Progress Pittsburgh

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• City Council passes law on reporting stolen guns – Pittsburgh City Council gave final approval today to a requirement that gun owners report the loss or theft of a firearm within 24 hours of becoming aware that it is missing.

  The vote was 6-1 after a lengthy debate in which Councilman Ricky Burgess, the lone no vote, argued that the measure runs counter to state law that generally bars local firearms laws. "An inconvenient law may be an inconvenient truth, but a law nevertheless," he said.

• Dan Deasy leaves Pittsburgh City Council – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Shields said a special election to replace Deasy on the nine-member council must be scheduled within 120 days. At least five candidates have said they plan to run in the special election, which will likely happen in March.
• McIlvaine Smith takes aim at legislative cost-of-living adjustment – State Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, is taking aim at legislative cost-of-living adjustments by crafting legislation that would repeal Act 51 of 1995, ending automatic COLAs for the legislature, as well as for judges and executive branches officials, including the auditor general, attorney general, state treasurer, PUC commissioners, and heads of boards and commissions.

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• Pa. senator’s wife faces trial on theft charges – Gerald LaValle's wife headed to trial
• Ex-lawmaker’s sister loses teaching job – more Frank LaGrotta fallout
• Ru Paul 2008 | Pittsburgh Metblogs – awesome picture of campaign bumper sticker
• DR looks at the impact of Frank Serafini on the future of PA – Back to the Future
  The pace of Corbett's prosecution makes the Serafini scenario a possibility for the legislative session that begins just four months from now, but with potentially even greater stakes. In 1999, the Serafini seat did not determine which party controlled the House. In 2009, another seat could.