32-year-old Khari Mosley of Pittsburgh, who founded the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters in 2004, has been named Field and Political Director for the national organization. In addition to Pennsylvania, the group has affiliates in New Mexico, Wisconsin, California, Florida, Ohio, and Missouri.
Mosley will be responsible for voter registration and all web-based strategies for increasing youth participation in the electoral process--efforts he says are contributing to a record turnout this year, though more should be done to motivate non-college-educated young people to vote.
Mosley describes the League as progressive on issues but non-partisan, willing to work with all parties. There's been no decision as yet on endorsing a presidential candidate.
Friday, March 14, 2008
"Cat Sanctuary" More a "Death Camp"
Law enforcement officials and members of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided Tiger Ranch in Frazer township yesterday, finding more than 600 cats living in deplorable conditions. The PSCPA collected nearly 200 of the cats yesterday, and are still trying today. Lisa Rodgers of the PSCPA says the smell of urine, feces, and cat spray were overpowering. The compound consists of what she says look like small one-story houses where the cats stay. Each contained only one litter box, and Rodgers says she can't say when they might have last been cleaned.
The PSCPA was alerted by neighbors of Tiger Ranch, who flew to Philadelphia with video evidence of dead cats laying around the compound. Rodgers says the cats were not medically cared for, and a PSCPA vet found that many had respiratory diseases.
Rodgers says a cat sanctuary can be a success, but only if it's properly cared for, and the owner of Tiger Ranch may have become overwhelmed by collecting too many cats. The owner is currently in custody, facing more than a dozen animal cruelty charges, with more probably on the way. The PSCPA re-opened a shelter in Clarion to temporarily house the cats.
The PSCPA was alerted by neighbors of Tiger Ranch, who flew to Philadelphia with video evidence of dead cats laying around the compound. Rodgers says the cats were not medically cared for, and a PSCPA vet found that many had respiratory diseases.
Rodgers says a cat sanctuary can be a success, but only if it's properly cared for, and the owner of Tiger Ranch may have become overwhelmed by collecting too many cats. The owner is currently in custody, facing more than a dozen animal cruelty charges, with more probably on the way. The PSCPA re-opened a shelter in Clarion to temporarily house the cats.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
High Schoolers Try to Build a Better Robot
Robots built by high school students are battling it out in a competition at the University of Pittsburgh. The enclosed clear plastic box where the robots compete is reminiscent of the television show "BattleBots"--but these robots aren't trying to destroy each other. Instead, they're competing to race around the track as many times as possible. They also get extra points if they can knock off what look like large beach balls perched on a scaffolding overhead. The robots also score by carrying or pushing the balls around the track. The competition's regional director says it's kind of like a combination of NASCAR and soccer.
The FIRST robot competition is also aimed at developing the innovators of the future. The winning team here will go on to compete at a national event in Atlanta. Winners are often offered scholarships.
The FIRST robot competition is also aimed at developing the innovators of the future. The winning team here will go on to compete at a national event in Atlanta. Winners are often offered scholarships.
Pilot Program at Pitt Medical School
The University of Pittsburgh is one of four universities in the nation participating in a pilot program called “Aspiring Docs”, that aims to increase the number of minorities entering the medical field. Paula Davis of Pitt’s School for Health Sciences says currently minorities are underrepresented. Davis says rising costs play a big part withthe average medical school debt more than $100,000. That does not include if the student borrowed for undergraduate studies. The pilot program aims to provide mentors to minority students who show strength in the sciences in an effort to increase the numbers entering the field of medicine.
Fumo to Retire
One of the longest serving, and most controversial, Senators in Pennsylvania's General Assembly has announced he will retire at the end of November.
Urging the legalization of slots casino gambling and devising a plan to toll Interstate 80 are among the most recent accomplishments of Philadelphia Democrat Vince Fumo's 30 years in office.
Major accomplishments, some would argue, but not enough to eclipse the 139-count indictment and a federal corruption trial the Senator faces this fall.
He says that's prompted his retirement - not the heart attack he suffered last week.
The situation I find myself in makes it difficult for my voice to be heard above the constant chatter about my upcoming trial. I am sorry that is the case."
Governor Ed Rendell stood by his longtime ally, and sometimes adversary during the announcement.
"We're all complex people. Nobody's a hundred percent good and nobody's a hundred percent bad. And when you total up the score of someone's career, it's a balancing test. The balance tips dramatically in favor of the great work Vince Fumo's done for the people of Pennsylvania and his district, but most of all for the people who don't have champions."
Rendell credited Fumo with helping to win many Democratic victories in the Republican dominated Senate - including expanding the health insurance program for children(CHIP).
Urging the legalization of slots casino gambling and devising a plan to toll Interstate 80 are among the most recent accomplishments of Philadelphia Democrat Vince Fumo's 30 years in office.
Major accomplishments, some would argue, but not enough to eclipse the 139-count indictment and a federal corruption trial the Senator faces this fall.
He says that's prompted his retirement - not the heart attack he suffered last week.
The situation I find myself in makes it difficult for my voice to be heard above the constant chatter about my upcoming trial. I am sorry that is the case."
Governor Ed Rendell stood by his longtime ally, and sometimes adversary during the announcement.
"We're all complex people. Nobody's a hundred percent good and nobody's a hundred percent bad. And when you total up the score of someone's career, it's a balancing test. The balance tips dramatically in favor of the great work Vince Fumo's done for the people of Pennsylvania and his district, but most of all for the people who don't have champions."
Rendell credited Fumo with helping to win many Democratic victories in the Republican dominated Senate - including expanding the health insurance program for children(CHIP).
City announces 2008 audit schedule
On Thursday March 13th, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and City Controller Michael Lamb announced the city's audit schedule for 2008. The city charter states the controller is to perform audits of all the cities agencies, trusts, councils, and units of government at least once every four years. There are currently three audits being conducted, with at least five scheduled for this year.
Audits are being conducted on the City of Pittsburgh Police Property Room, the Office of Municipal Investigations, Bureau of Building Inspection, and Emergency Medical Services.
Audits to be conducted throughout the remainder of the year are: Pittsburgh City Council, City of Pittsburgh Employee Worker's Compensation procedures, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Finance Department, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
The mayor also requested an audit of the Public Works Department which will be broken up into separated audits because of the size of the department. The Mayor's Office is to be audited in early 2009.
Audits are being conducted on the City of Pittsburgh Police Property Room, the Office of Municipal Investigations, Bureau of Building Inspection, and Emergency Medical Services.
Audits to be conducted throughout the remainder of the year are: Pittsburgh City Council, City of Pittsburgh Employee Worker's Compensation procedures, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Finance Department, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
The mayor also requested an audit of the Public Works Department which will be broken up into separated audits because of the size of the department. The Mayor's Office is to be audited in early 2009.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Going "Green" With Borrowed $850 Million
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the Alternative Energy Investment Act Tuesday, which borrows $850 million to put the state ahead in energy conservation and "green" business development. The Senate passed its version last year, with a plan to borrow only $500 million.
Pittsburgh-area representatives agreed that a large financial commitment is needed to effectively spark cleaner energy resources, provide consumer rebates, and fund research. Opponents to the bill say it will put the state too far in debt, and grants and contracts will be awarded according to connections in the government. Representative Dan Frankel says the state's open records and public process will help prevent that from happening.
The House bill was sent to the Senate for approval, and they will have to come to a compromise if both cannot agree on one of the already passed versions.
Pittsburgh-area representatives agreed that a large financial commitment is needed to effectively spark cleaner energy resources, provide consumer rebates, and fund research. Opponents to the bill say it will put the state too far in debt, and grants and contracts will be awarded according to connections in the government. Representative Dan Frankel says the state's open records and public process will help prevent that from happening.
The House bill was sent to the Senate for approval, and they will have to come to a compromise if both cannot agree on one of the already passed versions.
Foaming Water in Pittsburgh's Strip District, Downtown
If they weren't distracted enough by the 3-alarm warehouse fire, some residents and business owners in the Strip District found soapy water coming from their taps. That lead to a water advisory for the Strip and Downtown, which remained in effect until around 5 AM.
The polluted water was first reported around 4:30 yesterday afternoon, and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) believes it's connected with the firefighting efforts at 25th and Smallman Streets earlier in the day. PWSA opened fire hydrants along the Strip to track the contamination's progress and flush the water system. Later, the pollutants spread to downtown, and PWSA shut off the water main and opened more hydrants.
If you didn't know about the advisory and ate or cooked with your tap water, you're probably not in danger. Allegheny County Health Department spokesman Guillermo Cole says the substance was widely diluted once it entered the system, and the chance of illness is slight. None have been reported yet.
Bob Hutton of the PWSA says they're not sure just how the foam got into the water system. PWSA administrators, City of Pittsburgh officials, and Fire Department officials were to meet today to find out what happened.
The polluted water was first reported around 4:30 yesterday afternoon, and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) believes it's connected with the firefighting efforts at 25th and Smallman Streets earlier in the day. PWSA opened fire hydrants along the Strip to track the contamination's progress and flush the water system. Later, the pollutants spread to downtown, and PWSA shut off the water main and opened more hydrants.
If you didn't know about the advisory and ate or cooked with your tap water, you're probably not in danger. Allegheny County Health Department spokesman Guillermo Cole says the substance was widely diluted once it entered the system, and the chance of illness is slight. None have been reported yet.
Bob Hutton of the PWSA says they're not sure just how the foam got into the water system. PWSA administrators, City of Pittsburgh officials, and Fire Department officials were to meet today to find out what happened.
Patients Get Help to Find Good Doctors
Patients may soon have more tools to help them find the best doctors in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative has been designated a national Chartered Value Exchange. That means it will have access to Medicare data that helps measure the quality of care. Pittsburgh is one of 14 communities in the country that will have access to that information. Combined with private sector data, it could help patients make better choices. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says it's important for that information to be out there to help improve the overall quality of care.
Some data is already available. Medicare and the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council have published information on the quality of hospitals. But this initiative will go down to the physician level, including the success rate of specific procedures like hip and knee replacements.
Some data is already available. Medicare and the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council have published information on the quality of hospitals. But this initiative will go down to the physician level, including the success rate of specific procedures like hip and knee replacements.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Will of Council
Pittsburgh City Council has passed a will of council on to the state legislature urging them to pass a law that makes mandatory the reporting of lost or stolen handguns. Council President Doug Shields says that this is important in cutting down the number of guns that make it onto our streets because it prevents people with no criminal record from buying guns legally and then selling them illegally to criminals.
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