Free Republic

Dozens of people gathered outside Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's locations Downtown on Thursday morning to protest low wages as part of a national campaign energizing fast-food workers. Carrying placards and shouting slogans such as “No justice, no doughnuts,” about 75 people rallied in front of the Dunkin Donuts in Market Square and the nearby McDonald's on Stanwix Street. The actions are part of push by labor unions, worker advocacy groups and Democrats to raise the federal minimum wage of $7.25. President Obama says he would back a minimum wage of $10.10 an hour, and on Wednesday addressed income equality in...

You didn't have to believe in omens to find it a bit odd that on the subway ride toward Mellon Arena yesterday, "I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas" seemed to be squawking in a continuous loop. This was right at the top of zero hour, when the long-awaited, viciously anticipated casino licensing issue would finally be decided. Twenty minutes later, the Penguins had begun practice on the NHL's oldest living hockey pond, and at precisely 11:27 a.m., the franchise learned it was indeed getting nothing for Christmas. Oh yeah, mommy and daddy are mad, the NHL is mad, even the Rooneys...

The most telling thing lately is that Bill Cowher is discussing his future publicly. It's time. That's what Chuck Noll told me when I asked why he was retiring as Steelers coach in December 1991. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "It's time." Now it's Bill Cowher's time. I have the same feeling now as I had near the end of the 1991 season when I believed Noll was ready to hang it up. I think Cowher will "retire" soon after this season ends. First, here's some history on Noll's retirement, the only end to a head coach's career with...

Da orange-and-yella striped bags stand aht on da bread shelves of local supermarkets, as they have fer decades. But dere's sumpin differnt abaht Braun's Tahn Talk dese days. Red, blue and yella balloons now appear on da same package. Ats fair notice that Picksburg's longtime favert white bread -- baked here fer a coon's age -- soon will take on da nationally known Wunner Bread name. "Tahn Talk was a part of childhood if yinz grew up in Picksburg," Marge Snyder, 58, of Shaieside, says Mundy as she walked past dozens of brands and flavors of breads at da new...

<p>Some Hempfield Township residents are waging a battle to have five streets renamed for World War II combat heroes, but other proposed names already are in the final stages of approval.</p> <p>Communities throughout Westmoreland County are renaming roads whose names are duplicated within their own borders or in nearby towns.</p>

<p>Pittsburghers might talk funny, but they're well-read.</p> <p>In fact, the abundance of bookstores and libraries -- along with the amount of periodicals published here and the education levels of residents -- add up to make Pittsburgh one of the most literate big cities in America, according to a new study.</p>

<p>Pittsburgh today is to get its first automatic public toilet, a "state-of-the-art" computerized flusher at 18th and Carson streets on the South Side.</p> <p>The toilet has been installed by Clear Channel Adshel, the company that has also been installing bus shelters with seating along Pittsburgh streets.</p>

<p>Fruitarians, vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians, you may want to turn your eyes away. This is a Munch about meat.</p> <p>Big meat, little meat, red meat, ground meat, meat on the bone. Sizzling meat dripping hot meat juice on Munch's shirt and feet.</p>