Tuition tax deal made

AP—Pittsburgh officials tell The Associated Press that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has reached a deal with university leaders that averts the need to impose a first-of-its-kind tax on college tuition.

Three city officials say a deal has been reached. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. Ravenstahl and university leaders will announce the details Monday.

Urban Youth Action, Inc. welcomes Ruthie D. King as its new executive director. With an impressive background in business and community leadership, King brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Pittsburgh’s oldest youth workforce development organization.

RUTHIE D. KING

With a successful track record of youth workforce development, educational partnerships and community engagement, King is positioned to help UYA continue its mission to prepare youths to be “work ready, life prepared and community minded.”

Before 1967, if you needed an ambulance to get to the hospital, you usually didn’t make it. But in that year, 26 African-American men from the streets were selected to become the nation’s first paramedics. They became the Freedom House ambulance drivers-and in 1972, John Moon became one of them.

“To this day, despite my efforts, (Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services) fails to acknowledge its foundation, which is the Freedom House ambulance service,” he said

HONORED GUEST— Helping John Moon enjoy a special evening, are, from left: Lisa Paige, assistant city solicitor; Maurita Bryant, assistant police chief; and Tamiko L. Stanley, assistant director and CEO. Moon received the awards from DiverCity 365.

When the city of Pittsburgh took over the ambulance service in 1975, putting Freedom House and other companies out of business, Moon was one of the few Blacks hired, and in addition to the life-saving work he continued to do, he found himself training mostly White people in paramedic procedures. After 34 years, he retired as an assistant chief of medical services.