World Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh

The International Women's Forum (IWF) is holding its annual World Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh. Leaders from more than 60 different countries are meeting to talk about sustainable cities and how to attain them. Attendees will pay careful attention to Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates, which is being built to be the world's first "zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city."

IWF President Esther Silver-Parker says the conferences are always focused on developing more women leaders, and on how women can become involved in worldly situations.

They have previously met in places like Seattle and Buenos Aires, Argentina. They plan to meet in Hong Kong in the spring.

Michelle Obama coming to Pittsburgh

The Wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama will rally voters in Oakland Thursday. Michelle Obama will host a “Change We Need” rally at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial. Doors open at 10:30. The campaign says the event is free and open to the public but reservations are recommended. Michelle Obama is expected to talk about, “The issues at stake in this year’s election” and “The challenges of everyday Americans.”

BNY Mellon Gets Contract to Administer Bailout Funds

BNY Mellon will not be making any decisions on how the funds will be spent and invested but it will hold all of the cash, assets and securities for the Treasury Department. The company will eventually run the auctions for the assets. BNY Mellon was one of 70 financial institutions to submit a bid to manage the fund. The three-year contract to administer the funds can be renewed on a year-by-year basis each of the 4 years following the initial contract. Also announced yesterday was the investment of $3Billion of the $700 Billion bailout fund in BNY Mellon preferred stock. It was one of 9 banks the feds invested in Tuesday. None were deemed to be in distress. BNY Mellon spokesperson Ron Gruendl says the purchase of the stock will not have any impact on the management of the company and it will also not dilute the dividends that will be announced Thursday. Gruendl says it is unclear how the contract will impact the Pittsburgh workforce.

Taxpayer Assistance Forum Tomorrow

A forum tomorrow is aimed at helping Allegheny County residents who are having trouble paying their real estate taxes or mortgages. The county's Treasurer, Controller and Sheriff will all attend. Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty says they want to hear suggestions about what the county can do to help residents who are having problems with taxes or foreclosures. So far, the county has delayed its annual filing of real estate tax liens. Normally, they're filed in August. A new date has not been set. A Taxpayer Task Force is also studying ways the county can help taxpayers.

The forum will be held in the Allegheny County Courthouse's Gold Room tomorrow from 5 to 7 pm.

Peduto Reflects on Norway Trip

Pittsburgh Councilman Bill Peduto recently returned from a month-long visit to Norway. He says he learned a lot about alternative energy and believes some of what that country is doing may hold promise in Pittsburgh.

Peduto says Norway is already planning for shifting its energy portfolio once the country's supply of oil and natural gas is depleted. That's expected to happen in about 40 years. He says he met with scientists who are working on floating wind turbines that will be positioned in the north Atlantic Ocean, where oil rigs are now. He also says Norway no longer puts its garbage in landfills. The garbage is incinerated and used as a form of energy to supply electricity and heat.

Since his return, Peduto says he's met with State Representative Joe Preston about a project he tried to pursue years ago: using the Highland Park reservoir as a potential energy source.

Bureau of Building Inspection makes changes

Pittsburgh's Bureau of Building Inspection (BBI) has a new chief and will be undergoing many changes starting in January. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he wants the BBI to be more effective in what they do in order to better serve the community. Ravenstahl named Sergei Matveiev as the new chief of the bureau. There will be changes in code inspection. It will be an integrated process. Also, inspectors will be provided with much-needed tools, including handheld computers and bureau-provided vehicles. New inspectors will take proper training classes, and older inspectors can also take classes to be better trained in what they do. The costs to provide all of this is expected to exceed $1 million, but Ravenstahl believes "it's a worthwhile investment."

Pittsburgh Lawyer Challenges City Limits On Gun Sales

A Pittsburgh Lawyer is challenging a city statute that prohibits the selling of guns throughout most parts of the city. The statute sets zones where guns can and cannot be sold. Attorney Peter Georgiades is claiming the amendment to the statute in question is illegal because state and federal guidelines overrule the city's decision making power. The zoning board is currently debating whether or not to approve the request by Georgiades. Georgiades obtains the weapons by seizures of property in cases where a debtor owes him or one of his clients money. To sell a firearm one must have a federal licence to do so. Georgiades applied for a licence from the ATF and was denied because of the city's zoning code. He says he plans to appeal this case as much as he has to in order for him to be allowed to sell firearms.

Biomass and Garbage Take Center Stage in Pittsburgh

The second “International Energy from Biomass and Waste Exposition and Conference” kicks off in Pittsburgh Tuesday. The event features sessions on everything from the latest energy technologies and government policies to finance and investment strategies. The event also includes an expo floor with exhibitors ranging from bio mass producers to fuel and chemical makers. There is also a workforce development and youth forum aimed at linking businesses with employees. Conference co-organizer Nathaniel Doyno says Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s largest producers of biomass, one of the nation’s largest importers of garbage and one of the nation’s largest users of energy so the information that will be discussed this week is key to the future of the region. He says while investments in new ventures may be slowing thanks to tight financial markets he thinks safe investment like garbage-to-energy projects will continue to attract money. More than 1-thousand delegates are expected and more than 70 businesses and organizations will have booths at the expo.

Herpes Research May Lead to Vaccine

University of Pittsburgh researchers say their recent findings about herpes may lead them closer to a vaccine. Their new study in the journal Science finds that the immune system plays an important role in keeping the virus "asleep" in the body. By identifying the specific types of cells responsible for controlling the virus, researchers say they can now work on boosting those cells to help prevent outbreaks.

Study co-author Kip Kinchington says this is a different approach than in past research, which focused on antibodies or on ways to prevent people from becoming infected.

Nine out of 10 people carry herpes simplex virus type one. Symptoms in most cases are minor, but about 250,000 people in the United States annually experience eye problems that can lead to blindness. The Pitt study was funded partly by the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights

The Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights kicks off tonight at 8:30 with building facades downtown transformed into works of art by international designers and a free concert from 6 to 9 in Katz Plaza by Etta Cox and her band. Then every night through November 20th, the lights will be on from dusk to midnight.

On Wednesday, October 15th, the celebration extends to Oakland and Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, with several days of free performances by Squonk Opera in Schenley Plaza.
Festival director Marguerite Jarrett Marks says the investment pays off for the city and the region as visitors frequent shops, theaters and shows.

Festival details are at www.pittsburghcelebrates.org.