer Youth Employment Program marked its midway point today by taking Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on a tour of several work sites across the city. The program gives city youth 6 weeks of employment from July 6th through August 14th. They are paid minimum wage while working in mostly public works-type jobs but City Acting Personnel Director Judy Hill Finegan says this year some of the participants are working “white collar internships.” With 554 participants, the program is twice the size it was last year. The expansion comes with the help of federal stimulus finds. Finegan says the $1.6 million in stimulus funds had to go to disadvantaged youth, the $500,000 from the city was used for projects that could attract block grant funds and $150,000 from the Pittsburgh foundation was used to fill the gaps. Students were chosen using a lottery system from all city zip codes. Finegan says not only do the participants get to put more than one thousand dollars in their pocket but they also walk away with work experience and a “Jumpstart Success” certification. The certification is preapproved by the PA Department of Education and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board and recognized by employers across the state. She says the certification process includes education on how to be a good employee. It touches on everything from showing up on time and listening to making a good representation of your self and building interpersonal relationships. About a third of the stimulus money will be held back for a work preparation program for 22-24 year olds later this year.

Mayor: Curfew Center Open Soon.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says he hopes to have the new city curfew center up and running in the next few weeks. Last week the Pittsburgh City Council approved a contract with Three Rivers Youth to run a curfew center where youths, out after-hours, can be taken and held. Three Rivers plans to offer counseling, treatment and other social services to not only the children but also their parents. The contract comes after several months of delays. Ravenstahl had hoped to have the center open by May 1st but the council held off a vote in favor of a public hearing and open debate. Some council members felt the center would not be used and others believed it was not worth the half-million-dollar contract. A citywide curfew law has not been enforced since 2004 when the downtown curfew center was closed. The curfew ordinance requires youths younger than 17 to be indoors from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on summer weeknights, and starting at 10 p.m. on school-year weeknights. Friday and Saturday nights year-round, they must be in by midnight. There are some exceptions, like going to or from a job. Ravenstahl says the center will be evaluated at the end of the first year of the contract. He says they will look at things such as the number of individuals who get treatment or social service help as well as the number of youth taken to the center. However he says the raw numbers will tell only half the story. He says this now gives officers the ability to approach youth out after curfew. He says that may result in a child going home rather than to the center and it may deter after curfew activities. Some officers have said that they will continue to ignore the curfew because it simply takes too long to transport and process the youth. The center hopes to reduce that time by having a new process in place aimed at getting the officers back o the streets as soon as possible.

City Curfew Center Roll Out

Now that Pittsburgh City Council has given final approval to funding for The Youth Curfew Center, plans are underway to get it operational later this summer. It will be located in a facility at 200 N. Dithridge St. in West Oakland. Currently the building houses an emergency shelter for young girls, which is in the process of being relocated. Three Rivers Youth will operate the center. President and CEO Peggy Harris, says they plan to add space for about 24 beds to accommodate youth who will be brought there by police for violating Pittsburgh's curfew. She says some kids may have to stay overnight until their parents arrive to get them. There will also be referrals, follow up, and counseling offered to the youth and their families.

Harris says as part of the roll out plan, they are proceeding with the licensure process with the state Department of Public Welfare. She says back in the February when they were selected for the contract, they launched an extensive recruitment campaign for staff. She anticipates the Youth Curfew Center will employ about 12 people, with the bulk of the staffing during the evening hours. Those who are hired must go through an extensive criminal background check. Harris expects the center can be operational by mid-August. She says contractually they are required to have the center open within 45 days of signing an agreement, which they have not done yet. She says the mid-August opening would be in line with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s desired time line.
In July 2004, then Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy closed the city's curfew center to save money and because it was little used.

Bill to Expand Foster Care Stalled

A state senator from Philadelphia is calling on her fellow lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow foster children to stay in the system beyond the age of 18. Currently any child in the system must leave upon turning 18, but Sen. LeAnna Washington has proposed legislation that would allow them to remain under foster care until the age of 21. Washington says 36 other states already have some sort of program that allows teenagers to stay in foster care. Washington says many 18 year-olds wind up on the streets after ageing out of foster care. She says they need the education, health insurance and housing support. Washington says the hope is that by the age of 21 they will have, “completed their education, finished any treatment program they may have been in, and are ready to enter the workforce.” As of September,2008, there were some 8,500 children 13 years of age and older in Pennsylvania’s foster care system. Sen. Washington has introduced two similar bills and both are sitting in committee. Washington says it is time for the matter to be called and debated. She hopes this will be the first step toward legislation to provide a free community college education to any foster care child.

Ravenstahl: Open the Curfew Center

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is calling on City Council Members to listen to the citizens and vote on a contract to open a curfew center. The center would be used as a drop off and social service center for youth picked up for violating the city’s curfew laws. Ravenstahl reached a deal with Three Rivers Youth to run a center at 200 N. Dithridge St. in North Oakland earlier this year. The contract comes with a half million-dollar price tag. Council postponed a vote on the deal last month until they could hold a public hearing. That hearing came a week and a half ago and Ravenstahl says the result was clear that the citizens want the center. He says, “This is not something I came up with. This was requested by police and the people who live in the neighborhoods.” The measure could come up for debate Wednesday. Ravenstahl says he originally wanted to open the center May 1st to make sure it was in place and running before the summer when more youth hit the streets after hours. Three Rivers Youth will not only hold the curfew violators but also will give them and their families counseling and connect them with other social service agencies. Ravenstahl says police will not enforce the city’s curfew law until a center is operating. Council President Doug Shields has come out against the center in the past and Bill Peduto and Jim Motznik are on record as being in favor of curfew enforcement. It is unclear if there are enough votes on council to pass the measure.

Pittsburgh Project Names New Executive Director

The Pittsburgh Project, a community development organization on the city's North Side, today announced that Elizabeth Rosemeyer will now be the group's Executive Director. Rosemeyer, a former a attorney, has been the Project's Associate Executive Director since January. She will be only the second executive director in the 24-year history of the Project succeeding Saleem Ghubril who recently accepted a new position at the Pittsburgh Promise. Rosemeyer says she will rely on her hard-working staff to continue with the current the Project's current initiatives. Currently the Project is involved in youth development, community outreach, urban farming, and homeowners service programs.

Grable Foundation Pledges $5 Million to Pittsburgh Promise

The Pittsburgh Promise, a scholarship program for public school graduates, will receive 5 million dollars over the next five years from the Grable Foundation, and maybe more thereafter. Since UPMC's major commitment last year, the Buhl Foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Heinz Endowments have also pledged millions.

Grable Foundation Executive Director Greg Behr says the gift is a vote of confidence in the superintendent, the school board, and the students.

Behr hopes others will step forward to support the Pittsburgh Promise.

State Implements New Child Care Regulations

A new set of rules from the Department of Public Welfare is changing the way Pennsylvania's child care centers operate. The new regulations were developed over a three year period with input from providers, advocates and members of the General Assembly and replace rules last drafted in 1994. The updated guidelines include: new health and safety requirements, recognition of children with special needs, improved facility compliance standards, mandatory training for new providers and increased communication between parents and providers regarding child development. In addition, the Department of Health has updated regulations bringing the immunization requirements at child care facilities in line with national standards.

Children with Disabilities to Get Ballpark

Southwestern Pennsylvania will have its first baseball field designed for children with special needs. The Pittsburgh Pirates charity group has donated $200,000 for the construction of a baseball field made of a synthetic surface that will make it possible for special needs children to play organized baseball. The new ballfield will be located in Cranberry, and will be safe for children who are wheelchair bound or require walkers. The park will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez contributed $50,000 to the construction of the ballfield and met many of the children who will participate in the league next year. The park is tentatively scheduled to open next May.

Manchester Students Mark Anti-Violence Week

An annual staff-student basketball game at Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8 has turned into a week of anti-violence activities. Curriculum Coach Angela Taylor says recent violence in the neighborhood prompted this week's schedule of activities ranging from anti-violence decorations on classroom doors, to a Random Acts of Kindness competition, to a community meeting. The usual basketball game will still take place Friday night. Teachers are also incorporating an anti-violence message into their lesson plans.