Public Administration

Washington fire, EMS reviewing protocols after firefighters appear with Obama - U.S. News

U.S. debt bumps into danger zone : By Neil Irwin WASHINGTON — How much debt can America handle? The question is one of the most fundamental the nation faces, and the answer should determine how ...

In former Allegheny County health director Dixon’s honor, put health first : By Luis Fábregas, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A week before he died, Dr. Bruce Dixon told me in a phone call that he wasn’t ready to hang up work on his public ...

'Everything he said is a lie' : Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is vehemently denying allegations by one of his former city bodyguards that the mayor knew they had secret debit card accounts.

British company's lottery bid extended : The Corbett administration has until March 16 to appeal the state attorney general's determination to the courts.

Controller Lamb demands debit card receipts, other documents from Ravenstahl : Michael Lamb asked the mayor for records associated with a non-governmental account at the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union.

Ravenstahl says federal authorities showed him 'internal document' : Ravenstahl said that he concluded after seeing the document that debit card charges from unauthorized accounts were for legitimate expenses.

Pittsburgh's acting police chief takes more action; Ravenstahl defends his reputation : Chief Regina McDonald promised to create an additional layer of oversight for the office at the center of a federal investigation.

Ex-mayor Murphy says his bodyguard didn't use cards : Like all Pittsburghers, former Mayor Tom Murphy sees Mayor Luke Ravenstahl struggle with daily revelations about the police bureau and allegedly misappropriated city money in private accounts.

City controller putting mayor on clock for answers : The city controller is giving Pittsburgh's mayor 10 days or less to come up with answers, specifically about debit card monthly statements and receipts from a controversial account used by the mayor's police security team.

Mayor Denies Misusing Funds, City Controller Requests Records : PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – An ex-bodyguard for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is saying the mayor knew about the alleged slush fund that is the focus of an investigation revolving around misuse of funds.

Sloppy PSWA Repairs Leaves Family Upset : PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A hole in the middle of one Pittsburgh street has a family upset. The family that lives on Tripoli Street is upset with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s job of covering it up – just using flimsy plywood, causing major tripping hazards.

Mayor, Safety Director Deny Accusations Made By Retired Bodyguard : PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — There are new accusations today from a former bodyguard to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The bodyguard says the mayor knew the debit cards that were being used were linked to a non-governmental account.

LA County Assistant Fire Chief Caught Drinking on the Job :

Prosecutors charge ex-DNR official in data breach - TwinCities.com

US gov't to air-drop toxic mice on Guam snakes - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Comic for February 22, 2013 :

Detroit named most miserable U.S. city in Forbes ranking | Reuters

San Diego mayor and city attorney publicly spar at news conference - U.S. News

The Little Blue Pill that Killed the Little Pink House: A Narrative of Eminent Domain : Community and business interests are set in opposition, rather than in a harmonious balance, in the 2005 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London . The narrative of eminent domain, through the lens of Kelo , highlights these conflicting values. The case presents a local government that used its power of takings to attract Pfizer, the pharmaceutical conglomerate, to build a plant for production of the little blue pill, which symbolizes private interests in this case. The community’s dissension of taking an individual’s private property for use by another private entity centered on a pink house, which has come to be known as the symbol of eminent domain abuse. This narrative is explored through in-depth interviews with public administrators experienced with eminent domain, community grassroots organizers involved with the case, and relevant articles from the local newspaper. A key f...

Last Call for PLCB's In-House Brands? : In an interview with the Tribune-Review, Chairman of the PLCB Joseph "Skip" Brion said it's no secret he favors ending the PLCB's in-house wine brands.

Leader Launches Liquor Liberty Legislation : House Majority Leader Mike Turzai put forth a cosponsorship memo announcing legislation to end the government-run liquor store monopoly.  The legislation will be officially introduced on March 4 as HB 790.

PA Supreme Court Decision on Early Retirement Could Cost Taxpayers

Pittsburgh Chief Forced To Resign : The second-highest-ranking member of the union representing Pittsburgh police officers said the rank-and-file are still shocked this morning by the sudden forced resignation of Chief Nate Harper and morale remains low.

SAFER, AFG, USFA Will Suffer if Sequester Ax Falls - Firehouse

Ex-bodyguard: Mayor knew of credit union debit cards : One of Mayor Ravenstahl's former bodyguards claimed that debit cards used by the security detail were linked to a nongovernmental account.

Acting police chief faces challenges : Regina McDonald put officers on leave and discussed the planned changes to the police bureau.

Former prosecutor talks about Pittsburgh police investigation : The former prosecutor hired to review the Pittsburgh Police Bureau says the resignation of Chief Nate Harper will not affect his investigation.

Acting police chief suspends 3 employees on first day | www.wpxi.com

Acting Pittsburgh police Chief McDonald says changes coming to bureau : Acting Chief Regina McDonald also said FBI agents interviewed her today as part of their investigation into bureau activities.

Ravenstahl defends choice for acting chief, spending by security detail : By Jeremy Boren and Margaret Harding Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said Thursday he wants to hire a new police chief “with no relationships, with no ties, with really no history” related ...

Union official: Rank-and-file 'surprised' at Pittsburgh police Chief Harper's departure : "We don't know what the mayor knows," Michael Benner, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1, said.

Jury finds Orie Melvin guilty on all but one count : The jury found suspended Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and her sister Janine Orie guilty of public corruption charges.

Ravenstahl's bodyguards had police credit union debit cards : Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said three of his police bodyguards had debit cards for a credit union account under investigation.

Acting chief takes over while investigation continues : Regina McDonald arrived early at Pittsburgh Police Bureau headquarters for her first day as the acting chief. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl -- who asked for Chief Nate Harper's resignation -- came by for an afternoon meeting.

Questions Piling Up Amid Chief Harper’s Resignation : PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A scandal within the Pittsburgh Police Department has resulted in Chief Nate Harper being out of a job.

Ravenstahl Looking Outside Department For Next Chief : PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – With Chief Nate Harper being asked to resign by the mayor on Wednesday, the focus now shifts to finding a permanent replacement.

572 San Francisco workers made more than the governor last year | Fox News

Sources: Nate Harper removed as Pittsburgh police chief | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home

Where you'll feel forced spending cuts : Most Americans will feel the impact of forced budget cuts when their lives intersect with government -- trying to get through airport security to make a flight, visiting a national park, or using federal programs or assistance.

Lamb: Ravenstahl is 'last to know what is happening within his administration' : By Jeremy Boren, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review City Controller Michael Lamb on Wednesday criticized Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s handling of an investigation into discretionary spending from a Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union ...

Pittsburgh among cities invited to bid for 2024 Summer Olympics : Pittsburgh received a letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee to gauge have interest in preparing to host the 2024 games.

Lamb challenges Ravenstahl to answer questions on Pittsburgh police money : The mayor's spokeswoman called it political, and said that controller and mayoral opponent Michael Lamb was in charge of tracking money.

Review team: Detroit faces financial crisis, has no plan to fix it | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com

Pentagon informs Congress of plans to furlough 800K civilians - The Hill's DEFCON Hill

LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times « CBS Los Angeles

Ravenstahl officially announces bid for re-election as mayor of Pittsburgh : By Bob Bauder, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he would hold taxes to current levels, invest in neighborhoods and reduce debt if elected to another four-year term

Beer distributors oppose privatization : By Chris Buckley, Valley Independent Adam Cox has owned Cox Distributing, 116 Railroad St., Monongahela, for a couple of years.

Mt. Pleasant studying CDBG projects : By Rachel Basinger Mt. Pleasant officials will be looking closely at possible projects in the borough that might be eligible for Community Development Block Grant funds.

Allegheny County Council approves drilling at airport : Allegheny County Council approved a contract to drill for natural gas on Pittsburgh International Airport land but not without disagreement.

Former County Health Dept. Director Dr. Dixon Dies At 74 « CBS Pittsburgh

Struggling US Postal Service to launch new apparel line | The Daily Caller

Sheriff's Dispatcher's Performance During Big Bear Shootout : The incident underscores the essential role played by the dedicated emergency services dispatchers nationwide. These behind-the-scene professionals constitute a vital link to police officers every time officers leave their stations.

Former Moon municipal worker alleges religious discrimination : By Brian Bowling, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A former Moon Township Municipality Authority employee claims in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that the authority’s general manager

300 attend open house on Consol drilling plans at Pittsburgh airport : By Timothy Puko, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Consol Energy, a company with about 100 years of Pittsburgh history, is treating Allegheny County like a brand-new home.

Allegheny County, municipal agencies get new FCC deadline for radio upgrades

Did Obama supporter vote 6 times in 2012? Ohio poll worker target of investigation | Fox News

Former Washington Co. DA to review Pittsburgh police rules on outside work : Steven Toprani, a former Washington County district attorney, will review the Pittsburgh Police Department's policies and procedures covering officers who hold other jobs or own businesses not regulated by the department.

Indy Loses Two EMS Personnel in Ambulance, Car Crash : The ambulance was not on a call when it was struck by a car at an intersection.

Wildland Firefighter LODD Prompts OSHA General Duty Citations

Did Baltimore need to spend half a million dollars on a report? - baltimoresun.com

Public Service Motivation, Relational Job Design, And Job Satisfaction In Local Government : This study seeks to examine whether and how a group of Australian local government workers' perceptions of two relational job characteristics – impact on citizens and contact with citizens – influence the relationship between public service motivation (PSM) and job satisfaction.

Budget Proposal: 5 Key Facts : As we head into months of meetings, hearings, and special interest protests at the Capitol, here are five must-know facts about Governor Corbett's budget proposal :

Fitzgerald's campaign for Allegheny County executive predictive of first year in office : Some campaigns reveal a candidate; some conceal his real nature. This time, what you saw is what you got.

Alameda Not Liable for Drowning Suicide

San Diego Firefighters Score Victory In Pension Battle

Public sector union members protest potential budget cuts : Public servants were out in force Tuesday, protesting potential federal budget cuts that would severely hinder their ability to serve the public. Hours before the State of the Union address, members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the … Continue reading →

Fort Hood Hero Says Obama 'Betrayed' Her, Other Victims - ABC News

AFSCME President Slams Pat Quinn, Michael Nutter As 'Turncoats' Who Must 'Pay'

Pelosi: Congressional pay cut undermines dignity of the job - The Hill

Millions Improperly Claimed U.S. Phone Subsidies - WSJ.com