Blogh, Pittsburgh City Paper

Election Day thoughts

Chris Potter — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:27:00 -0400

Today is, obviously, a potentially historic day, pivotal for the future of our region. It's the day that Pittsburgh's men and women, workers and retirees, students and citizens of all kinds, go to the polls and ask themselves the question at the heart of our republic:

"Who the fuck are these judicial candidates?"

But there's a mayoral race too, as you may have heard.…

Former city cop acquitted in insurance fraud/road rage case

Lauren Daley — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:55:00 -0400

A former city traffic officer accused of insurance fraud, reckless endangerment and related charges in a 2010 road rage case was acquitted this afternoon in a non-jury trial.

Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos granted Garrett John Brown's motion for insufficient evidence in the case that stemmed from an encounter — first recounted in this City Paper story — with donut deliverymen Matt Mazzie and Blaine Johnston in the early morning of Nov. 18, 2010.…

Arts Funding Protest Draws Mayoral Candidate

Bill O'Driscoll — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:38:00 -0400

Bill Peduto was the lone mayoral candidate at today’s Downtown event demanding enforcement of the city and county’s percent-for-art laws.

The protest was highlighted by a couple dozen CAPA high school students mimicking the classic “eyeballs in tophats” costumes of cult band The Residents.…

Venture Outdoors Festival in Point State Park on Saturday

Bill O'Driscoll — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:38 -0400

The free annual hands-on expo for all things rugged or just plain recreational is set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you ever wanted to try a climbing wall, in other words, now’s the time. Plus things as low-impact as horseshoes.…

War of words escalating in final days of mayoral campaign

Chris Potter — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:32:00 -0400

We're now in the final days of the city's mayoral campaign, which means all the campaign rhetoric you've been hearing for the past several weeks is about to get dialed to 11. And based on a pair of dueling press conferences this morning, the race's two frontrunners -- City Councilor Bill Peduto and former Auditor General Jack Wagner -- are going to be attacking each other over ... the fact that they've been attacking each other.…

New Aviary Show Highlights Misunderstood Birds of Prey

Bill O'Driscoll — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:56 -0400

You’ll see some spectacular stuff in Talons!, the new indoor free-flight show at the National Aviary. If you’re lucky, you might even get buzzed by a Eurasian Eagle-Owl, a cat-sized bird with deep orange eyes.…

Demonstration for Arts Funding Set for Friday

Bill O'Driscoll — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:05:10 -0400

A movement to get Pittsburgh to enforce a 36-year-old city law requiring that public construction projects set aside “1 percent for art” holds its first big press conference and rally Downtown, on Friday afternoon.

The Pittsburgh Percent 4 Art Campaign assembles artists, students and others at 1 p.m. at Katz Plaza — home of artist Louise Bourgeois’ landmark “eyeball” sculptures.…

Jordan Miles gets high-powered legal team for second trial

Charlie Deitch — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:43:00 -0400

Civil-=rights attorney Joel Sansone, who in 2008 secured a $28 million jury award against two state troopers who shot an unarmed 12-year-old in the back, will be leading Jordan Miles' second civil trial against the three police officers Miles in January 2010.

Sansone, who filed his notice of appearance on May 2, told City Paper today that Miles' new trial team will be led by himself and Detroit-based civil rights lawyer Bob Giroux and also consist of Miles' lead attorneys in the first civil trial, J. Kerrington Lewis and Tim O'Brien.…

In mayor's race, intriguing footprints on the money trail

Chris Potter — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:25:44 -0400

With one week to go before the May 21 mayoral primary, the money trail is becoming increasingly convoluted — as reflected by financial activity involving the campaigns of the race's two frontrunners.

For starters, a contractor whose work on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's home has become the subject of stories in the Post-Gazette appears to be a financial supporter of Jack Wagner.…

Event reminder: Ride of Silence tonight

Lauren Daley — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:16:00 -0400

Tonight, cyclists will gather to remember those injured in crashes around the city, during the annual Ride of Silence.

Cyclists can meet between 6:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. at Dippy the Dinosaur at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Schenley Drive by the Carnegie museum in Oakland tonight.…

ACLU seeking same-sex couples for survey

Lauren Daley — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:29:00 -0400

The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking same-sex couples whose stories can be used to help shape public and legal opinion, as well as demonstrate harm due to not being able to marry.

From the organization's website:

"The American Civil Liberties Union is fighting to ensure all same-sex couples have the legal protections necessary to sustain their relationships and families.…

National Bike to Work Day This Friday

Bill O'Driscoll — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:02:52 -0400

Commuting can be a solitary enterprise, the bike kind no less than the car-bound variety. But on National Bike to Work Day, you can rally in two-wheeled solidarity with your fellow working-stiff cyclists.…

New Wagner ad appeals to young voters

Chris Potter — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:42:00 -0400

There's been a long-running debate about whether young voters can make a difference in a Pittsburgh election -- see here, for example, and here and the comments here. But there's evidence that mayoral candidate Jack Wagner, at least, is taking young voters plenty seriously.…

Analyzing Keystone Analytics

Chris Potter — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:36:00 -0400

From the outset, I've been a little wary of the poll findings from Keystone Analytics, an outfit owned by the state Realtors Association who has been providing almost all the polling data in this year's mayoral race. It's nothing personal; I just never heard of them, and they have no track record in predicting races at all.…

New poll shows Peduto taking lead in mayoral race

Chris Potter — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:41:00 -0400

Bill Peduto has regained the lead in the city's mayoral race, according to a polling firm whose owners support his rival, Jack Wagner.

Keystone Analytics, which is owned by the state Realtors Association and which only began polling political races this year, shows Peduto over Wagner by 39-32 among likely voters.…

Herb Society to hold annual plant sale Saturday

AmyJo Brown — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:30:00 -0400

The members of the Western Pennsylvania unit of the Herb Society of America will hold their annual herb plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel.…

Wheatley goes Online with new ad in Pittsburgh Mayor's Race

Charlie Deitch — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:21:00 -0400

The Jake Wheatley for Mayor campaign is on the air with its first commercial…sort of.

The new ad, called "Fairness," is an online-only advertisement that will be targeted to individuals based on their Internet usage says Wheatley spokesman Daren Berringer.…

Wheatley spokesman on Luke's $10k gift: "We were just as surprised as anybody"

Chris Potter — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:21:00 -0400

As noted here a short time ago, an early surprise in today's campaign-finance reporting period is that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl donated $10,000 to the mayoral bid of state Rep. Jake Wheatley.

And guess what?…

Brave New World of campaign finance taking shape

Chris Potter — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:30:00 -0400

Today is the second Friday before the mayoral election -- a critical day for those tracking election spending in this year's mayoral race. I'll have updates throughout the day as reports come in, but a couple trends are already apparent.…

Ride of Silence next week

Lauren Daley — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:12:56 -0400

Next week, cyclists will gather to ride to raise awareness among motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the road. It also rides to honor those cyclists who have been killed or injured in accidents.…

Protesters deliver budget wishes to Gov. Corbett

Lauren Daley — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:27:00 -0400

A group of protesters with Working America collected state budget wishes on paper flowers from passerby today and delivered the "bouquet" of wishes to Gov. Tom Corbett's Downtown office.

[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Delving into Racism with Clybourne Park at Pittsburgh Public Theater

Bill O'Driscoll — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:44:00 -0400

The Pulitzer-winning play offers provocative observations on race relations. More in Program Notes.…

Inside SCI-Wexford (AKA Joan Orie Melvin's House)

Charlie Deitch — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:46:00 -0400

If you think that Judge Lester Nauhaus took it easy on former Justice Joan Orie Melvin Tuesday by sentencing her to three years house arrest, think again. The house she'll be confined to only has one — one!…

Citing "record" support, state lawmakers introduce non-discrimination bills — again

Lauren Daley — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:24:18 -0400

Update 2:48 p.m.: We inadvertently misquoted Sen. Farnese at the end of an original posting. We have corrected it to attribute the quote to Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery/Delaware, and co-chairman of the LGBT caucus

Could Pennsylvania be moving forward in terms of protections for its LGBT citizens?

Possibly.…

Activists to deliver state budget wishes to Gov. Corbett — in paper flower form.

Lauren Daley — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400

Activists with Working America are inviting community members to write their state budget requests on paper flowers and will deliver them to the downtown office of Gov. Tom Corbett later this week.

Members of Working America will meet in front of the Allegheny County Assistance office, 332 Fifth Ave., Downtown, at 11 a.m.…