Friday, April 26, 2013
County officials unveiled the first two compressed natural gas trucks put into service for the public works department at an Earth Day press conference Monday.
To most Plum, Oakmont and Verona residents, the new, white Allegheny County trucks they might pass on the roadways won't appear to be anything extraordinary. But they are a first step in the county going green with a cleaner-burning fuel for fleet vehicles. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and other officials unveiled the county’s first two compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles at a press conference on Monday. Each vehicle cost $35,285. The Silverado 2500 HD, four-wheel drive, extended cab pickup trucks contain specially designed 6.0 litre Vortec V8 engines and have a gross vehicle weight of 9,500 pounds. The trucks are factory-built with hardened valves and seals, which are critical for CNG vehicles, according to a news release …
Friday, January 25, 2013
County Controller Chelsa Wagner said Thursday the amount could be about $50 for the average household.
An analysis by Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner has revealed that the county could be on track to overcharge the average household by $50 in property taxes in 2013. “There is a strong possibility, from the data we have analyzed, that the county is on track to gain a windfall of as much as $38 million," Wagner said in a statement issued on Thursday. “I am calling on the administration to publicize every detail of their millage calculation to assure all taxpayers that no windfall will occur. No resident of Allegheny County should be overcharged one cent or $1, let alone $50 or more for the county’s failure to act.” She also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and available information surrounding the county’s current, …
Monday, September 10, 2012
Due to increasing costs and declining sponsorship, Allegheny County will not hold the Celebration of Lights at Hartwood Acres this year.
The holiday season will lack a bit of light in Pittsburgh this year. Allegheny County officials said Monday that the annual Celebration of Lights at Hartwood Acres Park will be suspended this year. Increasing costs and declining sponsorships, particularly in light of the county's limited financial resources, are to blame. “This is not a decision that we made lightly. The Celebration of Lights has been a great holiday tradition since 1991. We have been proud to partner with the Salvation Army and WTAE TV 4 for the past twenty years on this and are gratified that we have helped to generate $3.7 million in revenues for Project Bundle-Up and other local charities during that time,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, in a statement released…
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Both Republicans and Democrats came out to support the Allegheny County Music Festival Fund at a fundraiser featuring politicians and hopefuls yukking it up for a the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.
Usually, the audiences at the Improv are laughing at the politicians, but, at the Candidates’ Comedy Night, the audience was laughing with them. The fundraiser for the Allegheny County Music Festival Fund had politicians reaching across the aisles so that the constituents could roll in them. State Sen. Jay Costa Jr., state Treasurer Robert McCord, Washington County commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan and Larry Maggi, Congressman Tim Murphy, state Senate candidate D. Raja, state Rep. Matt Smith, Congressional candidate Dr. Hans Lessmann, Congressman Mike Doyle, Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Kane, U.S. Senator Bob Casey and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald took to the Waterfront stage at the Improv, telling jokes, performing …
Saturday, July 28, 2012
State and federal funding prevent the cuts from happening for at least another year.
Hold the phone. Devastating cuts facing ACCESS riders will not occur in September thanks to a special funding arrangement made possible by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and two federal programs that benefit transit riders with disabilities, according to a news release from Port Authority of Allegheny County. Port Authority's Board of Directors on Friday unanimously voted to accept the funding and rescind plans that would have reduced ACCESS service hours and service area starting on Sept. 2. Meanwhile, conversation focused on resolving broader transportation funding issues and the 35-percent Port Authority service reduction scheduled for September are ongoing and involve officials from the state, county, Port Authority and …
Monday, June 18, 2012
Board of Elections Chair John DeFazio scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday to consider a call by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to authorize a legal challenge to the Voter ID Law.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Controller Chelsa Wagner are among the officials planning a challenge to the Voter ID law, which was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March. Sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, the law requires voters to show photo identification before they vote at the polls. After a dry run in the April primary, it is scheduled to take effect for the Nov. 6 general election. Allegheny County Board of Elections Chair John DeFazio scheduled a special meeting of the Board of Elections for 3 p.m. Tuesday to consider a call by Fitzgerald for the board to authorize a legal challenge to Act 18, the Voter ID Law. The meeting at the Allegheny County Courthouse will include a vote to authorize a lawsuit …
Friday, June 15, 2012
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. today in efforts to block the law.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and county controller Chelsa Wagner are among the officials planning a challenge to the Voter ID law, which was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March. Sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, the law requires voters to show photo identification before they vote at the polls. After a dry run in the May primary, it is scheduled to take effect for the Nov. 6 general election. Wagner argues the law violates the Pennsylvania Constitution and federal laws guaranteeing free and equal access to the polls while placing an unfunded mandate on county taxpayers. “No elected official in our democracy should prevent citizens from voting,” Wagner said in a statement on the Allegheny County website. “We will …
Monday, April 2, 2012
The fountain will remain blue for Autism Awareness Month.
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Monday, April 2, 2012
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald turned the fountain at the Allegheny County Courthouse blue today in observance of World Autism Awareness Day. The fountain will remain blue throughout the month of April, which is Autism Awareness Month. “Allegheny County is proud to show our support for individuals and families who are affected by autism,” said Fitzgerald. “We hope by turning the courthouse fountain blue that we will increase awareness of this complex disorder.” Fitzgerald also presented Autism Speaks Pittsburgh Chapter Executive Director Rich Mallow and Board of Directors Secretary Patti McCloud with a proclamation declaring April “Autism Awareness Month” in Allegheny County. This evening, buildings and landmarks around the world will …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
A meeting will be held at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills tonight, March 15, at 7 p.m.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and County Council Vice President Nick Futules will host a town hall meeting to assist homeowners with the 2013 court-ordered reassessment tonight, March 15. All county residents are invited to the Linton Middle School Auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m. Linton Middle School is located at 260 Aster St. in Penn Hills. Fitzgerald and Futules will discuss the issue, and residents will be able to share their own thoughts, as well. Verona Council encouraged residents to attend the information session at its meeting on Tuesday. Futules lives in Oakmont and represents District 7, which includes Plum, Oakmont, Verona, Penn Hills, Cheswick, Harmar, Springdale Borough and Wilkins. County staff members will be on …
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Despite today's announcement that the 911th Airlift Wing will close due to budget cuts, local and regional officials say they will work to keep the base open.
Lawmakers representing Moon and local leaders today vowed to fight a renewed effort by the U.S. Air Force to close the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon and move or retire its aircraft over the next two years. U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, said he will do everything in his power to keep the airlift wing open, arguing that closing it would not be fiscally responsible. Echoing that pledge was U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, noting that closing the base and potentially shifting its troops and their families elsewhere would have a negative impact on Western Pennsylvania's economy. "I am extremely disappointed that the Air Force is considering closing the 911th Airlift Wing. I will do everything I can to ensure this facility remains …
Dawn Weichler
12:07 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I said that a long time ago... UPMC buys up an astronomical amount of property and doesn't pay taxes on it... We wouldn't have financial problems in this county if they even paid 1% of their supposed non-profit... With a figure of 10.2 billion how in the world does anyone justify them as non-profit... Did you ever try just going to one of their facilities to get treated without money... Not going… more ›