Mayor Ravenstahl Meets With President Of The Slovak Republic

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl met today with Ivan Gasparovic, President of the Slovak Republic. The President was hosted by U.S. Steel, which does business in Slovakia. They met to discuss the Visa waiver program that would enable trade between Slovakia and the U.S. to move faster. U.S. Steel officials cited an instance where it took 3 months before they could ship their products back to the U.S.

Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts

The Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts opens Tonight. DUQ's Mark Nootbaar had a chance to talk to the curator Paul Organisak. Listen to the full-length story here.

New Leadership for Reorganized Episcopal Diocese

The Episcopal Church USA has recognized new leadership for a reorganized Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese. This comes after a vote Saturday by some clergy and laity to secede from the national church and align with the more conservative Southern Cone of the Anglican Communion. The clergy voted 121 to 33 and lay leaders voted 119 to 69 to split from the U.S. Church. Robert Duncan served as Bishop of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese for 11 years before he was deposed last month by the Council of Bishops of the Episcopal Church USA. He now becomes the Episcopal Commissary from the Southern Cone to Pittsburgh. Bishop Duncan led the secession movement following the ordination of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire.
Following the vote to secede, at least 20 parishes voted to remain with the U.S. Church. Today the national leadership recognized a Standing Committee to serve as the ecclesiastical authority of the reorganized Pittsburgh Diocese in the absence of a bishop. The Reverend Doctor James Simons, rector of St Michael's of the Valley, chairs that committee. Reverend Doctor Simons told DUQ News that the first task is pastoral...reaching out to those parishes and members who are in pain because of the split.
Simons says that they will hold a reorganization convention December 13 at which an interim bishop will be chosen to serve for a year or two until a selection committee is formed and conducts the process for electing a new bishop. Reverend Simons says he believes that sometime in the future there will be reconciliation in the Pittsburgh Diocese.

Mushroom Foray

On a recent Saturday in North Park amateur and expert mushroom hunters grabbed their baskets and fanned out for the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club's big annual foray-- to scour the woods, fields and trails for fungi. DUQ's Larkin Page-Jacobs tagged along.

Listen to the full-length story here.

DeWeese Fires Back at Former Chief of Staff

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese says the testimony of a former aide implicating DeWeese in the so-called Bonusgate scandal is false.
Representative DeWeese called an impromptu press conference in a hallway outside the House of Representatives to dispute the comments of his former chief of staff.
Mike Manzo testified at a preliminary hearing for 2 people indicted in connection with alleged illegal bonuses paid to state employees for doing campaign work. Manzo testified that DeWeese knew about bonuses given to state staffers and condoned them.
DeWeese called Manzo a desperate and disgruntled former employee.

"Mike Manzo's speculation that I knew about his criminal acts is absolutely false and there is no evidence to support his opinion."

DeWeese says he has fully cooperated with authorities, and Manzo is retaliating against him for being fired last year.

"He has lied to his wife, to his girlfriend, to investigators and to me. His motives are suspect and his opinions are just not credible."

The grand jury presentment handed down in August charged that Manzo gave an alleged girlfriend in Pittsburgh a ghost job.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek would not comment on whether DeWeese will be indicted. He only said the investigation is continuing.

Ford Cleared By Ethics Commission

The former head of the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority has been cleared by the State Ethics Commission. In a letter dated September 25, the Commission said that the theater sound system that Ford received from an executive at Lamar Advertising did not meet the $250 threshold and therefore did not need to be reported. The panel said the gift was valued at $215. Ford took a paid leave of absence for 4 months following the disclosure of the gift and information that he helped Lamar get a permit for a digital billboard in downtown Pittsburgh bypassing the usual hearing and voting process. Lamar later agreed to resubmit its application for a permit. Ford resigned his post in August after the U-R-A agreed pay him $90,000 in salary and benefits for the final 4 months of his $117,000 a year contract. Ford's attorney Lawrence Fisher says the Commission's decision validates his client's ethical integrity.

Bonusgate Takes Big Turn in Court

A former aide to state House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese today testified in court that his boss knew bonuses were given to state workers as rewards for illegal campaign work - and that he “condoned” them. Until now, former DeWeese chief of staff Mike Manzo was one of the most important defendants charged with corruption, theft and criminal conspiracy in the bonus case. His testimony in the preliminary hearing for former caucus staffer Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink was a real surprise in the courtroom. State Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek says Manzo agreed to a plea bargain right before the hearing. He says the state made no promises of leniency in return for his testimony. Manzo's lawyer told reporters he would plead guilty to at least three felony charges brought against him. The attorney general has not charged Majority Leader DeWeese. Attorney General Corbett says his investigation continues in to both republican and Democratic activities. No additional charges will be filed until after the November election.

October Is Parental Involvement Month In Pennsylvania

October is parental involvement month in Pennsylvania. Parental Involvement is important for the development of a child and their success in school. Families can start involvement as soon as a child is born and encourage education by supporting homework time, being involved at a child's school, either in a PTA organization or just by being aware of what is going on at the child's school or school district. Studies show that the more involved the parent the better the chances for success a child will have in their education.

Wagner Calls for Contraceptives to be Covered

State Representatives Lisa Bennington and Chelsa Wagner, both Democrats from Allegheny County, haves introduced legislation that would force all health plans in the state that include prescription drug benefits to cover contraceptives. She says it is a matter of empowering women and it should be seen as a public health issue. She says people also need to realize that contraceptives have uses beyond preventing pregnancy including treatment for acne and sever bleeding and cramping. Wagner admits that the measure was introduced late in the session and has little chance of passing but she says it will serve as an introduction to some members of the house and she plans to reintroduce it in January. Several other states have similar legislation.

PA Teacher of the Year announced

Rebecca Snyder, a language arts teacher at Greater Latrobe, said she was stunned when she found out. She uses a unique teaching method in the classroom, that involves hands-on activities to grasp abstract concepts to her students. She tries to "turn the light bulb on for her students." She said she also has a passion to teach, and comes to school giving all her effort, everyday.

Snyder will also compete in the national teacher of the year program. The national winner will be announced in April.