by Jody DiPerna Glenn Taylor's home state of West Virginia inspires his fiction. He tells stories of the resilience, struggle and joy of working people. There are labor battles, timbering, and coal mining; there is…
Fifth death reported by the Allegheny County Jail…
By Brittany Hailer Another individual incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail has died. Paul Allen, 55, died at UPMC Mercy Hospital Saturday, October 9 after being transferred to the jail's medical unit. Jail medical staff…
Three deaths in one month at Allegheny County…
By Brittany Hailer Three incarcerated persons have died so far in September in Allegheny County Jail custody. The most recent was Justin Brady, 38, who died on September 23 after he was transported from the…
Allegheny County Controller’s office to investigate allegations of…
By Brittany Hailer Incarcerated individuals at the Allegheny County Jail are alleging starvation after being fed what they term “inadequate” meals such as peanut butter sandwiches or a scoop of oatmeal. The allegations are being…
Man jumps from Allegheny County Jail entrance bridge…
By Brittany Hailer Yesterday, at 9:35 p.m., a 50-year-old man jumped from the visitor’s entrance bridge of the Allegheny County Jail landing on the driveway below, according to an email sent to the Jail Oversight…
Jail Oversight Board member Chelsea Wagner describes “a…
By Brittany Hailer County Controller Chelsea Wagner, a member of the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board, said today that the handling of deaths at the jail represents “a mindset of treating people in the jail…
Recent focus on the deaths of incarcerated individuals…
By Brittany Hailer Earlier this month, Martin Bucek, 55, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Allegheny County Jail and transported to UPMC Mercy, where he was pronounced dead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner…
The Majesty and the Underbelly of Pittsburgh in…
By Jody Diperna In "An Alternative History of Pittsburgh,” a nifty little book just released from Belt Press, author Ed Simon takes the reader through some of the highlights and lowlights of Pittsburgh's past, dating…
Ex-wife questions death of Martin Bucek, Allegheny County…
By Brittany Hailer When Allegheny County police officers knocked on Dolly Bucek’s door on July 3, they brought news of Martin Bucek, the ex-husband she hadn’t heard from in months. “‘Martin has died in the…