PGH. Schools: No More 50% for No Work

Pittsburgh Public Schools has changed its 50% minimum grading procedure. The policy, which was put in place years ago, recently came under fire when the district’s administrative office stepped up efforts to enforce the policy. The policy states that teachers are to give a grade of 50% even if a student’s actual score is lower. The goal is to give students a chance to recover from a bad grade and to not demoralize a student to the point that they will no longer put forth an effort. However, some teachers expressed concern that some students were opting to receive a 50% in lieu of turning in assignments or taking tests. Based on the recommendation of a committee of teachers, principals, staff and leadership of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the district has now adopted a policy where students who refuse to do work have a zero as their recorded percentage. In a press release the district says, “Any student putting forth a legitimate effort but earning a percentage less than 50% will have the assignment graded as an “E” and recorded at 50%.” For all assignments, the actual percentage earned will be communicated to students and parents. The amended procedure is effective immediately. Superintendent Mark Roosevelt says, “This amended procedure balances the need to make it mathematically possible for students to bring up their grades during a nine week period, while making them aware that we expect them at all times to put forth their best effort on assignments,” He says he District stands by the core principles that led to implementation of the 50% minimum grading procedure.

Bill Helps Small Businesses

State Representative Tony DeLuca is reintroducing a bill that will aid small businesses and full-time college students up to age 30 in having stabilized health insurance rates. DeLuca says everyone deserves to have health care coverage, and passing this bill would make it more affordable because small business owners will pay a smaller fee for covering employees’ health insurance plans, no matter what age they are. He says it’s not fair for new businesses to get better rates on younger employees than older businesses that are burdened with higher rates.

A.G Says NO to State Office Building Sale

Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner Says as the state’s top financial watchdog it is his duty to oppose the sale of the state office building in Pittsburgh. The state is to open bids for the building Friday and Wagner has sent a letter to Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of General Services James Creedon asking him to discard the bids. Wagner says there is a long list of reasons to not sell the building near point state park but chief among them is timing. He says in the tough economic times and the soft real estate market the state would get “virtually nothing” for the building. Wagner says the state would use up all of the proceeds of the sale covering the costs of relocation to three separate buildings and the first year of lease payments to the new landlords. Wagner goes on to say it would be “ludicrous” to decentralize state operations. He says people in western Pennsylvania know where to go to get state services and spreading the offices throughout downtown is bad management. Wagner admits the building needs to be upgraded but he says the cost is not enough to warrant what he describes as a “fire sale.” The state put the building, which houses 800 state employees, up for sale in April 2008. It had agreed to sell the building to the Buncher Co. for $4.5 million -- a price that Creedon acknowledged was less than the state had expected -- but the deal fell through when Buncher withdrew its bid in early February. Creedon told the house appropriations committee last week that DGS has given prospective bidders until March 6 to match the state's minimum price of $4.5 million for the building. He says if no one meets the price DGS will take it off the market until conditions improve.

Controversy Over Listing Mussels as Threatened or Endangered

On the recommendation of a panel of experts, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is proposing the listing of five additional river mussel species as threatened or endangered. In opposition are sand and gravel companies that dredge the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, permanently changing the rivers by creating holes 50 to 60 feet deep when the natural depth is only 8 to 10 feet. Mussels that are not scooped up with the sand and gravel cannot survive in the deep holes. PennDOT, which uses the aggregate for road and bridge construction, says the proposed listing would drive up its costs up by $5 to 6 million. Legislation introduced in the State Senate would prohibit such listings. A public hearing is being held in Kittanning this evening.

The riverbeds are not private resources but are owned by the people of Pennsylvania, says Doug Austen, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission. Dredging companies must get permits from the Department of Environmental Protection, which limits dredging where listed species are present. Austen says there are still many areas in the rivers where dredging is allowed, and it's much better for all parties concerned if the state listing prevents a further decline in mussel populations that would provoke a federal listing.

PNC Cuts Dividend

PNC Financial Services says it will reduce the company's quarterly common stock dividend from 66 cents to just 10 cents per share as of its next dividend that is due out next month. PNC CEO Jim Rohr says "We are taking this proactive step to build capital, further strengthen our balance sheet and serve our customers in an unprecedented and uncertain economy." In an investor conference call Rohr went on to say, "While our overall capital and liquidity positions are strong, extreme market deterioration and the changing regulatory environment drove this difficult but prudent decision.” PNC is in the process of taking over National City and Rohr says that is going smoothly and is expected to help the company going forward. He says PNC's businesses are performing as expected in the first quarter with strong client growth. Sales are above expectations, and the company continues to increase share in its newly acquired markets. One goal of the dividend reduction is to help make credit available to customers. Rohr says the move should also, “…position PNC for full redemption of the U.S. Treasury Department's preferred stock investment as soon as appropriate.” The move is expected to save PNC about $1 billion a year.

Problem Gambling Awareness

With more gambling opportunities sprouting throughout Pennsylvania, by casino slots and online games, it's more important than ever to pick up on symptoms of gambling addiction. The first week of March is "National Problem Gambling Awareness Week", and it comes during a great time to better understand the issue. State Department of Health Spokesperson Stacy Kriedman says it is estimated that 1 and 3 percent of people will develop a gambling problem at some point during their lives. There are state services offered to remedy these problems.

"Problem gambling is defined as an urge to gamble despite harmful, negative consequences or gambling despite an urge to stop," says Kriedman. She says if the losses are mounting, or if there are ramifications such as bills going unpaid and effects with family, there are services that can help.

A 24/7 hot line number is available for problem gamblers as well as family or friends of problem gamblers. Kriedman says hotline workers are trained to screen for crisis, substance problems and mental issues. It is a free service that lets its callers remain anonymous. The hot line number is 877-565-2112. Also, there are 42 facilities through Pennsylvania that offer outpatient treatment services. For more information, go to www.health.state.pa.us.

Assn. Files Suit Against Rental Registration Law

The Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh has filed suit asking that the city of Pittsburgh not be allowed to implement a new rental unit registration ordinance. Under the ordinance landlords must pay a $12-per-unit fee and provide information about the renters. There is also a $65 occupancy permit fee. This all must be done by April 1. It also stipulates that the owner or the manager of the rental property must live in Pennsylvania. Association Acting Executive Director Jim Eichenlaub says the ordinance runs contrary to the US and PA constitutions’ equal protection clauses, it does not provide for due process and it violates the privacy rights of both the landlord and the tenants. The measure does not allow for an appeal process following a building inspection. Eichenlaub says this amounts to an illegal tax. The suit asks for an injunction to put the ordinance on hold. The case will be argued next week.

Taser Working Group Mulls Best Practices

Tasers can be a better alternative for subduing suspects if police use the weapons properly, says a member of Allegheny County's Taser Working Group. Ken Gormley is the Interim Dean of Duquesne University's Law School. He says statistics from other cities suggest that the use of tasers can reduce deaths in confrontations between suspects and police. Gormley says even the presence of tasers can be a deterrent. But policies for taser use can vary. Gormley says that's raised questions about what best practices should be. For instance, should police be required to take someone who's been tasered to the hospital in order to have the weapon's probes removed? Should they call a paramedic? Or is it okay for officers to remove the probes?

Gormley says he's learned a lot about how the weapons work and what can make their use riskier. For instance, he says tasers should not be used if suspects are standing in a pool of water, or on a roof--because the shock makes people lose muscle control, and they fall.

Gormley says he has not seen evidence that suggests police who have tasers are "trigger happy." Although the weapons are considered to be non-lethal, Gormley says he thinks most police are conscious of the need to use them appropriately. The weapons also have a computer that tracks how often and for how long they are used, potentially identifying officers who mishandle them.

The Taser Working Group was formed by the District Attorney's office last fall to recommend guidelines for police use of the weapons. Gormley says group still has a few more meetings before it begins to draft those recommendations.

Local Youth Lobby for Green Economy

Over 50 young voters from across the Pittsburgh region are lobbying in Washington D.C. today, acting as the local chapter of Power Shift ’09. This event is an organization of approximately 10,000 youth from across the country who will talk with national political leaders to make sure some stimulus money goes toward creating green jobs in their region. State Representatives Chelsa Wagner and Jake Wheatley are also going with the group to the capitol in support of the effort. Youth Outreach Coordinator Nate Brown of One Hood, an event organizer on the local level, says the young people of the region are still “feeling a lot of the energy” from the presidential election and want to do more. Brown says the local delegation will blog whatever information it discovers immediately, so as to better share it with Pittsburghers at home.

Tax Checkoff Helps Breast Cancer Research

For the tenth year in a row, income tax payers in Pennsylvania who are due a refund can give money to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund. Last year the Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund took in $164,000 through the check off program found at the bottom of the PA-40 form. The fund is run by the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. President Pat Halpin-Murphy says the coalition focuses on issuing research grants, offering free treatment and launching public awareness campaigns. Halpin-Murphy says only the research portion of the organizations mission is supported by the check off. In the last ten years the fund has received $2-million dollars making it the most popular program ever. Halpin-Murphy says Pennsylvania is blessed with a large number of research institutions and many of them are delving into finding better treatment methods and eventually finding a cure. Each grant handed out by the fund is for $50,000. Halpin-Murphy says the goal of the fund is to “find a cure for breast cancer so our daughters don’t have to.” She reminds those thinking about giving to the fund that one in 8 women will be the victim of breast cancer and nearly everyone has been touched by the disease in one way or another.