GREEN RIBBON DAY—Larimer community volunteers join elected officials for the ribbon cutting and opening of the Environment and Energy Community Outreach Center. (Photos by Gail Manker) Even as state Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Lawrenceville, was working to turn the former Connelly Trade School into a green technology innovation center in the Hill District, he was also looking at bringing green building practices—and related job training to the city’s East End. He found the perfect symbol for such a transformation at an abandoned BP gas station on Larimer Avenue, which reopened as the Environment and Energy Community Outreach Center in June.
by Emily DeMarco PublicSource Allegheny County’s 59 new pay stations at light-rail platforms and bus stops have been performing well, with the exception of...
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Justice Department is suing the owners and on-site manager of a Pittsburgh-area apartment complex, saying Black "testers" sent to rent apartments earlier this year were turned away, while Whites were told apartments were available.
WALTER SMITH As the new head of Allegheny County’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, Walter Smith has joined the organization at an exciting time. This year marks the county’s 225th anniversary, which will be commemorated with a yearlong celebration starting this week.
AMANDA GREEN HAWKINS AND CONNIE PARKER The day after the New Pittsburgh Courier asked NAACP Pittsburgh Unit President and PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator Connie Parker about her status as a former Port Authority Board director, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald nominated her again.
JAKE WHEATLEY by Christian MorrowCourier Staff WriterEditor's note: This is an updated version of the story that originally appeared online August 10.In the wake of recent developments, state Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill, said African-American patrons of the Rivers Casino should take complaints of discrimination to ownership.
Amanda Green-Hawkins Following the July 25 story on the Rivers Casino shutting down a party thrown by the Ruff Ryders Black motorcycle club, the New Pittsburgh Courier received calls and emails about similar actions taken when events drew large Black crowds to the casino—actions that were not taken when events drew large White crowds. Now Allegheny County Councilwoman Amanda Green-Hawkins, who has also received allegations of discrimination, is demanding some real answers. In an Aug. 6 letter addressed to Rivers General Manager Craig Clark, she highlighted some of the incidents.
Norma Carpenter, a nurse and school board member, visited her 82-year-old mother regularly at a personal care home in Indiana County. The two would walk hand in hand through the home, stopping to hug each other. (Photo by Halle Stockton/PublicSource) Norma Carpenter, a nurse and school board member, visited her 82-year-old mother regularly at a personal care home in Indiana County. The two would walk hand in hand through the home, stopping to hug each other. Then, in October 2012, Norma was banned from visiting or calling her mother, Mary Little, who has dementia. Her visits, she was told, left her mother sad and depressed. In December, Norma discovered that her mother had been moved nearly 100 miles away to a Fayette County nursing home. All of these decisions were made by a court-appointed guardian.
LOUIS 'HOP' KENDRICK For a number of years there has been a description of Pittsburgh that was not flattering; Pittsburgh was called the “Largest City up South.”The time is long overdue for Black voters in particular throughout Allegheny County to open their minds and withhold their votes. The benefits of government have overwhelmingly been denied Black citizens, and we have been the most loyal bloc of voters since 1936. Blacks have been insulted, disrespected and the party leadership has clearly demonstrated they could care less about us. Whatever advances we have achieved have generally been because we marched, picketed, boycotted, or were civil disobedient and the federal courts helped.
WILLIAM “JACK” SIMMONS AND LYNETTE DRAWN-WILLIAMSON William “Jack” Simmons, who has been under fire for months over his management of Allegheny County’s Shuman...
