Voting begins at 7:00am tomorrow and the most recent polls show the race for the Democratic nomination to run for US Senate between incumbent Arlen Specter and challenger Congressman Joe Sestak is too close to call. Six men are running for the Pennsylvania Governor’s office. On the Republican side PA Attorney General Tom Corbett is facing off against State Representative Sam Rohrer. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner, former PA State Representative Anthony Williams, and Former Congressman Joe Hoeffel are running on the Democratic side. Recent polls in both gubernatorial primaries show large numbers of undecided voters. In recent weeks WDUQ has intervied all of the candidates running for governor and spent a day with each of the Senate candidates in the legislative offices. Follow the links below to listen to those stories.
Arlen Specter
Joe Sestak
Tom Corbett
Sam Rohrer
Dan Onorato
Jack Wagner
Anthony Williams
Joe Hoeffel
Join WDUQ 90.5 FM election night for the latest numbers, updates from campaign headquarters and interviews with the candidates.
Monday, May 17, 2010
River Water Advisories to Begin
The Allegheny County Health Department will start issuing river water advisories for the 2010 river recreation season beginning today and running through September 30th.
They will indicate whether water quality in rivers is normal or if a combined sewer overflow (CSO) alert has been issued. The alerts are issued when heavy rainfall causes sewers carrying a combination of sewage and storm water to overflow and contaminate rivers and streams.
Those with weakened immune systems or open cuts or sores should avoid the water at those times.
Updates are available by calling the river advisory hotline at 412 687 ACHD, by subscribing to text message or twitter alerts, by visiting www.achd.net or by looking out for orange colored flags with black CSO lettering. They fly at marinas and docks and on the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Youghiogheny Rivers.
They will indicate whether water quality in rivers is normal or if a combined sewer overflow (CSO) alert has been issued. The alerts are issued when heavy rainfall causes sewers carrying a combination of sewage and storm water to overflow and contaminate rivers and streams.
Those with weakened immune systems or open cuts or sores should avoid the water at those times.
Updates are available by calling the river advisory hotline at 412 687 ACHD, by subscribing to text message or twitter alerts, by visiting www.achd.net or by looking out for orange colored flags with black CSO lettering. They fly at marinas and docks and on the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Youghiogheny Rivers.
Republican Candidates in Fourth Congressional District
Mary Beth Buchanan and Keith Rothfus will be squaring off in the fourth congressional district race for the Republican nomination in Tuesday's primary.
The district includes several suburbs of Pittsburgh such as Plum and Murraysville and parts of Beaver County, Lawrence County, and Mercer County. The winner of the primary will go up against democratic incumbent Jason Altmire.
Keith Rothfus has spent most of his career as an attorney in the private sector, working with businesses. From 2005 to 2007, as a federal employee, he worked with faith-based organizations to provide natural disaster relief.
Mary Beth Buchanan was Western Pennsylvania’s U.S. Attorney for eight years.
Both candidates have similar stances on many issues.
In terms of the economy, Buchanan says she is worried about job loss in the region and says government has placed too many regulations on industry, not allowing businesses to operate to their full capacity. Rothfus says he will work to build more partnerships with the private sector.
In terms of taxes, Buchanan says, "the tax structure that we have is extremely complicated and onerous on both individuals and businesses, we need to work to simplify the tax structure to reduce both the level of taxes and the level of regulation that have been implemented."
Both candidates believe in utilizing a mixture of all resources to obtain energy such as drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale, mining and using solar energy.
"We need to have a comprehensive energy policy that looks at all of the resources we have. And we have to make sure that we use our resources and are prudent to the environment," says Rothfus.
Both candidates are anti-abortion, believe in the right to bear arms and are not supportive of the recently passed health care legislation.
The district includes several suburbs of Pittsburgh such as Plum and Murraysville and parts of Beaver County, Lawrence County, and Mercer County. The winner of the primary will go up against democratic incumbent Jason Altmire.
Keith Rothfus has spent most of his career as an attorney in the private sector, working with businesses. From 2005 to 2007, as a federal employee, he worked with faith-based organizations to provide natural disaster relief.
Mary Beth Buchanan was Western Pennsylvania’s U.S. Attorney for eight years.
Both candidates have similar stances on many issues.
In terms of the economy, Buchanan says she is worried about job loss in the region and says government has placed too many regulations on industry, not allowing businesses to operate to their full capacity. Rothfus says he will work to build more partnerships with the private sector.
In terms of taxes, Buchanan says, "the tax structure that we have is extremely complicated and onerous on both individuals and businesses, we need to work to simplify the tax structure to reduce both the level of taxes and the level of regulation that have been implemented."
Both candidates believe in utilizing a mixture of all resources to obtain energy such as drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale, mining and using solar energy.
"We need to have a comprehensive energy policy that looks at all of the resources we have. And we have to make sure that we use our resources and are prudent to the environment," says Rothfus.
Both candidates are anti-abortion, believe in the right to bear arms and are not supportive of the recently passed health care legislation.
B-PEP Offers Free Rides for Voters
People who need a ride to the polls on election day should call the Black Political Empowerment Project.
B-PEP Co-Chair Tim Stevens says the “Roll to the Polls” program will assist those unable to get to their voting station on their own, but shouldn’t be abused.
Stevens says it’s best to prearrange a pickup by calling 412-867-9213. However, one can call 412-434-0919 to be picked up on election day, Tuesday, May 18.
B-PEP Co-Chair Tim Stevens says the “Roll to the Polls” program will assist those unable to get to their voting station on their own, but shouldn’t be abused.
Stevens says it’s best to prearrange a pickup by calling 412-867-9213. However, one can call 412-434-0919 to be picked up on election day, Tuesday, May 18.
Groups Don't Want Arizona Immigration Law in Pennsylvania
Arizona's new immigration law and the introduction of a similar measure in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is spurring action in Pittsburgh's legal and immigration community. David Harris, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh says the glaring problem with the legislation is that it is counter productive to fighting crime. Harris says not only are illegal immigrants five times less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans, but the law drives a wedge between law enforcement and the immigrant community. That divide will keep victims and witnesses from coming forward to report criminal activity.
Arizona Senate bill 1070 requires law enforcement to question individuals they deem reasonably suspicious about their immigration status during police encounters. Harris says a number of law enforcement organizations are coming out against Arizona's law--including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major City Chiefs Association--because it stymies their mission of fighting crime. Harris says the law is also on shaky legal ground because immigration enforcement is usually the realm of the federal government, not the state. He doesn't dispute citizen's desire to have stronger border enforcement, but says this type of legislation does more harm that good.
A forum taking place Monday evening will feature a panel of speakers--including Harris, Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Christina Powers of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, among others. They will discuss what the actual Arizona law says and why they think it doesn't make sense for public policy or public safety. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Avenue in Pittsburgh.
Arizona Senate bill 1070 requires law enforcement to question individuals they deem reasonably suspicious about their immigration status during police encounters. Harris says a number of law enforcement organizations are coming out against Arizona's law--including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major City Chiefs Association--because it stymies their mission of fighting crime. Harris says the law is also on shaky legal ground because immigration enforcement is usually the realm of the federal government, not the state. He doesn't dispute citizen's desire to have stronger border enforcement, but says this type of legislation does more harm that good.
A forum taking place Monday evening will feature a panel of speakers--including Harris, Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Christina Powers of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, among others. They will discuss what the actual Arizona law says and why they think it doesn't make sense for public policy or public safety. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Avenue in Pittsburgh.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Interview With Candidate Sam Rohrer
There’s a final weekend of campaigning before voters go to the polls Tuesday for the Pennsylvania Primary. There are four Democrats and 2 Republicans seeking their parties’ respective nominations in the gubernatorial primary.
This week during Morning Edition and All Things Considered we are featuring one-on-one interviews with each of the candidates.
Republican Sam Rohrer is in his 17th year as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Berks County. He calls himself a “Constitutional Republican” and has been courting Tea Party members.
He spoke with DUQ’s Scott Detrow
Listen to the interview.
This week during Morning Edition and All Things Considered we are featuring one-on-one interviews with each of the candidates.
Republican Sam Rohrer is in his 17th year as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Berks County. He calls himself a “Constitutional Republican” and has been courting Tea Party members.
He spoke with DUQ’s Scott Detrow
Listen to the interview.
Emergency Room in Bellevue to Close
West Penn Allegheny is shuttering their emergency room and ending inpatient care at their Bellevue facility. The shutdown will occur by the end of the summer.
State law prohibits a hospital from having an emergency room unless it has inpatient beds.
Kelly Sorice, spokesperson for the hospital said inpatient care is only about four percent of the services the facility provides. She added that Allegheny General Hospital is seven miles away for those that require inpatient care. She said hospital officials met with community leaders before making their decision.
LifeCare Hospitals operates 41 beds in the hospital. They plan to expand their services to 50 beds, and may add another 50 skilled nursing or transitional care beds.
There will be an urgent care center and physician offices at the facility. They will offer some service on an outpatient basis, such as radiology and imaging services, laboratory, dialysis, physical therapy, oncology and pediatric services.
State law prohibits a hospital from having an emergency room unless it has inpatient beds.
Kelly Sorice, spokesperson for the hospital said inpatient care is only about four percent of the services the facility provides. She added that Allegheny General Hospital is seven miles away for those that require inpatient care. She said hospital officials met with community leaders before making their decision.
LifeCare Hospitals operates 41 beds in the hospital. They plan to expand their services to 50 beds, and may add another 50 skilled nursing or transitional care beds.
There will be an urgent care center and physician offices at the facility. They will offer some service on an outpatient basis, such as radiology and imaging services, laboratory, dialysis, physical therapy, oncology and pediatric services.
Picking Pittsburgh's Brain
About 340 business and community leaders from Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky spent three days in Pittsburgh this week to see if what's working here would work in their region.
Dan Barbercheck is president of the Red 7E advertising firm in Louisville. In past years, he’s visited Minneapolis and Indianapolis, and besides learning from the other cities, he finds networking opportunities with his fellow travelers rewarding.
Barbercheck says Louisville is smaller but also a river town with an industrial past, although Pittsburgh's decline and rebirth seem more dramatic. What stands out here, he says, is the foundation support and large financial commitments from community groups and heritage companies to make sure Pittsburgh "not only survives, but thrives".
Even though Louisville and its county merged several years ago, he thinks there may be a more unified vision for the future here in Pittsburgh, with everyone who spoke to his group espousing common goals.
Dan Barbercheck is president of the Red 7E advertising firm in Louisville. In past years, he’s visited Minneapolis and Indianapolis, and besides learning from the other cities, he finds networking opportunities with his fellow travelers rewarding.
Barbercheck says Louisville is smaller but also a river town with an industrial past, although Pittsburgh's decline and rebirth seem more dramatic. What stands out here, he says, is the foundation support and large financial commitments from community groups and heritage companies to make sure Pittsburgh "not only survives, but thrives".
Even though Louisville and its county merged several years ago, he thinks there may be a more unified vision for the future here in Pittsburgh, with everyone who spoke to his group espousing common goals.
Interview With Candidate Dan Onorato
There’s one final weekend for candidates in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania Primary to win over voters. There are four Democrats and 2 Republicans seeking their parties’ respective nominations in the gubernatorial primary.
This week we are featuring one-on-one interviews with each of the candidates.
Dan Onorato is in his 2nd term as Allegheny County Executive. Prior to that, he served as County Controller and as a member of Pittsburgh City Council.
He spoke with DUQ’s Scott Detrow.
Listen to the interview
This week we are featuring one-on-one interviews with each of the candidates.
Dan Onorato is in his 2nd term as Allegheny County Executive. Prior to that, he served as County Controller and as a member of Pittsburgh City Council.
He spoke with DUQ’s Scott Detrow.
Listen to the interview
PA Bicycle Deaths Double from '08 to '09
16 bicyclists were killed in Pennsylvania last year, doubling the 2008 death count, says the state Department of Transportation.
“While that number may seem low to many people, that’s still 16 people that had their lives cut short,” says PennDOT spokeswoman Alison Wenger.
Wenger says by abiding by some safety tips, Pennsylvanians can hopefully reduce bicycle fatalities.
For Motorists:
• Give bicyclists space, even when there is no bike lane.
• Remember that bicycles have an equal right to the roadway as motor vehicles.
• Be cautious when passing bicyclists, as they may turn unexpectedly.
For Bicyclists:
• Equip your bike with reflectors and a horn to help motorists be aware of you.
• Follow the same traffic laws as motorists.
• Stay on the right side of the road, riding with traffic.
More information can be found at www.drivesafepa.org.
“While that number may seem low to many people, that’s still 16 people that had their lives cut short,” says PennDOT spokeswoman Alison Wenger.
Wenger says by abiding by some safety tips, Pennsylvanians can hopefully reduce bicycle fatalities.
For Motorists:
• Give bicyclists space, even when there is no bike lane.
• Remember that bicycles have an equal right to the roadway as motor vehicles.
• Be cautious when passing bicyclists, as they may turn unexpectedly.
For Bicyclists:
• Equip your bike with reflectors and a horn to help motorists be aware of you.
• Follow the same traffic laws as motorists.
• Stay on the right side of the road, riding with traffic.
More information can be found at www.drivesafepa.org.
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