Monday, January 28, 2013

Standard & Poor's gives Highmark 'negative' outlook

Standard & Poor's gives Highmark 'negative' outlook: The finnacial ratings agency does expect Highmark's operating earnings to improve in 2014.

Saint Vincent College remembers 'fire and ice' day when campus burned

Saint Vincent College remembers 'fire and ice' day when campus burned: Jan. 28 marks 50 years since 400 firefighters in below-zero temperatures battled flames that destroyed part of Saint Vincent College in Westmoreland County.

Boy Scouts Considering Changing No-Gays Policy

Boy Scouts Considering Changing No-Gays Policy:
NEW YORK (AP) – The Boys Scouts of America is considering a dramatic change in its controversial policy of excluding gays as leaders and youth members.

Fire rips through crowded Brazil nightclub, killing 233 - CNN.com

Fire rips through crowded Brazil nightclub, killing 233 - CNN.com

3 arrested after Brazilian nightclub fire

3 arrested after Brazilian nightclub fire

Brazil nightclub fire: More than 230 die in Brazilian nightclub fire as survivors say security guards tried to stop people leaving burning building | Mail Online

Brazil nightclub fire: More than 230 die in Brazilian nightclub fire as survivors say security guards tried to stop people leaving burning building | Mail Online

Brazil nightclub fire: 'Like a war zone'

Brazil nightclub fire: 'Like a war zone': Guitarist Rodrigo Martin was preparing to launch into the sixth song of his band's set when he saw embers fall.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

FEMA schedules two roundtables in DC on Feb. 19 about temporary housing units

FEMA schedules two roundtables in DC on Feb. 19 about temporary housing units

Texas A&M lands contract to train FEMA’s search and rescue specialists

Texas A&M lands contract to train FEMA’s search and rescue specialists

City panel explores nonprofit contributions

City panel explores nonprofit contributions: The city of Pittsburgh has convened a task force to examine how tax-exempt nonprofits should contribute to the city's coffers.

Pittsburgh creates state-ordered task force to study nonprofit gifts to government

Pittsburgh creates state-ordered task force to study nonprofit gifts to government: The task force is to examine how other cities handle nonprofit contributions and make recommendations. A report is due in June.

Another Tax Plan for Pittsburgh’s Non-Profits

Another Tax Plan for Pittsburgh’s Non-Profits:

2 arrested for stealing Sandy relief supplies from church

2 arrested for stealing Sandy relief supplies from church

Monday, January 21, 2013

Volunteers honor King's legacy by helping others

Volunteers honor King's legacy by helping others: Hundreds of volunteers use their day off from school and work to celebrate Martin Luther King’s legacy by helping others.

Tweeting Social Change: How Social Media Are Changing Nonprofit Advocacy

Tweeting Social Change: How Social Media Are Changing Nonprofit Advocacy

Kars 4 Kids, American Cancer Society: Who is Most Generous To Various Charities?

Kars 4 Kids, American Cancer Society: Who is Most Generous To Various Charities?: Tzedekah is a very important pillar of Judaism — people are encouraged and required under the tenets of Judaism to give charity.  So whether its donating a car to Kars 4 Kids or the American Red Cross who gives the most donations:

Generally, Republicans give more than twice what Democrats give in charitable contributions of all sorts.  In 2008 a book was written which showed that while Democrats have higher household incomes, Republicans tend to donate more monies.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy had a survey which shows that religious people of all sorts tithe due to their ...

Some city uniforms, vehicles may sport advertisements

Some city uniforms, vehicles may sport advertisements: Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval last week to allow advertising and sponsorship on a range of city assets.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Sandia Scientists Model Dynamics of Social Protest

Sandia Scientists Model Dynamics of Social Protest:
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have been studying the ways that information, ideas and behaviors propagate through social networks in order to gain advance warning of cyber attacks or other threatening behavior.

The Relief Disaster

The Relief Disaster:
The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left
Behind a Disaster, by Jonathan M. Katz, Palgrave MacMillan, 320
pages, $26.00.

New York Fires Auditor Who Found Abuse of Federal Hurricane Sandy Funds | Right Wing News

New York Fires Auditor Who Found Abuse of Federal Hurricane Sandy Funds | Right Wing News

DHS Launches New Active Shooter Preparedness Webpage

DHS Launches New Active Shooter Preparedness Webpage

Pittsburghers turn out for National Day of Service

Pittsburghers turn out for National Day of Service

Marchers call on UPMC to do more for the public

Marchers call on UPMC to do more for the public

Friday, January 18, 2013

Ex-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin indicted on bribery, money laundering, other charges - The Washington Post

Ex-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin indicted on bribery, money laundering, other charges - The Washington Post

Key players in Nagin case | wwltv.com New Orleans

Key players in Nagin case | wwltv.com New Orleans

Ray Nagin, Former New Orleans Mayor, Indicted On 21 Federal Corruption Counts | WREG.com — Memphis News & Weather from WREG Television, News Channel 3

Ray Nagin, Former New Orleans Mayor, Indicted On 21 Federal Corruption Counts | WREG.com — Memphis News & Weather from WREG Television, News Channel 3

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin charged with bribery, fraud - Washington Times

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin charged with bribery, fraud - Washington Times

EXCLUSIVE: O'Brien tapped as chair of United Way board

EXCLUSIVE: O'Brien tapped as chair of United Way board: Morgan O’Brien, CEO of Pittsburgh-based Peoples Natural Gas, will replace Art Rooney II as chairman of the board of the United Way of Allegheny County.

WPAHS's biggest challenge now: filling beds

WPAHS's biggest challenge now: filling beds

'Make It Our UPMC' protest calls on city officials to enforce charitable mission

'Make It Our UPMC' protest calls on city officials to enforce charitable mission: Nearly 100 protestors rallied in downtown Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon to call on public officials to make UPMC live up to its charitable mission.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

xing Non-Profits

Taxing Non-Profits:  
A state Senator has proposed levying Pittsburgh's Payroll Preparation Tax (PPT) on non-profits with 250 or more employees.

United Way offers scholarships

United Way offers scholarships: By Brigid Beatty, Leader Times
Area high school students who have a track record of community volunteerism or who plan to work in the field of education now have a ...

Attendance down in wake of zoo death

Attendance down in wake of zoo death: Attendance is down at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium since a 2-year-old boy fell into an African wild dogs exhibit and was fatally mauled.

Penn State asks judge to deny McQueary suit

Penn State asks judge to deny McQueary suit: Penn State asked a judge Tuesday to throw out a whistle-blower lawsuit brought by the key witness against Jerry Sandusky.

WPAHS bondholder call is Thursday

WPAHS bondholder call is Thursday

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

House accepts $33.7B Sandy bill amendment - The Hill's Floor Action

House accepts $33.7B Sandy bill amendment - The Hill's Floor Action

Ferlo seeks new revenue from nonprofits

Ferlo seeks new revenue from nonprofits

Blending of Salvation Army units termeda success

Blending of
Salvation Army units termed
a success
: By Rachel Basinger
Despite opening a new office right before the Christmas season, the Salvation Army director for the Scottdale / Connellsville areas said she feels good about ...


Northmont Flood project moving ‘very, very slowly’

Northmont Flood project moving ‘very, very slowly’

Profiting on Disaster: NJ Senate Votes To Exclude Non-Union Construction Workers For Hurricane Sandy Work | RedState

Profiting on Disaster: NJ Senate Votes To Exclude Non-Union Construction Workers For Hurricane Sandy Work | RedState

Sandy Pork And The Lesson Of Katrina

Sandy Pork And The Lesson Of Katrina

Monday, January 14, 2013

McClintock: Sandy aid bill undermines legitimate emergency relief

McClintock: Sandy aid bill undermines legitimate emergency relief:
As the House takes up legislation to provide emergency relief to areas of the North-east that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, some in Congress are raising warning flags, pointing to a bill that is laden with pork and unnecessary government spending.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Sandy aid bill raises concern

Sandy aid bill raises concern: By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Conservatives and watchdog groups are mounting a “not-so-fast” campaign against a $50.7 billion Superstorm Sandy aid package that Northeastern governors and lawmakers hope ...

Monday, January 7, 2013

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Pennsylvania delays for one year new reporting for small games of chance

Pennsylvania delays for one year new reporting for small games of chance: Pennsylvania delays new reporting requirements for small games of chance for one year but allows increased prizes now.

At Least One New York City Politician Doesn’t Have Beef With Boehner | Politicker

At Least One New York City Politician Doesn’t Have Beef With Boehner | Politicker

Sandy Hook students return to class

Sandy Hook students return to class: Sandy Hook Elementary School students are headed back to class today, the first time since the tragic Dec. 14 shooting.

Secure communication technology can conquer lack of trust

Secure communication technology can conquer lack of trust: Many scenarios in business and communication require that two parties share information without either being sure if they can trust the other. Examples include secure auctions and identification at ATM machines. Exploiting the strange properties of the quantum world could be the answer to dealing with such distrust.

Christie Craving Pork-Filled Sandy Bill | The Weekly Standard

Christie Craving Pork-Filled Sandy Bill | The Weekly Standard

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

House wants to divide bill on aid for Superstorm Sandy victims

House wants to divide bill on aid for Superstorm Sandy victims: By Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — The Senate-passed $60.4 billion bill to aid Superstorm Sandy victims would be split into two pieces under a proposal the House Appropriations Committee ..

Tuesday, January 1, 2013