Tuesday, May 7, 2013
State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver and Allegheny, sponsored the resolution.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution designating Tuesday, May 7 as World Asthma Day in Pennsylvania. “World Asthma Day is important because it increases awareness about asthma and the medical complications associated with it,” said state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Ambridge, who sponsored the resolution. His district includes Bell Acres, Leetsdale and Leet Township. “Besides raising awareness about asthma, World Asthma Day also raises awareness about the many resources available to the public to help manage the affliction.” This year's theme for World Asthma Day is "You Can Control Your Asthma," with an aim to spread the word that, with proper management, asthma control is achievable in the vast majority of …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
'U.S. News and World Report' released its 2013 high school rankings today. Find out where Quaker Valley stands in the state and nationally.
The coveted U.S. News and World Report rankings of the best public high schools in America released today place Quaker Valley High School at the top. The annual list ranks Quaker Valley at No. 14 among Pennsylvania's 687 high schools and 645th out of more than 21,000 public high schools nationwide. Schools are evaluated based on overall student performance on state tests, Advanced Placement tests and International Baccalaureate exams; rankings also take into account how well students educate black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students, according to a release from U.S. News. The rankings are designed to capture how well high schools educate all of their students and prepare them for college-level work, according to U.S. News. …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
But southwestern PA should dodge the swarm until 2016.
No, it's not the end of the world. After all, these aren't actually locusts. But swarms of cicadas—often erroneously referred to as locusts—will emerge from the ground in parts of Pennsylvania this year to breed in large numbers, filling the air with their loud mating calls and frightening children (and squeamish adults) with their appearance. Specifially, Brood II of the magicicada genus will crawl and fly along the United States' eastern seaboard this year, according to magicicada.org. The 17-year periodical cicadas are at the end of their life cycle, and so, it's time to breed. According to cicada-enthusiast website cicadiamania.com, when temperatures 8 inches below the ground reach approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit, the insects will …
Friday, March 1, 2013
The Quaker Valley School District does not depend heavily on federal revenue.
Pennsylvania education stands to lose more than $26 million in the sequester cuts that start today. Quaker Valley School District isn't exempt, though the affects on the district from the across-the board spending cuts appear minimal. In the 2012-13 and 2013-14 budget, the district reports it is anticipating 5.1 percent less in federal funding, or $27,632. Quaker Valley is predicting $177,859 in Title I funding, $51,973 for Title II, and $311,965 in IDEA funding. According to the document released by the White House, Pennsylvania also risks budget cuts for clean air and water protection, military readiness, law enforcement and public safety funds, job search assistance for Pennsylvanians who need work, child care, public health, violence …
Reps. Rothfus, Murphy and others discuss the effects of across-the-board cuts.
Several departments in Allegheny County may be impacted by the sequester if the automatic budget cuts begin officially at midnight, according to members of the state's congressional delegation. U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus said in a recent op-ed piece that the cuts are indiscriminate and fail the first step of good budgeting: prioritization. "We need to control spending so that we do not run out of money for critical items such as seniors’ and veterans’ health care, infrastructure projects, and a robust military capable of deterring aggressors. This is not the way to do it," said Rothfus, R-Sewickley, prior to the sequester. Instead of the arbitrary, across-the-board cuts, which will impact selected domestic and military programs, Rothfus said…
More than 23,000 federal workers and retirees live in Allegheny County. How will sequestration affect them—and the economy to which they contribute?
Allegheny County is home to more than 23,000 federal employees and retirees who contribute to its economy and potentially could be affected if sequestration budget cuts are enacted today. The numbers shown here reflect the number of federal employees in each Pennsylvania by county in 2012, according to the latest figures from Eye on Washington, a DC-based lobbying firm that tracks federal employment. It compiles the data from the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Employment Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 23,229 federal employees and retirees who live in Allegheny County, the greatest number—9,818—are retirees, according to the data. While the cuts will affect veterans programs, they are not specifically …
Friday, February 22, 2013
The need to activate the 878 area code is imminent, according to the Public Utility Commission.
Sewickley residents could be dialing up a new area code. The Pennsylvania Public Commission is adding 878 as a new area code for southwestern Pennsylvania because the 724 and 412 phone numbers are almost all taken. The 724 area code is nearing exhaustion and the need to activiate the 878 area code is imminent, according to the commission. Because of this, telephone numbers will be assigned using the 878 area code in the 724 area. Mandatory 10-digit dialing within and between the 412 and 724 areas has been occurring since July 2001, and residents will need to 10-digit dial all telephone numbers within the 878, 412 and 724 area to reach the person or business they are dialing. All current customers keep their same area codes and telephone …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
“Our plan gives consumers what they want by increasing choice and convenience, and helps to secure our future by adding $1 billion in funding toward the education of our
children, without raising any taxes,” the governor said Wednesday.
Gov. Tom Corbett, joined by Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County, on Wednesday announced his plan to privatize the liquor system in Pennsylvania and committed $1 billion in proceeds from the process to education funding. Corbett said the $1 billion will be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant, which will provide flexibility to schools, allowing our public schools, instead of Harrisburg, to decide what their students need. The grant will focus on four priority areas: school safety, enhanced early education programs, individualized learning and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs. “Our proposal is part of my commitment to changing Harrisburg, streamlining government and moving Pennsylvania …
Monday, November 26, 2012
Hunters can share their harvest using a network set up by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
It is considered Pennsylvania's only unofficial holiday. The Monday after Thanksgiving marks opening day of the two-week general deer season. That's when 750,000 men, women and teenagers wearing fluorescent orange are expected to invade Penn's Woods, according to Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “In addition to being a rich part of our state’s heritage, deer season is critical in managing Pennsylvania’s whitetails,” Roe said. “The efforts of hunters are far-reaching; they help to keep deer populations in check, and enable the agency to meet deer management goals that benefit those who reside, visit or travel through this state.” Safety Rules Hunters must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on the head, …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Moon Plaza grocery store will soon expand its offerings, now that it's obtained a license permitting limited liquor sales.
Giant Eagle plans to expand its Moon Township location with a cafe that will include beer and wine on the menu. The Moon Township Board of Supervisors on Monday night approved a restaurant liquor license for the University Boulevard store, said Moon communications director Alexis Sargeant. In addition to the cafe, which will feature indoor and outdoor seating, the grocery chain will expand the store's prepared foods, deli and bakery sections. Sargeant said the expansion will add 50 new jobs to the Moon Township location. The cafe's menu will feature premium and craft beers alongside other food items. "There will be a two-beer limit per person," Sargeant said of cafe. "It will be more like how the (Robinson Township) Market District is…
Erin Cosgrove
5:21 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
If I "did my job" the way these morons aren't doing theirs, I'd lose that job. One of the primary jobs they have is to work with the rest of the government and Compromise to arrive at solutions for the benefit of all Americans not just the top 1%. Get back to work! more ›