Two suspects charged

with shop owner homicide

(AP)—A 19-year-old man in custody for the fatal robbery at Pittsburgh clothing store says his uncle was the one who shot and killed the store’s owner.

City police have charged Edward Dixon with homicide, robbery, conspiracy and a firearms violation in the Saturday afternoon robbery of the CM&M clothing store on the city’s North Side. Police say 45-year-old Michael Ross, the store’s owner, was fatally shot in the heist in which T-shirts were stolen.

According to court documents, Dixon says his uncle was in the shop when he heard shots fired.

Police have also charged Dixon’s uncle, Darnell Dixon, 23, with homicide. He is at UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition, after being shot in the chest during the robbery. He is being guarded by a police officer.

Ross opened the store in 2001. His wife says it had been robbed three times before. People have said he was a good man and an upstanding member of the community.

State pays $12M in

Ellerbe death

The state of Pennsylvania has agreed to settle a wrongful death suit brought by the father of 12-year-old Michael Ellerbe, who was fatally shot during a foot chase by state troopers.

The $12 million settlement follows the appeal of federal court jury’s $28 million award to Michael Hickenbottom, Ellerbe’s father, in March. Troopers shot Ellerbe as they chased him from a stolen car on Christmas Eve 2002.

Attorneys for the troopers argued the initial jury award—which included $24 million in punitive damages—was excessive. No further comment is available as the settlement includes a confidentiality agreement barring the parties or their attorneys from speaking.

Pittsburgh public

housing getting geothermal heat

(AP)—Pittsburgh’s 3,500 public housing apartments are getting energy-saving heating and cooling units as part of a $25 million improvement project.

Geothermal wells are being drilled near the 501-unit Northview Heights housing project. Housing officials say the units will pay for themselves in energy savings.

In the summer, heat pumps carry warmth from the air into water, which is pumped into the ground and cooled by the ground’s near-constant 55-degree temperature. The water cools air that is pumped into the units.

In colder weather, the water’s relative warmth will be used to heat the air.

Students discuss

homelessness issue

In an effort to combat the homelessness issue in Pittsburgh, a local organization will host an expert panel discussion Nov. 18, which coincides with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

The National Student Partnerships organization will have various individuals come together to discuss the issue of homelessness and the challenges and difficulties that face individuals. There are about 2,000 people in the city of Pittsburgh who are homeless.

The panel will consist of Councilwoman Tonya Payne; Tom Baker, executive director for Healthy Teens and an author; and Michael Gleason, executive director for the Pleasant Valley Men’s Shelter.

“Homelessness afflicts far too many people within our city. We are proud of all the tremendous work that our student volunteers within the National Student Partnerships Pittsburgh office are doing to help local residents find housing and employment opportunities. There are ways for all of us to make a positive difference in the lives of others and help empower those who have fallen on hard times,” Baker said in a press release.

The National Student Partnership consists of student volunteers from area colleges and universities. The group works with community members, and helps enable community members to help people find affordable housing, employment, health care and child care.

For more information about the organization or the discussion, call 412-682-3501.