JANUARY 14, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12)  and  Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) welcomed the news that all workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will be able to return to work, including hundreds of mine safety workers in Allegheny County who have been off the job for nine months. The decision reverses the Administration’s mass firings and restores critical public health and worker safety functions that communities across Western Pennsylvania depend on. 

“This is a win for working people and for every family who just wants their loved ones to come home safe at the end of the day,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “For months, the Trump Administration chose politics over people, sidelining the very people whose jobs are to protect workers and keep our communities safe. That decision put lives at risk and treated dedicated public servants like they were disposable. But workers spoke up, communities fought back, and we stood with them to demand better. Now, those workers can finally return to the jobs they were hired to do. I will continue to fight for the people of Western Pennsylvania and for workers across this country.” 

“Today, we got a big win for Western PA and worker safety across America,” said Congressman Deluzio. “For nine months, I’ve stood strong with NIOSH workers and other Members of Congress in demanding that the Trump Administration immediately stop and reverse their dangerous plans to fire NIOSH staff whose contributions help to keep American workers safe on the job. These workers should have never been fired in the first place, and who knows what damage has been done over the past nine months to the mission of occupational safety and health—but I’m glad that my efforts helped get these public servants back on the job and working for the American People.” 

BACKGROUND 

 On April 1, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services initiated a “Reduction in Force” (RIF) at NIOSH, placing upwards of 90% of the agency’s staff on administrative leave and effectively halting multiple health and safety programs. 

That same day, Congresswoman Summer Lee condemned the layoffs and called on the Administration to restore worker safety funding and protect federal public health research jobs, warning that these cuts jeopardized the health and safety of workers nationwide. 

In June 2025, Rep. Lee joined members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation in calling for the reinstatement of mine safety workers at the NIOSH facility in Western Pennsylvania, urging HHS leadership to reverse the harmful personnel actions and protect the mission of research that safeguards miners and their families.  

Throughout the summer, Rep. Lee continued to elevate the issue in statements to the public, highlighting how the RIF at NIOSH undermined worker safety and disrupted community trust in federal worker protections. 

Rep. Lee has also been recognized for her broader work on worker health and safety, including her receipt of a 2024 Legislative Leadership Award from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) for efforts to strengthen occupational safety and health initiatives. 

These actions, alongside pressure from workers and community advocates, contributed to today’s announcement restoring all NIOSH staff to duty and reopening vital research and safety programs. 

MAKE AMERICA GROTESQUE AND APPALLING AGAIN (MAGAA):  Why Venezuela and Minneapolis Might = Waterloo!    

 In a January 8, 2026 New York Times interview, the President of the United States responded as follows to what could constrain his power as commander in chief.  “Yeah, there is one thing.  My own morality.  My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.  I don’t need international law…”     

  Displaying some of the most grotesque and appalling disregard for human life, America [1] stole the land from indigenous people, slaughtered many of them, and placed the remainder on desolate reservations; [2] fought its bloodiest war ever rather than end centuries of chattel slavery; and [3] dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  

During 2025, led by its President, America seemed to be in pursuit of making America grotesque and appalling again (MAGGA).  Often, in doing so, the American leader turned his wrath on Americans.  Consider, for example, the deployment of National Guard troops.   

  Under false pretenses and actions later deemed illegal, throughout 2025 the President of the United States deployed military troops in 10 mostly Democrat-led American cities (See Where Trump Has Sent Troops So Far, and Which Cities Are Pushing Back - Capital B News).  In addition to disrupting the lives of impacted residents as well as the troops and their families, West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom was killed by an allegedly mentally ill assassin.  It is estimated that the  ill-advised, ill-conceived, ill-timed deployment of National Guard troops cost more than $340 million (See, Trump troop deployments to US cities have cost more than $340 million, senator says | Reuters).  As an example of his irrationality, consider the fact that the President discussed the possibility of sending troops to Baltimore, yet during 2025, Baltimore had its lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years! (See, Baltimore records lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years).  

  We were told that ICE agents would remove the “criminals, mentally ill, prisoners, gang members, drug dealers” etc. sent from other countries to America.  Instead, we observed American citizens not only intimidated, but also 1 killed as in the case of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7, 2025.   An October 17, 2025  PROREPUBLICA article indicated that more than 170 US citizens were held by immigrant agents.  “Among the citizens detained are nearly 20 children, including two with cancer. That includes four who were held for weeks with their undocumented mother and without access to the family’s attorney until a congresswoman intervened.”  (See, https://lailluminator.com/2025/10/17/ice-citizens-arrest/)   

  Not satisfied with making life miserable for Americans, during 2025, the President displayed America’s grotesque underbelly with his unilateral declaration of tariffs on allies such as Canada, Mexico, and many European nations.  Then, to make matters worse, came the lose-lipped Presidential rhetoric regarding the annexation of Greenland which would be tantamount to an attack on a NATO nation. The President’s war-related behavior is so bizarre that one is reminded of the “dehumanization of warfare” displayed in the movie “Dr Strangelove.”   As evidence, consider the attacks on nations unable to defend themselves.   

  The 7 countries included in United States’ 2025 bombings were as follows: Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen  --all nations populated by people of color.   It is estimated that at least 95 people have been killed in the boat strikes near Venezuela.  We don’t know the number of deaths, but the best public estimated cost of capturing Maduro is $60 million (See, How Much Did The U.S. Spend To Capture Maduro?) and various estimates are that billions have been spent on the deployment of American ships, etc.       

 As we begin 2026, it seems that we have gotten MAGAA instead of MAGA!  If there remains any doubt, consider the fact that we began 2026 with   

• Racism, homophobia, ethnocentrism, and xenophobia running rampant;
• Millions of Americans scampering to secure health insurance;
• Increasingly, higher education is an expensive dream deferred;
• Many of the current generation unable to purchase homes;
• The President recently threatened $10 billion cut to child care funds;
• 2025 was the weakest job growth since 2003
• In November 2025, Black unemployment reached 8.1%, the highest since 2021; 
• Health, wealth, and educational disparities continue to grow;
• Reproductive justice is under attack; 
• A lack of science-based policy has contributed to measles outbreaks;
• Almost 50 million people face food insecurity; and
• The cost of the proverbial egg continues to rise.

Perhaps POTUS should take a look in the mirror and ascertain if, because of what he has done, he should add America to his list of “shithole countries.”  As we daily drown in the narcissistic, unpredictable, and often irrational bull from his pulpit. e.g., “running Venezuela for years,” having “just called off a second strike against Venezuela,” “Canada becoming the 51st state,” “annexing Greenland,” “Cuba could be next,” “might makes right,” etc., there might be some hope gleaned from the fact that history is replete with battles such as those at Waterloo, Algiers, Little Bighorn, Haitian Revolution, Afghanistan, and Viet Nam.  And then there is the biblical statement regarding excessive arrogance, i.e., “pride goeth before the fall.”  Moreover, lest one thinks herein resides a bit of hyperbole, people in the streets across America bare witness to the foregoing MAGAA concerns.  Could it be possible that POTUS met his Waterloo at Venezuela and Minneapolis?   As Malcolm X often said, “time will tell.”       

Jack L. Daniel   Co-founder, Freed Panther Society   

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media 

 Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black  

January 11, 2026       

Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) issued the following statement on the White House’s unauthorized, illegal military action in Venezuela: 

“Invading a foreign country without congressional approval and kidnapping its leader is a blatant violation of U.S. and international law.

 “This sets a dangerous precedent that threatens international stability and security, puts Americans further at risk, and infringes on the sovereignty of foreign countries.

“Congress must act and reassert its authority. We must pass a War Powers Resolution and stop this unilateral executive action immediately.”

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

CARNEGIE, PA – Today, Navy and Iraq War veteran Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released the following statement after the Trump Administration captured the Venezuelan President, launched major strikes across the country, and announced a forthcoming military occupation of Venezuela. 

“Neither the American people nor the United States Congress has authorized an invasion of Venezuela, a war with Venezuela, or a military occupation of Venezuela. 

“We have enough problems here at home in America that President Trump is failing to fix; we do not need a reckless and unconstitutional foreign military occupation that would drain precious American blood and treasure. 

“To the young people of Pennsylvania: Should you die for regime change and an occupation of Venezuela? To Pennsylvanian parents and grandparents: Should your children or grandchildren be sent to risk their lives? 

“More to the point—in a Constitutional Republic such as ours, no President has the power to send American troops into war and occupation like this.

“Our Constitution is clear: the American people through our representatives in Congress have the sole power to declare war and send Americans to topple foreign governments and occupy foreign lands.

“Yet, Donald Trump thinks the American people have no say in any of this and that we should all foot the bill for his unconstitutional actions in Venezuela. 

“Maduro is an illegitimate and brutal dictator who stole an election to cling to power. He is hardly alone across the globe, yet it is not the American people’s responsibility to launch regime change wars against every foreign despot. 

“My generation of veterans knows the heavy costs and long-lasting wounds of unnecessary forever wars fueled by a lust for oil abroad. No more.

“No Americans should bleed and die in an unnecessary war and occupation that the American people have not approved.

“Congress needs to grow a spine and take back authority over war powers.

"My constitutional oath is sacred, and I will do everything in my power to defend our Constitution.”

Three statements of fact regarding our foreign policy as it pertains to Venezuela: 

1. Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate narco-terror dictator. He terrorized his people, dismantled democratic institutions, and turned the machinery of government into a state-backed criminal enterprise—exporting drugs and cartel violence into the United States, with devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of American lives. His ouster and prosecution are long overdue. We are thankful for the incredible bravery of the men and women of the U.S. military and our national security professionals.  

2. The only country that the United States of America should be “running” is the United States of America. The United States should join the international community in monitoring and overseeing a free and fair election in Venezuela, allowing the Venezuelan people a pathway to a true democracy. 

3. We must all place paramount importance on lawful process and constitutional responsibility. The Authorized Use of Military Force (AUMF) resolutions have been interpreted by multiple presidents, under multiple scenarios, to cover groups and situations not initially envisioned, leading to debates about the balance of power between the Article I and Article II branches of government. As the Chairman of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, we will continue our coordination and collaboration with CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Important information will be shared in forthcoming briefings, and we will continue our active role of proper congressional oversight. What is already clear, however, is this: terrorists, tyrants, dictators, and drug lords must always be met by justice and the rule of law; the extraordinary men and women of our military and intelligence community are the finest in the world; and the future of a free and democratic Venezuela belongs to the Venezuelan people alone.

Permalink: https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/1/fitzpatrick-statement-on-venezuela

On the 53rd anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, the Smithsonian-affiliated Senator John Heinz History Center announced today that the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum will be renamed as the Franco Harris Sports Museum in honor of the late Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back.

A longtime supporter of the History Center, Franco’s leadership played a pivotal role in the development of the Sports Museum, which opened in 2004 and has grown into one of the nation’s premier attractions for sports fans. His family remains in leadership roles at the History Center, with wife Dana on its Board of Trustees and as a member of the Sports Museum’s Champions Committee, and son Dok as the co-chair of the History Uncorked event committee. 

The Sports Museum renaming celebrates Franco’s enduring legacy and impact, both on and off the field.

“Franco touched and inspired so many of us, not only with his achievements on the gridiron, but with his kindness, generosity, and leadership,” said Andy Masich, president and CEO of the History Center. “His influence has gone well beyond Western Pennsylvania and will continue to inspire future generations. It is altogether fitting that the Sports Museum should bear Franco’s name.”

“Franco exemplified many of the characteristics associated with this region: hard work, integrity, perseverance, and a commitment to his team and the community – all attributes that the Sports Museum amplifies in its exhibitions and programs,” said Sports Museum Director Anne Madarasz. “Franco’s actions always spoke louder than his words. A true man of the people, his generous spirit, his approachability, and his unfailing humility made him one of the city’s most beloved and admired citizens.”

One of the NFL’s most iconic players, Franco is best known for the Immaculate Reception, often considered the greatest play in American football history. 

On Dec. 23, 1972, he helped change the fortunes of a franchise and a city by making the legendary catch and touchdown run to defeat the Oakland Raiders, which secured the Steelers’ first-ever playoff victory and led to four Super Bowl championships during the 1970s.

Off the field, he started a business based in healthy foods and championed children’s health, education, and athletics, using his platform to advocate for social justice and equality. He dedicated himself to this community, earning a nickname that captured his spirit perhaps more than any accolade. As teammate Joe Greene put it, Franco was simply “Mr. Pittsburgh.”

Franco’s work with organizations as varied as the United Way, Easter Seals, Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Promise, Habitat for Humanity, Penn State University (his alma mater), and numerous youth initiatives exemplified his commitment to service.

“Franco represented decency, charity, kindness, love, and humility. His goal was to make the world a better place for us all,” said Dana. “Our family is honored that the Heinz History Center will continue to share his legacy with future generations.”

The Sports Museum renaming will be implemented in 2026. 

About the Sports Museum

A dynamic two-floor “museum-within-a-museum,” the Sports Museum features 20,000 square feet of interpretive galleries and more than 50 interactive experiences that showcase the unforgettable and almost forgotten stories of athletes who transformed Pittsburgh into the “City of Champions.” Visitors can see rare artifacts from sport legends including Arnold Palmer, Bill Mazeroski, Chip Ganassi, and Suzie McConnell-Serio.

From football to baseball and hockey to golf, the Sports Museum highlights the region’s passion for amateur and professional sports.

The Sports Museum is the “home of the Immaculate Reception,” featuring a lifelike figure of Harris making the catch, his cleats from the play, the Three Rivers Stadium field turf where it happened, and other 1970s Steelers artifacts.

The Sports Museum’s Super Steelers exhibition features a special section dedicated to Franco’s life and career including his championship rings from Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV, his 1976 Man of the Year Award (now named for Walter Payton), and his “Franco’s Italian Army” helmet.

The Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania, presents American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection. The History Center was voted as the #1 history museum in America by readers of USA TODAY (2024, 2025) and “Pittsburgh’s Best Museum” by Pittsburgh Magazine (2022, 2023, 2024). The History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum are located at 1212 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The History Center’s family of museums includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum; Fort Pitt Museum in historic Point State Park; and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, a National Historic Landmark located in Avella, Pa., in Washington County. The History Center and Fort Pitt Museum are always free for kids, supported by the Kamin “Free for Kids” Initiative. More information is available at heinzhistorycenter.org.

PITTSBURGH, PA (November 17, 2025) Mayor-Elect Corey O’Connor is continuing to assemble an administration that will help deliver the safe, transparent, responsive, and effective city government he promised in his campaign.

Today he announced five individuals with experience in the government, non-profit, community relations, organized labor, and corporate sectors will fill roles in his Administration.

Marita Bradley

Assistant Chief of Staff

Corey Buckner

Manager of Community Affairs

James Hill

Assistant Chief of Staff

Mary McKinney Flaherty

Deputy Director of Economic Development

Matt Singer

Deputy Chief of Staff

“Pissing Contest: a competition between rivals

to determine superiority, predominance, or leadership” (Merriam-Webster)

The former White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre began her new book with the following statement, ”Our democracy is in the middle of a five-alarm fire.” (INDEPENDENT: a Look Inside a Broken White House , Outside the Party lines, 2025).  Nowhere has this been better demonstrated than by the 43-day, national, political “pissing contest” that recently ended.  What was especially egregious  was the major harm to so many citizens while Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for the ongoing major adverse impacts.  Consider, for example, the SNAP recipients who were mere pons in the fiddle of the fray.  

For those not sufficiently aware, note that “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition assistance to eligible individuals and households with low incomes. SNAP’s stated purpose is to “permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet . . . by increasing their purchasing power” (Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended [FNA]). SNAP is the largest Federal domestic food assistance program and is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to FNS administrative records, during fiscal year (FY) 2023, SNAP served an average of 42.2 million people each month, at a total annual cost of $113.2 billion, $107.1 billion of which went to SNAP benefits (USDA FNS, 2024g).” (See, Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2023)  

While the 2025 Congressional pissing contest droned on ad nauseam, as reported by the Bipartisan Policy Center, “On October 1, the U.S. federal government shut down due to a lapse in appropriations. During this current shutdown:

• At least 670,000 federal employees are furloughed, while roughly 730,000 continue to work without pay.
• 1.3 million active-duty personnel and over 750,000 National Guard and reserve personnel are also required to serve, potentially without pay.
• The first pay date with zero pay for some federal workers occurred on October 24.
• October 31 may be the first time in history that members of all military branches will miss a paycheck due to a government shutdown. The Trump administration reallocated $8 billion to cover active-duty military pay for the October 15 pay date.
• If the shutdown continues through December 1, roughly 4.5 million paychecks will be withheld from federal civilian employees, representing approximately $21 billion in missing wages. (See, Who Is Missing Paychecks in the 2025 Shutdown—When and Where? • Bipartisan Policy Center).

Perhaps the most absurd, self-centered, narcissistic aspect of the recent congressional pissing contest was the fact that members of Congress got paid while they didn’t work, but thousands of federal workers were laid off and thousands of others were forced to work for no pay.  Still worse, the bill that reopened the government did not extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies and, if the subsidies lapses during a subsequent “pissing contest,” then over 45 million people could lose health coverage (See, https://usafacts.org/articles/affordable-care-act-and-data-who-insured-and-who-isnt/).

Given the specter of American democracy in action over the past 43 days, particularly when it came to incumbent Congressional Democrats and Republicans, it might be appropriate to declare “a pox on both of their houses!”  Clearly, there is no safety in being packaged, if not boxed in as a Democrat, a Republican, or a third-party designation.  Regardless of stated intentions via campaign promises and during the most recent congressional pissing contest, the net results lean toward the reinforcement of a race-based, caste-like, patriarchal, homophobic , xenophobic, oligarchy. 

Going forward, a few statements from Karine Jean-Pierre’s above referenced book detailing her declaration of independence might be relevant.  That is, even if one decides to remain active in the current 2-party system, then ”…as we do battle, we must defend our space, time and energy.  We must demand recognition, respect and accountability.  We are in a gravely unusual time, and it calls for the singular focus of a Hamer, a Chisholm, and so many others who  were willing to go against the grain, throw off the status quo, and sometimes stand apart to get what they rightfully deserved…” (P. 11).

Parenthetically, when it comes to who “won” the 2025 Congressional “pissing contest,” the answer is neither side won!  Neither side showed the compassion displayed by Muhammad Ali’s manager when the manager threw in the towel rather than have Larry Holme mercilessly punish Ali.  Rather, the members of Congress found a way to fill their political coffers, a way for most of them to survive another round when they run for office.

Jack L. Daniel

Co-founder, Freed Panther Society

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media

Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black

November 13, 2025

From Public Source

Omnibus anti-Trump rallies again enlivened public spaces from McCandless to Downtown to Mt. Lebanon and throughout the Pittsburgh region.

A large No Kings protest in downtown Pittsburgh brought strong condemnations of President Donald Trump’s administration Saturday, but little disorder as rallies in Southwestern Pennsylvania and nationwide occurred largely peacefully.

Democratic officials and civil liberties activists took the microphone in front of the City-County Building, on Grant Street, where a crowd of thousands cheered.

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee drew deafening cheers when she declared that “the time to build a better world is now.”

Lee, D-Swissvale, warned that powerful forces were trying to divide the country. 

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, speaks during the No Kings protest in the portico of the City-County Building on Oct. 18, in Downtown. (Photo by Quinn Glabicki/Pittsburgh’s Public Source)

“Authoritarianism needs silence, a people who don’t know their power,” she said, predicting that “things are going to get ugly” before an authoritarianism trend is reversed.

“The country you all have known maybe doesn’t exist anymore,” she said. “But the country in your hearts is what we’re fighting for.”

Nationwide, the No Kings movement said it was organizing 2,500 Saturday events nationwide. Besides the marquee event Downtown, local affiliates announced events in Allegheny Center, Point Breeze, Mt. Lebanon, McCandless, Coraopolis, Sewickley, Robinson and the county seats of most of Allegheny County’s neighbors.

The Downtown event was organized by Indivisible Pittsburgh with Indivisible Black Neighborhoods United, the Black Political Empowerment Project, 1Hood Power, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, Casa San Jose, Progress PA, Stand Up For Science, the League of Women Voters, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Public safety workers estimated that a No Kings gathering near Allegheny Center drew around 3,000 people, and the Downtown event appeared to be several times larger.

Attendee Maria Eshelman, of Allison Park, said she joined the protest because she “doesn’t like what’s going on.” She said she didn’t vote for Trump in any election but that his second administration “is even more alarming.” 

She said she had family members who fought in World War II against fascism and that she and the others are also fighting fascism now.

“I have children and grandchildren and I want them to live in a free democracy.” 

She noted the administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions, taking place in a country built on immigration. “It’s hypocritical to kick immigrants out of this country.”

Republicans have sought to associate the No Kings events with the ongoing government shutdown and tie it to extremism.

House Speaker Mike Johnson this week dubbed the event the “Hate America rally” at a news conference on Wednesday. Some state leaders, including Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, have decided to activate the National Guard ahead of the protests.

Reaction from the right appeared to be muted by late afternoon. Trump was reported to be staying at home at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, summarized the day’s big takeaway, saying, “peaceful protest is an American thing,” and “we don’t mess around with kings.”

An SEIU leader’s mention of U.S. Sen John Fetterman brought boos. The leader accused him of failing to show backbone in the Democrats’ fight to protect healthcare benefits. Fetterman, a Democrat from Braddock, has occasionally voted with Republicans including in relation to ending the ongoing federal government shutdown. Fetterman did not appear to be in attendance.

For the most part, speakers focused on countering Trump, both broadly and in specific policy areas.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato told the crowd, “we are keeping the National Guard off these streets” through legal action against the administration. Pennsylvania has joined a multistate lawsuit aiming to keep Trump from further domestic deployments of the Guard.

“We found the money to keep refugees and immigrants in Allegheny County,” Innamorato added, referring to county efforts to fill gaps in funding for programs defunded by Trump.

ACLU Legal Director Vic Walczak took to a stage accompanied by a Trump puppet. He told the crowd that the president’s domestic actions constituted an invasion of America.

“Democracy only works if we can criticize our government,” he said. He told the crowd to study resistance movements to oppressive government across the world and emphasized the importance of keeping resistance nonviolent, but “loud, proud and persistent.”

Deluzio called for the elimination of Super PACs which funnel unlimited funds into political races and called on the administration to “release the Epstein files.”

Soon after, protesters moved through Downtown toward Mellon Square, chanting, “No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA.”

Source: Public Source, For more coverage click here

Highly accomplished and nationally respected college athletics administrator Allen Greene has been appointed director of athletics at the University of Pittsburgh, Chancellor Joan Gabel announced today. He will begin his role at Pitt on Nov. 1, dividing his time between Pittsburgh and Knoxville as he fulfills any outstanding responsibilities at the University of Tennessee.

“Pitt Athletics is the front porch of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as a crucial access point for so many across our campus, our region, our nation and the world,” said Chancellor Joan Gabel. “In Allen Greene, we have a proven national leader who exemplifies the Pitt way, and who has all of the experience and intangibles to elevate our athletics program in competition and in the classroom. In my conversations with Allen and with many others who know him well, it is clear that he will lead us successfully into the new world of intercollegiate athletics.”

“Chancellor Gabel and the advisory committee deserve great credit for identifying and appointing such an experienced and visionary leader like Allen Greene for our athletics department,” said Board of Trustees Chairperson John Verbanac.

“I am tremendously grateful and honored to receive the opportunity from Chancellor Gabel to join the University of Pittsburgh, an institution and athletic tradition I’ve long admired,” said Greene. “It was apparent from my very first conversation with Chancellor Gabel that Pitt has the highest of aspirations in every endeavor it undertakes. That’s tremendously energizing to me and a challenge I fully embrace. I am inspired by the storied history of Pitt Athletics and am fully dedicated to helping our Panthers reach even greater heights in the future. I am looking forward to meeting and working on behalf of Pitt’s student-athletes, coaches, staff and campus leaders. The Greene family is incredibly thankful and excited to proudly wear Pitt’s blue and gold.”

“On behalf of Pitt Athletics, I would like to welcome Allen Greene and his family to the University of Pittsburgh,” said Jeff Capel, head coach of Pitt men’s basketball, who served on the advisory committee. “I also want to thank and congratulate Chancellor Gabel on an excellent search process. Allen brings to Pitt an outstanding reputation as an innovative leader who is personally invested in the student-athletes and staff under his watch. His impressive administrative experience will be a tremendous asset not only for our athletics department but also the entire University. We greatly look forward to his arrival on campus.”

Greene has been a lead figure in the management of name, image and likeness (NIL) programs at three separate Southeastern Conference (SEC) institutions, including most recently at the University of Tennessee, where he has served as senior deputy athletics director since December 2023. He has played an integral role in the athletics department’s over 30% increase in annual revenue. Prior to his tenure with the Volunteers, he served a year at the University of Mississippi as senior deputy athletics director for external relations and business development.

From 2018 and 2022, Greene served as director of athletics at Auburn University, where his record of success included eight SEC championships and 47 programs achieving Top 25 finishes in national rankings.

In 2021-22 alone, six Auburn athletic programs finished in the nation’s Top 10. During his tenure, the Auburn men’s basketball team earned the first No. 1 national ranking in program history and advanced to its first Final Four; the baseball team returned to the College World Series for the first time in 22 years; the equestrian team won two national championships; and student-athlete grade-point averages rose to a combined 3.25. Auburn Athletics also welcomed its four largest individual donations ever, and the Woltosz Football Performance Center—a $92 million football facility that stands as the largest athletics project in Auburn history—was constructed.

Prior to Auburn, Greene served the University at Buffalo as director of athletics from 2015 to 2018. His tenure was distinguished by historic success athletically and academically. In the competitive arena, four Buffalo teams advanced to their respective NCAA championships in a two-year span. The men’s and women’s basketball teams both won Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships in 2016—the first time that dual feat was achieved in the MAC since 2002—and earned automatic NCAA Tournament berths. The 2017-18 men’s basketball team went 27-9 and won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game by upsetting Pac-12 champion Arizona, 89-68.

Under Greene’s watch, Buffalo student-athletes earned grade-point averages of 3.0 or better for 11 consecutive semesters, with the football team earning its highest team GPA in program history.

Greene was instrumental in significantly enhancing donor and corporate support for Buffalo Athletics. He also negotiated the department’s first multimedia rights agreement.

Greene was a three-year starter for the Irish baseball team at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2000. He was a ninth-round selection in the 1998 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees and played three years in the organization’s minor league system. He later earned a Master of Business Administration at Indiana University’s South Bend campus.

He is highly regarded by his peers, having served on the executive committee of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and LEAD1 as 1st vice-chair.

He and his wife, Christy, have three children: daughters Rian and Seneca and son Samuel.

NATIONAL PRAISE FOR ALLEN GREENE

“Congratulations to the University of Pittsburgh and Chancellor Gabel on a home run hire! Allen is one of the most innovative, genuine and competitive leaders we have in college athletics. We are sad to lose Allen and his family on Rocky Top, but look forward to seeing their transformative impact at Pitt!”

—Danny White, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

“Allen has added so much to our campus while in his leadership role in our Athletics Department, and I look forward to seeing the exceptional leadership he will provide the University of Pittsburgh. We are all aware of the uncertain state of college athletics right now, and I know Allen will also be a leader in that national conversation.”

—Donde Plowman, Chancellor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

“Allen Greene is an outstanding leader; man of great character; and one of the most caring, genuine people that I’ve worked with in college athletics. He is an excellent listener and will create alignment with coaches, staff, alumni and donors on the direction of the athletics department. Allen is an outstanding hire and will prove to be a great leader for the University of Pittsburgh.”

—Lance Leipold, Head Football Coach, University of Kansas

“We look forward to welcoming Allen Greene to the ACC and having him join our outstanding group of athletic directors. As a former student-athlete at one of our league institutions, Allen will be a tremendous advocate for Pitt and the ACC. To be certain, I applaud Chancellor Joan Gabel’s leadership, and Allen’s experience and skill set will be a tremendous addition to our conference. Collectively, they will continue the strong momentum surrounding the University of Pittsburgh.”

—Jim Phillips, Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner

“Hail to Pitt—Allen Greene is a fantastic hire for the University of Pittsburgh. He is a leader with the utmost integrity. He is a champion for student-athletes. He is a role model to many, and he has a wealth of experience in intercollegiate athletics that will benefit the entire Pitt community. H2P.”

—Bubba Cunningham, Director of Athletics, University of North Carolina

Source: Pitt