Opinion of council committee divided on proposed ‘vaping’ ban

Allegheny County Council members heard from eight experts and nearly two dozen residents during a public hearing Monday on a bill that would ban the use of electronic vapor devices in public places. The measure, which is supported by the Allegheny County Board of Health and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, would relegate e-cigarettes and hand-held vaporizers to the same status of tobacco products, which are banned in locations such as schools, government buildings, sports stadiums and public indoor spaces.

PEERs program aims to empower nursing home residents

It’s the first Thursday of the month at ManorCare Health Services-Greentree, a day always welcomed by Becky Napierski, a longtime nursing home resident. It’s the morning the Allegheny County Library Association bookmobile arrives with carts of new books, DVDs and other materials.

Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium gains recognition

Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium Trustee Jan Klein, Pittsburgh Business Group on Health CEO Jessica Brooks, and consortium Chairman David Wyatt. The Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium was recognized last year by the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health for “Excellence in Driving Innovation in Employee Health,” and by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Health Care Hero.