PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh: Point Park part-time faculty reach tentative contract with administration
Point Park University and the United Steelworkers (USW) reached a tentative agreement that will support 300 part-time faculty jobs. Adjunct professors voted to join USW in June 2014, and negotiations began nearly 10 months ago. If ratified, the contract will provide adjuncts and part-time faculty with job security and an unidentified wage increase.
Pittsburgh: Longtime producers amongst those laid off at WQED
Among the 12 staff members reportedly affected by the Thursday morning lay offs were WQED multimedia producers and on-air hosts Michael Bartley and Tonia Caruso. Bartley accepted the Mid-Atlantic Emmy award for WQED “station excellence” just last Saturday in Philadelphia.
Allegheny County: Concerns over rabies
Two kittens scratched members of a family in Wilmerding and later tested positive for rabies, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Eleven animals were reported rabid this year in Allegheny County, and the health department warned people Thursday not to feed any stray animals in the area.
Philadelphia: Former QVC manager charged for bogus invoice scheme
The Philadelphia U.S. Attorney charged Douglas S. Rae, former lighting manager at QVC, for allegedly leading a $1.8 million bogus invoice scheme between 2006 and 2013. Rae faces 20 years in prison and an $8.7 million fine. His charges include mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Lancaster County: New DUI court system
Lancaster County will handle cases involving driving under the influence differently in hopes that it will save time and taxpayer money. The court will take place twice a month on Thursdays to handle most, if not all, DUI-related crimes, which are one of the most common in the county.
National
Pope promotes action on immigration to Congress
Pope Francis, the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress, urged Americans Thursday to embrace immigrants from around the world. In his speech, the pope discussed the refugee crises and the magnitude of the issue.
Obama and Putin to meet for first time in nearly a year
Amidst troubled relations between the two, President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in New York Monday.
Obesity epidemic varies between ethnic groups
The country’s obesity epidemic continues, and maps provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal the disparity among different ethnic groups. Blacks are hit hardest by obesity, followed by Hispanics.
World
Stampede kills more than 700 at Hajj pilgrimage
More than 700 are dead and at least 850 are injured after a stampede at the annual Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca, and the numbers are still climbing. The stampede occurred Thursday morning in the city of Mina, two miles outside of Mecca, and the injured were transferred to four different hospitals within the region.
In Other News
Lancaster County one of top pumpkin producers in the nation
Lancaster County rings in at No. 8 in the top 10 pumpkin-producing counties in the U.S., recording more than 1,000 acres of pumpkins in the 2012 season. Pumpkin growing is spread out across the country, and the Washington Post provided the total acres of pumpkins harvested by county.
The daily report was compiled by Christine Manganas, a PublicSource intern. You can reach her with questions or suggestions at cmanganas@publicsource.org.
