Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh

They'll be a protest today at UPMC headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh to demand that Braddock Hospital stay open.

WHAT: Braddock Hospital protest at UPMC headquarters, Black Friday
WHEN: TODAY! 11:30 AM on Friday, November 27
WHERE: Gather at the US Steel Building

Next Community Planning Meeting:
Monday, November 30 at 7:00 PM Immanuel Lutheran 420 Fifth St. across from UPMC Braddock.

Go to: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-pittsburgh.ning.com to join nationwide health insurance corporation protests and to target UPMC for its closing of Braddock Hospital.
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The Ravenstahls have hired Philadelphia attorney Richard Sprague to represent them in contacts with the media. According to Sprague, his job is "to prevent there being a whole bunch of smears, innuendoes, defamatory things being suggested. If that is so, I will bring appropriate legal action."

In light of the background on Sprague found at the Pittsburgh City Paper, this will now be 2PJ's Official Statement on the Ravenstahl Separation:
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is the bestest mayor in the world! Richard Sprague is the bestest lawyer in the world! The Ravenstahls had and have the bestest marriage in the world! The separation is no more and no less than an Act of God.

Now THIS is interesting.

This week's column, by Jack Kelly, seems to be in two versions. There's the first published over at the Toledo Blade and a second edited version published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Here's the opening in Toledo:
WHAT were President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder thinking when they decided to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the chief architect of the 9/11 attacks, and four other al-Qaeda bigwigs in a civilian court in New York City?

From the standpoint of politics, this decision makes no sense. According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Monday, only 34 percent of Americans support the decision to try the al-Qaeda leaders in a federal district court.

Well now, that didn't take long.

The good press garnered by the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh -- especially the "Eds and Meds" meme -- is being countered with this headline in today's USA Today:

The article notes that the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education plans to challenge Lil Mayor Luke's 1% college tuition "privilege" tax in court.

Moreover, our Overlords will likely reject Ravenstahl's budget partially based on the probable unenforceability of this tax (seems that they've been getting some letters about this issue).

And, what does City Council think about the proposed tax? Here's one vote it won't get (from an email from City Councilor Bill Peduto):
Thank you for taking the time to email me regarding the proposed student tax.