Public Administration

The States People Are Fleeing In 2013 - Yahoo! Finance

6 Pittsburgh projects to get $16M in state assistance grants : By Jeremy Boren, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Six development projects in Pittsburgh are slated to receive a combined $16.75 million in state grants this year.

Pittsburgh sergeant held 2nd full-time police job : The disclosure comes as the Post-Gazette reported that in February 2012 Chief Harper entered into a business venture with Holmes and others.

PWSA equipment to target carcinogen : The board for Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority approved spending nearly a million dollars in equipment to remove a chemical from water.

Mayor criticizes Chief Harper, calls for overhaul of police department policies : By Bob Bauder, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on Friday criticized Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper’s involvement in a private security business and called for an overhaul of police department ...

Is There Flattery in Local Government? :   In northeast Pennsylvania, the city of Scranton (population 76,000, only Second Class-A city in Pennsylvania, home rule since 1976, in Act 47 since 1992) and the county in which Scranton is located, Lackawanna (population 214,000, one of twelve counties of the Third Class, home rule since 1977) are proposing some very southwestern Pennsylvania ideas as of late.

Allegheny County Airport Authority approves $500 million gas-drilling deal with Consol : If all goes according to plan, natural gas drilling at Pittsburgh International Airport could begin in late 2014.

Ravenstahl seeks legal help to look at outside police work : Police Chief Nate Harper's forming of a security company prompts Pittsburgh mayor's reaction.

Chief's safety company not illegal, DA finds : District attorney says he sees nothing illegal about police chief's private safety firm, but city officials are reviewing matter.

Community Offers Show Of Support For Demoted Police Chief : MONROEVILLE (KDKA) — Hundreds of people turned out Thursday night to give demoted Monroeville Police Chief Doug Cole a show of support.

Monroeville residents rail against demotion of police chief : By Kyle Lawson, Times Express Four Monroeville Council members got an earful Thursday night as about 150 people packed council chambers in support of former police Chief K. Douglas Cole. ...

Attornies: Pittsburgh VA failed to disclose Legionella bacteria hazards : By Adam Smeltz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Embattled Pittsburgh VA officials might have broken federal rules by not telling pneumonia patients or their survivors that Legionella bacteria in the Oakland hospital had ...

Ohio Dept. Ordered to Change Light Duty Policy : The mayor of Columbus was unaware of a fire department policy that allowed firefighters to be on light duty for years and has ordered the policy changed.

Christopher Dorner Manifesto (Uncensored) «

Police officer shootings: Statewide 'officer safety alert' issued | abc7.com

Pittsburgh Police Chief Under More Scrutiny : PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper is coming under more scrutiny after an outside business interest is questioned. Sources say Harper’s future as Pittsburgh’s police chief is uncertain at this time.

Steelers QB Gives K-9 Grants To Pittsburgh-Area Agencies : Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has provided eight K-9 training grants totaling more than $66,000 to law enforcement agencies in the Pittsburgh area on behalf of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at the Giving Back Fund.

Chicago Police Want 12 Percent Pay Raise « CBS Chicago

SNEED EXCLUSIVE: Pending Jesse Jackson Jr. plea deal includes ‘significant jail time,’ source says - Chicago Sun-Times

Pittsburgh police Chief Harper's outside business questioned - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Postal union wants postmaster general Patrick Donahoe ousted : In a quick response to the postmaster general’s plan to stop six-day mail delivery, the national board of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) voted unanimously to call for his dismissal. “The declaration today by Postmaster General [Patrick] Donahoe that …

Former Monroeville police chief blasts council in letter | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home

Firefighter suspended amid sexual assault accusations : A Pittsburgh firefighter was suspended Wednesday after police said he was charged with sexually assaulting a child.

Students free to flee failing schools in Keystone State : By Victor Skinner EAGnews.org PHILADELPHIA – Nearly half of all schools recently listed as failing by the Pennsylvania Department of Education are managed by the School District of Philadelphia. District superintendent Williams Hite Jr. has already proposed closing all but two of the district’s 177 schools on the state’s failing list. That’s good news for [...]

School funding court decision in Texas could inspire similar lawsuits across the nation : By Ben Velderman EAGnews.org      AUSTIN, Texas –  A state judge ruled Monday that Texas’ approach to funding public education is unconstitutional because it doesn’t provide adequate financial assistance to hundreds of school districts.  

Saturday mail delivery to end Aug. 1 : The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service plans to stop delivering mail on Saturdays starting Aug. 1, the agency is set to announce Wednesday. This means that for the first time Americans will receive mail only five days a week, a

USPS To Cut Some Saturday Deliveries : WASHINGTON (AP) – The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service says it plans to stop delivering mail on Saturdays, but continue delivering packages six days a week.

Postal Service to end Saturday mail delivery in bid to cut costs | Fox News

City of Baltimore is on a path to financial ruin, report says | Fox News

Allegheny County Airport Authority demotes director Bradley D. Penrod : A national search will be held for a new CEO whose focus will be on attracting flights to Pittsburgh International Airport.

Education basic subsidy up, but some say levels are too low : Gov. Tom Corbett's education proposals draw debate.

Teacher unions oppose governor's pension plan : The governor maintains his proposals will stanch the bleeding of the pension debt.

NY Audit Discloses a Huge What??? : A New York fire district is facing an unusual problem: what to do with a $5.2 million undesignated surplus uncovered in a state audit.

Rhee: Argument Against School Vouchers 'Holds Absolutely No Water' :

Obama administration prepares federal workers for possible furloughs : The Obama administration is warning federal workers they might be placed on temporary unpaid leave if the across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration are implemented. A draft memo, based on guidance to federal agencies from the Office of Management and …

Serpico Joins NYPD Whistleblower's Legal Team : Frank Serpico has joined the legal team of Officer Adrian Schoolcraft, a cop suing the NYPD for $50 million after police allegedly dragged him off to a mental hospital after he accused them of fudging crime stats.

The Governor’s Pension Proposal :

Airport authority to name new CEO : Allegheny County Airport Authority has shuffled its top ranks, moving CEO Brad Penrod to a new position and embarking on a national search for a new CEO to run the authority that includes Pittsburgh International Airport.

Corbett proposes more money for schools, changing public pension benefits : By Brad Bumsted and Kari Andren HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday proposed a $28.4 billion state budget for 2013-14 that increases state spending 2.4 percent, boosts funding for basic

Pa. Board Says Dept. Erred in Suspending Firefighter : The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has found Chambersburg was in the wrong to suspend a firefighter over union actions.

‘Concerned taxpayer’ raises questions about Kittanning worker : By Brigid Beatty, Leader Times KITTANNING — An outspoken resident braved the snowy weather on Monday seeking comment from council about her ongoing complaints against an unnamed borough worker.

Pa. budget address to include schools, roads, taxes : Gov. Tom Corbett has described many aspects of what he wants to do, but his speech at the state Capitol today will undoubtedly contain some surprises on the agenda.

Superdome officials worried about power outage months before Super Bowl | Fox News

Judge refuses to order Allegheny County to use homeowners’ appraisals for values : By Bobby Kerlik, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The judge overseeing Allegheny County’s much-maligned property reassessment rejected a request to compel the county to accept homeowner-provided certified appraisals as definitive evidence of their ..

Tough Sledding for Lift Proposal :   As part of the drive to find efficiencies in County government and determine the proper functions of County government the Parks Department and Council's Parks Committee might test the slopes to see if there is a private interest out there who might want to take over the skiing and snowboarding functions at Boyce Park .

Detroit firefighters ordered off ladders on aerial trucks; fleet hasn't been inspected in years | City of Detroit | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Chief, union: Firefighters’ ‘light duty’ hurts city | The Columbus Dispatch

Sanity Finally Prevails in Chambersburg : Its been a long year for Greater Chambersburg Area Paid Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1813, but a hearing officer for the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has finally added some sanity to what had been a series of labor setbacks.

State System, faculty OK framework of deal : The union representing faculty members and the State System of Higher Education have reached an agreement on a framework for a new contract.

'Dr. Stress' turns down the volume at firehouse - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Florida Rep. Radel rips Minnesota governor's 'snowbird' tax plan, welcomes refugees | Fox News