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65 of 80 homicides Black lives
Continued path to more deadly year than last by Ashley Johnson
African American Heritage Parade rained on but not washed out
A GOOD TIME BY ALL—Despite the rain and cold weather, Blacks from throughout the city came out to enjoy the African American Heritage Day Parade on Oct. 13 in downtown Pittsburgh. (Photos by Rossano P. Stewart)
by Michael B. Rose
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Fifty-three degrees and rain is the antithesis of a good parade day, but almost symbolic of the African American experience, participants made lemonade out of lemons on Oct. 3 as they showed up for the 28th annual African American Heritage Day Parade. Starting at 11 a.m., at the 11th Street Greyhound station, the parade included dancing, drumming and profiling, all the way from 11th Street to Liberty Avenue, concluding at a stage at Fifth Avenue Place. The parade’s theme was “From Selma to Pittsburgh,” with focus on voting rights and the need to register to vote. Keeping with that theme, Tim Stevens, who became executive director of the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP in 1970, was elected president of the local NAACP in 1994, serving for a decade, and is the founder
CO-HOSTS—Ty Miller, from AURN, and Doris Carson Williams, CEO African American Chamber of Western Pennsylvania, were co-hosts of the African American Heritage Parade.
and chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project, served as grand marshal, leading the parade in a red convertible. Every aspect of Black Pittsburgh showed up to represent the diversity they add to the collective of Black, especially it’s greek and fraternal population. “I thought the parade was just great. I say that because it was rainy, it was cold, and still the people came out,” said annual organizer and co-host Doris Carson Williams. “There was excitement. There was enthusiasm and the children all performed well. It was just a wonderful showing of African American pride.” Joseph Gansallo of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Omicron Lambda chapter at the University of Pittsburgh took special pride in his participation because of the roots of this parade.“Brother Harvey
Courier Staff writer
Until recently, Allegheny County could only raise property taxes if it wanted to address a shortfall in funds needed for road and bridge repair. The Act 87 transportation bill, however, allowed for a $5 increase to the an-
by Christian Morrow Courier Staff writer
Charles “Chuck” Powell, who has worked to improve and solidify Black participation in development projects large and small for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for more than 25 years has officially retired. Nearly 100 friends, colleagues and business owners he’s worked with over the years attended his Oct. 2 sendoff at Mitchell’s Restaurant, a block away from his former office. Authority Executive Director Robert Rubinstein thanked Powell for his dedication throughout the year. “Chuck has been an unwavering champion for disadvantaged business opportunities. We thank him for his service” he said. Among the others who attended were Pittsburgh Councilmen R. Daniel Lavelle and Rev. Ricky Burgess; state Rep. Ed Gainey, D- East Liberty; Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald; and Louis “Hop”
nual vehicle registration fee. Allegheny County Council was expected to approve the increase at its Oct. 6 meeting. “We’re responsible for 500 miles of roads and 50 bridges. We should be resurfacing about 40 miles a year, but we’ve only been doing about 20,” said Fitzgerald during an
Recently, staff from the Milton Hershey School gave a presentation on the school and its mission to serve at-risk urban youth at the Kingsley Association in Larimer. It was a timely visit, given that the school’s 2015 Alumni of the Year came from that neighborhood, and East Liberty, and Homewood, depending on where his shattered family life forced him to live. Had he stayed there, he said, he might not be living anywhere at all today. But he didn’t. SEE GRAVES A5
SEE HOMICIDES C8
SEE PARADE A4
Oct. 4 meeting with the New Pittsburgh Courier Editorial Board. “This will generate about $4.5 million a year, and it can only be used for roads and bridges. It can’t go into the general fund.” That means more jobs, he said, noting that AfriSEE FITZGERALD A4
RICH FITZGERALD
Graves named Hershey Alumni of the Year by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer
GRAVES’ CONCERNS—Dr. J. Anthony Graves in his oncology lab at Children’s Hospital where he tests methods for eradicating cancers by manipulating mitochondrial DNA. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
SEE POWELL A5
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With a whopping 14 homicides occurring in September, making the total, thus far, 80, Allegheny County is on its way to having a more deadly year than in 2014, which had 105. Looking back at last year’s numbers, at the end of September, there were 78 total
homicides, 63 of them Black lives. This year, during the same time, there have been 80, 65 of them Black individuals. Each month, it seems like the stories get more horrific, more senseless and just plain harder to read and report. For instance, the death of a North Side toddler whose life was cut short because an adult was too careless to put away a gun, not once, but twice, instead of leaving it out on the couch in easy reach of him. How hard would it have been to take a minute to lock it up or put it in a closet, etc? While the shooting may not have been intentional, it was still senseless. Then, there was the shooting death of a Beltzhoover teen whom, according to several reports, was not only a positive young man, but also mentored to other young people. A young man trying to make a difference and taken far too soon. With three months left in the year, if the double-digit murders continue each month, 2015 will be the deadliest that Allegheny County has seen in the last six years. With all our meetings, marches and vigils, the numbers are supposed to decrease, not increase. Why are we going in the wrong direction? How much more loss can our communities take? As part of an ongoing effort to heighten awareness about the effects of murder in Black communities, the New Pittsburgh Courier will compile a list of homicides in the County each month. It is our hope that as the list of victims grows, so will a true understanding of how these lost lives affect the mental health, economic well being and self-images of the region’s Black neighborhoods. Out of the 80 murders, thus far, in 2015—65 were Black and 60 were Black men. September Homicides (14) SEPT. 1—Josiah Taylor, a 1year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot in his home in the Allegheny Dwellings apartment complex, at 1600 Sandusky Court in the North Side, while his mother’s boyfriend, Harrison Marshman, was babysitting him. It has been reported that
Powell enjoys Fitzgerald: Registration fee means retirement sendoff better roads, no property tax hike with family,friends by Christian Morrow
Courier Staff Writer
Earl Ofari Hutchinson says
Oregon massacre won’t shake NRA stranglehold Forum A7
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OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
Nigeria Senate names 20 nominees for president’s new Cabinet by Michelle Faul Associated Press Write
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)— Nigeria’s Senate announced 20 nominees for the Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 6, representing all regions of this West African nation but only three women in a team expected to fight endemic corruption. Buhari has said he will hold the most powerful portfolio of petroleum in Africa’s biggest oil producer. Among the candidates is the recently appointed head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., Harvardeducated Ibe Kachikwu. Kachikwu has 30 years’ experience in Nigeria’s private oil sector and is touted to be minister of state running the petroleum ministry with Buhari’s oversight. One of Buhari’s first acts was to fire the top echelon of the state oil industry, from which $20 billion allegedly has been looted. There were no surprises on Oct. 6’s list, which senators will start vetting next week, said Senate President Bukola Saraki. “He’s using those who have
SENATE PRESIDENT—In this Friday, May 29, 2015 file photo, Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki attends an event in Abuja, Nigeria. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File) track record and experience in governance. I think that’s the best thing for us to do,” said Sen. Robert Boroffice, a member of Buhari’s party. But there are not enough women and no candidates under 50, complained the Enough Is Enough Nigeria Coalition, a group for good governance. It “doesn’t give credit to what young Nigerians and women have to contribute to national development,” said the coalition’s Yemi Adamelokun. The list includes former Gov.
Babatunde Fashola, who made Lagos state financially independent through tax collection and former Rivers State Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, the first rebel to defect from ousted President Goodluck Jonathan’s party and help bring Buhari, a northern Muslim, much-needed votes in the mainly Christian south. Women nominees include U.N. special adviser Amina Ibrahim and Kemi Adeosun, a corruption-fighting former state finance commissioner.
Pistorius release canceled, referred back to parole board SOMERSET WEST, South Africa (AP)—The decision granting Oscar Pistorius early release from prison to go to house arrest was cancelled Oct. 5 and referred back to a parole board to be reconsidered. In the latest delay in the drawn-out saga over whether Pistorius should be allowed to leave jail early, a parole review board ruled that the double-amputee Olympian’s case should be considered all over again, South Africa’s Department of Corrections said. The independent review board also said Pistorius BLADE RUNNER—Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp in Joshould be “subjected to psy- hannesburg, South Africa, in 2012. (AP Photo/City Press, Lucky chotherapy’’ as part of his NxumaloFile) parole conditions, even if it’s decided that he can be released early, the peal to South Africa’s Supreme Court. Pistorius was acquitted of murder last corrections department said in a statement. Pistorius’ lawyer Brian Webber said he year and instead found guilty of a lesser had been informed of the decision to refer charge of culpable homicide for shooting the case back to the parole board but had girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. He no more details. It likely means that Pisto- has served nearly a year of his five-year rius will at least remain in prison until prison sentence. He was eligible to be after Nov. 3, when prosecutors still seeking moved to house arrest after serving 10 a murder conviction against the runner ap- months and initially cleared to leave Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria on Aug. 21. However, South Africa’s justice minister intervened, suspended the decision on a legal technicality and ordered a review. At next month’s Supreme Court appeal, Pistorius faces the possibility of a 15-year jail sentence if a panel of five judges agrees with prosecutors that he should have been found guilty of murder for shooting Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home.
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Week of Oct. 7-13 October 7 1821—One of the most prominent Blacks in the Underground Railroad, William Still, is born near Bedford, Mass. The “Underground Railroad” was the name given to a series of secret trails and safe houses used to help Blacks escape from slavery in the South to freedom in the North. 1897—The founder of the Nation of Islam Elijah Muhammad is born Elijah Poole in Sandersville, Ga., as one of 13 children. Muhammad would build his religious sect into the largest independent Black separatist organization in America. The group is currently headed by Min. Louis Farrakhan. Muhammad died in February 1975. 1934—Activist, writer and poet Imamu Baraka is born Everett LeRoi Jones in Newark, N.J. Baraka was one of the leading intellectual figures in the Black Power and ELIJAH MUHAMMAD Black Nationalist movements of the 1960s and early 1970s. A special tribute honoring Baraka’s 75th birthday took place around this time last year. 1967—Carl Stokes is elected the first Black mayor of a major American city—Cleveland, Ohio. Interestingly, he won by defeating Seth Taft—the grandson of a former United States president—Howard Taft. 1993—Writer Toni Morrison is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. October 8 1775—Slaves and free Blacks are officially barred by the Council of Officers from joining the Continental army to help fight for American independence from England. Nevertheless, a significant number of Blacks had already become involved in the fight and would distinguish themselves in battle. Additional Blacks were barred out of fear, especially in the South, that they would demand freedom for themselves if White America became free TONI MORRISON from Britain. 1941—National Black political leader and two-time candidate for president of the United States Rev. Jesse Jackson was born on this day in Greenville, S.C. After the 1968 assassination of Civil Rights Movement icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson, who was one of his top aides, would become the nation’s most prominent and influential civil rights leader. October 9 1806—Benjamin Banneker dies in Ellicott Mills, Md., at age 74. Banneker was a brilliant mathematician with a great memory and is credited with completing the layout and design of Washington, D.C. 1823—Mary Ann Shad is born. She becomes publisher of Canada’s first anti-slavery newsREV. JESSE JACKSON paper—The Provincial Freeman. In fact, she is the first woman in the U.S. or Canada to edit and publish a newspaper. 1962—The east African nation of Uganda becomes independent from British rule. 1984—W. Wilson Goode makes history by becoming the first Black mayor of Philadelphia, Pa. 2009—In a move which surprised just about everyone, President Barack Obama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama had been in office for less than 9 months at this time last year but the Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway, said it was impressed by his “promise” of disarmament and diplomacy. October 10 1778—What is believed to be the first formal school for Blacks—the Africa Free School—opens in New York City. 1899—Black inventor Isaac Johnson patents the bicycle frame. 1901—Frederick Douglass Patterson is born. He grows up to become President of Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. From there he would later launch an effort that leads to the 1944 founding of the United Negro College Fund. 1917—Famed Jazz pianist Theolonius Monk is born BARACK OBAMA in Rocky Mount, N.C. 1935—George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” a Black spiritual opera, premiers on Broadway in New York City. It starred Todd Duncan from Howard University. The play becomes one of the most popular Black-themed shows ever to hit Broadway. The 1959 movie version stars Sidney Portier and Dorothy Dandridge. October 11 1887—Alexander Miles patents a major safety improvement to the elevator. Miles did not invent the elevator. But he made it safer with an automatically closing door which prevented people from accidentally THEOLONIUS MONK falling down elevator shafts. 1890—Black inventor Charles Orren Bailiff patents the shampoo headrest. 1939—The NAACP organizes the NAACP Education and Legal Defense Fund, which goes on to win many important legal battles guaranteeing civil and educational rights for Blacks. 1991—Comedian and actor Redd Foxx dies at age 68. He was born John Elroy Sanford in St. Louis, Mo. An IRS raid on his Las Vegas home to collect back taxes is thought to have hastened his death. October 12 1854—Lincoln University is founded in Pennsylvania. 1932—Richard “Dick” Gregory is born in St Louis, Mo. Gregory advanced from comedian to political activist. 1945—The lynching of Jesse James Payne takes place in Madison County, Fla. The lynching came to typify the lies that prompted many a lynching. Payne got into an argument with his White boss and threatREDD FOXX ened to expose some of his boss’ illegal dealings. But the boss then spread a rumor that Payne had molested his daughter and Payne was lynched. 1972—Nearly 50 Black and White sailors were injured in a race riot aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. 1999—Basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain dies at age 63. The 7’1”, 280 pound great included among his records the scoring of 100 points in one game when the Philadelphia Warriors beat the New York Knicks 169 to 147 on March 2, 1962. October 13 1902—Arna W. Bontemps (1902-1973) is born. He was a noted poet and librarian of Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. Bontemps frequently collaborated with another noted Black poet Langston Hughes. 1914—Garret Morgan, an African-American inventor and WILT CHAMBERLAIN community leader, invents and patents the gas mask. He is renowned for a heroic rescue in 1916 in which he and three others used the mask he’d developed to save workers trapped within a water intake tunnel, 50 feet beneath Lake Erie. 1919—Whites riot in Phillips County, Ark., leaving nearly 80 Blacks lynched. 1926—Jesse Leroy Brown is born. He became the first Black naval aviator. 1970—Communist and activist Angela Davis is arrested as a fugitive in New York City for her alleged role in a California courthouse shootout that left GARRETT MORGAN four dead. She is later found not guilty.
The hajj journey of Black Americans 50 years after Malcolm X
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
by Aya Batrawy
Associated Press Writer
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP)—As Shahidah Sharif, an African American Muslim, joined millions of fellow
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
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she said. The hajj helps make her a better American, she said, by instilling her with compassion. The 38-year-old Sharif and her husband, Suleimaan Hamed, run Hajj Pros, a
“We need to remove the idea of seeking permission from someone to give us what’s inherently ours. No one needs to validate who we are. We know who we are, and we’re inherently created by God.” SHAHIDAH SHARIF pilgrims from around the world on the hajj this year, she felt a renewed connection. To her own “Blackness,” she says, but also to humanity as a whole. “When the human family becomes more important than just myself and my needs, nothing can get in the way of building relationships,” she told The Associated Press in Mecca. “It doesn’t matter if we have different faiths, different races, different nationalities, I can find something in common with you.” For American Black Muslims, this year brought a significant landmark, the 50th anniversary of Malcolm X’s death. A year before his assassination, Malcolm X underwent a transformative experience on the hajj, seeing the potential for racial co-existence after witnessing, as he wrote, pilgrims “of all colors displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe could never exist between a white and a non-white.” This year’s hajj, which ended Sept. 26, came at a time when the debate over race in the United States is at its most heated in decades, with the Black Lives Matters movement arising after the deaths of a
company based in Atlanta, Georgia, organizing hajj trips. This year they came with more than 30 African Americans. Her parents were members of the Nation of Islam, but like Malcolm X, they moved to more mainstream Sunni Islam. Still, she says current activists can learn from the Nation of Islam of the 1960s. “We need to remove the idea of seeking permission from someone to give us what’s inherently ours,” she said. “No one needs to validate who we are. We know who we are, and we’re inherently created by God.” *** “Pack your patience, and wear it,” Sharif’s husband Hamed always tells the American pilgrims he guides. Patience is key to dealing with the crowds. Another piece of advice: “Take off your American glasses.” “We see everything through the lens of America, and those glasses are dirty. Everything’s racism, everything’s oppression,” he said. While he says this is the reality in the U.S., he says there are other cultural factors that could be at play in Saudi Arabia during the hajj. For him, hajj provides a model in Abraham, who in Islamic tradition built the
“It can lull you into thinking that color doesn’t matter, that race doesn’t matter and that our goal should be to be colorblind. Everyone “has their own story...their own struggle,” so if we as Black people aren’t going to stand up and talk about the fact that our lives matter just like everybody else’s, who’s going to do that?” SHAHIDAH SHARIF number of Black men at the hands of police were captured on camera and seen widely by the public. The AP spoke with a number of African Americans about their hajj experience. For Muslims, the pilgrimage is not just a duty, it’s a moment to reflect on oneself and on community. It’s an intensely personal experience. In Islam, each pilgrim presents him or herself directly to God, seeking forgiveness of sin, while performing rituals that include circling the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure in Mecca. At the same time, it’s communal: more than 2 million pilgrims performing the same rites, underscoring unity and equality. The scale is exhausting. The population of a city packs into tents, walks simultaneously from site to site in the desert in broiling heat for five days. A stampede this year that killed at least 769 pilgrims underscored the dangers of the crowds. For the African Americans who spoke to the AP, all those factors weighed on how hajj affected their faith and their sense of community back home in America. *** Sharif draws inspiration from Hagar, the wife of the prophet Ibrahim—Abraham, as he’s known in the Bible. In Islamic tradition, Hagar and her son Ismail— the Bible’s Ishmael—were left in the desert at what is now Mecca, and Hagar ran through the hills searching for water for her thirsty child until God opened the spring of Zamzam. Pilgrims re-create her search in a hajj rite. For Sharif, the mother of two young children, it’s a lesson in sacrifice. “Who am I in this scheme of history that I can’t make a sacrifice for the greater good, in particular for our community?”
Kaaba. “All the lessons for life are in him...how to build a community,” said Hamed, who is also the imam, or preacher, at the Atlanta Masjid mosque. His final advice to pilgrims: Trust that God “has an experience for you as an individual in the midst of 3 million people...He has something for you individually.” *** Praying in the Grand Mosque housing the Kaaba with people from all over the world, Jamila Rashid felt “how beautiful the human family is and that you’re all essentially human beings.” But, she added, that can be “a little dangerous.” “It can lull you into thinking that color doesn’t matter, that race doesn’t matter and that our goal should be to be color-blind,” she said. Everyone “has their own story...their own struggle,” she said, “so if we as Black people aren’t going to stand up and talk about the fact that our lives matter just like everybody else’s, who’s going to do that?” She’s glad Americans are talking about race, though with so much of it on social media, she’s concerned how much depth it has. She said a lesson must be taken from the earlier generation, when the civil rights movement had clear demands. “Okay, Black lives matter, so what are we asking for?” she said. Rashid describes herself as “a minority trifecta”: a woman, an African American and a Muslim. She brings those perspectives into her work in Atlanta, as founding director of My World, a non-profit that teaches teens leadership skills and cross-culture citizenship. Having just turned 40, she says the pilgrimage builds her “spiritual muscles” for
OUTSIDE GRAND MOSQUE—In this Monday, Sept. 21, photo, American Muslims Zainab Nasir, left, Shahidah Sharif, Jamila Rashid, second left, and an unidentified friend walk outside the grand mosque on their way to circle the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy) whatever comes next, so “I’m really able to perform my purpose, understanding that God does not give you more than you can bear.” *** At 66, Habeebah Muhammad Abdul-Wali has lived through many phases of the civil rights struggle. When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, she marched in protests. She was in the Black Power movement. And in 1972, she converted and joined the Nation of
Islam, though now she’s a mainstream Sunni. She says “history is repeating itself” with the current protests in the U.S. But, for her, there’s a difference: Back then, she saw greater seriousness, greater sincerity. Seeing stories of young Black men killed by police makes her stressed. “I just turn to Allah to give that calmness.” Now on her first hajj, the retired school-teacher sought to “purge” herself of
negativity and become a more patient, kinder person—“because I’m getting over the hill, now it’s my time. ...I want to try to be good, stop making frowns.” She talked about the hardships of the pilgrimage, of sleeping one night outside on the ground, of sharing bathrooms with strangers. “Allah is showing me that everybody is not the same, so you have to learn to tolerate people.” As she circled the Kaaba, she thought, “This is what
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Malcolm X must have experienced, seeing people from different walks of life...and I just said “Wow, Allah chose us to be here in this circle of Islam.” *** Zainab Nasir wiped away tears as she spoke of her pilgrimage. “You’re going to have to excuse me because I’m very emotional with this.” She compared it to a baby emerging from the womb. “I’m coming closer and closer to being reborn,” the 59-year-old from Oakland, California, said. “Inshallah, all my sins will be removed.” Nasir has six sons and a daughter. She worries about her younger sons, aged 21 and 25. If they get stopped by police, she said, “they need to know how to react in a way that won’t get them sent to jail or possibly killed.” One of her older sons, Yusuf, is with her on the hajj. “I’m praying that, you know, we will be the good example for my younger children.” “Allah has given me a second chance...So what am I going to do with this when I get home?” she said. She says she knows that, being human, she can always fall back into sin and will need God’s forgiveness. “You fool yourself if you think ‘OK I’m changed,’ because you’re not. It’s a transition.”
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OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
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Pitt symposium geared to Black student retention by Paige Mitchell For New Pittsburgh Courier
The African American Student Retention Symposium was developed six years ago as a strategy. A strategy to keep University of Pittsburgh faculty, staff, and administrators informed of the current challenges and successes in recruiting and retaining African American undergraduate students. To give faculty, staff, and administrators the opportunity to discuss specific measures and realistic ideas to take back to their units for implementation, and to enable them to support African American students in their academic success. The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences recently presented the African American Student Retention Symposium. The Academic Resource Center coordinates and oversees this annual campus-wide event, and the sympoium received generous support from the Provost’s Development Fund. “I first heard about this annual event last year after
a few students filled me in on how enlightening it was, so I knew I couldn’t miss it this time around. I was so intrigued by the information, and the keynote speaker just draws you in. I’m glad to say that I was in attendance,“ Clayton Jemison said, The symposium took place on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in Ballroom B, of the University Club. Two hundred faculty members, staff members, and administrators from the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus and regional campuses attended. “This is the third year that the event has filled to capacity. Pitt’s faculty, staff, and administrators’ commitment to diversity is demonstrated by the record number of participants at this annual event,” Director of Academic Resource Center. Anita Persaud said. During the symposium, there was a memorable keynote speaker; Alfred L. Moyé PhD who addressed the topic of “Mentors and Role Models: A Personal Perspective.” Moyé is an
award winning chemistry professor, rose to vice chancellor of University of Pittsburgh’s student affairs, and was taped by President Jimmy Carter to serve as deputy assistant secretary for higher, Emeritus Trustee and member of Board of Visitors for both the School of
Information Sciences, and continuing education before going to Roosevelt University in Chicago as Vice President for Academic Affairs. Followed by Moyé’s presentation there was a faculty panel and a student panel where the audience was encouraged to ask direct ques-
tions of the panelists. “Based on feedback from evaluations, it is clear the crowd grasped the meaning of and appreciated the event. It is held annually to demonstrate Pitt’s commitment to diversity and supporting our underrepresented students,” said Persaud. Students, faculty, and staff seemed to enjoy the symposium, and were educated on challenges among minorities. “Yes, the outcome of the event is a huge success for our university. It brings to the surface some real issues that our underrepresented students face attending a predominantly white university. It also helps us understand how we can help our students feel true ownership as members of our campus and to succeed academically,” Persaud said. Since the African American Retention Symposium has been taking place at the University of Pittsburgh, the event has continues to get better and registration continues to fill with willing attendees anxious to be a part of the conversation.
burgh and it means a lot to me to see so many African Americans here celebrating our heritage.” Gordon Manker of the Prince Hall Freemasons was happy to celebrate a historic mark in his fraternity’s history with his brothers. “This is our 200th year for Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, so with that we are proud to be here in this parade because it celebrates our her-
itage of 200 years of being a charity helping African Americans across the country.” While all of the participants marched to the beat of the same drum in spirit of unity, the actual parade had a myriad of musical acts from the youth of Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas, including the 6th Reg. USCT Drum Corp, the McKeesport Black Berets, the Muhammad Mosque No. 22 Drill
Team and the Westinghouse High School band. Devyn Swain, a band organizer for Westinghouse high school saw the parade as a statement about the return to glory of a program that in recent years was crumbling. “Our band has gone through a lot of changes over the past few years. But we’re really excited that our band is coming back together and school spirit is now at an alltime high,” he said. In coordination, multiple Pittsburgh dance teams put their talent on display. The Royal Outlawz dance team from Braddock; Girls With Attitude G.W.A. from Hazelwood; the Pink Panther Diamond Dancers; the Pretty Young Ladies Dance Crew; and the Lady Diamonds, were amongst such contributors. While festive, the parade was not all drill music and dancing. Some marchers took the opportunity in the spotlight to send messages of discontent into the collective conscience. Student minister Victor Muhammad, of Muhammad’s Mosque 22, was with local organizing community group, “Justice or Else,” which held signs that read as such. When asked, he stated that the “Or Else” didn’t mean violence, but a more nuanced approach to exerting influence. “We are fed up with the injustices that are being put
upon us as a people…and it also means we will economically withdraw from those who will not help us in this pursuit of happiness justice and equality.” Another group, which was organized by Leonard Hammonds II of Momentum, Pa., held up signs that read, “I Am A Man.” He explained that the statement means that “The Black man has been degraded, he has been emasculated in the media and every time we look around they want to portray us in a negative image so it’s important for Black men to come together to show we are accountable, we are present in our community, we are fathers, husbands, we are intelligent and we are men on the rise. We are here and we aren’t going anywhere.” Merecedes Howze, who represented the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, an organization designed to help balance the depiction of African Americans in the media, gave her take on the day’s meaning. “The parade means community, unison; that we are here together. When you think about the last couple of years, we were talking about Black lives matter, we feel like it’s a time for all of us to be together, to have fun, pass out candy, and be here with our families,” she said.
ALFRED L. MOYÉ Keynote speaker (Photo by J.L. Martello)
African American Heritage Parade rained on but not washed out CONTINUED FROM A1
Adams, of this chapter, actually started the parade 28 years ago, so we definitely take pride in being here every year.” Vicki Ridley, of Alpha Phi Alpha Sorority and one of 30 women who showed up clad in pink and green, said, “I think it’s an opportunity for the African American community to see what greeks are doing in the city of Pitts-
Regional Transport Plan seeks public input by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer
Do you know whether replacing a gravel road in Green County would improve bus service, or if adding a traffic light in New Castle increases the flow of goods and people? Neither do the leaders of 10-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. So they are asking. On Sept. 29, public and private sector leaders representing those counties and the City of Pittsburgh announced the beginning of a crowdsourcing effort that will ask more than 760 organizations for feedback on creating a coordinated Regional Transportation Initiative. “What do we want to do, how do we do, and how do we pay for it,” said Allegheny Conference on Community Development Vice President
for Energy and Infrastructure Ken Zapinsky. “In Pittsburgh, we hear about getting to and from the airport, but don’t hear what would help a company in, say, Indiana County get its people and products around better.” The crowdsourcing survey will solicit feedback from employers, unions, colleges, senior centers arts, health and environmental advocacy groups in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Green, Fayette, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. The results, combined with the findings from “every public transportation study done over the last 15 years” will be analyzed and assembled by a 22-member steering committee that will present a plan to the public next year. This Regional Transportation Alliance, as it’s called,
gets around federal restrictions placed on the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission planning group— which can only discuss initiatives that have already identified a source of funding. That, said Allegheny Conference CEO Dennis Yablonsky, will be further down the road in this effort, adding that the conference took some of these same participants to Denver, Colo., last year to see how leaders there formulated and funded a regional transportation plan. “We’re talking about a coordinated plan going 25-30 years out. So we’ll be looking at federal and state sources, but also user fees and taxes,” he said. “In Denver, they put it on a referendum to add a, I think, 1 percent sales tax.”
Fitzgerald: Registration fee to help roads CONTINUED FROM A1
can Americans make up about 18 percent of the painters, heavy equipment operators and laborers that will do the additional work. It also means much of that work can continue even as the county refurbishes the Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson bridges in Pittsburgh over the next three years. “Each of those are $20-million jobs, but we can use $1 million to leverage $19 million from the state,” said Fitzgerald. “That means we’ll still have an extra $3.5 million going toward other road projects each year, without raising property taxes.” Joined by County manager William McKain, Chief of Staff Jennifer Liptak, Communications Director Amie Downs and Executive Assistant Austin Davis, Fitzgerald touched on several issues, one of which has been a bonus—his park ranger program. Last year, Fitzgerald wanted to reassign some of the 45 county police that only patrolled the county parks, but he didn’t want the parks short staffed. Enter the park rangers. “These guys come from Vietnam, California and even Hungary, and they are real nature lovers. They provide an more welcoming appearance for patron too,” he said. “And that allowed us to reassign officers to various drug and gun task forces. So it’s worked out well.” Hiring more African Americans to that police force, however, has not worked out as well, he admitted. “We reach out, but we’re not see the level of minority applications the city is,” he said. “And because we only have about 200 total, we only need to hire two to three a year.” But, Fitzgerald said he is pleased with the progress and changes made at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, which had had incidents of assault by staff on detainees, and had lost its state accreditation. He and McKain both praised director Earl Hill’s work.
“His therapeutic approach, adding arts and educational programming has helped, as has his commitment to working with the judges to make sure only those who really have to be are assigned there,” said McKain. “We’ve also upgraded the physical plant. The building is much nicer now.” Davis agreed. “It looks much better. The entrance is totally redone,” he said. “It’s a lot more welcoming to the families.” As for the county jail, Fitzgerald said that while only a month into having Allegheny Health Systems handling jail medical services, it’s going well. And he fully supports Warden Orlando Harper. “The warden has done a terrific job managing the things that are under his control,” he said. “He’s doing a good job.” And though Marc Cherna also continues to do a great job running the Department of Human Services, because it does so much, it is being hardest hit by the continued budget stalemate in Harrisburg. “Vendors are not being paid on time,” said Fitzgerald. “And the feds are not providing the resources they used to either.” It is not all gloom and doom, though. Fitzgerald said the Pittsburgh International Airport now has daily flights to 52 cities, up from an all-time low of 36 two years ago. And he said corporate interest in moving to the city—especially to the Almono site in Hazelwood—is increasing. And though the Port Authority is not adding routes, it is expanding service on existing routes to Robinson Township, to the RIDC Park in Blawnox, and to the Community College campus in McKeesport. “And even with the cyclical lows for the steel and shale gas industries, people are still coming here and the economy keeps moving because its diversified,” he said. “It’s the ‘eds and meds.’ Tourism is up. Movies are being made. We have Google and Uber. Banks are expanding and so is Calgon.”
Community Calendar ULYP-GP Panel OCT. 7—The Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police will host “Behind the Badge: How the Pittsburgh Police Serve the Community” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the City of Pittsburgh Police Headquarters, 1203 Western Ave., North Side. The event will feature a panel of law enforcement officials who will inform the public about initiatives underway that affect the community. Representatives from key departments, such as the Body Camera Unit, Civil Service Unit, Intelligence Unit and more, will be on hand. Space is limited and registration is requested. For more information, email civicengagement@ulyppgh.org.
Youth Weekend OCT. 9—The American Friends Service Committee will host the Youth Undoing Institutional Racism Weekend at Bethel AME Church, 2720 Webster Ave., Hill District. Youth ages 14-24 and from Pittsburgh are invited to participate in this national effort to educate them about the history of racism in the United States in order to better understand the current realities of racial inequalities, and the intersection of racism and poverty. Youth will build a shared analysis of race and racism; learn how people have been socialized within these systems; and how to organize for change. The event will run through Oct. 11. For more information, call Amanda Gross at 412-3157423 or email agross@afsc.org.
PBMF Fashion Show OCT. 12—The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation will host its HER: Dressed to Thrill fashion show at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 101 Mall Blvd., Monroeville. There will be a reception with a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, caricatures and more, followed by a runway fashion show. For more information, visit www.pbmf.org.
Town Hall Meeting OCT. 15—Black Women for Positive Change, My Brother’s Keeper, CCAC and other community organizations will host the “Youth Speak-We Listen” Town Hall Meeting from 1011:30 a.m. at CCAC North Side Campus, Student Services Center Building Auditorium, 808 Ridge Ave., North Side. Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay will meet with youth to focus on community violence and possible solutions from the perspectives of high school and college students. Causes of violence, how to repair strained relationships with law enforcement and violence prevention interventions will be discussed. This event is part of the BW4PC’s 3rd annual National Week of Non-Violence. For more information, call Karen Carrington at 202-2104005.
Operation Home OCT. 17—The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh will host its Operation Home Program from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Urban League, 2nd floor, 610 Wood St., Downtown. This intense monthly seminar on homeownership is designed to educate prospective homebuyers and arm them with the basic knowledge to navigate the path to mortgage qualification and maintaining homeownership. The program includes one eight-hour workshop and a follow-up one on one counseling session. Registration is requested. For more information, call Paulette Tarrant at 412-227-4815.
Scholarship Application ONGOING—The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will accept applications for its College Scholarship Program. Students selected as Cooke Scholars will be awarded as much as $40,000 each year for four years toward tuition, living expenses, books and other required fees. Scholarships are available to high-achieving, low-income high school seniors to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. The application period will close on Nov. 3. For more information, visit www.jkcf.org/scholarships/coll ege-scholarship-program/ (To have items listed on Community Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or email: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015 A5
METRO
Powell enjoys retirement sendoff with family, friends CONTINUED FROM A1
CHARLES “CHUCK” POWELL Speaks to the crowded room
MENTOR—Chuck Powell with mentor Louis “Hop” Kendrick.
Kendrick. Kendrick said it was a nice affair, but given Powell’s work over the years, he would have liked to seen a larger crowd. “I thought he should have had a bigger turnout. He was good to a lot of people and I think more of the contactors he helped should have been there,” said Kendrick. “It was nice that Fitzgerald came and gave him a proclamation. He didn’t do all the things he wanted to, but he helped a lot of folks.” Community Empowerment Association CEO Rashad Byrdsong was scheduled to attend but couldn’t. “Yeah, he’s going to be mad at me for that,” said Byrdsong. “But he was a valuable to the community in terms of addressing barriers, and he acted as a bridge between the minority development community and the URA. He made a valuable contribution to the city and leaves a legacy.” Kingsley Association President and CEO Malik Bankston said Powell was always committed. “The kind of work he did was very necessary and reflective of an era when people were just developing strategies about what we now call diversity and inclusion, and promoting an equity agenda,” said Bankston. “Even before he was at the URA, when he was at Mellon Bank, he was trying to understand how to do that and promote it. He played an important role in advancing those understandings and should be recognized for that. This work is hard.” Powell said it was nice of
FAMILY—Cherie Coles, sister; Judy Powell, sister; Diane Powell, wife; Chuck Powell, Katy Powell, sister; Grace Mary Allen, sister; and David Allen, brother in-law.
Fitzgerald to come, and for Valerie McDonald Roberts, who represented Mayor Bill Peduto, to read a proclamation from the city. “I really appreciate the treatment I’ve received from URA. They gave me complete autonomy and
together in 20 years, we spent more than $1 billion on minority and female contracts,” he said. “But the best part was just being with my people. I have mixed emotions about leaving a job I love, but you get to a point
where you want to try something different.” Powell said he will remain politically active and is forming an international development consulting firm. Its first contract is scheduled to be signed this month.
CO-WORKERS—Chuck Powell, center, with URA co-workers, from left: Maryann Pedrotty, Lynnette Morris, Marty Kaminski, Darnell Benton, Valerie Waters, Tom Short, Rich Snipe and Gerry Willis. (Photos by J.L. Martello)
Graves Hersey Alumni of the Year CONTINUED FROM A1
“I had been living with my uncle, and he couldn’t handle me either, and one day I was sitting in Peabody, the next day I was in Hershey,” said J. Anthony Graves. “It happened that fast. And I am very grateful that it did.” These days, Graves, 45, is a rock star in science. He earned his PhD in molecular biology from Carnegie Mellon University and conducted genetic research for two years before deciding to attend medical school at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. He is now a pediatric oncologist and hematologist at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, using his skills to combat childhood cancers. He credits the Hershey School with giving him the chance to become the man he has. “It was a dramatic change, I mean it’s out in the country a beautiful pastoral setting a lot of city kids would never see,” he said. “When I went there, I went to one of the dairy farms they used to have. And I’m proud to say, I still know how to milk a cow.” While that’s a long way from his current work on manipulating specific proteins in the mitochondrial DNA of neuroblastomas so he can target the least toxic treatment for his patients, when Graves learned he’s been named the Hershey School’s 2015 Alumni of the Year, he was somewhat shocked. “It was pretty huge,” he said. “But look, a classmate of mine, Jason Wolfe, is a multimillionaire entrepreneur. He won it last year and I feel like I have so much more to do.” Milton Hershey School President Pete Gurt said Graves is more than deserving. “Dr. Graves is a tremendous example of the spark that can happen when children are provided a top-notch education, a nurturing environment, and the opportunity
to find and hone their passions. He is applying the values he learned at Milton Hershey School—principles like hard work and service to others—and using his gifts to fight pediatric cancer,” he said. “We are so proud to see an alumnus devoting himself to this noble cause. He is an outstanding role model for our students of what they can achieve with perseverance, dedication to their studies and an enthusiasm for serving humanity.” Graves said the Hershey School was critical to his success. “It was a stabilizing, loving and nurturing society. There, I was able to just be a kid,” he said. “Everyone needs that foundation. Before I went there, mine was constantly shifting beneath my feat.” The Milton Hershey School helps children to realize their full potential by offering a free, top-notch education to students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade from income-eligible families. Milton Hershey School is a cost-free, private, coeducational school in Hershey, Pa. The private, co-educational school offers state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technology and hundreds of extracurricular activities. Milton and Catherine Hershey established the school in 1909 to provide a positive, structured home life year-round to help children gain the skills to be successful in all aspects of life. Today, more than 2,000 students from across the U.S. attend Milton Hershey School. They have access to unique awardwinning programs, experienced teachers and caring adult mentors. We also offer the ability for all students to earn continuing education scholarships and offer postgraduate supports to ensure their success after MHS. For more information visit mhskids.org. (Send comments row@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
OPINION
Finding Black police officers
Guest Editorial
A little lawmaker leverage could help budget impasse Time is taking a toll on the finances of many Pennsylvania school districts, but ironically, not on the finances of the state legislators who are responsible for the three months’ delay in passing the state budget. By July 1, the governor and General Assembly were supposed to have decided on a spending plan. Because they didn’t, important entities like social service organizations, day care providers and public schools, are not getting paid. However, payments to other entities, such as prisons and salaries of state lawmakers, are being made. We must question, what are our priorities here? Voters of both parties are unified in their impressions of such lawmaker pay, which amounts to about $86,000 a year. A poll last month by Franklin & Marshall College said 67 percent of Republicans, 64 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of independents surveyed said state lawmakers should not be paid during a budget impasse. Some legislators also hear the hypocrisy in the situation. That includes Sen. Teplitz, D-Dauphin, who sponsored a bill that would suspend compensation for the governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet officers and the General Assembly during a budget impasse. He told reporters, “I wanted to stand in solidarity with social service agencies, schools and others who are being hurt.” Of course, the bill that was taken up during the legislative season. So Teplitz is voluntarily forgoing his pay until then. Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, and Sen. John Blake, D.-Lackawanna, are doing the same. The lawmakers are careful to say that their voluntary move this is an individual decision, and not one that may be viable for all state lawmakers. Going without pay is viable for hardly anyone. And there’s nothing like leverage to make those who don’t feel morally compelled to act, to try harder. The Erie School District last week announced it only had enough money to operate until Oct. 2. In addition, Philadelphia schools superintendent William Hite said during a recent editorial board meeting with The Tribune the Philadelphia School District had enough money on hand to take it into October. Meanwhile, the Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools last week announced a number of charter schools had emptied reserves and maxed out lines of credits after school districts felt forced to withhold payments to them. One lawmaker said that going without pay would not be conducive to making good decisions. He should tell this to teachers in Erie, whose District is considering asking just that from them. (Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)
Letters to the editor for publication The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via email to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com.
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
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John H. Sengstacke Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)
I was wrong. The number of new police recruits is not seven out of 23 but 10 out of 40. I was going by a photo that shocked me. I had to look at the photo several times to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. I counted them and asked the reporter and the photographer if they were sure. But pictures don’t lie. I learned later that that was only part of the class. This is the most since the late 1970s when Affirmative Action demanded that for every White male hired there must be one White female, one Black female, and one Black male until the police department reflected the diversity of the city. But the FOP, and Whites who were satisfied with the system as it was howled at the moon and to anyone who would listen, that this was reverse discrimination. Yet for the hundreds of years Blacks and women were being discriminated against, these people didn’t say a mumbling word. I interviewed several Police Commanders about a year after this law went into affect and each and every one of them surprised the heck out of me. To the man they said that the Black and female officers were performing as well as the White males, and that the female officers really handled domestic situations much better than men did. Because the domestic couple, especially the woman, seemed more at ease with a female there. They also said that having Black officers, male and female, helped them in Black communities as well as the White officers because for the first time many White officers had relationships with Blacks, and got to see them as people, bad and good, instead of just the confrontations they had with the criminals. It also helped in undercover work. It’s hard to have undercover cops in a Black community when all your cops are White. But the anti-affirmative action people won out and the police and
But what people are saying today and said back then is that people should not be hired on tests alone. Most of us who have hired know that just because a person scores high on a test don’t mean they can do the job. There has to be some kind of human relations involved. *** Kudos goes out to the Women’s Walk for Peace organizers, especially fire departments went back to being Ronell Guy, executive director of the practically lily White. Northside Coalition for Fair HousHopefully this new trend is just ing. To the best of my knowledge the beginning of real diversity in the the Courier has covered all eight police department not only in Pitts- years and it has received more and burgh but nationally. Now they more support from the community must go out and recruit more Black each year. This year it appeared to women, because with all the Black be 200 to 300 people involved in the women and females as a whole in march. the military, there should have been Even though there are now several more available for this recruiting groups fighting to stop the violence class. Hopefully the next will be. For in the streets which is mostly by those of you that don’t, know there men, this group not only deals with were three White females, one street violence which is destroying Asian, no Black females and 26 our communities but domestic vioWhite males. lence which is also destroying our This is the result of the great work homes. A lot of the street violence is of the mayor and new Police Chief the result of domestic violence. And Cameron McLay, and an ACLU suit even though most of the domestic vibrought against the city by several olence is men there are some women people. But let’s not forget the great just as bad if not worse. work of former Police Chief Nate And there are a lot of young people Harper who fought long and hard to who have some serious attitude get more Black recruits as he and problems. It doesn’t take much to other Black officers such as Brenda set them off. And I’m not just talkTate fought hard and long to get ing about street people. Some of highly qualified recruits in. Even these young people are in college. though they had little success there It’s amazing how many of us think had to be a blocker, or blockers that problems can be solved through somehow disqualified these people, physical confrontation, not realizing the effort and overall quality of that that in a real fight, there is no real group is what led to the suit. winner, because if it’s a fight both Hopefully all the blockers have people are going to be hurting after been eliminated. it. And hopefully no one has a gun Going back to the ‘70s, I thought or a knife. And after you both get that the commanders were going to out of the hospital, and now must say that the quality of the police de- face the medical bills, what did you partment was dropping because of really prove or accomplished? affirmative action, because everyone Another mass killing has occurred. else was. But instead they were say- In Oregon this time, and the politiing the quality was better compared cians and media are talking gun to the anti-affirmative action people control. But nothing will happen. who said that lesser qualified people When will it end? were being hired because Blacks (Ulish Carter is the managing editor of were scoring lower on the tests. the New Pittsburgh Courier.)
Ulish Carter
Just Sayin’
A new breed of bigoted politicians (NNPA)—Among the many windswept cliffs that stand guard on the shores of the island of Okinawa, one is known for its particularly gruesome history. “Suicide Cliff” is located on the southern portion of Okinawa. It is so named because thousands of Okinawans took their own lives at the site as American forces advanced across the island in 1945 during the last months of World War II. Twenty five years later, flying low over cliff side memorials honoring the dead of various towns and villages who perished there, I was struck by the fact that so many people felt compelled to rush to their own destruction. I soon learned that for tactical reasons, and to further their own doomed war effort, the Japanese army had terrified Okinawan civilians with tales of extreme cruelties they should expect at the hands of the approaching Americans. The island’s people had their minds manipulated to the point that many chose to kill themselves rather than fall into the hands of a ruthless enemy. Eventually, the people of Okinawa came to realize that these were “useless deaths” as the Americans turned out not to be the monsters portrayed by the Japanese army. In the years since viewing this tragic site, I learned it is not unusual for people to be manipulated into a mass hysteria that makes them act against their own self-interest, or even to rush toward their own self-destruction. In this cycle of the U.S. presidential election, we have extraordinarily clear examples
championing someone who makes extremely ill-considered pronouncements and whose campaign completely lacks sound policy ideas. Fortunately for them, however, Trump will not be president of the United States. Unfortunately, however, other Republican presidential hopefuls are mimicking his audacious and bigoted posturing because his followers are giving so much creof the type of propaganda and dema- dence to this cartoon of an ugly American. goguery that leads to this type of Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Mike madness. Huckabee may not be stoking the Donald Trump is the poster child fires of the exact same bigoted for destructive demagoguery. This causes, but they are ramping up bloviating bigot has pulled the Retheir rhetoric to approximate publican Party down to new lows Trump’s level of demagoguery. Just and, in the process, dumbed down as George Wallace and both Senathe national political discourse to a tors Byrd relied on a strategy of saypoint where America is gnawing at ing the “N-word” louder than anyone its own flesh in an attempt to expel else, this new breed of bigoted politinonexistent horrors. cians base their strategies on atEchoing the likes of former Gov. tacking liberal targets of opportuGeorge C. Wallace of Alabama and nity with more vigor than anyone the two Virginia senators, Harry F. else. And while there are varying Byrd Sr. and Harry F. Byrd Jr., Trump feeds his followers platters of degrees of bigotry among the Republican field of presidential candidates, noxious vitriol that are devoid of they all seem to be willing to have facts. In addition to demonizing the country self- destruct rather Latinos and “Black Lives Matter” activists, Trump, a privileged White than give in to its liberalization. During the past seven years, most man who inherited his wealth from his father, once declared that the Pe- of them have urged their followers quot Indians “don’t look like Indians to reject the Affordable Care Act, to me.” This is a person who feels so with little regard for the fact that entitled that he can determine what many of them cannot pay for basic medical needs. These Republican America is and who Americans are. Like the thousands who followed a candidates have called upon their followers to oppose an increase in manipulative Japanese army to their hurried end on Okinawa, indi- the minimum wage, despite the fact viduals who flock to Trump’s banner that many of those supporters are low-wage earners. They ask conserof bigotry and foolishness—eventuvatives to join them in opposing the ally will see the senselessness of multilateral nuclear deal with Iran, even though the sons and daughters of those conservatives might bleed on the battlefields of any ensuing war. And, of course, they oppose extending equal rights to the LBGT community, while many of their backers have family members and loved ones who are in the LBGT community. They are urging their followers to go over the cliff and pull the rest of America over behind them. For those of us who refuse to swallow the venom of the likes of Trump, Cruz, Huckabee and Paul, we have a pressing obligation. We must do all that is necessary to prevent the forces of self-destruction from taking hold. We must not allow a group of hysterical bigots to determine the future of America. We must stand against those who are taken by a type of self-destructive madness and would throw America over a political cliff to drown in a sea of hatred and despair.
Oscar H. Blayton
Commentary
(Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps. combat pilot and human rights activists who practices law in Virginia.)
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Stand by me When the media jumped all over Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy last week for his comments about how the Benghazi hearings have driven Hillary Clinton’s polling numbers down; I couldn’t help but reflect on what my buddy once told me: When the night has come? And the land is dark? And the moon is the only light we’ll see? No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid? Just as long as you stand, stand by me Oh darlin’, darlin’, stand by me, oh stand by me? Oh stand by me, stand by me If the sky that we look upon? Should tumble and fall? And the mountains should crumble to the sea? I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no I won’t shed a tear? Just as long as you stand, stand by me These are the partial lyrics to the smash hit by the late legendary soul singer Ben E. King, “Stand By Me (1961).” Regardless of what you think about McCarthy, we, as Republicans, should never allow the Democrats to attack one of our own; and Republicans should never adopt the same language of our opposition. I watched in horror as many Republicans sided with Democrats in their reaction to what Mc-
Raynard Jackson
Commentary Carthy said; it got so bad that McCarthy was forced to apologize for his remarks. My sister may be a drunk, but I will not allow you call her that. As one who makes his living through communications, I am dumbfounded as to how Republicans allowed the Democrats to win the narrative over McCarthy’s remarks. For the sake of discussion, let’s assume that the Benghazi investigation is all about the “vast right-wing conspiracy” against Hillary Clinton. Last time I checked, Republicans don’t control the F.B.I. or the inspectors general of the State Department or the intelligence communities. They are the ones who are investigating whether Clinton violated any laws, not Republicans. So, the issue is not and should not be about McCarthy’s Benghazi remarks, but rather did Clinton break the law by mishandling classified information because she was arrogant enough to use a private email server in her home to avoid the public ever finding out about her and Bill’s private business dealings. Message to Republicans, “Don’t let Hillary off the hook under the guise of being non-partisan.” If Clinton had obeyed the law and followed her department’s own guidelines, then we would not be talking about her emails. She is not a victim, but rather the perpetrator. Clinton brought this on herself and the Democratic Party. She will and should be held accountable for her exercising poor judgment because of her irrational belief that everyone is out to get her. Democrats are obsessively loyal to their own. It took them forever to denounce Bill Clinton publically over the Monica Lewinsky affair. They even stood by former congressman Anthony Weiner and his sexting problem until public pressure became too great. The point is very clear, we must not turn Hillary into a sympathetic figure. We need to learn how to do a better job of standing by our own. If you are a public speaker, at some point you are going to say something that you wish could be taken back; it’s just part of life. I think McCarthy’s remarks should have been dealt with privately within the party; but publically we should have hammered in on the theme of Hillary’s poor judgment regarding the private email server. She will not be the Democratic nominee, but we should not let the American people forget how her campaign has come to this point—by her own bad judgment. She does not have the judgment to be president of the United States because America’s interest will always be subservient to the interests of the Clinton’s business interests. Can you say Whitewater or the Rose Law Firm? This is where I take my stand. (Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC is an internationally recognized political consulting, government affairs, and PR firm based in Washington, DC. Visit his website at: www.raynardjackson.com.)
FORUM
Allegheny County must retain the Black mindset In the upcoming that there was a election, in my peryoung Black man Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick sonal estimation with a wife and the most important three children, who vote must be the Algraduated from legheny County Duquesne UniverCouncil 10th Dissity, and has a backtrict seat, one curground of what I rently occupied by constantly require of Councilman those I support and William “Bill” that is the three Robinson. There presently are two Black C’s—Concern, Caring and Commitment. councilpersons, namely Councilwoman There was a meeting held and the Amanda Green and Councilman William young Black man was interviewed and he “Bill” Robinson and both are stepping handled himself extremely well. I left the down from their positions. The Allegheny meeting with a new sense of hope, not for Council has the potential with the upme but for us. I have known the party’s coming election t be an all-White council. candidate for a number of years and I How? By the absence not of color of skin, can say with no hesitation or reservation but the absence of the Black mindset. that he is owned by those who don’t look If you recall in the primary a youthful like me. We, you and I, must vote smart Black man, who resides in Homewood was on Election Day, if you care about you, the winner, but the powers in the party yours, and the community then you must were unhappy with him, because they had go to the polls on Election Day and cast a colored fellow whom they own. The alyour vote for a Black man who will serve leged winner was challenged and lost, and the Black communities well, because he he thereby was removed from the ballot has the correct mindset, a Black mindset. and Old Massa’s personal choice became The candidate’s name is Todd Elliott the Democratic Party candidate. At first I Koger. Remember to tell your family and was so upset I thought I would just ignore friends. (Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the position and not cast a vote for anythe Forum page.) one. However I became aware of the fact
To Tell The Truth
President Obama’s ‘side-by-side’ comparison In June 2013 Think reduce gun deaths.” Progress (a political J. Pharoah Doss How can that be? online news source) The President asked. reported, “The U.S. Vox (website) did has averaged over the math: More than one mass shooting 10,000 Americans per month for the are killed every year past four years.” by gun violence. By In February 2014 contrast, so few The Guardian (US Americans have been Edition) reported, killed by terrorist at“Gun violence is erupting in America’s tacks since 9/11 that when you chart the schools and colleges at a rate of more than two together, the terrorism death count apthree incidents a month, with thirteen proximates zero for every year except for school shootings recorded in the first six 2001.) weeks of 2014 alone.” I’m sure many agree with the President, 2015 began with a mass shooting sign up. but what if an opposition group stated, School Danger (a website) posted a fifteen- “The President is traumatized and is ceryear-old from an Illinois high school sent tainly right to have that kind of empathy electronic messages soliciting assistance to in terms of the death taking place in carry out a “Columbine-Style shooting” in America. But we have to distinguish beJanuary. The student was arrested, his tween state-sponsored violence against home was searched, nothing was found, no Americans and violence American citizens charges were filed, and the student agreed inflict on each other. They are not the to seek help for possible mental illness. same thing.” Illinois was spared, but violence doesn’t That statement would be condemned for take long to find victims. its apathy and disregard for the violence Recently in Oregon there was a mass Americans face. shooting at Umpqua Community College. But that statement is a re-wording of CorPresident Obama addressed the nation. nel West’s answer to Fox news’s Megyn This was the fifteenth statement of his Kelly when she asked West: Why doesn’t presidency in response to gun violence. Black Lives Matter protest Black on Black The President said, “Our thoughts and violence? prayers are not enough …It does nothing Obama demanded a side-byside comparito prevent this carnage…The United son of gun violence and terrorism to chalStates of America is the one advanced na- lenge the wisdom of prioritizing federal retion on Earth in which we do not have sources for the latter. sufficient common sense gun-safety This is the same argument Black conserlaws—even in the face of repeated mass vatives make when they compare Black-onkillings.” Black shootings to police shootings and (Is there a difference between common question the priorities of protest groups. sense gun-safety and gun-safety? Or is the (Protesters shout down these Black voices difference common sense? But there’s an for diverting attention away from the race old saying: Sense isn’t common.) of the police officer. But the President’s arThe President continued, “I would ask gument will be praised for blaming the Renews organizations—because I won’t put publicans.) these facts forward—have news organizaMany Americans would agree when the tions tally up the number of Americas President said, “This is a political choice who’ve been killed through terrorist attacks that we make to allow this to happen every over the last decade and the number of few month in America. We collectively are Americans who’ve been killed by gun vio- answerable to those families who lose their lence, and post those side-by-side on your loved ones because of our inaction.” news reports. I’m sure supporters of Black Lives Matter We spend over a trillion dollars … pre- also agree but only with the first sentence. (J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsventing terrorist attacks…yet we have a Congress that explicitly blocks us from even burgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahcollecting data on how we could potentially doss@blogspot.com)
Commentary
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
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Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Commentary
Oregon massacres won’t shake NRA stranglehold President Obama, stern and visibly shaken by the Oregon massacre, lambasted the NRA yet again for its suffocating grip on Congress. An equally shaken Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said that she was sickened by the sheep like willingness of Congress to do the bidding of the NRA. Obama didn’t single out Congressional Republicans as the prime culprits but it was strongly implied that he meant them in the congressional genuflection to the NRA. Clinton, however, did finger Republicans as the culprits and vowed to go after the GOP if elected. Clinton and Obama are right, but both left this out in their targets. In 2010 fifty three Democrats took tens of thousands in campaign cash from the NRA. In 2012, a presidential election year, 16 House Democrats and four Senate Democrats were back at the NRA’s cash trough. Now four years later, and despite near weekly gun shootings and massacres, the NRA is unfazed. It wasted no time in plopping down more than $1 million for an ad that ran on Fox News, CNN and on local television in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada during the first GOP presidential debate in August. These are the three early presidential primary or caucus states and an NRA digital ad ran in South Carolina, the other early primary state. This was small change compared to what NRA officials say they’ll spend to beat back even the hint of a congressional move to tighten gun control laws in 2016 and beyond. The NRA has been wildly successful in doing just that for the past decade through a well-oiled, well-versed, labyrinth of PACs, lobbyists, legal counsels, divisions, funds, and a foundation. The NRA has these divisions: Federal Affairs, Public Affairs, Finance, Research & Information, Conservation, Wildlife & Natural Resources and most importantly the NRA Political Victory Fund. Its scorecard of wins is still nothing short of phenomenal. In 2008 it was directly or indirectly involved in nearly 300 campaigns for the House and Senate. NRA backed candidates or incumbents won 230 of them. It spared little expense in padding its congressional win scorecard. It ranked in the top tier of contributions received, lobbying dollars spent, and money garnered and spent by its PACs. But it’s not just the NRA’s money and willingness to spend it to pack Congress with pro-gun backers. It also cherry picked former government officials or job holders to do its congressional arm twisting for it. In 2012, fifteen out of its near 30 lobbyists had government ties. The assumption that the NRA is basically a front for conservative GOP business and political interests is, as the NRA dollars to Democrats in 2010 showed, another bad misread. Though a big share of the NRA’s campaign dollars went to Republicans it has been adept at spreading the largess around. In 2012, Democrats received more than $2 million in NRA campaign contributions. The NRA has gotten a stupendous return on the $17 million it spent on federal elections in 2012 and the tens of millions it spent on past elections. In the decade since the assault ban expired in 2004, nearly 20 strong gun control bills have died still born in House and Senate committees. There hasn’t been much movement in the states either to get tougher gun control laws. Thirty-three of the states have the barest minimal gun checks. A dozen others have only slightly more restrictive controls on guns. The Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 plopped the NRA on the nation’s hot seat. The White House, many lawmakers, and much of the public demanded that the NRA soften its hard line opposition to any gun control measures. It almost certainly will do a little to stem the storm which could include calling for stronger measures on storage of weapons, tighter screening and back ground checks, maybe even borrowing a page from the tobacco industry’s PR gambit and advocate hazard warnings on the improper use of guns, and even offer to be part of a national conversation on gun violence. But if it did much more than that such as advocating full blown bans on the big ticket deadly weapons would upend the philosophical and political bedrock of the NRA. It would jeopardize the near bottomless storehouse of funding that the organization has received from gun industry interests and supporters. It would instantly turn off thousands of avid gun owners that look to the NRA to be its political mouthpiece in Washington and in the states for unfettered gun rights. After each fresh mass bloodletting, Obama, and a majority of Americans scream loudly for Congress to do something, anything, to stop the gun carnage. The NRA is always singled out as the group with the blood on its organization’s hands. The Oregon massacre, sadly, won’t shake the NRA stranglehold that insures that nothing is done. (Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.)
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OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
PEOPLE
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Generation NEXT…Tiger Weaver: A teen working for social justice by Renee P. Aldrich For New Pittsburgh Courier
For many youths, having a parent who has been incarcerated for 15 years, being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and growing up in a singleparent household with two other siblings could be a barrier to success. This is not the case for Tiger Weaver, a senior at East Allegheny High School. Tiger is not his nickname. It is his given name—and
“My mother worked double duty to make sure my two brothers and I did not feel shorted. Between her and my grandfather, who was an amazing role model, it makes it easy for me to do what I do for others who aren’t so fortunate.” TIGER WEAVER his achievements, goals and aspirations are just as unique. The tenacity with which he takes on his challenges in some ways mimics the fearless nature of a tiger. He dismisses the ADD label, saying, “It is other people who say I have ADD, but I don’t claim anything like that.” Tiger and his brothers reside in North Versailles with their mom, Marisa White, who said her son is “a great student with no discipline problems.” She added that he has an easy demeanor, and possesses an aura of self confidence and maturity that belies his 17 years. He is an outstanding artist but also has another talent—advocacy. As a member of the Amachi Teen Leadership Program, Tiger has served as an Amachi Ambassador since he was 14 years old. He was a youth presenter at the 2015 Association of Black Foundation Executives Conference in Napa, Calif., and was most recently listed in the “Future Leader Spotlight” in
TIGER WEAVER (Photo by Jacquelyn McDonald) the inaugural edition of “Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh.” At the ABFE Conference, he spoke before African American philanthropists about some of the issues bearing down on the families and children with an incarcerated parent. ABFE was interested in supporting organizations that work with those youths. Tiger, who is fully aware of these issues because of his own situation, was on a panel with Kayla Bowyer, coordinator of the Amachi Youth Ambassador Program, and Melanie Brown, formerly with the Heinz Endowments. Bowyer spoke about how Amachi’s program supports youth and Brown explained why the Heinz Endowments is investing in this organization. Tiger’s task was to tie the two together by explaining the positive impact Amachi has had in his life. “The youth leadership engagement training at Amachi is not the typical leadership development like that surrounding career, training, and or higher education,” Bowyer explained. “It is more about youth organizing around social justice is-
sues, civic engagement and building youth power. “Tiger was one of the first students I recruited to be an ambassador; I was most impressed with his willingness to try something new, and his ability to articulate about it. Additionally, he and his mother readily show their appreciation of the opportunities he has through the program. I am really looking forward to seeing him advance in his life and the great things he is going to do.” ABFE members were greatly impacted by his presentation, as well as his concern for other young people like himself. Tiger was also impressive this past March when he spoke in Harrisburg before the state House of Representatives Human Service Committee with the goal of pointing out to legislators the importance of revisiting the policies around prison sentences, Bowyer said. Tiger’s father has been incarcerated since he was 2 years old. With his father facing another 18 years in prison, Tiger felt especially qualified to speak to the profound devastation that kind of time has on a family unit. He also conveyed that, as a country, we have issues that cannot be resolved by putting large numbers of people in prison for lengthy sentences like Tiger’s own father is serving. The teen has never looked at his situation as something to be bitter about. “My mother worked double duty to make sure my two brothers and I did not feel shorted,” Tiger said. “Between her and my grandfather, who was an amazing role model, it makes it easy for me to do what I do for others who aren’t so fortunate.” The U.S. Department of Justice reports that children of incarcerated parents are most at risk for future delinquency and have a 50 to 70 percent chance of following their parents’ footsteps and ending up behind bars, according to the Amachi Pittsburgh website. Tiger clearly will not be in this statistic. He is on his way to college in 2016 and interested in Grove City College, the University of Pittsburgh and Louisiana State University. He aspires to become a businessman who makes the kind of income that will give him the freedom to use his time helping others. Each month in the New Pittsburgh Courier, McAuley Ministries will sponsor an article highlighting the positive contributions of an African American youth—male or female. We welcome community members to suggest a young person to feature in this monthly column. Criteria include: • Youth and young adults, ages 12-23 • Documented evidence of leadership or achievement in community service/volunteerism; leadership or achievement in their classroom/school; creativity as an artist, musician, dancer or filmmaker; success as an entrepreneur; leadership in advocating for social justice and equity; and/or achievement in corporate or nonprofit arenas • A resident of Allegheny County. Readers who would like to suggest a youth for this feature should email GenNext@pmhs.org.
New Pittsburgh Courier
at August Wilson Center B4
Porter shines
LIFESTYLES
hosts ʻMighty Men of Valorʼ B2
Bethlehem Baptist
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
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Debbie Norrell
Lifestyles Report
What were you thinking? Often I watch the news and I wonder what some people are thinking. A few of the stories that stand out are the teachers having affairs with students. How do the teachers even get beyond the fantasy of the affair? I can only think of one teacher that we thought was drop-dead handsome; but he was our teacher and an adult so he was off limits. When I hear about teachers and students getting busy I am totally confused. The teacher must be so confident that they will never be discovered that they become reckless. Before I do anything now, or before I did anything back in the day, I would try to imagine “what would happen if?” Don’t these teachers who make bad choices play that in their head? If I get with this 15-year-old, I might go to jail and I will lose my job. All that I have worked for will be lost. I went to college for four years just to come to this high school and date a kid. Why oh why can’t these people meet someone who is 19 or 20? Someone who is out of high school and legal? This is what puzzles me, don’t you know that these kids like to put their whole lives on social media and pretty soon you will be found out and then you will be on the news and you will be without a job and your life will be toast? I was watching the news the other day and I saw a man who worked, or should I say used to work, at a local juvenile center being escorted in handcuffs. Allegedly he slipped a note to an underage resident. This person works there; doesn’t he know that there are cameras all over the place? Uh oh this just in, “EMT now arrested for having a relationship with a minor that he met on an emergency call.” I believe the emergency tech is now in the Allegheny County Jail. He was found to be sexting with the underage person. Just keeping your job should motivate a person to stop this crazy behavior. Leave these kids alone. Find someone your own age or at least close. And what are the crooks thinking? Silly me, they aren’t thinking. I’m sure you are stealing to support a drug habit, so I have to ask you to think back to when you weren’t hooked on drugs. Did you ever think how am I going to pay for these drugs when the freebies stop? Or are you stealing just because you can or don’t want to pay for the item you will one day be caught with? Oh no, another news story, “violent purse snatcher will go to jail for 25 years.” Wow, that is a long time Mr. Purse Snatcher. Reportedly this purse snatcher hurt several women while grabbing those purses. He even dragged a pregnant lady across the parking lot. Ladies don’t hold on to that purse; let it go. Life is not a drama series think before you do. (Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
MUSICAL SELECTION—Rev. Karen Arrington
WELCOME—Sara Lane and Natasha Harris (Photos by Jackie McDonald)
THE OCCASION—Kathleen Randolph
Hats off to Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young by Debbie Norrell Courier Staff Writer
“Dorothy Jackson Young this is your life.” As Marsha Washington made the presentation to Young, she said the classic television show “This is your Life” had nothing on us. Tonight on Station 914 on 2015 of the AME Network we celebrate Dorothy. On Sept. 14, at the Doubletree Hotel in Monroeville, the Women’s Missionary Society of the Pittsburgh Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated Young—the mother, wife, missionary, supervisor and “just Dorothy.” Young has served the AME Church faithfully and creatively through the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS). She has served as a local president, area chair, conference branch president and episcopal district president. She is the supportive wife of McKinley Young, the 109th bishop in the history of African Methodism. Guests enjoyed a musical selection by Rev. Karen Arrington of Living Waters Ministry and a video presentation that celebrated Dorothy, the mother and nurse, which included loving remarks from her husband. HATS OFF TO DR. DOROTHY JACKSON YOUNG—Martha Washington making a presentation to Dr. The evening, which was a surprise for Dorothy Jackson Young. Young, was presented by the Pittsburgh Conference WMS. St. James AME Church served as the host church. The Pittsburgh Conference is comprised of two districts—Allegheny-Scranton and Pittsburgh.
HONOREES—Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young and Bishop McKinley Young
MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES—Patricia A. Jackson
GUESTS—Katie Everette Johnson and Janet Moyo
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS—JoAnn Harris, Marsha Washington, Rev. Dr. Eric Brown, Donna McLemore, Rev. Dr. James. H. McLemore, Ayonna Johnson and Rev. Rodrecus M. Johnson Jr.
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Praise & Worship HILLCREST SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
BethlehemBaptistChurchhosts‘MightyMenofValor’ RELIGION
2340 Wylie Ave., Pgh., PA 15219 412-391-4334 412-566-8757
“Be Encouraged”
Elder Christopher C. Thompson Power Hour Sabbath..............8:15 A.M. Sabbath School.......................9:00 A.M. Divine Worship.....................11:00 A.M. AYS One Hour Before Sunset Prayer Meeting Wednesday....7:30 P.M.
ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH
Sunday (Gospel Choir Mass) Noon www.stbtmchurch.org
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH 22 Sampsonia Street, Northside Pittsburgh., PA 15212 412-231-2554 FAX 412-231-6395 Rev. Lacy F. Richardson, Ph.D., Pastor
SIXTH MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
OCT. 9—Nabhi Christian Ministries will host the NCM Awards 2015 Dinner from 6-9 pm. at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant St., Downtown. The evening will include cocktails and dinner, live jazz, speakers and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Louis “Hop” Kendrick. Proceeds from the event will go to the Kingsley Association. For more information, call 412-661-1919 ext. 1 or email ncmawards@aol.com.
Anniversary Celebration
MEN WORKING TOGETHER—Bethlehem Baptist Church, located at 716 Walnut St., in McKeesport, recently hosted the ”Mighty Men of Valor” Conference. Men of the community were invited to this conference that offered three days of powerful, anointed preaching and singing. The guest preacher was Rev. Pedro Williams of Jericho Baptist Church of the Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Pictured above, are the men in the church who gathered together in an effort to get more men involved in the church and to acknowledge those who are already involved. (Photos by J.L. Martello)
6556 Shetland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 441-7839
OCT. 11—Orchard Hill Church, 2551 Brandt School Rd., Wexford, will host its 2-year Anniversary Celebration at 10:30 a.m. at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. The church will return to holding weekly services along with a Kids’ Ministry will be available for newborns through fifth graders. For more information, call 724-935-7622 or visit www.orchardhillchurch.com.
Pa. Baptist State Convention
Church School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:15 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:00 p.m.
OCT. 12—Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church, 6940 Frankstown Ave., Homewood, will host the 124th Annual Session of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention. The theme is “A Godly Plan for Christ Centered People.” The convention will run through Oct. 16. For more information, call Karla Talbert at 267-307-7018 or visit www.thepbsc.org.
East Liberty PresbyterianChurch Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 www.cathedralofhope.org
Empowerment Conference
Journey Worship.........8:45 a.m. Sanctuary Worship........11 a.m.
Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community
NCM Awards Dinner
OCT. 10—The Women’s Usher Board #1 of St. James AME Church, 444 Lincoln Ave., will host its 21st Annual Octoberfest Holiday Blast Bazaar from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the church’s Sumpter Hall. There will be vendors, homemade baked goods, chicken dinners, door prizes and more. This is an opportunity to come browse and buy for the holidays. For more information, call 412-441-9706.
Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & Noon
www.metropolitanbaptistchurchpgh.com metropolitanbaptist2224@gmail0.com
Church Circuit
Octoberfest
Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141
Church School.....................................9:30 A.M. Worship Service.....................8:00 & 10:45 A.M. Bible Study/ Prayer Wednesday.......................6:30/7:30 P.M.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
JASON CHAVIS praying over the offering.
DARIUS SINGLETON, the worship leader.
REV. PEDRO S. WILLIAMS preaching the word.
REV. EARLENE COLEMAN, the host pastor, giving remarks.
OCT. 16—Woman 2 Woman & God’s Virtuous Girls will host its “A God Encounter” Women’s Empowerment Conference at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 245 Third Ave., Rankin. This two-day event will include guest speakers author Tracy Vinson, Pastor Earlene Coleman and Tracy Conti, MD. Registration is required by Oct. 12 and will include a light breakfast and session materials. For more information, call Rev. Melanie Timbers or Min. Lorie Gunter at 412-271-2428.
Lock-in OCT. 16—The Men’s Ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church, 716 Walnut St., McKeesport, will host a Lock-in from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. This will be an overnight event that includes prayer, praise, worship, preaching, fellowship, testimony and discussion, and a hot breakfast. For more information, call 412-6647272.
For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext 40. We are looking to
Gospel Vocal Quest
THE BETHLEHEM BAPTIST MEN’S CHOIR
OCT. 17—Baptist Temple Church, 7241 Race St., Homewood, will host Gospel Vocal Quest from 3-6 p.m. at Homewood Carnegie Library, 7101 Hamilton Ave., Homewood. Selected finalists will compete before a panel of judges who will select the top artist. The winner will receive a cash prize. Brother Marlon of WAMO will be the master of ceremonies. For more information, call 412241-1624.
Pastoral Anniversary OCT. 17—Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2001 Wylie Ave., Hill District, will host the 2nd Pastoral Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Vincent K. Campbell. The twoday celebration will include a banquet on Oct. 17 from 5-8 p.m. in the church’s banquet hall, and worship services on Oct. 18 at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. with guest speaker Bishop Loran Mann of Pentecostal Temple COGIC. For more information, call 412-2413084.
feature our positive youth in the church communities. You can e-mail, fax or mail their bios and photo to:
Annual Choir Day OCT. 18—The S.W. Williams Ensemble of the New Zion Baptist Church, 1434 Juniata St., North Side, will host its Annual Choir Day at 4 p.m. The concert will feature Zanetta Wingfield and the St. John Bible Center Church. For more information, call Sister Janice L. Whittle at 412-853-6418.
New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Fax: 412-481-1360 e-mail:
egaines@newpittsburghcourier.com THE SHELBY HARRUIS & CREW MIME TEAM
(To have items listed on the Church Circuit, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412481-1360 or e-mail: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
PEOPLE
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Gifted Access Pittsburgh on mission to close achievement gap by Paige Mitchell For New Pittsburgh Courier
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER—While Leon Spearman, far right, helps Kris Davis cut cedar siding, Dan Bull, far left, and Lee Davis explain how hiring ex-felons and veterans to build Micro Homes addresses employment needs and the lack of affordable housing. (Photos by Gail Manker)
Work Pittsburgh building future for ex-offenders
How many gifted minority children are falling through the cracks? African-American students make up half of Pittsburgh Public School students, but only 20 percent of its gifted population. The undeniable statistic has raised eyebrows and has caused an initiative designed to help all students better succeed in the classroom. Gifted Access Pittsburgh (GAP) is on a mission to help close the racial achievement gap by facilitating equal access to gifted education for underrepresented, minority students. “Gifted Access Pittsburgh is an avenue for parents, students, teachers, and supporters within the PPS community to come together to fight for equity in Gifted Education. GAP is a platform for students and parents to speak on the disparities they have faced navigating the current gifted process. GAP exists for youth; we want all students to have equal access to Gifted Education, putting them on a path to a more challenging education and successful future,” said Shatara Washington, a member of the CORO Pittsburgh Leaders which founded GAP. Gifted education programs have been shown to make low-income minority students three times more likely to be proficient on 8th grade state exams. AfricanAmerican students who pass advanced placement exams in high school are 5 times more likely to graduate from college than those who don’t take advancement placement classes. “GAP’s mission is to help close the racial achievement gap by facilitating equal access to gifted education for underrepresented minority students. We aren’t investing in making our youth the best they can be if gifted education is not accessible to the majority of students in the Pittsburgh Public School district. GAP was created to,” Washington said. Gifted Access Pittsburgh means…providing more children with a challenging and enriching education. It is empowering parents to be advocates for their gifted and talented students; empowering teachers to improve how they provide enrichment education in the classroom by working with curriculum designers and professional development providers; and making communities aware of what gifted and enrichment education means for their children tomorrow’s leaders. “As a parent of three children whom are a part of Pittsburgh Public Schools, I take hearings and decision making within the school system very seriously. I make it my business to play an active part, and all I want is to see is our children grow and be properly educated,” Juanita Brown, a par-
ent, said at one of their meetings. Gifted Access Pittsburgh was created by the CORO Leaders in Learning 2014-2015 cohort. The Leaders in Learning cohort facilitated several meetings with parents, students, and administrators to understand the current system and Parent/Student concerns. Supporters quickly rallied around the cause, and stood together to support Gifted Access Pittsburgh and presented the pilot plan to the Pittsburgh Public Schools School Board. “We encourage parents, students, and the PPS community as a whole to come together and discuss the issues surrounding Gifted Education in PPS to speak to the school board and address issue,” Washington said. The Pittsburgh Board of Education public hearing took place at the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ building. Gifted Access Pittsburgh had four speakers address the school board. Two of those representatives, Tiwanda Taylor and Washington, are members of the cohort, while the other two representatives, Maria Bethel and Patrick McElfresh, are parents. Students, parents, and supporters were in the audience adorning their Gifted Access Pittsburgh TShirts throughout the hearing. “We come today asking that you work with Gifted Access Pittsburgh to provide equal access to gifted education for all students by implementing a universal screener pilot program for 2nd grade students in PPS elementary schools,” Washington said. The topics discussed varied from struggles of having students tested for giftedness and lack of guidance, to the benefits students receive by being a part of the gifted education program and testimonies from parents/ parent perspectives. Hearings occur monthly, allowing students, parents, Pittsburgh Public School supporters, etc., to come out and speak on issues occurring within the Pittsburgh Public School District. “GAP’s vision is to ultimately close the racial disparity in gifted enrollment throughout the district in gifted enrollment throughout the district while simultaneously ensuring that those gifted services are coupled with culturally competent instruction. Our strategy is to implement a universal gifted screener for all second grade students throughout the entire PPS district,” Sydney Olberg, member of CORO said. The goal of Gifted Access Pittsburgh is to have several PPS elementary schools pilot universal screening on 2nd grade students this upcoming school year. By using the universal screener, there will be an elimination of the current referral system. The Leaders in Learning cohort have researched multiple screeners and provided this information to the PPS Board. The decision of the screener will be made by PPS administrators.
Students must be vaccinated With the start of school, the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Education are deeply concerned that not all children in the commonwealth were fully vaccinated before the start of classes. In most states, children are required to have all recommended immunizations prior to entering school. However, current Pennsylvania regulations allow students in kindergarten through 12th grade to be admitted to school provisionally for up to eight months if evidence of at least one dose of each of the required antigen for vaccines is given. This includes vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, varicella, and hepatitis B. The parent or guardian must then submit a plan for completion of the required immunizations to the school, where the plan is supposed to be reviewed and updated every 60 days. This “window” not only places a time-consuming, bureaucratic burden on school districts but presents a very real and unnecessary risk for children to become infected and potentially spread preventable, communicable diseases.
BUILDING NEW HOMES AND NEW LIVES—Work Pittsburgh’s first 12 employees, one veteran and 11 ex-offenders, build affordable Micro Homes from scratch in South Side warehouse. (See the full story in the Sept. 30—Oct. 6 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier.)
In order to increase the number of children who start school properly vaccinated, the state has
launched a statewide education and awareness campaign, “Don’t Wait. Vaccinate.”
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
HEALTH
Take charge of your health today. Be informed. Be involved. October is Health Literacy Month Healthy technology ESTHER BUSH
This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on health technology. Jennifer R. Jones, MPH, community engagement coordinator with CTSI, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, talked about this topic. JJ: Good morning, Ms. Bush. Iʼm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about health technology. The health care delivery system and the way we access health information certainly is changing. EB: It sure is, Jennifer. And many of these changes are having a positive influence on health care. More information about personal health will be readily available to us. Technology is being used in ways that it never has been before when it comes to health. JJ: Thatʼs so true, Ms. Bush. Health technology includes many things—medical equipment used during provider visits or the new types of medication our health care providers prescribe for us. It can also include vaccines, medical procedure advances or even databases that control how our personal health information is stored and shared. EB: It can actually seem overwhelming when you think about it. It means that, on an individual level, people have to put a lot of trust in something we canʼt see or always understand. I would caution people, though. Sometimes weʼre exposed to too much information—wrong information about a procedure or scary pictures online. Donʼt internalize every photo that you see. We can research our health problems too much and get filled with too many “what ifs.” Iʼve seen it happen in my own family. Appropriate support and discussion with a trusted health care provider are still very important. JJ: Thatʼs great advice. For some people, changes and updates in health technology are welcome and easy to understand and navigate. But for others, using technology may be frustrating or even scary. EB: Yes, unfortunately it sometimes creates extra barriers for people to access health care. I continue to be concerned about lowincome individuals who may not have as much exposure or access to or understanding of the use of health technology. Access to this technology is an important conversation to have. We need to make sure that all patients—in reality, weʼre all patients— are aware that technology will be part of our futures. We need to evaluate how improvements in technology affect individuals who do not have technology as part of their everyday life. JJ: I agree. There are many organizations in our local area that are thinking about such things and are working to make health care more accessible and understandable. Thank you so much for your time and thoughts, Ms. Bush. Next month, weʼre talking about access to health insurance, and the “Take Charge” page will have valuable information for many of our community members. If anyone has questions about the information on these pages, email partners@hs.pitt.edu.
PROCLAMATION—The Regional Health Literacy Coalition was presented a proclamation by Pittsburgh City Council in Oct. 2014 recognizing October as Health Literacy Month. The picture includes Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith; Alieu Myassi, program director for cultural competency and community health at UPMC; Councilman Corey Oconnor, Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak, Councilwoman Darlene Harris, Councilwoman Deb Gross, Harry Manley, senior community affairs specialist, Gateway Health System; Councilman Bruce Krauss, Kevin Progar, project manager, Regional Health Literacy Coalition; Tracy Lawless, legislative director, Gateway Health System and Joe Glinka, legislative affairs representative, Gateway Health System.
How technology impacts our health
Many of us use some sort of technology to communicate with friends and loved ones every day. Communication can be through text messages, social media platforms like Facebook or by e-mail. Stores and companies can now text us with coupons and announcements. So, what about our health? How can we use technology when it comes to something so important to all of us? On a basic level, many of us already use technology when it comes to health care. Health care professionals are finding many ways to use technology to give out information or to make patient interactions smoother or easier. We schedule doctorʼs appointments online. We use oncall nurses for medical questions outside of usual business hours. We may refill a prescription online or on the phone. Itʼs becoming common now to start a doctorʼs appointment with someone typing information into a computer for our electronic medical records. Health care professionals may use the Internet during an appointment to print information for patients or use images to better explain a health condition. Patients can interact with their health insurance companies online. Getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act happens online. Many people access health technology with their mobile phones. Studies have shown that there isnʼt a racial disparity when it comes to owning and using a smartphone. The Pew Research Center
reports that African Americans, Whites and Latinos have similar rates of owning cell phones but that African Americans and Latinos use phones to access the Internet more. The center also states that, as of October 2014, 64 percent of people in the U.S. own a smartphone and 85 percent of young
you left and came back about a year later to have the doctor ask you how you are,” says Brian Suffoletto, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Pitt. “That leaves a lot of time for people to make health care decisions by themselves.” According to Dr. Suffoletto, the chronic conditions that
“What we know about health behaviors is that theyʼre strongly influenced by your environment and who youʼre around,” says Dr. Suffoletto. “We never really had a good health care model to help people initiate, adopt and maintain health behaviors when they left the doctorʼs office. We now
adults do. Of those users, 62 percent have used their phone in the past year to look up information about a health condition. Researchers, including many at the University of Pittsburgh, are finding ways to use technology not only to interact with providers but to affect health on a personal level too. “Before about 10 years ago, people would go to their doctors if they had a problem, the doctor prescribed medicine,
account for the majority of health care costs are driven by health behaviors—alcohol use, poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, lack of health care, not getting enough sleep and poor stress management. Health care professionals see the technologies that many people use every day—cell phones, computers, etc.—as a way to get peopleʼs attentions and target the health behaviors that are putting them at risk.
have people saying they want help in changing their behaviors. They want to know where to find this help. And now weʼre seeing technology to help fill this gap.” “Online health care is a way for people to access health care without stigma at a time and place thatʼs convenient for them,” says Bruce Rollman, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Smart Technology at Pitt. “These computer-
Know where to go for online health info
There are a lot of places to find health information on the Internet. But itʼs important not to trust every source. For example, one study found that nine out of 10 health pages on Wikipedia donʼt agree with the latest medical research. Thatʼs a 90 percent chance for getting inaccurate information. Keep calm and trust the experts. Hereʼs a quick list of the best online health care sites: 1. MedlinePlus.gov links to the worldʼs largest medical library. If you need to learn about any drug, disease or definition of a health-related word, this is the place to go. Experts from all of the U.S. health departments choose whatʼs included and
Plain Language in 2013. That means you donʼt have to worry about hard-tounderstand medical language or errors in the info. 3. AHealthyUnderstanding.org was built with the help of more than 50 local groups, including people whatʼs not. This means no one from Allegheny County Health person or company can make Department, Highmark and changes. It also means better, UPMC. The site was built to help safer info. providers and consumers talk to 2. Thereʼs more to good health each other. It offers tools for bethan just knowing the facts. What fore, during and after medical visyou do plays the biggest role. its. It also helps people prepare HealthFinder.gov was built to for emergency care. You can print help people use health informatools from the site and use them tion. Try the pageʼs “myto track and own your health info. healthfinder” link to find what checkEveryone knows that technology ups you, your child or another fam- plays a big role in health care. But ily member might need this year. the secret is—so do you! Use The site won a ClearMark Award for these sites to get tips, tools and
ized interactions may allow for some anonymity.” Drs. Suffoletto and Rollman both are investigating whether specific programs will change behaviors. Dr. Suffoletto and colleagues are studying a texting program that aims to reduce hazardous alcohol use. Dr. Rollman and colleagues are developing and looking at the impact of online support groups and Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for different health conditions. “There are very few data on the effectiveness of these mobile technologies,” says Dr. Suffoletto. “Some seem favorable with regard to helping people change behaviors over time in their own environments. But more research is needed. Itʼs important to note that of the thousands of health care apps people could download, the vast majority have not been studied to see if theyʼre truly effective.” Both Drs. Suffoletto and Rollman remind everyone that the Internet isnʼt meant to take the place of talking with a trusted health care professional. Not everything people read online is necessarily accurate, and some information can be misleading or even harmful. “We have to figure out how to integrate these technologies with humans,” says Dr. Suffoletto. “People want to be able to collect heath data and want help changing behaviors. But they still want to know thereʼs a human being who can talk to them personally about the health care information they collect.”
Smartphone stress reduction study
Stressed? Interested in learning techniques to manage your stress? Emily Lindsay and J. David Creswell at Carnegie Mellon Universityʼs Department of Psychology are recruiting for a study involving two-week, at-home training programs for stress reduction and well-being. The study tests whether delivering these audioguided programs on a smartphone can be beneficial. The study involves two three-hour lab visits, plus 20 days of at-home study activities (about 25 minutes per day). We are recruiting a sample of generally healthy, stressed adults (ages 18-70). Participants must be available for about one month to complete study activities and must use an iPhone or Android phone. Are you interested in learning more about this study? Contact us at cmuhealthyliving@gmail.com, or call the study hotline at 412-268-8761.
New Pittsburgh Courier
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ENTERTAINER OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Cover To Cover
‘Little Shaq’ by Terri Schlichenneyer For New Pittsburgh Courier
For almost every day of your life, someone’s reminded you to share. Usually, it’s about sharing your toys but that’s not all. You share games, the sofa, your ideas, snacks, and any chore that needs four hands. Sharing is often about teamwork, and in the new book “Little Shaq” (illustrated by Theodore Taylor III), author Shaquille O’Neal shares a story… It was almost the end of the ballgame and Little Shaq was hot. Every shot he took was “nothin’ but net.” He just could not miss—nor did he miss seeing his cousin, Barry, who called for the ball but Little Shaq never passed it to him. When the game was over and his team won, Little Shaq went looking for Barry. He knew something was wrong. Barry didn’t want to talk. Barry was angry. Once they got home, Little Shaq tried everything to make Barry laugh. Finally, he offered to let Barry be
Gregory Porter shines at August Wilson Center GREGORY PORTER WITH BAND (Photos by J.L. Martello)
by Genea L. Webb
For New Pittsburgh Courier
“Player One” on their favorite video game, which meant that Barry got to pick the team name. Barry accepted the offer and the boys started playing, but Little Shaq couldn’t help himself. He wouldn’t— couldn’t—share, one thing led to another and bang! The boys’ favorite game was accidentally broken. Their friend, Rosa, who’d seen everything, pointed out that both boys were at fault. Little Shaq’s Dad said they needed to work together to replace the broken game. But would they ever be able to earn that kind of money? The answer came that week in school when the boys’ teacher, Ms. Terpenny, announced that the class was going to study plants by growing a garden. Both Barry and Little Shaq knew people who loved plants. Some of their neighbors had gardens, and someone had to make sure the flowers and vegetables were watered. He and Barry could start a gardening business! And so they did, learning as they went along, making mistakes, but earning money, too. It was a great way to save for a video game replacement, and their new business also gave them time to play basketball. But could they put their new talents together with their old ones to make a difference in their neighborhood? Remember back when your coach used to tell you that there’s no “I” in “team”? Your young sportsman has likely heard those same words— but “Little Shaq” will show him how they work. Kids who live for basketball will love this easyreader story, partly because it’s written by retired b-ball player and author Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal reached back into his own childhood to create this tale, which is something 7- to 10-year-olds will enjoy knowing; teachers and parents will appreciate that, in reading this book, kids will get gently-told lessons in working together, figuring out problems independently, and being responsible and self-sufficient. (“Little Shaq” by Shaquille O’Neal, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, c.2015, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, $9.99/$10.99 Canada, 74 pages.)
Jazz singer Gregory Porter always enjoys performing in the Steel City. “Pittsburgh every time I come it has a new and gracious vibe for me. It’s my pleasure to come back to Pittsburgh any time I can. It was appropriate for me to come,” Porter said. So when Janis Burley Wilson, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust asked him to perform during the organization’s Soul Sessions series, the powerhouse singer jumped at the chance. “The goal of the Soul Sessions series is to present world-class artists that represent contemporary styles of soul music,” said Wilson. Gregory Porter fits into that group perfectly. The Bakersfield, Cali, native started singing in church. He received a full athletic scholarship to San Diego State University, but his sports dreams were dashed after he sustained a shoulder injury. His new career path: city planner. However, God and Porter’s mother had a different plan for his life. On her deathbed, his mother, Ruth, made him promise he would make a career in music. He used his love of music to deal with his mother’s passing. Porter released his debut album, 2010’s “Water” when he was almost 40 years old. The record, which was released on Motema Music, was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album. His sophomore record “Be Good” was released two years later and the title track was nominated for Best Traditional R & B Performance. “Be Good” was one of the many songs that Porter performed during his Pittsburgh concert. He also took the audience to Harlem with a rousing performance of “On My Way to Harlem.” He took the 472-seat August Wilson Center audience on a musical journey through
GREGORY PORTER various genre’s including Negro spiritual, gospel, R & B, Neo Soul and of course, Jazz. “I’m a Jazz singer but there’s soul in my approach to my music. I’m always thinking about the eye on the future but your hand and your foot and your big toe is in the past and your carrying that with you. It’s who you are,” Porter said. Porter’s third album, “Liquid Spirit,” was released in 2013 and won the Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy in 2014 beating out fellow jazz artists Andy Bey, Tierney Sutton, Lorraine Feather and Cecile McLorin Salvant.”Liquid Spirit” reached the top 10 on the UK chartsand was certified gold,
selling over 100,000 copies across the pond. Citing Nate King Cole as one of his greatest influences, Porter spent some time on Broadway. He was in the original cast of “It Ain’t Nothin’” “But the Blues,” a musical history of the blues. The show received Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Porter penned and starred in “Nat King Cole and Me: A Musical Healing.” He was also featured on “Hubert Laws Remembers Nat King Cole” album singing an amazing rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.” In 2014, Porter released two albums: “Issues of Life-Features and Remixes” on Membran records. The effort featured Swedish Jazz musician Mangus Lindgren. Towards the end of the year he released “More Liquid Spirit Features and Remixes.” It featured “Grandma’s Hands” and “Musical Genocide.” In July of this year, Porter released “The Remix,” an EP, which featured “Hey Laura,” “Musical Genocide” and three versions of the single “Liquid Spirit.” “I’m currently working on a new album,” Porter said to the appreciative Pittsburgh audience who clapped when they heard this piece of news. “Don’t clap yet. It might suck.” That’s highly doubtful. He preceded to play a piano-backed version of a song he is planning on putting on the new record. “I like writing simply ditty’s” Porter said after performing the song. Porter is truly a master of the craft of bringing pure, unadulterated music to his fans. As a result, he was given the Jazz Journalist Association Male Vocalist of the Year award. The award honors excellence in Jazz music, recording and journalism. “It’s a big deal because these are the people who are closest to the music so they know and to be respected by not only your peers but the people who look at the music from afar and they judge the music—up or down— I really appreciate the award,” Porter said. When he isn’t touring or recording music, Porter likes to spend time with his son and wife, Victoria, cook and hang out with friends.
Pitt student wins jazz scholarship PITTSBURGH—Iyanna Boatwright-Buffaloe is a University of Pittsburgh sophomore, a trombonist with an affinity for New Orleans-style jazz, and the recipient of the 2015 PittBNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship. Boatwright-Buffaloe, 18, from Darby, Pa., won the $5,000 academic scholarship based on a recording of jazz standards she submitted to a judging panel comprised of members of the Pitt Jazz Studies Program faculty. Funded by Pitt’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and BNY Mellon, the award is given annually to a current or incoming Pitt music student. Boatwright-Buffaloe will be recognized this fall at a private reception at the Frick Fine Arts Building, just prior to the Nov. 7 Pitt Jazz Concert. “Iyanna has a beautiful
clear sound and technique on her instrument,” said Pitt Jazz Studies Program Director and pianist Geri Allen. “She also has an innate feeling and retention of the soulful expression of great jazz trombone masters like Al Grey, Curtis Fuller, and Slide Hampton.” Boatwright-Buffaloe picked up her first trombone at 11 and was immediately drawn to its powerful sound and unique range. She performed in the Penn Wood High School jazz band, concert band, and marching band and won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award her senior year for “outstanding music achievement and an incredible dedication to the program.” As a Pitt freshman and member of the Pitt Jazz Ensemble, she had the chance to perform with drum master Roger Humphries earlier this
year at Pitt’s K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month celebration. She sat in with Humphries and trumpeter Sean Jones at a local nightspot, and she collaborated with world-renowned jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and students at Berklee College of Music in an inaugural virtual master class as part of the 44th Annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert. Although she is majoring in computer science and minoring in music, BoatwrightBuffaloe said she knows jazz will always be part of her life, either in performing, teaching others, or developing her own online jazz channel. This is the 29th year Pitt and BNY Mellon have funded the scholarship. BNY Mellon Jazz supports nonprofit organizations engaged in live performances and jazz education.
IYANNA BOATWRIGHT-BUFFALOE
‘Nasty Gal’ film on Funk Queen Betty Davis launched NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
FILM ON FUNK QUEEN BETTY DAVIS
October Thursday 8 “I.D.” New Horizon Theater Inc. presents “I.D.” at 7:30 p.m. at The Falk School/ University of Pittsburgh, 4060 Allequippa St., Oakland. “I.D.” is a hip-hop theatre piece that explores cultural identity utilizing dance, music and emceeing. The production by NSankou Njikam, choreographed by Kikora Franklin and directed by Steve Broadnax, will run through Oct. 11. For more information, call 412-431-0773 or visit www.newhorizontheater.org.
Pittsburgh Improv Jam The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents its Pittsburgh Improv Jam at 10 p.m. at Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., Cultural District. Every Thursday patrons can enjoy a night of spontaneous, comedic scenes inspired by audience suggestions and performed by experienced improvisers. This is a 21 and older event. For more information, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
Friday 9 Jazz at Andys Andys Wine Bar at the Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel presents Jazz at Andys from 5-7:30 p.m. at 510 Market St., Downtown. Special guest DJ Malls will be spinning the vinyl as part of the VINYL Happy Hour. Following the happy hour, there will be a musical performance by Anqwenique Wingfield. It is open to the public. For more information, visit www.andyswinebar.com.
Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton MCG Jazz presents Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton at 7 p.m. at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, 1815 Metropolitan St., Manchester. The talented Lisa Fischer, who has toured with acts such as The Rolling Stones, Sting, Chris Botti and more, recently starred in the Oscar winning documentary “Twenty Feet in Stardom.” There will also be a show at 9:30 p.m. as well. For more information, visit www.mcgjazz.org.
Saturday 10 Marsha Ambrosius The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents SOUL SESSIONS at 8 p.m. at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. The featured artist will be R&B songstress Marsha Ambrosius, one half of the duo Floetry. With her lush, distinctive voice, she will bring an intimate performance to the guests of the August Wilson Center. For more
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
information, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
Sunday 11 Dulcy The Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company presents “Dulcy” at 8 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, 937 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. “Dulcy,” the first play of the season, is about Dulcinea Smith Gordon, also known as Dulcy, and the hilarious party she holds for her husband and his friends. Although filled with good intentions, the bubbly yet meddling Dulcy always seems to cause calamity whenever she tries to help her husband. This is the last showing of this play. For more information, visit www.pittsburghplaywrights.com.
Monday 12 Savoy Jazz Savoy Restaurant presents Savoy Jazz Mondays from 5-9 p.m. at 2623 Penn Ave., Strip District. Every Monday guests can enjoy live jazz in a sophisticated atmosphere by some of the city’s most talented jazz performers. The attire is business casual. For more information, call 412-281-0660 or visit www.savoypgh.com.
Tuesday 13
JazzLive The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents JazzLive at 5 p.m. at the Backstage Bar at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., Cultural District. Every Tuesday, guests can enjoy a free live jazz series that showcases some of the region’s finest jazz musicians. The evening’s featured performer will be bassist Paul Thompson. For more information, call 412456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
Wednesday 14 Humanae/I AM AUGUST The August Wilson Center presents “Humanae/I AM AUGUST” at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. The exhibition is a local adaptation of Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass’ “Humanae” project, which features more than 2,500 photos in public spaces around the world. The local project, produced by Janera Solomon and the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in partnership with The Magenta Foundation with support from The Pittsburgh Foundation, and has the theme “I AM AUGUST” and includes a collection of community artists, leaders and friends of August Wilson. The exhibit will run through August 2016. For more information, call 412-338-8742 or visit www.trustarts.org.
LONDON/NEW YORK—Reclusive singer-songwriter Betty Mabry Davis, a Pittsburgh native, issued a rare public statement in support of the Indiegogo launch for “Nasty Gal: The Many Lives of Funk Queen Betty Davis,” the first featurelength film to explore the life and times of the groundbreaking stage performer, exmodel, and former wife of Miles Davis. “Although I’ve been silent for a long time,” said Davis, “I feel it’s important to help shape my legacy while I’m alive by returning my story and music to people who will value it and learn from it. I am excited to be a part of this project and hope it finds the support it needs.” After years of rejecting TV and film options from international petitioners, Davis signed exclusive life story rights with London-based Native Voice Films (HBO’s The Bengali Detective) in February 2013. Since then, the producers of “Nasty Gal” have been developing the project—a creative blend of fiction and nonfiction—with preproduction support from the EU MEDIA Programme. The team will soon be casting for the lead role of Betty Davis in the U.S. “We are honored to be collaborating with Betty on her life story,” said directors Phil Cox and Damon Smith. “She is a largerthan-life global icon whose influence on music and fashion is indelible, from Prince to Erykah Badu, and her celebration onscreen is long overdue. We intend to make this film in the same unapologetically independent spirit in which Betty conducted
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her professional life, long before it was hip for a woman to be completely in charge.” “As the producer of Betty’s first album,” said Sly and the Family Stone drummer Greg Errico, a musical advisor on “Nasty Gal,” “I’m proud to be part of the Betty Davis project and glad to see that her fans and the public are responding to what she’s put out there—and are inspiring her in return.” “Nasty Gal” is seeking to raise $65,000 on Indiegogo by Nov. 10 to cover archive and music licensing and support principal photography for the feature-length film when it goes into production later this fall. The recent Facebook page dedicated to the project has already garnered tens of thousands of hits in the US and globally. Among the Indiegogo pledge prizes are specially created Betty Davis T-shirts and logos courtesy of Jon Daniel (designer of George Clinton’s Chocolate City, London box set); limited edition Betty Davis prints by fashion photographer Anthony Barboza; hard-to-find Betty Davis albums (CDs and vinyl) personally signed by the artist; as well as a guided tour of Betty’s favorite New York City haunts and access to world premiere screenings. “For fans of Betty Davis, fans of funk and rock, and for those supportive of women who are bold and fearless,” said LaBelle founding member Nona Hendryx, “I think it’s important to help Betty be remembered and recognized for the great, groundbreaking artist that she is.”
O’Jays member releases solo single CLEVELAND—As one of the most acclaimed music groups of all times, The O’Jays continue to burn up the tour circuit after more than four decades, and recently announced their upcoming performance schedule. The tour began Aug. 7, and now continues through Feb. 12, 2016-with numerous venues set in between. While the powerhouse vocalists are performing their legendary music coast-tocoast, group member Eric Nolan will also be releasing his third single entitled, “Cologne” off his first solo Album,”Mood Swing” (released in 2014). After he joined the group in 1997, debuting on the
ERIC NOLAN O’Jays’ R&B charted “Love You to Tears,” by 2001, they
released their chart-topper “For the Love,” receiving a 2002 Grammy nomination, followed by the 2004 album “Imagination” (under Music World). The notable achievements he has accomplished performing and writing with the group are astonishing: Induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, followed in 2005 with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a BET 2009 “Lifetime Achievement Award,” and a 2011 “Trumpet Lifetime Achievement Award.” Other notables include performances for the 2006 ESPY awards, and the DVD and PBS Special, “Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia,”
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ARTS & CULTURE
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Lalah Hathaway’s talents would make daddy proud by Timothy Cox For New Pittsburgh Courier
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The historic ambiance of the legendary Howard Theater, a DC national landmark, provided the necessary quaintness for the uniquely soulful songstress, Lalah Hathaway. On a surprisingly warm night the young singer proudly upheld her father’s legacy as another truly gifted American soul artist. Even more, Lalah is a musician who comfortably displayed her array of vocalese and classical training from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music. Throughout the evening, she easily demonstrated her signature contralto stylings while lifting through octaves to reach nearly operatic modal scales. This fact was effortlessly displayed during her rendition of the Anita Baker classic, “Angel.” After briefly toying with the audience about their knowledge of Baker’s musical catalogue, she eased into “You’re The Best Thing Yet,” another one of Detroit Anita’s classics. During a interview on cable TV One’s News One Now featuring host Roland Martin, Lalah revealed that the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region is perhaps her favorite performance market, followed closely by New York City demographics. She also noted that she’ll release her first live album on Oct. 30. “Lalah Hathaway Live”
was recorded at the Troubadour Lounge, the same venue where her father, the late Donny Hathaway, recorded his epic, “Donny Hathaway Live” circa 1972. During the performance, Lalah opened her set appropriately with a tune recorded by her dad, “Little Ghetto Boy.” She noted to news anchor Martin that the tune’s lyrics aptly coincide with today’s times, sadly enough due to current oppressive occurrences that mirror images of inner-city America some 40 years ago. On TV One, Lalah revealed that “Little Ghetto Boy” was a tune she grew up with, and always wanted to cover. Thankfully, she’s the one who had the nerve and talent to honor her father by providing us with a solid, respectful rendition of this modern-day classic. She purposely sings the tune in the same key as her late father did on his live classic, she revealed to Martin. Speaking of her father’s original live recording at the Bitter End in NYC and at The Troubadour in LA, the original lineup of Willie Weeks, bass; Earl DeRouen, congas; guitarists Phil Upchurch, Mike Howard and Cornell Dupree and drummer Freddy White (Maurice White’s younger brother), would have been proud of the young musicians currently accompanying Lalah on tour. These young-blood cats paid special attention to detail in
PROUD MOTHER—Eulaulah Hathaway answers questions after her daughter’s, Lalah, recent concert. (Photo by Tim Cox)
chords of “Forever, For Always, For Love.” that brought down the proverbial house. The tune is from her 2004 release and aptly covers the 1982 Luther Vandross original— breathing new life to this classic for a whole new generation of soul music appreLALAH HATHAWAY WITH ONE OF HER GRAMMYS (AP Photo) ciators— thanks to re-creating “Little Ghetto White and Skip Scarbor- Lalah‘s elegant and soulful Boy,” and closely mimicked ough by offering an impec- vocal arrangement. Earlier the original live arrange- cably-performed version on her set-list, she also sang ment. of the EWF 1978 classic. a warm rendition of her faInspirationally, the 105- Working off that same ther’s emotional classic, year-old Howard venue foundational groove, the “You Were Meant For Me.” displays life-size black and band calmly segued into This tune likewise received white images of music leg- another identifiable soul an expectedly welcomed reends such as James classic, “Yearnin For Your sponse from her fan base. Brown, BB King and in Love,” by “Uncle” Charlie And like her father, Lalah Lalah‘s benefit, the great Wilson and The Gap Band too has the ability to effecLena Horne and Ella from 1980. tively hum melodically—a Fitzgerald. On this night, After warming-up the very difficult vocal skill, inshe would mimic the great crowd with those two clas- deed. She also dazzled the Ella by displaying her gift sics, Lala, a double-Grammy audience with her whistling for scat-singing, an art winner, delved into her talents. that Ella still has no com- debut solo hit, “Baby Baby Following her 90-minute parisons. But Lalah cap- Don’t Cry” from 1990. performance, including an tured the essence of this But it was the first few additional encore tune, very challenging style of improvisational jazz vocalese. Already considered as one of today’s diverse lady soul vocalists, it was refreshing when Lalah delved into a version of the George Gershwin-composed “Summertime” from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. Accompanied by her super-talented four-piece combo, “Summertime” kicked-off with a funky bass riff that delivered a totally surprising feel, never expected to prelude this all-time classic. Lalah then proceeded to offer a fusionistic version that kept the crowd clapping to the funky beats of this classic composition. Backed with two highcaliber male backup singers, Chicago-born Lalah and her boys thrilled the audience throughout the evening with exhilaratingly-complex three-part vocal harmonies. She fully captivated the RnB-based audience when she and the band slipped into a cover of the Earth, Wind and Fire stellar, “Love’s Holiday.” Audience-participation lyrical melodies then sweetly filled the venue … “Would you mind …” as the band showed their respect for their musical forefathers/composers Maurice
Lalah bid her audience adieu. It’s also hoped that someday soon Lalah will release an album that accompanies her father’s vocals, much like the successful duets that Natalie Cole did with dad Nat King Cole in the early 1990s. The time is just about right for ‘Hathaway Meets Hathaway.’ In a brief conversation with Lalah‘s mother after the show, Eulaulah Hathaway informed me that she and Donny met at Howard University, a campus located just minutes from the Howard Theater, and that both were music majors. “Yes, Lalah and her sister Kenya get it (musical genes) from both sides,“ she chuckled. She also noted that first-born Lalah is actually named Eulaulah Donyll Hathaway, and that Lalah is third in a generation of family Eulaulahs. Lalah‘s grandmother is the original Eulaulah, said Hathaway. Younger sister Kenya also studied music at Berklee, sang regularly on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and serves as a vocal coach for TV’s “American Idol,” according to Mrs. Hathaway. “We’re proud of both girls,” she added.
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Apple names ex-Boeing CFO to board, diversifying its ranks
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
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CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP)— Apple has filled a void on its board of directors with James Bell, the former chief financial officer for aircraft maker Boeing Co. Bell becomes the only African American on Apple’s board, helping the iPhone and iPad maker diversify its corporate hierarchy at a time when major technology companies are under fire for not having enough women and minorities in leadership roles and in their overall workforce.
Apple already has two women on what is now an eight-director board. Two of Apple’s top executives, Lisa Jackson and Denise Young-Smith, are also African Americans. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who has spearheaded the push for greater diversity in Silicon Valley, applauded Apple CEO Tim Cook for bringing Bell on to the board of the Cupertino, California, company. “We are delighted but not surprised,’’ Jackson said. “Tim Cook
has made a wise choice. James Bell is eminently qualified.’’ Besides serving as Boeing’s CFO during his 38-year career at the company, Bell also was interim CEO in 2005. He fills a vacancy created on Apple’s board when J. Crew Group CEO Millard “Mickey’’ Drexler relinquished his spot earlier this year. Bell also sits on the boards of JP Morgan Chase, Dow Chemical and another technology company, CDW.
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JAMES BELL
Ford Motor Company encourages HBCU student achievement Each generation of African Americans has been challenged with both old and new hurdles to clear in the life-long marathon to achieve success and to fulfill career goals and objectives. The importance of attaining a quality education cannot be overstated in particular for the African American community. I serve of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Edu- Benjamin cation that represents the interests of 126 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). NAFEO is the only national membership association of its kind, representing the presidents and chancellors of the diverse black colleges and universities: public, private and land-grant, twoyear, four-year, graduate and professional, historically and predominantly black colleges and universities. Working with NAFEO has help me to grasp and to understand the complex matrix of issues involving our nation’s HBCUs. Completing a college education in America can determine one’s quality of life quantitatively in terms of potential annual income as well as helping to become socially self-sustainable. As we all know, however, a college education is now more expensive than ever before; and, entry to good schools is highly competitive. Recently, I was pleased to learn about a program that was specifically created to reach and to provide students scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and
Universities. Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Company Fund are reaching out to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities for their third edition of the Ford HBCU Community Challenge Competition. Up to $75,000 in scholarships, and university and community grants will be awarded for the first-place student team and its project. The Ford HBCU Commu-
F. Chavis Jr. WOMEN FILE LAWSUIT—Tira McDonald, left, one of the plaintiffs filing a lawsuit over their ejection from a Napa Valley Wine Train, speaks at a news conference, Thursday, Oct. 1, in San Francisco. Also pictured are attorney Waukeen Q. McCoy, from left rear, and plaintiffs Linda Carlson, Lisa Johnson, Sandra Jamerson and Allisa Carr. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Commentary nity Challenge is an extension of one of the Ford Fund’s signature educational programs—the Ford College Community Challenge. The Ford HBCU Community Challenge is conducted in partnership with the Tom Joyner Morning Show and the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and encourages HBCU students to design community projects that address pressing local needs. Salute to Tom Joyner and Rickey Smiley for their leadership in the effort. The program’s theme is “Building Sustainable Communities.” I like this theme because it helps to encourage this generation of African American college students to consider the importance of community development as a professional career focus. The top three teams selected will be flown to the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan to present their projects beSEE FORD C2
Black women booted from NAPA Valley wine train file lawsuit by Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)— A group of mostly black women filed a racial discrimination lawsuit Thursday after they were removed from a train that tours Napa Valley wineries, saying it was humiliating to be thrown off a rail car when loud and inebriated white passengers were allowed to stay. The 11 women sued Napa Valley Wine Train Inc., claiming they were singled out because of race and seeking $11 million in damages. The company said in a statement that it takes allegations of discrimination very seriously
and has hired a former FBI agent to investigate. The women said many of them were part of a book club that meets regularly and had gathered on the train to discuss a romance novel. Before the train left the station in Napa, a train employee asked them to quiet down because they were offending other passengers, they said. The same employee admonished them a second time before telling them that police officers would be waiting for them when the train reached St. Helena, the suit says. They were escorted through several cars as other passengers stared and then off the train and into a dirt lot
where police were waiting, according to the suit. “That was the most humiliating experience that I have ever had in my entire life,’’ Lisa Johnson, 47, said with tears in her eyes, appearing with some of the other women at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. “This is 2015, and this just cannot happen again.’’ The wine train issued an apology after the women were ejected, promising additional training for employees on cultural diversity and sensitivity and free passes for a future trip. The lawsuit also claims the women were defamed by a company statement
saying they had been verbally and physically abusive. Their removal led to discussion online under the h a s h t a g , (hash)laughingwhileblack. The women wore black buttons with the hashtag at Thursday’s news conference. Katherine Neal, 85, the oldest woman in the group, said she was reminded of when she was about 12 and a store clerk asked her to eat her ice cream outside while white families ate inside. “I took this case because it’s an egregious case,’’ said the women’s attorney, WauSEE WOMEN C2
Final justice costs Fifth Third Bank $21 million Discriminatory auto finance and illegal credit card practices were dealt multi-million dollar blows recently. A joint investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Justice that began in January 2013, culminated on Sept. 28 with settlements related to multiple alleged violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The joint actions will affect Black and Latino customers of Fifth Third Bank’s 1,300 branches in 12 states. The first and larger enforcement calls for $18 million to be paid to customers who financed auto purchases through Fifth Third from January 2010 through September 2015. CFPB and DOJ charged that Black and Latino customers were victims of illegal and discriminatory pricing that increased interest rates without regard to their credit-worthiness. Fifth Third allowed car dealers to raise consumers’ interest rates as much as 2.5 percent above the bank’s actual rate, also known as a “buy rate.” The bank also allowed car dealers to keep some or all of the difference as compensation. “We are committed to promoting fair and equal access to credit in the auto finance marketplace,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “We are also obtaining millions of
dollars in relief consumers report today for consumers Charlene Crowell negotiating interest affected by deceptive rates more White marketing of credit borrowers, these add-on products.” consumers of color “Even when Afristill paid higher incan-American and terest rates than Latino borrowers nesimilar White borgotiate the interest rowers. rate, they end up For the 11th time, paying more for CFPB levied fines their cars than White borrowers with simi- for illegal practices in the marketing or adlar credit profiles because of the car dealer ministration of add-on credit card products interest rate markup,” said Chris Kukla, and services. Approximately 24,500 cusSenior Vice President and expert on auto tomers from 2007 through 2013 will share lending with the Center for Responsible $3 million in relief. Lending . Lured by the promise of the option to can“Discrimination has no place in the auto cel credit card payments in the event of a filending market,” continued Kukla, “and our nancial hardship such as job loss, disability research shows that dealer markups con- or hospitalization, customers were never tribute to this discriminatory out- given accurate information on the products come. …The best way to root out discrimi- or costs. “Fulfillment kits” were sent to card nation in auto lending would be to elimi- holders accepting the telemarketing pitch nate dealer markups altogether.” or online solicitations. However the inforAuto lending is the third largest source of mation provided contained incorrect deconsumer debt, after mortgages and stu- scriptions of the product’s costs, benefits, dent loans, according to the New York Fed- exclusions, terms and conditions. eral Reserve Bank. Additionally: In addition to the $3 million credit card § 80 percent of auto purchases are fi- restitution and the $18 million for wrongful nanced through car dealers; and auto financing, Fifth Third will also pay § While Hispanic and African-American two, $500,000 fines for violations in each
Commentary
lending area. The bank will also: § Pay to hire a settlement administrator to distribute funds to victims. Once the administrator has been hired, CFPB will provide him/her with contact information for affected borrowers. The administrator will then directly contact affected borrowers. § Substantially reduce or eliminate entirely dealer markups—The discretionary interest rate markups will be limited to 1.25 percent above the buy rate for vehicle loans of 5 years or less. Loans with longer terms will now be limited to 1.0 percent markup. Fifth Third Bank, the ninth largest depository indirect auto lender in the nation, now joins Ally Bank, American Honda Financial and Evergreen Bank as violators of the Equal Credit Protection Act. Together, the sum of fines and restitution in this one lending area now totals $194 million. “Consumers deserve a level playing field when they enter the marketplace, especially when financing an automobile,” said U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart of the Southern District of Ohio. “This settlement prevents discrimination in setting the price for auto loans.” (Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)
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Yavonna Morris named corporate counsel, Transactional law, Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America recently announced Yavonna Morris has joined the company as Corporate Counsel, Transactional Law. In this capacity, Morris is responsible for working with the Blue Link/Connected Car, Office of Customer Management, and Service teams at Hyundai on a broad range of corporate business law matters. Prior to joining Hyundai, Morris served as associate counsel at Prospect Mortgage. There she provided legal counsel on corporate, employment, consumer privacy, licensing and financial lending matters. Morris successfully negotiated a variety of commercial agreements, provided advice on regulatory matters, and ensured compliance under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Morris previously served as a legal consultant for Kurtzman Carson Consultants, working with debtors and financial advisors in Chapter 11 restructurings. Upon graduating
with her Juris Doctor, Morris worked as an Associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman. In addition to representing private and publicly traded companies in mergers and acquisitions, she served as co-chair of the firm’s Minority Associates Committee and a member of its Pro-Bono Committee. Morris graduated from Loyola Law School, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Minor in Law and Society from the University of Southern California. She is a member of the State Bar of California and has served on the board of directors of the John M. Langston Bar Association, Circle of Friends Scholarship Foundation and Culver City’s MLK Celebration Committee. In addition, Morris served as Corporation President of Angeles Mesa Presbyterian YAVONNA MORRIS Church from 2010 to 2012. Morris has also given back to her community through volunteer work with the Los Angeles Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children, Regional Food Bank, Public Counsel, the Con- Motivating our Students through Experience, stitutional Rights Foundation, the National and Creating Leaders in Mind and Body.
Highmark says Allegheny Health Network to lose $48 million in 2015 PITTSBURGH (AP)— Pittsburgh-based health insurance giant Highmark Inc. says its western Pennsylvania hospital network will lose $48 million this year, but hopes to cut that annual loss to $8 million by 2017. The loss projection is included in a report Highmark filed with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. The report is a condition of the department’s June decision to let Highmark transfer $175 million from its $5.5 billion in insurance reserves to prop up the eight-hospital Al-
legheny Health Network. The report was filed by the state-imposed deadline of Wednesday, but wasn’t publicized until Friday. The insurance department approved the funding plan after Highmark executives, health care workers and Pittsburgh-area political leaders told Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller that Highmark’s hospital network was needed to compete with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which operates western Pennsylvania’s dominant hospital network.
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to offer liquor lottery HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)—The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board plans to offer a lottery so customers will have a fairer shot at buying some limited quantity liquors. The Pittsburgh PostGazette (https://bitly.com/shorten/) says the first such lottery will occur Oct. 13 featuring two dozen bottles from the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection. Two varieties of the Kentucky bourbon will be available, 12 bottles of 100-proof French Oak Barrel Aged
Bourbon and 12 bottles of French Oak Barrel Head Aged Bourbon. The LCB has tried to sell limited-quantity brands online, but a sale of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon caused the website to crash last year. LCB Chairman Tim Holden says the online quantities also sold out within a few minutes, making it hard for some customers to get them. Pennsylvania residents only can register at FineWineAndGoodSpriits.com.
Wolf imposes state hiring freeze, travel restrictions HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)— As Pennsylvania budget stalemate enters its fourth month, Gov. Tom Wolf is ordering a hiring freeze and restrictions on travel. The Democratic governor issued the order Thursday. It imposes a general hiring freeze for most salaried and wage positions, although it says job offers made through Thursday will be honored.
It doesn’t apply to caregivers and people involved in law enforcement or state revenue. Wolf’s order also prohibits most travel and related costs, but allows essential “mission critical’’ trips and travel reimbursed by third parties. The order also continues the curtailment of discretionary spending and purchases of goods and services that are not critical.
Pittsburgh outfitting patrol officers with body cameras PITTSBURGH (AP)—Patrol officers in Pittsburgh are being outfitted with body cameras after months of delays over privacy concerns. A spokeswoman tells Sunday’s Tribune-Review (http://bit.ly/1OeRJBB ) that the city will use a $250,000 Justice Department grant to buy 200 body cameras. Police say officers using the cameras while responding to shootings, domestic violence and other emergency calls will be trained on privacy laws that prevent their use
Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Business
within homes without the owner’s permission. Pittsburgh previously purchased 35 body cameras for motorcycle and bicycle officers. Chief Cameron McLay halted further deployment in February over concerns that patrol officers could face wiretap charges if they accidentally recorded inside a home. Demands for police to wear the cameras have increased amid a series of fatal encounters across the country between police officers and unarmed civilians.
4 ways companies may adjust to looming employee benefits tax by Tom Murphy
sumer-directed health plan to the coverage choices they offer or working to increase AP Business Writer enrollment in one to help avoid the tax. That’s in addition to the 41 percent that The taxman is coming to employersponsored health insurance, and his visit have already done this. These plans pair coverage that has a deductible topping may trigger changes to your benefits. The health care overhaul calls for a 40- $1,200 with an account that lets the empercent tax starting in 2018 on the value ployer or worker save for medical expenses. Some businesses also may cut back on of employer-sponsored coverage that their use of flexible spending accounts, costs more than $10,200 for single plans which can give workers who don’t have a and $27,500 for family insurance. Emconsumer-directed health plan a chance ployers are working to avoid this tax by to set aside money before taxes for outcutting costs that have been rising for of-pocket health care costs. The amounts several years. that employees set aside count toward As a result, your boss may unveil some the thresholds that trigger the tax. adjustments to benefits later this fall 3—OFFER NEW ALTERNATIVES during the annual open enrollment peMore employers and insurers are atriod, a time when workers can review tempting to shave costs by providing and change coverage for the next year. telemedicine options that connect people Benefits consultant Mercer found that virtually with a care provider through a more than half of the roughly 1,200 emsmartphone, tablet or desktop computer ployers who responded to its survey exfor relatively minor conditions. These vispect to make some changes to coverage its can cost half as much as a trip to the in 2016. doctor’s office, which can run around Here’s how your employer might react $100 for people with high deductible covto this tax and, in some cases, how it erage. may affect your coverage: Some companies also are considering 1—ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIVING moving their employees to a private inThe push by employers to make emsurance exchange. For that coverage, employees healthier may get stronger in ployers give workers a set amount of 2016 and beyond. money and then send them to an exMercer’s survey found that 42 percent change that offers several different of employers were considering adding or plans. expanding programs to improve emResearch shows that employees tend to ployee health, specifically to avoid the excise tax. These programs often start with pick less expensive options when given a health risk assessment and coaching to choices, said Tracy Watts, a senior parthelp employees improve their well-being. ner with Mercer, which operates a private health exchange. That might include help for those who More employers also are offering supwant to quit smoking, eat better or manplemental accident coverage that can age chronic conditions like diabetes. help patients with medical expenses left Companies have become more aggresby a high-deductible plan, according to sive with this approach in recent years the insurer Sun Life Financial. That covby levying surcharges or added costs on erage doesn’t count toward the tax employees who smoke or don’t take a threshold. health risk assessment. 4—WAIT OUT THE DEBATE Employers want workers to take better Some employers may choose to do nothcare of their health with the hope that ing for now until they see what happens this wards off future medical expenses. with the tax. Simply put, a worker who manages his Both Republicans and Democrats in diabetes or improves cholesterol levels Congress are calling for its repeal. The may prevent a heart attack. so-called “Cadillac Tax’’ was aimed at ex2—ADJUST COVERAGE If your spouse can get coverage through cessive health insurance coverage, but it stirs worry because the threshold levels his or her job, expect your employer to that trigger it will rise slower than the encourage this. More companies are adding surcharges to the cost of coverage cost of care. That means that each year, a growing for spouses who have other options. percentage of plans may hit it. Companies also have been raising deIf a repeal doesn’t happen, politicians ductibles, or the amount a person has to may push to soften its impact by preservpay before most insurance coverage being the use of things like flexible spendgins. This lowers the premium or cost of ing accounts. The IRS is still finalizing coverage. It also can encourage patients to shop for better prices on some forms of tax guidelines. “Even if it doesn’t get repealed, at least care. Companies are offering some help there’s a really strong voice for some with these high deductibles. A quarter of employers surveyed by Mer- major changes to how it’s calculated,’’ Watts said. cer say they are considering adding a con-
Ford Motor encourages HBCU students CONTINUED FROM C1
fore a panel of automotive and media professionals. We need to look for ways to engage and challenge our young talented minds with an opportunity to make a difference in our communities. The truth is there should be more corporations that follow the Ford Motor Company emphasis on higher education and community development. Every HBCU institution should urge its students to
participate in this exciting program. It is an opportunity for the students, universities and communities to all win. Timing is important to get the necessary information to apply for this opportunity. Go to the following links to get information about the Ford HBCU Community Challenge: www.blackamericaweb.com /hbcuchallenge and www.rickeysmileymornings how.com/hbcuchallenge. Student have until Nov. 1, to apply and to enter. Let’s
inform college students in our communities about this now. Let’s raise up a new generation of innovators, developers, engineers and leaders who are committed to the sustainable development of our communities. (Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is the President and CEO of the NNPA and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http://drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.co m/drbfc)
Women booted from wine train file lawsuit CONTINUED FROM C1
keen McCoy. “This lawsuit highlights that blacks are still being treated differently in America.’’ McCoy said he engaged in settlement talks with
the company, but it did not make an offer. The Napa Valley Wine Train offers food and wine to passengers as they visit Napa County wineries in updated Pullman cars.
A spokesman for the company, Sam Singer, has said individuals or groups are asked to get off the wine train once a month on average for various reasons.
OCT. 7—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania will host its Business Institute from 1-4 p.m. at Manchester Bidwell Corporation, 1815 Metropolitan St., North Side. The workshop title is “Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Business.” Diana Burley, PhD, a cybersecurity workforce expert, the co-PI and research director for the National Cyber Watch Center, and the associate professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University, will teach attendees how to defend their business against cyber attacks. Registration is required. For more information, call 412-392-0610.
Plant A Seed OCT. 8—Small Seeds Development Inc. will host Plant A Seed from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Le Mont Restaurant, 1114 Grandview Ave., Mt. Washington. Attendees will enjoy an evening of networking, fun, recognition and investment. Reservations are required. For more information, call Brittany Tonet at 412-6652810 or email botnet@ssdipgh.org.
Think Big Forum OCT. 13—The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University will host its 10th Annual Think Big Forum from 5-8 p.m. at Chatham University, Eddy Hall, Woodland Rd., Shadyside. The theme is “By Women, For Women: Celebrating 10 Years of Entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh.” The conference will feature guests such as Cara Jones-Harries, Nicole Narvaez Manns, Rohini Shag, Sophia Berman and Laura West. Registration is required. For more information, visit www.chatham.edu/cwe.
Soldier to Entrepreneur OCT. 14—The University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence will host “Soldier to Entrepreneur: Understanding the Financial Condition on Your Business” from 7:3010:30 a.m. at Riverside Center for Innovation, 700 Ridge Ave., North Side. This class will provide an overview of how to analyze and understand differing financial statements to help identify and understand major problem points and areas for growth. Registration is required. For more information, call 412-648-1542 or email info@innovation.pitt.edu.
PowerBreakfast Meeting OCT. 16—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania will host its PowerBreakfast Meeting at 7:30 a.m. at One Oxford Centre. 301 Grant St., Downtown. The guest speaker will be Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and a Chamber supporting member, will update the audience on the Partnership’s initiatives and how they develop opportunities for our region. Reservations are required by Oct. 14. For more information, call 412-392-0610 or email information@aaccwp.com.
Lunch and Learn Series OCT. 22— The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host its Lunch & Learn Series at 12:15 p.m. at the Downtown & Business Branch, 612 Smithfield St., Downtown. The topic will be “Crowdfunding Your Business.” Artists, entrepreneurs and others utilize crowdfunding to collectively raise capital for business ventures, causes and community projects. In this session, Jennifer Hamilton, of Kiva Zip, will teach attendees about crowdfunding and Kiva Zip’s 0 percent interest micro-loans for startups and small businesses in the Pittsburgh area. For more information, call 412-281-7141 or visit www.carnegielibrary.org.
Members’ Mixer OCT. 28—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania will host its Members’ Mixer from 5-7 p.m. at the Laurel Highlands Council Boy Scouts of America, Flag Scout Center, 1275 Bedford Ave., Hill District. Chamber associate members, the Laurel Highlands Council Boy Scouts of America, will host this event that gives members an opportunity to network and gain contacts. Attendees are asked to bring their business cards to pass out. Members are asked to bring their pins. For more information, call 412-392-0610 or email information@aaccwp.com. (To have information on Business Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or e-mail: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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Inside Conditions—Out of the frying pan, into the fire Congratulations, to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the city of Pittsburgh for the Buccos advancing to the MLB post season for the third consecutive year. In 2013, the Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds to advance to the National League Divisional Series where they were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2014, Pittsburgh had home field advantage and became just another notch on the belt of San Francisco Giants left handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner as he mowed down any team who dared get in the way of the Giants quest for the 2014 MLB World Series Championship. Now again in 2015 the Pirates are again hosting a wild card game in Pittsburgh and the friendly confines of PNC Park but
just like last year have the unfriendly distinction of facing another top notch NL hurler in the person of Chicago Cubs right handed pitching sensation, Jake Arrieta. Arrieta just like Madison Bumgarner can prove very, very quickly that home field may be just another venue because as we all know, no matter how loud and long that the fans scream and yell in support of the home team, the fans no matter how hard that they would like to, cannot not take the field and play the game. The Pittsburgh Pirates will not be sending chopped liver to the mound either. Pirates right hander Gerrit (Cole Train) Cole, like his late semi-namesake, “John Coltrane” can also make sweet music with his blaz-
AUBREY BRUCE ing fastball, along with crafty off speed pitches darting in out and around the “home plate area.” One thing really worries me. The X factor may be defense and there are several
red flags that should concern every Pirates fan and aficionado alike. With Pittsburgh sending a right-hander to the hill, the Chicago Cubs will of course attempt to counter that strategy with inserting as many lefthanded batters into their line up to bat against a right hander. Who mans the “hot corner” of first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates where most left-handed batters send sizzling line drives to be fielded? None other than the very personable, very talented yet sporadic power hitter, Pedro Alvarez. On Sept. 30, Nick Selbe handed out his 2015 MLB “Brick Glove” awards and he had this to say about the defense of Alvarez on baseballplayerspointafter.com “Generally speaking, the
worst defensive players are put at first base. It is a relatively low-stress position, which is why Alvarez’s 21 (!!) errors are really quite astounding, especially considering that the next most error-prone first baseman (Jose Abreu) has only 11. Prior to 2015, Alvarez spent the previous five seasons at third base, where he was also an error machine. He committed 107 errors in 554 games from 2010 to 2014 at the hot corner. He’s made a career-worst 18 fielding errors this season, and his -21.2 Def is the worst among all Major League first basemen.” How many of the Chicago Cubs hitters are just frothing at the mouth at anticipating the possibility of sending a screaming line drive down the first base
line right at Pedro Alvarez, forcing the Pirates “misaligned” first baseman to be on the defensive, as opposed to playing staunch and consistent defense. I am preparing to depart for PNC Park. I am sure in a few short hours, Pirates fans will either be crying tears of joy, crying into their beer or tears of rage and madness. All I can say regarding the “beer” tears or tears of madness is: “Don’t hurt em hammer.” (Sources for this article were espn.com and baseballplayerspointafter.com) (Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583-6741. He is also a contributing columnist for urbanmediatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter@ultrascribe.)
City League Hall of Fame selections
LARRY BROWN Schenley
CARMEN BRUCE Schenley
RICK CAMERON Perry
HERB DOUGLAS Allderdice / Pitt
CURTIS HEFFLIN Westinghouse
RENEE HENDERSON Peabody
HOSEA HOLDER Westinghouse
CARLITA JONES-EVANS Peabody
TONY LISCIO Westinghouse
ROD RUTHERFORD Perry
Overtime by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier
:10—Right out the gate let me tell you this first cause I know some of you can’t read this to the end…especially some of the Brashear grads…I know your attention span is a little short! (Oh relax will ya just a little city league humor. Man you people are sensitive.) ANY-WAY…The after party for the Pittsburgh City League Hall of Fame Awards is at the SAVOY!!! Thanks to the generosity of Chuck Sanders, John Bettis, Gary White and the Savoy crew; the party don’t stop til 2 a.m. Now you can get there late if you want you will be on the outside looking in I promise you! (The Savoy is located at 2623 Penn Ave,
right before the heart of the Strip District. Call 412.281.0660 for reservations) :09—Yes, people are always asking why I crack on the City League schools and never on Penn Hills. Answer…It’s hard to crack on perfection…Big smile! Ok, Ok, so we’re 20 million dollars in the whole, who’s counting? :08—Lock it in time’s running out. The 2nd Annual Pittsburgh City League High School All Sports Hall of Fame inductions are now the most talked about event in the City! Coming to you ONE-NIGHT-ONLY Sat. Oct 17th at the Wyndham Hotel University Center in Oakland 15213 Lytton Ave. 412.682.6200. Cocktail reception with vendors – elaborate Hors
BILL NEAL D’oeuvres – Big time 50/50 – Door Prizes – Celebrities and an unbelievably good time to be had by all. 6 p.m. VIP honoree reception 7 p.m. Hall of Fame introductions, 8 p.m. award presentations, 10 p.m. after party at the
Savoy.Tickets $40 in advance; $50 at the door. But trust me I warn ya…there will probably not be any tickets left at the door. And that boys and girls you can take to the bank. :07—Here are your 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees! Larry Anderson, Kaetlyn Brown, Larry Brown, Carmen Bruce, Ricky Cannon, Henri Chatman, Bill Clark Sr., Keith Shon Crosby, Joe DiFirore, Herb Douglas Jr., Wesley Garnett, John Giordano, Lynn Harris, Curt Hefflin, Renee Henderson, Mark Hogan, Hosea Holder, Clarence Hopson, Carlita JonesEvans, Tony Liscio, Rod Rutherford, Ahmad Shareef, Arnold Sowell :06—The Steelers loss is real simple, here ya go. 1. Give the ball to “Bell.”
He’s running them crazy. 2. If it were Bettis or Franco or Jim Brown or Walter Payton or Gayle Sayers you would give them the ball. 3. Everybody knew Vick was running “The Keeper!” 4. A.B. Catch the ball…never mind that reverse spin is nonsense! 5. Defensive line stop the run please! :05—Derek Rose broken bone in his face will keep him out of the line-up for 4-6 weeks. What else is new you say? :04—“Darkness of night there’s a moon shining bright, There’s a set going on lot of things going wrong. The man of the hour has an air of great power. The dudes have envied him for so long…Super Fly you gonna make your fortune by and by but if you lose don’t ask
no questions why!!! The only question is do you live or die…Superfly!!! (That’s right you know it. The great Curtis Mayfield and Super Fly. Pullout the DVD and the music and remember the legend that changed Hollywood forever) :03—Put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame just to shut him up…Please! :02—Kobe do us and the world a big favor and leave the Lakers. You-can’t-winin-L.A. :01—City League High School Football play start next week. Be careful, Be good, Be generous and have fun. There were 22 players selected to the City League Hall of Fame, 10 with photos are listed above. The remainder will be listed next week. Game Over
Communities gather for African American Heritage Day Parade
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OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
PEOPLE
McKEESPORT BLACK BERETS (Photos by Rossano P. Stewart)
WESTINGHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL DRILL TEAM
LADY DIAMONDS
PINK PANTHERS
RESIDENTS OF BEDFORD DWELLINGS GIVING THEIR SUPPORT.
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY
MEN MAKING A STATEMENT
6TH REGIMENT USCT DRUM CORPS
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
PEOPLE
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The 8th annual Women’s Walk for Peace
RONELL GUY AND HONOREE RICK ADAMS
ERIKA TOTTEN, from D.C., performing a special piece and speaking about the violence that is going on around the country.
JASIRI X performing some of his hits.
THE ORGANIZERS OF THE WOMEN’S WALK FOR PEACE
WOMEN’S MARCH—The Northside Coalition for Fair Housing conducted its 8th annual Women’s Walk for Peace on Sept. 26 at West Park in the North Side. Pictured above, are many of the people who came out in support of the event. The Courier could not publish all the photos in last week’s issue. The story can be found in the Sept. 30—Oct. 6 edition. (Photos by J.L. Martello)
THE HOUSE OF SOUL BAND
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OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
Detail-oriented individual to perform general maintenance. Performs preventive maintenance and other responsibilities as assigned for busy, multifamily apartment communities. Competency in routine plumbing, electrical, carpentry and HVAC evaluation and repairs. A Valid PA driverʼs license is required. Paid vacation/health coverage/401(k). dallen@ahrco.com or fax to (412) 687-9725
RECOVERY COORDINATOR (Part-time)
Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI), located in downtown Pittsburgh, seeks a Recovery Coordinator to join our team on a part-time basis (approximately 20 hours/week). This individual will provide a personal perspective on treatment and recovery for the Allegheny County behavioral health system (mental health and substance use disorder services). Primary Responsibilities include: •Act as a change agent to impact the recovery culture in the behavioral health service system •Participate in meetings, trainings, and educational activities with the purpose of providing a service user and recovery-oriented perspective at these activities •Organize and facilitate meetings and trainings •Problem solve with people who use behavioral health services on Medicaid benefit issues Position requires an understanding of behavioral health service models from the usersʼ perspective. Postsecondary education, with an Associateʼs or Bachelorʼs Degree in a related discipline is preferred. Excellent interpersonal, and communication skills are essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook is required. This individual will be required to independently travel to frequent meetings throughout the area. Candidate must possess a valid drivers license, or the ability to independently travel to these meetings. We offer a competitive wage and benefits package. Qualified candidates should send a resume via email to jobs@acuity-hr.com with “Recovery Coordinator” in the subject line. EOE Finance
PORTFOLIO ANALYTICS AND STRATEGY GROUP MANAGER
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. seeks a Portfolio Analytics and Strategy Group Manager for the Analytics and Portfolio Management team in Pittsburgh, PA. Responsible for supporting Retail Lending initiatives (e.g. card, auto, student lending, home equity, business banking) and Mortgage, as well as managing the home equity portfolio management team and asset class. Work collaboratively with line of business, Finance, and Risk partners to assess and establish credit risk appetite and to understand its implications, as well as to establish policies and procedures governing the identification, monitoring, and management of risk appetite. Specific duties include: (i) synthesize analytical results and develop, recommend, and implement business strategies that improve lending decisions, assist in managing risk, increase revenues, reduce exposure to losses, meet business goals, and improve performance; (ii) apply predictive models, third party data, and other tools to develop and execute appropriate segmentation and targeting for acquisition and portfolio strategies to provide insight into portfolio risk; (iii) manage engagements with internal and external information suppliers ensuring solution is fit for purpose while maintaining appropriate governance and oversight; (iv) understand and communicate regulatory and financial accounting impacts on the balance sheet to regulators and PNC control functions as appropriate; and (v) interact with regulators, internal audit, and management concerning credit portfolio analyses and credit risk appetite.
Masterʼs degree in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics or Operations Research plus 6 years of experience in Consumer Lending focused on credit portfolio and risk management is required. Experience must include: (i) data mining and statistical modeling techniques including logistic regression and decision trees used to drive financial strategy development; (ii) secured or unsecured line of credit products including home equity line of credit or credit cards mainly related to portfolio management strategy to build segmentation and targeting to drive risk adjusted returns; (iii) advanced database management (including complex SQL queries and perform UNIX commands); (iv) data analysis with SAS (Enterprise, UNIX, MACRO); and (v) Microsoft Excel and ORACLE. 40 hours/week, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Interested individuals apply online at www.pnc.com using keyword 223137BR. PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other category protected by law.
MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
Detail-oriented, coordinate apt. turnover and daily maintenance program, supervise maint. staff, interact with vendors/subcontractors, busy multifamily apartment community. Competency in plumbing, electrical, carpentry and HVAC evaluation and repairs. Must have valid PA driverʼs license. 401(k) plan, paid vacation, health benefits. Reply to dallen@ahrco.com or Fax 412-687-9725
HUD SEC. 8 OCCUPANCY SPECIALIST
Local property mgmt. co. is looking for an Occupancy Specialist to work in a busy site rental office. Successful candidate should have experience with current HUD regulations/EIV; experience in LIHTCYARDI software a plus. Paid vacation/401(k)/health coverage. Reply to dallen@ahrco.com or 412-687-9725 (fax) An Equal Opportunity Employer
DUQUESNE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Duquesne City School District is seeking the following Substitutes: Substitute Paraprofessionals. Requirements include High School Diploma or GED. Associateʼs degree or minimum 60 credit hours from accredited college/university required; Bachelorʼs preferred. Substitute Personal Care Assistants. Requirements include High School Diploma or GED; Standards as required by Federal and State regulations. Substitute Secretaries. Requirements include High School Diploma or Equivalent; Practical secretarial experience preferred. ALL candidates must have current Act 151/34/114 clearances. Additional information can be found on the Districtʼs website www.dukecitysd.org. Please send resume and cover letter to Duquesne City School District, 300 Kennedy Avenue, Duquesne, Pa 15110, ATTN: Human Resources/PR. EOE Deadline to apply is October 5, 2015. ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Westmoreland County Transit Authority (WCTA) has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. For purposes of this DBE Program, the WCTA proposes to set its overall goal utilizing all information available to it, including evidence available in the WCTAʼs jurisdiction and information received from the public in response to this notice. The WCTA proposes a goal of 0.4% DBE participation in DOT-assisted contracts for the October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2018 period. This proposed goal and its rationale is available for public inspection during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the WCTAʼs office, 41 Bell Way, Greensburg, PA 15601 for 30 days beginning October 1, 2015. The WCTA and DOT will accept comments on the goal for 45 days from the date of this notice. The WCTAʼs October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2018 goal may be adjusted by any comments received. Comments may be addressed to: W.C.T.A. Attention: DBE Liasion Officer 41 Bell Way Greensburg, PA 15601 and to: Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary 400 7th St., SW Washington, DC 20590 LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices
Estate Notices
Letters have been granted on the estate of each of the following decedents to the personal representative named who request all persons having claims against the estate of the decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment to him without delay:
Estate of BRACCO, DOROTHY, deceased of Homestead, No. 5745 of 2015, Timothy Bracco, Extr. or to c/o Matthew J. Beam, Esq., Scolieri Law Group, 1207 Fifth Avenue, Ste 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Estate of FLEISCHER, MILDRED, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 02-15-05613, Myrna Kline, Executrix c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Estate of DUMOND, HAZEL C., of Mt. Lebanon, No. 02-15-05754, Lynn D. Portnoff, Executrix, 160 Robinson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, R.M. Entwisle, III, Atty., 125 1st Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Estate of ROSSER, FRANK S., deceased of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, No. 02-15-05159, John F. Rosser, 49 Fawnvue Drive, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 or to Rosemary L. Corsetti, Esquire, Buchananan, Ingersoll & Rooney, PC, One Oxford Centre, 20th Floor, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
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LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Legal Notices
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Estate Notices
Letters have been granted on the estate of each of the following decedents to the personal representative named who request all persons having claims against the estate of the decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment to him without delay: Estate and Trust Estate of RACKOFF, BARBARA, a/k/a RACKOFF, BARBARA WEINBERG, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 02-15-05335, William H. Rackoff, Executor and William H. Rackoff and John M. Rackoff, CoTrustees under Irrevocable Trust Agreement of Barbara Rackoff c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ENGINEERING SERVICES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 2016 AND 2017
The Municipality of Penn Hills is soliciting proposals for Engineering Services for HUD Community Development projects for 2016 and 2017. The CD Engineering Services will be paid 100% with Community Development Funds. The Municipality of Penn Hills is a recipient of an entitlement grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The monies are used to fund public improvement projects that will benefit low and moderate income residents. Interested engineering firms may contact the Purchasing Office, Room 213, 12245 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, 412-798-2121 for proposal forms. There will be a $25.00 nonrefundable fee the proposal. Information regarding specifics of the proposal can be addressed to Meg Balsamico, Principal Planner at 412-798-2129. Sealed proposals should be marked: “RFP CD ENGINEERING 2015 & 2017” and mailed or hand delivered to the Purchasing Office at the address above no later than 4:00 P.M., Monday, November 2, 2015. Mohammed F. Rayan Municipal Manager
America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburg courier.com Deadline/Closing/ Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation, a 501(c)(3) corporation, on behalf of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), is requesting Technical Proposals and Price Proposals (together, the Proposal package) for the preparation of a Regional Cashless Tolling Planning Study-Assessment of Future Impacts to I-76 Interchanges and Adjacent Roadways. The selected firm(s) or team of firms will assist SPC with evaluating the impacts of cashless tolling on existing interchanges and evaluating potential new cashless interchange configurations. The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released by SPC on October 7, 2015. Copies may be downloaded from the SPC Website (www.spcregion.org) or may be obtained from SPC by written, email, or fax request to: Regional Cashless Tolling Planning Study Consultant Services RFP Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation Two Chatham Center, Suite 500 112 Washington Place Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3451 E-mail: ddandrea@spcregion.org Fax: (412) 391-9160 Proposal Packages are due at the above address by 2:00 PM, prevailing time, on Friday, November 6, 2015.
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny Countyʼs Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). The submission date for all proposals is 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 29, 2015 and read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at the Port Authority, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.port authority.org) B150113R Police Utility Vehicles B150419 AIR COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENT EAST LIBERTY B150955A Coach Replacement Parts—Meritor Drive Train & Front Axle Parts B150956 Ethernet Components B150958A Spray Injection Patching Services Paper Proposal – Documents are available for the following item at Port Authorityʼs Main Offices 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15222-2527 B150959A Unleaded Gasoline No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 9:00am on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at the Port Authority, Third Floor at 345 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within 48 hours of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidderʼs proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. COURIER CLASSIFIEDS…COURIER CLASSIFIEDS…
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) will receive proposals for ROOF REPAIRS AND MODIFICATIONS as identified below. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority. The Request for Proposals may be obtained after the date identified below from Linda Mihalic, email: lmihalic@pittsburghcc.com, Telephone: (412) 325-6167, Facsimile: (412) 325-6104. This Advertisement applies to the following Request for Proposal: Project: DLCC Roof Repairs & Modifications RFP Available: September 28, 2015 Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2:30 PM Wednesday October 7, 2015, David Lawrence Convention Center, SMG Admin Office- East Lobby, 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Time/Date/Location for Proposals: 4:00 PM Tuesday, October 20, 2015, David Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Ft Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
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ADVERTISEMENT PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Sealed proposals must be received at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County (“Port Authority”), 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527 by 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., November 9, 2015, for the following: RFP No. 5000: 40 foot low floor and/or 60 foot low floor articulated transit buses, including project management/administration, testing, spare parts, special tools and equipment, alternatives/options, and the delivery of data, manuals and drawings. Each proposer may submit a proposal for the 40 foot low floor buses, the 60 foot low floor articulated buses or both. No proposer may withdraw a submitted proposal for a period of 180 days after the scheduled time for receipt of offers. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on the procurement at 9:00 a.m., October 16, 2015 in Port Authorityʼs Fifth floor Board Room at 345 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. The Request for Proposal (“RFP”) may be obtained at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527 upon payment of ($15.00) fifteen dollars for a copy of this RFP. Payment is to be made by check or money order (NO CASH), payable to Port Authority of Allegheny County. No refunds of payment will be made. The telephone number for Purchasing and Materials Management is (412) 566-5151. This acquisition may be subject to a financial assistance from the United States Department of Transportation and as such, subject to applicable Federal, as well as state and local, laws and regulations. The Contractor shall also be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Port Authority hereby notifies all proposers that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises and diverse business will be afforded full opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a parent, national origin or otherwise in consideration for an award. All proposers will be required to certify that they are not on the U. S. General Services Administrationʼs List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Nonprocurement Programs. Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals for any reason whatsoever.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rapid Re-Housing Bonus. Proposals are due by October 7, 2015. For more details and submission information, visit: http://www. alleghenycounty.us/dhs/activesolicitations.aspx. Marc Cherna, Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services
SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS TITLE SERVICES
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is soliciting Proposals for Title Examinations, Preliminary Title Reports, Closings, and Title Insurance for its various programs and projects. For information concerning the criteria for selections, and a proposal package, interested parties should contact the URA Real Estate Dept., Susan Malys, Manager at (412) 255-6696. Proposals and qualifications must be received at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Real Estate Dept. 10th Floor, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh PA 15219 by 4:00 P.M., on Friday, October 30, 2015.
SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is soliciting Proposals from Appraisers so it can select a panel of qualified appraisers to perform its appraisal services. For information concerning the criteria for selection to the appraisal panel and a copy of the proposed agreement, interested parties should contact the URA Real Estate Dept., Susan Malys, Manager at (412) 255-6696. Proposals and qualifications must be received at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Real Estate Dept. 10th Floor, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 by 4:00 P.M., on Friday, October 30, 2015.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
B. F. JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND LGA PARTNERS INVITE POTENTIAL BIDDERS TO SUBMIT AN OFFER FOR THE ROOF REPLACEMENT CONTRACT BEFORE 2:30 PM LOCAL STANDARD TIME ON THE 23RD DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015. OFFERS SUBMITTED AFTER THE ABOVE TIME SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: COMPLETE REMOVAL OF EXISTING FLAT ROOFING SYSTEM OF B. F. JONES LIBRARY, 663 FRANKLIN AVENUE, ALIQUIPPA, PA 15001, AND REPLACEMENT WITH A TPO FLAT ROOF SYSTEM. SOME REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING ACCESSORIES. SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WILL BEGIN WORK WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE AWARD OF CONTRACT. THERE WILL BE A PRE-BID MEETING AT THE SITE ON OCTOBER 8, 2015, AT 9:00 AM. PLEASE CONTACT BILL EDMONDS, LGA PARTNERS, 412-224-6551, OR wedmonds@lga-partners.com IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. POTENTIAL BIDDERS MAY USE THE SAME CONTACT IF THERE ARE ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE WORK. BID DOCUMENTS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM TRI-STATE REPROGRAPHICS 2934 SMALLMAN ST, PITTSBURGH, PA 15201. BIDS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM BIDDERS WHO HAVE OBTAINED ORIGINAL PRINTED BID DOCUMENTS. ADDITIONAL BID DOCUMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED, UPON REQUEST, IN ELECTRONIC “PDF” FORMAT TO BIDDERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY OBTAINED PRINTED DOCUMENTS. BIDDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE BID SECURITY IN THE FORM OF A BID BOND OF A SUM NO LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE BID AMOUNT. REFER TO OTHER BIDDING REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 00 2113 INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS. SUBMIT YOUR OFFER ON THE BID FORM PROVIDED. BIDDERS MAY SUPPLEMENT THIS FORM AS APPROPRIATE. YOUR OFFER WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED UNDER A CONDITION OF IRREVOCABILITY FOR A PERIOD OF 30 DAYS AFTER SUBMISSION. THE OWNER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY OR ALL OFFERS.
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On Sale Wednesdays WESTERN AREA: CRAFTON BEVERAGE CRAFTON/INGRAM SHOPPING CENTER GIANT EAGLE CRAFTON/INGRAM SHOPPING CENTER SHEETZ #353 5400 CAMPBELL’S RUN RD SHOP N’ SAVE #1686 2103 NOBLESTOWN RD SAFRANS SUPER MKT 429 WALNUT ST GIANT EAGLE #74 PARKWAY CENTER MALL SOUTHERN AREA: KEN’S 216 BELTZHOOVER AVE NELSON’S 92 SYLVANIA AVE GIANT EAGLE #61 2021 WHARTON AVE COGO’S 2400 EAST CARSON ST COGO’S 925 EAST CARSON ST DAILY MART 1125 ARLINGTON AVE SHOP N SAVE CARRICK SOUTH EASTERN AREA: SUPER STOP 403 KENMAWR AVE CARL’S CAFE 337 FIFTH AVE COMET NEWS 540 BRADDOCK AVE PUFFS DISCOUNT TOBACCO 1722 GREENSBUR AVE A-PLUS SUNOCO 7403 WASHINGTON ST COGO’S 1050 BRINTON RD COGO’S 2003 S BRADDOCK AVE EDGEWOOD EXPRESS 253 EDGEWOOD AVE BRAD EXPRESS 1101 S BRADDOCK AVE GIANT EAGLE #619 1705 S. BRADDOCK AVE CVS 7406 CHURCH ST HANINI MARKET 1105 SWISSVALE AVE DUKE’S SUNOCO 825 DUQUESNE BLVD 7-11 818 N. DUQUESNE BLVD GIANT EAGLE #6379 420 EAST WATERFRONT DR GIANT EAGLE—MCKEESPORT 3812 O’NEILL BLVD J & S FOOD MART 625 W GRANT AVE RITE AID PHARMACY 100 WILLIAM MARKS DR GIANT EAGLE 1356 HOFFMAN BLVD BP GAS STATION LYSLE & WALNUT DS FOODMART 929 UNION ST RITE AID PHARMACY 725 LYSLE BLVD
CHARLIE’S CORNER STORE 500 LOCUST ST NEIGHBORHOOD DOLLAR 333 5TH AVE GIANT EAGLE #38 1901 MURRAY AVE JACK’S E 8TH AVE EASTERN AREA: WATERWORKS GIANT EAGLE #72 1005 FREEPORT RD— DIVINE HAIR STUDIO 10 DUFF RD GIANT EAGLE 9001 FRANKSTOWN RD GIANT EAGLE #78 230 RODI RD SHELL GAS STATION 11835 FRANKSTOWN RD THE SPOT 11675 FRANKSTOWN RD MASH MINI MART 4341 OLD WM. PENN HWY GIANT EAGLE #60 4004 MONROEVILLE BLVD GIANT EAGLE #76 AMES PLAZA, ROUTE 22 GET IT QUICK 500 GARDEN CITY JT RIB SHACK 1 RAQUET LANE DESTINY’S HAIR SALON 408 RODI RD PUFF’S DISCOUNT TOBACCO 10991 FRANKSTOWN RD MIKE’S SPOT 815 UNIVERSAL RD CREAMY CREATIONS 144B JEFFERSON RD SHOP N SAVE 3335 WILLIAM PENN HWY SHEETZ 3457 WILLIAM PENN HWY GETGO 10525 FRANKSTOWN RD CVS PHARMACY 10600 FRANKSTOWN RD SHELL OIL 7619 BAUM BLVD KIWI SUNOCO FRANKSTOWN AVE WILLIAM PENN SMOKE SHOP II 132 NORTH HIGHLAND AVE MARATHON GAS 6680 FRANKSTOWN AVE PENN AIKEN DAIRY 5401 PENN AVE GIANT EAGLE #17 6320 SHAKESPEARE ST HOMEWOOD MARKET 7201 FRANKSTOWN AVE SALIK HARDWARE 607 NORTH HOMEWOOD AVE NEGLEY A PLUS 123 NORTH NEGLEY AVE BAKER’S 7203 HAMILTON & STERRETT AVES DORSEY’S RECORDS 7614 FRANKSTOWN AVE HOSPITAL CORNER 4201 PENN AVE PEOPLES GROCERY 5136 PENN AVE A&M MARKET 5224 PENN AVE
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DOWNTOWN: KWIK-E-MART 212-10TH ST 7-11 #167 643 LIBERTY AVE 7-11 #165 SIXTH & PENN AVE 7-11 #170 429 WOOD ST ESTER’S SNAX FEDERAL BUILDING, 2ND FL SMITHFIELD NEWS 115 SMITHFIELD ST CITY NEWS & ARCADE 422 WOOD ST FABER COE & GREGG 500 GRANT ST FABER COE & GREGG FIFTH AVE. PLACE FABER COE & GREGG 600 GRANT ST NIELSEN’S STORES #09 301 GRANT ST— ONE OXFORD CENTER NIELSEN’S STORES #13 437 SEVENTH AVE— KOPPERS BUILDING 9TH & PENN NEWS-NUMBERS 136 PENN AVE EXTRA EXTRA NEWS 413 SEVENTH AVE NEAL NEWS 400 CHERRY WAY CVS PHARMACY #4120 610-612 WOOD ST C&C NEWS 2 PPG PLACE NEWSTAND SIXTH & WOOD ONE STOP 300 SIXTH & WOOD EDDIE’S SNACKS 262 5TH AVE BIG DADDY 465 FORBES AVE 711 SMITHFIELD 420 SMITHFIELD ST NORTHERN AREA: W. N. GROCERY 1018 NORTH AVE. NORTH SIDE BEER & BEVERAGE 1304 FEDERAL ST ALLEGHENY GIFT SHOP— AGH HOSPITAL 320 EAST NORTH AVE GIANT EAGLE #652 318 CEDAR AVE 7-11 #158 1001 WESTERN AVE RICHEY’S BARBER SHOP 1207 N. FRANKLIN ST QUIK-IT 820 PENNSYLVANIA AVE RITE AID #3459 802 PENNSYLVANIA AVE MARSHALL SHELL 1500 SPRING GARDEN AVE SWINKO’S MARKET 2535 PERYSVILLE AVE MERCY STREET EXPRESS 6 MERCY ST HARV’S EXXON 2501 BRIGHTON RD QUICK SCHWARTZ 3235 BRIGHTON RD HANINI MARKET 3245 BRIGHTON RD
C8
OCTOBER 7-13, 2015
METRO
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
65 of 80 homicides Black lives—Continued path to more deadly year CONTINUED FROM A1
Marshman left a gun on the couch and Taylor picked it up. Marshman then took it off him, removed the magazine and placed the gun back on the couch. After noticing the gun was in Taylor’s hands again, Marshman took the gun off him and started to remove a round from the chamber when the infant was struck. Taylor was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Marshman has been charged with criminal homicide and child endangerment. SEPT. 3—Aaron Barrow, a 19-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was fatally shot in the chest at a home in the 300 block of Ohio Avenue in Clairton. It had been reported that he had been involved in an earlier incident that took place at the home. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 6—Deandre Allison, a 20-yearold Black male from the South Side, was found lying in the street, with a gunshot wound, near Webster Avenue, in the Hill District, by an officer on patrol. Allison was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 10—Curtis Pounds, a 15-year-old Black male from Beltzhoover, was found fatally shot on Brownsville Road in Knoxville. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A man and another teen were also wounded. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 11—Jamie Romesburg, a 28year-old White male from Carnegie, was fatally shot while in a vehicle parked near Ingham Street and Brighton Road in the Marshall-Shadeland area of the North Side. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another male was also shot and taken to a local hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 11—Kenneth Beckel, a 25-yearold White male from Carnegie, was fatally shot while in a vehicle parked near Ingham Street and Brighton Road in the MarshallShadeland area of the North Side. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. Another male had also been shot; he died at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 16—Jamar Nelson, a 30-year-old Black male from Beechview, was found lying on the sidewalk in front of a home in the 1500 block of Rockland Avenue, in Beechview, with a fatal stab wound in his back. According to reports, Nelson had been stabbed during an altercation with Ashanna Tanisha Green. He was transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. Green has been charged with criminal homicide. SEPT. 17—Kevin Morgan, a 31-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was fatally shot while on the porch of a residence in the 3300 block of Webster Avenue in the Hill District. He then ran into the house and collapsed. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. Tiawan Harper has been charged with criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and persons not to possess a firearm. SEPT. 19—Michael Welsh, a 27-year-old White male from McKeesport, was found fatally shot outside of a home in Baker Alley in McKeesport. It has been reported that Welsh was shot during a confrontation with his girlfriend’s estranged husband. James Husok has been charged with homicide, tampering with evidence and other charges. SEPT. 19—James Johnson, a 33-yearold Black male from Avalon, was found lying face down in the street, in the 300 block of Allen Street of Allentown, by officers who were responding to a call. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 23—Cameron Johnson, a 32year-old Black male from Moon Township, was fatally shot while driving near Oak and Juniper Drives in Moon Township. It has been reported that Johnson was about to exit his vehicle when his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend shot him. An arrest warrant has been issued for Jesse Jones, charging him with criminal homicide, among other charges. SEPT. 25—Jarrell Green, a 22-yearold Black male from Sheraden, was fatally shot during an altercation that broke out at Silky’s Gentleman’s Club in the 1100 block of Island Avenue in Stowe Township. The shooting took place after an altercation that began inside the club continued outside. Green died on his way to the hospital. Another male was fatally shot and a female was wounded. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 25—Lamont Evans, a 25-year-old Black male from Clairton, was fatally shot during an altercation that broke out at Silky’s Gentleman’s Club in the 1100 block of Island Avenue in Stowe Township. A shootout reportedly began after the altercation that took place inside the club continued in the parking lot. Another male was fatally shot and a female was wounded. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. SEPT. 25—Javon Thornton, a 20-yearold Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found with multiple gunshot wounds near Westmoreland and Milligan Avenues in Swissvale. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. August Homicides (9) AUG. 4—Michael Nolen, a 22-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was shot to death in the 700 block of Frederick Street in McKees Rocks while in a vehicle that had been fired upon. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Nolen, reportedly, had been shot the week prior. Joshua Strayhorn, the individual authorities believe was driving the getaway car, but is not the shooter, has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The shooter is still at large. AUG. 12—Donald Jenkins, a 35-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot while in a home in the 100 block of Miller Avenue in Rankin. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. Cyrano Morrison has been charged with criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person among other charges. AUG. 13—Ramar Grant, a 26-year-old Black male from Garfield, was fatally shot in the stairwell of the Bedford Dwellings Apartment complex in the 2400 block of Bedford Avenue in the Hill District. He was pronounced dead at the
scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. AUG. 15—Kason Barnes, a 19-year-old male from Chartiers City, was fatally shot in the head and shoulder while shooting dice outside of a home with a group of males in the 400 block of West Prospect Avenue in the Fairywood neighborhood. A car reportedly approached the group; two men got out and opened fire. Three others were shot. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. AUG. 19—Dersean Alberty-Brown, a 22-year-old Black male from Sharpsville, Pa., was shot during a failed robbery attempt outside of a home in the 600 block of Fahenstock Street in East Hills, Alberty-Brown and three other men had allegedly gone to the home to buy marijuana from two other men. One of the men at the home reportedly shot Alberty-Brown at point-blank range. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. After AlbertyBrown was shot, the men allegedly went through his pockets looking for money, but found nothing. Deshawn Hall and Raymon Collin Harris are charged with homicide, robbery and more. AUG. 22—Matthew Vearnon, a 31- year-old Black male from North Side, was shot at his home while reportedly exchanging gunfire with three men who had attempted to force their way into his residence in the 200 block of Chester Avenue in the Perry South neighborhood of the North Side. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. AUG. 23—Shaka McGhie, a 24-year-old Black male from Forest Hills, was shot multiple times near the Churchill exit ramp of the Parkway East while in a vehicle with two other men. One of the passengers allegedly shot McGhie and then the two got out of the vehicle and fled the scene. A woman with a connection to the men and who had been driving behind their vehicle, got out of her car and jumped in the vehicle with McGhie in it and drove it to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. He later died. It has been reported that the incident was drug related. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. AUG. 24—Daren Scott, a 25-year-old Black male from Munhall, was shot while driving a vehicle in the 300 block of East Twelfth Avenue in Homestead. He got out of the car and tried to run to safety, but collapsed shortly thereafter. Carlos Mallay Harris Jr. has been charged with homicide, attempted homicide and other charges. AUG. 24—David Schreiber, a 63-year-old White male from Sharpsburg, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the hallway of his apartment at 1900 Main Street in Sharpsburg. His son, Daniel Schreiber, has been charged with criminal homicide. The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner did not include this name on the homicide list in time for the Courier’s August reporting of the homicides. July Homicides (12) JULY 3—Thomas Johnson Jr., a 24-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was fatally shot in the head while at the Hudson Court public housing community on Broad Street in East Liberty. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 10—Derek McCellan, a 44-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot to death while in a vehicle near the intersection of Chambers Street and Broad Avenue in Clairton. According to reports, McCellan’s body was discovered by a person passing by and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. The Allegheny County Office of Medical Examiner reports his last name as McCellan, other reports identify him as McClellan. JULY 15—Kelvaughn Hawthorne, a 32-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found fatally shot outside of Cousins Corner Market at the intersection of Laketon Road and Montier Street in Wilkinsburg. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 16—Donald Harris Jr., a 20-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was shot to death while leaving a home in the 200 block of Lombard Street in the Hill District. Harris and another man were reportedly getting into a vehicle when another male approached them and opened fire. Harris, who was getting into the driver’s seat, ran and collapsed shortly after; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The other male was taken to a local hospital. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 18—Paul Jones Jr., a 31-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was shot to death outside of Sunoco gas station at 6481 Frankstown Ave., in Larimer. Police found Jones after receiving a ShotSpotter notification. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 18—Dennis Pence, a 54-year-old White male from McKeesport, was beaten to death and died as a result of multiple blows to the head, neck, back and more. Police found him dead in the yard of a house on 24th Street in McKeesport. He allegedly was beaten during an altercation at a nearby tattoo shop. Dustin Rice has been charged with homicide and is awaiting trial. JULY 19—Maria Bruno, a 25-year-old White female from Brookline, was fatally shot while at a home in the 900 block of Fordham Avenue, in Brookline, after a reported gathering at the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Daniel Rehll is charged with criminal homicide and is awaiting trial. JULY 20—Jay Wilder-Rice, a 17-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot near the intersection of Minott and Sorrento Streets in the Marshall-Shadeland area of the North Side. He was found after a police officer spotted him lying on the street and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 25—David Poole, a 44-year-old White male from McKees Rocks, died from injuries sustained in May during a brutal beaten. He was walking with a friend in Stowe Township when three men allegedly attempted to rob him and beat him, hitting him in the head and cracking his skull. He had been in a coma and died of blunt force trauma to the head. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 25—Lamar Thomas, a 44-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot in the head when two men allegedly entered his barbershop in the 2600 block of Stayton Street, in the North Side, in an attempt to rob him. Javahn Devonte Griffin and Keith Payne have been charged with criminal homicide, robbery and criminal conspiracy. They are awaiting trial. JULY 28—Deona Barnett, a 27-year-old Black female from the North Side, was found lying on the sidewalk at the intersection of Fleming and Richard Avenues and Antrim Street, in the Brighton Heights section of the North Side, with multiple gunshot wounds. Barnett, who was pregnant, was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where she later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JULY 30—Shakiem Williams, a 41-year-old Black male from New York City, was found shot to death in the 700 block of Woodlow Street, in Crafton Heights, by officers who were responding to multiple reports of shots being fired. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. June Homicides (9) JUNE 2—Shaquan Johnson, a 20-year-old Black male from Homewood, was found with multiple gunshot wounds by Pittsburgh Police who responded to a call of a shooting in the 7900 block of Inglenook Place in Homewood. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he died hours later. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JUNE 9—Desmond Nowlin, a 21-year-old Black male from Rankin, was fatally shot in the abdomen during a drive-by shooting near the intersection of Jones and Baldridge Avenues in North Braddock. He was taken to UPMC Mercy where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JUNE 10—Seneca Byrd, a 38-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot outside of Tube City Café on Fifth Avenue in McKeesport after an altercation inside the bar. Byrd and alleged shooter Rahman Shaw reportedly continued their argument outside when shots were fired. Shaw is charged with criminal homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
JUNE 14—Adrionna Williams, a 3-year-old Black female from Wilkinsburg, was found dead in a shallow ravine near Chalmers Way, in Swissvale. The girl was reported missing to Wilkinsburg police and found by a person walking a dog, less than an hour later. Her cause of death was asphyxiation. Adriene Williams, the toddler’s mother, has been charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and more. She is currently awaiting trial. JUNE 15—Jerit Love, a 32-year-old Black male from Wilkins Township, was shot and killed in his Wilkins Township home, in the 600 block of Highland Avenue, all while his children were in the house. It has been reported that Love had gone to another part of the house with one of two men who were visiting and was shot. Love was able to make it to another part of the home before he collapsed and died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JUNE 16—Thomas Nicholson, an 81-year-old White male from Kennedy Township, was found dead and bound at his hands and feet in the bedroom of his home on Fairhaven Road in Kennedy Township. He reportedly died from injuries he suffered during a home invasion. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JUNE 18—Braelyn Swidorski, a 5-week-old White female from West View, died from blunt-force trauma to the head days after being found unresponsive in her home. It has been reported that on June 15 authorities were called to the home when Braelyn Swidorski became unresponsive while being given a bath by her father, Joseph Swidorski. The infant was taken to Allegheny General Hospital and then later transported to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; where she died days later. Joseph Swidorski has been charged with homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. This incident was not listed on the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner’s homicide until months later. JUNE 22—Tyrone Harris Jr., a 20-year-old Black male from the South Side, was fatally shot by a police officer during a crime spree that allegedly included firing a gun at civilians in the area of Jucunda Street in Knoxville, carjacking a vehicle, a police chase along Route 51 and an exchange of gun fire with police. Harris was hit when officers returned gunfire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated. The officer was placed on leave, which is protocol. (The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner records identify Harris as Tyrone Harris.) JUNE 23—Mark Williams, a 34-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot multiple times in the 2100 block of Koerner Avenue in the Perry South area of the North Side. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. May Homicides (10) MAY 7—Valerie Crumpton, a 72-year-old Black female from East Hills, was found beaten to death in her home in the 500 block of Karl Street in East Hills. Her granddaughter, Tionna Banks, was also found dead. Authorities found the two while conducting a wellness check that was requested after Banks did not report to a social service appointment. Cesar Mazza, Banks’ estranged boyfriend, has been charged with homicide and kidnapping. He is awaiting trial. (Identified as Valorie Crumpton by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner.) MAY 7—Tionna Banks, a 19-year-old from East Hills, was found beaten to death, along with her grandmother, Valerie Crumpton, in Crumpton’s Karl Street home in East Hills. The two were found when authorities conducted a wellness check after receiving reports that Banks did not show up for a social service appointment. Banks had recently been threatened by her estranged boyfriend, the father of her then-2-month-old child. Cesar Mazza, Banks’ estranged boyfriend, has been charged with homicide and kidnapping. He is awaiting trial. . MAY 10—Jamar Thomas, a 20-year-old Black male from Hazelwood, was fatally shot outside an apartment building, in the 500 block of Collins Avenue in East Liberty, where he had been visiting. He reportedly had gotten into an altercation with Brett Terry prior to the shooting. Terry is charged with criminal homicide along with other charges. He is awaiting trial. MAY 13—Christopher Katchur, a 52-year-old White male from McKeesport, was fatally shot in the back in his McKeesport home in the 3100 block of Orchard Street. He reportedly had just obtained an emergency protection from abuse order against his wife, Patricia Katchur. She allegedly had entered the home through a window, fell asleep, woke up when her husband came home and got into a dispute. Patricia Katchur is charged with criminal homicide. She is awaiting trial. MAY 15—Mikal Francis, a 32-year-old Black male from New Jersey, was found shot multiple times in the 7100 block of Idlewild Street in Homewood. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. MAY 16—Darius Williams, a 40-year-old Black male from Jefferson Hills, was fatally shot in his Roberts Drive home, in Jefferson Hills, during a dispute with the man his female live-in companion had brought home. The woman reportedly picked up Trenton Knight, brought him to the home, and an altercation ensued when Williams returned home. Knight had allegedly been hiding in a bedroom and fired shots when Williams opened the door. Knight is charged with criminal homicide and firearm violation. MAY 16—Deontay Hamilton, a 34-year-old Black male from Braddock, was fatally stabbed at a home in the 500 block of Pine Way in Braddock during a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. Hamilton was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. It is unknown if the woman has been charged. MAY 17—Kelvin Lovelace, a 14-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot while attending a party in the East Hills Housing Complex on East Hills Drive. Reportedly, a group of hundreds were standing outside when a car drove up and fired shots into the crowd. Lovelace was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. (Identified as Kevin Lovelace by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner.) MAY 20—Jaymon Gandy, a 21-year-old Black male from Homestead, was shot to death while walking down Mifflin Street in Homestead. He reportedly had been walking when a car drove up and several individuals got out of the car and fired multiple shots. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. MAY 20—Harrison Shaffer, a 68-year-old White male from Forward Township, was fatally shot in his home on Pine Avenue in Forward Township. His nephew, Billy Joe Richter, had allegedly entered his home looking for money. Shaffer called the police. Richter was arrested after a standoff that lasted for hours ended. Richter is charged with homicide, burglary, aggravated assault and more. He is awaiting trial. April Homicides (8) APRIL 4—Isaac Cameron, a 23-year-old Black male from West Mifflin, was shot multiple times during a home invasion on Maple Avenue in West Mifflin. Cameron, who lived at the residence with his mother, died at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 5—Christopher Richardson, a 20-year-old Black male from West Oakland, was shot in the torso while driving a vehicle with two other passengers on Dinwiddie Street in the Hill District. He was found near the scene, in an alley. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 12—John Stefano, a 23-year-old from Turtle Creek, was fatally shot in an apartment in the Northern Pike Garden Apartment complex located in the 3900 block of Monroeville Boulevard. He was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital; where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 21—Trula Dobbins, a 35-year-old Black male from Hill District, was shot in the chest and torso while at a bar in the 2400 block of Webster Avenue, in the Hill District, after an argument erupted. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 23—Dion Turner, a 21-year-old Black male from Swissvale, was found fatally shot on the sidewalk in the 3000 block of Ward Street in South Oakland. Another man was also injured. Turner was pronounced dead at the scene.
No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 24—Derrick Owens, a 30-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot in the 1300 block of Columbus Avenue, in Manchester, while standing outside of his vehicle talking to passengers inside when a man walked up, shot him and continued on. Owens reportedly got back into the vehicle where he was found by authorities. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Rayshawn Austin is charged with homicide and gun violations. He is awaiting trial. APRIL 25—Justin Ballard, a 26-year-old White male from McKees Rocks, was fatally shot in the back while in the Third Street Park near Third and Amelia Streets in McKees Rocks. He was taken to Allegheny Hospital where he died hours later. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 26—Robert Sellmon II, a 63-year-old Black male from Braddock Hills, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the bedroom of his home on Illinois Avenue in Braddock Hills. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Sellmon was allegedly stabbed by Darrell Carter, his cousin’s exlover who was reportedly upset that his ex had left him and moved in with Sellmon. Other reports state that authorities found Carter nearby with bloody clothes and knife in his pocket. Carter is charged with homicide, burglary and more. He is currently in Allegheny County Jail awaiting his trial. March Homicides (5) MARCH 3—John Scaine, a 23-year-old Black male from Braddock, was shot multiple times, including in the head, while walking near the intersection of Upland Street and North Lang Avenue in Homewood. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. MARCH 5—Garrick Marshman, a 19-year-old Black male from North Braddock, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the backseat of a vehicle in the 3200 block of Mt. Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin. He had been riding with three other individuals. Deandre Smith, one of the passengers, allegedly shot Marshman and is charged with homicide and weapons violations. He is awaiting trial. MARCH 21—Jacquelyn Bush, a 25-year-old Black female from Bellevue, was found dead in the basement of a home she was visiting on Courtright Street in MarshallShadeland. She had a gunshot wound to the buttocks. Charles Miles is charged with homicide. He is awaiting trial. MARCH 23—Justin Clark, a 16-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was fatally shot on Trefoil Court in Monroeville. He was taken to Forbes Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. MARCH 26—Isaiah Coleman, a 19-year-old Black male from Wilmerding, was fatally shot in the chest while at a home on Airbrake Avenue in Wilmerding. Coleman was at the home when he got into an altercation with Chaz White. He was pronounced dead at the scene. White allegedly shot Coleman and is charged with criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license. Another man is charged with weapons violation and tampering with evidence in connection with Coleman’s death. They are both awaiting their trial. February Homicides (3) FEB. 7—William Jeffries, a 50-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in his Frankstown Road home in Penn Hills. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. FEB. 17—Deion Nesbitt, a 24-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was fatally shot during an altercation at the Rendezvous Phase III bar, located at 7232 Hamilton Ave., in Homewood. Nesbitt had been working as a security guard when he got into an altercation with a patron who had a gun. Three other individuals got involved and Nesbitt was shot. An unknown female security guard was shot as well. Nesbitt died upon arriving at a local hospital. Harvey Scott Jr., the alleged shooter, along with Tiqwan Green, Eric McGuire and Kevin Ford are charged with criminal homicide and a host of other charges. FEB. 20—Brandon Barley, a 60-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the trunk in an alley near the 3900 block of Jennylind Street in McKeesport. Two people were seen leaving the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. January Homicides (10) JAN. 2—Davonte Stevenson, a 19-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found lying in the street near the intersection of Manhattan Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, in Manchester, with a gunshot wound to the chest. Stevenson had been walking when a vehicle pulled up and shots rang out. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JAN. 4—Joseph Adu-Marfo, a 22-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, died from a fatal shot to the lower extremities after being shot in the 3100 block of McClure Street in the North Side. He had shown up at Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged, the investigation is ongoing. JAN. 6—Leslie Sapp, a 47-year-old Black male from Knoxville, was fatally shot by officers who were at his Redlyn Street home in Knoxville, to arrest him on charges of rape, Statutory sex, and more. He allegedly confronted officers with an air gun that looked real upon their entry. It has been reported that officers did not know the gun was not real. No charges have been filed. JAN. 13—Nicholas Grant, a 16-year-old White male from Carrick, died days after being choked and beaten with a vacuum during a fight at Circle C Youth and Family Services group home on Noblestown Road in Carrick. On Jan 10, teens Yusuf Shepard and Malik Crosby allegedly put Grant in a chokehold while the other beat him with the vacuum. Grant was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he died days later. The two were charged as adults with homicide and aggravated assault, among other things. They are awaiting trial. JAN. 20—-Thomas McClelland, a 56-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was fatally shot multiple times outside of Shuman Market near Frankstown and North Homewood Avenues in Homewood. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JAN. 20—William Doyle, a 24-year-old White male from McKeesport, was found dead after a shooting on Brownlee Street in the Crawford Village Housing Complex in McKeesport. Doyle was chased by two men who opened fire on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have charged Jonathan Coles and Roman Jones with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and more. Jones is awaiting trial and Coles is still at large. JAN. 23—Edwin Hammond, a 33-year-old Black male from Penn Hills was found fatally shot multiple times inside his home on Joan Drive in Penn Hills. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JAN. 27—Anthony Garland, a 31-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was shot to death and robbed in his Wilkinsburg Apartment on Kelly Avenue. Two males reportedly told Garland they were there to purchase marijuana, but actually intended to rob him. They allegedly shot him, took the drugs and a gaming console. Troy Miller and James Meek, who lives in Garland’s building, have been charged with homicide, robbery, conspiracy and more. They are awaiting trial. JAN. 29—Stephon Reed, a 29-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was found shot to death in the backseat of a vehicle near Route 51. Reed and four other individuals had been in the vehicle when someone began firing shots into it. Authorities reportedly were answering a call to shots fired when they saw the vehicle with Reed speeding away and began to chase it. When the vehicle stopped that’s when officers found Reed. It’s believed the individuals were trying to take him to a nearby hospital. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. JAN. 29—Chalaiai Chaihirunkarn, a 26-year-old Asian female from North Oakland, was found shot to death in the bedroom of her North Oakland apartment at 230 N. Craig Street. She had multiple gunshot wounds to her head and chest and was found by authorities that were conducting a well-being check. It’s believed her boyfriend, Bryan Springer, killed her and then himself. He was also found dead in the apartment. The incident has been ruled a murder-suicide.