February 25, 2023 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
It’s been two weeks since a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Pennsylvania’s system of funding public schools is unconstitutional and must be revamped.
Backers of the ruling are looking toward Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new budget, expected March 7, to address the steps his administration will be taking to move toward compliance with the court decision.
Kristina Moon, senior staff attorney for the Education Law Center, called the victory “historic” for the petitioners: six school districts, parents, the NAACP of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools.
Moon said the judge wrote a “strong” decision, which is 786 pages long.
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February 22, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
A Duquesne police officer received a gunshot wound early Wednesday morning following an altercation in the 600 block of Catherine Street, emergency personnel said.
Allegheny County homicide detectives are investigating.
The incident happened less than three weeks after two McKeesport police officers were shot, one fatally, while attempting to obtain mental-health treatment for a Wilson Street man.
The unidentified Duquesne officer, who was taken to a hospital in stable condition, was wounded in the foot but returned fire, Allegheny County police Lt. Venerando Costa said in a prepared statement.
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February 21, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A 59-year-old Jenny Lind Street man was found dead Friday evening inside his home of apparent gunshot wounds to the head and torso, police said.
Anthony L. Sayles was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:40 p.m., the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said. His death has been ruled a homicide.
Allegheny County police Sgt. Todd Dolfi said the investigation is active and ongoing, but that no additional details can be made public at this time.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
February 21, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Allegheny County police are releasing few details in connection with their investigation of a shooting on Friday that sent a 2-year-old to the hospital.
County police Sgt. Todd Dolfi told Tube City Almanac the investigation is “active and ongoing” and detectives do not believe it was a random act of violence.
“This was not a stray bullet,” he said.
Emergency personnel said the incident happened at a home near the intersection of Oliver and North Third streets just after 9 p.m. Duquesne police transported the child to a meeting with paramedics, who rushed the 2-year-old to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
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February 20, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Christy Park United Methodist Church campus of McKeesport Area Shared Ministry will host a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in observance of Shrove Tuesday, a spokesperson said.
The dinner is free and open to the neighborhood. The church is located at 29th and Beale streets.
Shrove Tuesday is the final day before the beginning of Lent and is observed by many Christians, including Methodists, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Roman Catholics. “Shrove” comes from the word shrive, meaning “to absolve.”
On Shrove Tuesday, sometimes called “Fat Tuesday,” Christians traditionally supposed to use up rich and sweet foods, such as pancakes and syrup, before Lent.
February 20, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: West Newton News
First Methodist Church, 106 N. Second St., West Newton, and First Church of God will host a celebration of the World Day of Prayer at 11 a.m. March 3 at the sanctuary of First Methodist, a spokesperson said. The event is sponsored by the women of both congregations.
This year, congregants will be asked to pray for Taiwan. A light luncheon will be served following the service.
February 20, 2023 |
By Dianne Ribecca | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Residents of Kline Avenue in West Wilmerding are asking the North Versailles Twp. commissioners to consider closing a park there following recent gunfire.
At this month’s meeting, neighbors presented the commissioners with a petition signed by 50 homeowners asking the township to convert West Wilmerding Park from basketball courts into something for families with children.
Thursday’s meeting was held one night after shots were reportedly fired during an altercation near the park. No injuries were reported, but residents said they are concerned that neighbors will get caught in the crossfire if violence continues at the park.
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February 20, 2023 |
By Dianne Ribecca | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny School District could benefit if state lawmakers are forced to revise the way Pennsylvania funds public education.
At this month’s school board meeting, Superintendent Alan Johnson said East Allegheny is in the top 2 percent of districts that are most impacted by funding disparities.
The Pennsylvania Fair Funding Formula, which became law in 2016, is designed to distribute state education funding so that all students receive a high-quality education without discriminating against smaller, poorer districts, Johnson said.
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February 20, 2023 |
By Dianne Ribecca | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
The East Allegheny School Board has voted not to renew the contract of district Superintendent Alan Johnson.
At this month’s meeting, the board voted 5-4 not to rescind a previous motion to let the contract expire.
Voting against contract renewal were School Directors Merle Pusey, Robert Trout, Cortney Verner, George Yusk and Dan Ziober.
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February 20, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council will consider a proposal to dissolve the city’s 28-year-old redevelopment authority and pass its duties over to Allegheny County.
At this month’s council meeting, Duquesne Solicitor Myron Sainovich said the Duquesne Redevelopment Authority was created in 1995 but hasn’t been active in many years. Sainovich noted that Mayor R. Scott Adams could appoint members to the commission, but hasn’t. The agency has “no debts, no contractual obligations,” he said.
The redevelopment authority could have been closed three years after its inception, so there are no other legal obstacles, according to the solicitor.
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