Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Board of Education is expected to vote Wednesday night whether to arm the district's 22 police officers. Superintendent Anthony Hamlet says he respects school Chief George Brown's recommendation, but remains vehemently opposed to allowing firearms on PPS campuses.
In a meeting earlier this month, Brown said his officers need guns to deal with outside threats. The proposal set off protestsby parents and education rights advocates. WESA's Sarah Schneider explains what to expect from the board meeting tonight.
Elsewhere in the program, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over two laws that would require private employers offer paid sick days and create new training rules for security officers in some larger buildings. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Daniel Moore explains the case's origins and why initial opposition was so swift.
Pennsylvania’s state House District 30 sees a matchup between Republican Lori Mizgorski and Democrat Betsy Monroe. Mizgorski entered the race in July when Hal English, the Republican incumbent, pulled out of the race after winning his party primary.
System-wide budget cuts forced the closure of Horace Mann Elementary School in Marshall-Shadeland more than five years ago; now the building is vacant and still awaiting sale. 90.5 WESA's Dividing Lines series continues with a look at how school closures can change a neighborhood.
And finally, Tree Pittsburgh opened its new education center in Lawrenceville last week on the former site of Tippins’ Steel Mill, including infrastructure for up to 100,000 tree seedlings. The environmental non-profit is working to restore Pittsburgh's urban forest through education and advocacy, as well as planting trees.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators join veteran journalist Kevin Gavin, taking an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here.
