County Councilman Charles McCullough (R-Upper St. Clair) wants to charge nonprofits a fee based on their property holdings to "certify" their tax-exempt status. (Trib, Team Effort)Former city council president Eugene "Jeep" DePasquale passed away. (P-G, Jon Schmitz). For all his "colorfulness," Mayor Masloff says he was "an honest man, who had the courage of his convictions." (KDKA)
Pennsylvania may start requiring students to pass graduation exams; exam performance may tie in with eligibility for the Pittsburgh Promise. Some teachers say No Child Left Behind is already absorbing everyone's energies. (P-G, Joe Smydo)
Indefatigable Mon-Fayette Expressway boosters still looking for private funding; proposed highway now being sold as a bypass for the Squirrel Hill Tunnels (Trib, Jim Ritchie).
Dan Onorato unveils incentives to encourage municipalities to merge services (P-G, Jerome L. Sherman). He cited his accomplishments, but did not touch upon Port Authority woes or the drink tax backlash (Early Returns). Jon Delano is impressed by free beer, free wine, free food and free parking; Kristine Sorensen impressed by initiatives described as "bold." (KDKA).
FYI -- the tavern owners are making Dan-O into a household name.
Call me crazy, but I thought Pennsylvania already had a "graduation test": the PSSA's.
ReplyDeleteA graduation test has been talked about for about a year now. I wonder if it is a tactic meant to eliminate "learning for the moment." My twelve-year-old said that is how he is learning. Teachers call it teaching to the test. Same difference. My son also says teaching is something teachers do in between giving tests.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Mon-Fayette toll road segment - Mayor Murphy discussed the prospects of a toll road> for the 24 mile Sq Hill Tunnel Toll bypass all the way back in 2001. The hold up back then was the money - $1.2 billion. How much is it going to cost this time around?
ReplyDeleteAt least this time they are considering bringing in a private partner for the construction. Only took them close to seven freakin years to go down that road. Excuse the pun.
The only problem with private partners is, what will that do to the accountability? There's concern about where the roads are to be built AND the on / off ramps.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me if McCullough is still practicing law? Or is the At-Large position a full-time job?
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