Patch Poll: Should UPMC Be Considered a Nonprofit?

Or does it act more as a business? And what about the other major nonprofits in the area?

In a June 2012 "Taxpayer Alert," Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner questioned the fairness of nonprofits that have expanded their roles beyond the traditional definition of a charitable organization, but still maintain tax-exempt status. "In these challenging financial times, it is our duty and responsibility to address the questions raised by a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling and determine if properties are used for a truly charitable purpose," Wagner said in the report. "While exemptions are justified for clearly charitable organizations such as churches, soup kitchens and many others, some are plainly unfair." A 2012 state Supreme Court decision has given local governments a tool to challenge the loopholes in a five-…

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NE12Ukid

7:36 am on Thursday, May 9, 2013

Those with employer provided healthcare do not always have a choice.   more ›

Patch Pet: Pit-Terrier Mix Available for Adoption

Meet Mumford! A Pit Bull-Terrier mix who needs a new home.

Mumford, a one-year-old Pit Bull-Terrier mix, came to the Animal Rescue League as a stray. ARL employees say he is timid and is getting used to the excitement of the kennel, as the new sights and sounds are a bit scary. According to ARL, Mumford does walk well on a leash and takes treats well. For more information about Mumford, call 412-661-6452 ext 215. Mumford's adoption fee is $115. Follow Dormont-Brookline Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For more news, sign up for our email Newsletter.

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

General Assembly Must Pass Child Abuse Reform Bill Quickly, Fontana Says

The bill, introduced by Sen. Fontana, aims to streamline the process of reporting child abuse.

As a response to the Jerry Sandusky and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia child abuse scandals, the Pennsylvania General Assembly created a Task Force on Child Protection in January 2012. The mission of the task force was to review the state’s child protection laws and procedures. After months of testimony throughout the state by various advocacy groups and professionals who deal with child abuse on a daily basis, the task force released their recommendations in November 2012. At a press conference on Tuesday, a bipartisan package of bills was introduced that provide for sweeping reform by updating Pennsylvania’s child protection laws based on recommendations by the taskforce. My longtime proposal, now Senate Bill 31 (SB 31), was part of the…

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Patch Poll: How Do You Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Let us know what this holiday means to you.

For some it's green beer and bangers. For others, it is a time for religious reflection on St. Patrick himself. Some people decorate their houses green. Others, who aren't Irish or Catholic, shun the fun. How do you celebrate? Vote in our Patch Poll and tell us in the comments section how you will spend your day.

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

Fontana Discusses AdultBasic Health Coverage Court Ruling

This ruling is a victory in favor of hard-working Pennsylvanians, State Sen. Fontana says.

Last week, the Commonwealth Court ruled that two statutes that stripped money from the successful adultBasic and Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities programs were unconstitutional because they diverted money from the federal Tobacco Settlement to finance items other than health care in the general budget. I consider this ruling a victory in favor of hard-working Pennsylvanians who have found themselves in a position where they lack health care benefits because of Corbett Administration policies of cutting programs for low-income residents. Under the Tobacco Settlement in 1998, tobacco companies agreed to distribute $200 billion over 25 years among Pennsylvania and other states. However, two subsequent laws were enacted that …

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Patch Poll: Should Congress Raise the Minimum Wage?

President Obama has proposed making minimum wage $9 an hour—and some Democrats want to push the minimum wage above $10 an hour. What do you think?

A majority of Americans support President Barack Obama’s proposal to increase the minimum wage, according to NBC.com. Some 71 percent of those surveyed said they supported raising the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour from $7.25, while 27 percent opposed it, according to a Gallup Poll released Wednesday. States have the ability to set their own minimum wage level, as long as it is above the federal minimum wage. Pennsylvania maintains the federal standard at $7.25. The minimum wage in Pennsylvania for jobs where employees receive tips is $2.83. According to an editorial in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 2.9 percent of U.S. workers make minimum wage. Most of them are students working part-time, not the primary wage earner supporting a …

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Outraged Citizen

12:06 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013

@Honest Citizen – Taking the time to comb through old posts to find some with which to find silly or stupid for the sole purpose of informing the authors they are being silly or stupid and/or that they are in need of getting a life very well might be an indicator the one taking such time is also in need of getting a life – just a thought. That said, we all need hobbies and who am I to tell one …   more ›

Patch Pets: Here's Kenny

This cat has been neutered but not declawed.

This is Kenny, a cat in need of a home. According to his profile on the Animal Rescue League website, when Kenny first arrived at the shelter as a stray, he was extremely ill, but his foster mom nursed him through it to rebound as a happy, healthy cat. "Kenny ... is the perfect combination of affectionate and playful," the rescue league's website states. "He's a friendly boy who loves belly rubs. He also enjoys playing with just about anything—wand toys, balls, laser lights. "Kenny gets along well with other cats, and he often 'mothers' more frightened or hurt cats. Plus, look at that darling little face! How can you resist? "Because Kenny can playfully nibble on the fingers of those he loves, he would probably be best off in a home …

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Preservative Free: Homemade Crunchy Peanut Butter

Food Mood Girl Lindsey Smith of Brookline tells us how to make peanut butter from scratch, without the preservatives.

Here's a recipe sent to us from Lindsey Smith, Brookline's Food Mood Girl, for peanut butter that contains no preservatives and a lot less sugar than what you find in the store! Ingredients: Directions: 1. Place peanuts, salt, and honey into a food processor. 2. Process for about 1 minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl, place lid on, and continue to process. Slowly drizzle the oil in and process for an additional 1-2 minutes or until peanut butter is a bit crunchy still. 3. Store in an airtight container, store in the fridge, and use for up to two months. Follow Dormont-Brookline Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For more news, sign up for our email Newsletter.

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