Category: Announcements || By Submitted Reports

Two local state legislators will host a "town hall meeting" to discuss Pennsylvania's proposed 2011-12 budget.

McKeesport area elected officials and the general public are being invited to the event, to be held from 7 to 9 p.m. May 5 at McKeesport Area High School. The meeting is being organized by state Rep. Bill Kortz of Dravosburg and state Rep. Marc Gergely of White Oak. Both are Democrats and have been sharply critical of the proposed budget submitted by new Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican.

"We have invited local school boards, school superintendents, council members, mayors, other officials and constituents from both the 35th and 38th Legislative Districts," Gergely said. "We look forward to this opportunity to talk with the community about these important issues."

The budget includes $1.5 billion in cuts to public education, including $1 billion in direct cuts to school districts and $500 million in cuts to state-owned and state-related universities.

"We feel strongly that the public has a right to be informed about the potential effects and outcomes from this proposed budget," Kortz said.

For more information, call Gergely's White Oak office at (412) 664-0035.

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E. Fifth Ave. Work Begins: Work is beginning on improvements to East Fifth Avenue between Route 30 and the city's East End. The prime contractor is Derry Construction Co. of Derry Township, Westmoreland County, says Jim Struzzi, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

East Fifth Avenue carries state Route 148 through East McKeesport, North Versailles Township, White Oak and the city. The 2.21-mile, $2.56 million project includes milling and resurfacing, drainage, repairs in three culverts, curbing, guide rail, traffic signals and the replacement of the bridge that carries Route 148 over Crooked Run, Struzzi says.

Long-term single-lane closures were scheduled to begin this week between State Street and continue through early June. One lane will remain open in each direction, Struzzi says. Overall work will conclude in late 2011.

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