Arnetha F. Ball, Ph.D., the Visiting Barbara A. Sizemore Distinguished Professor of Urban Education at Duquesne University, was recently presented with the Palmer O. Johnson Memorial Award by the American Educational Research Association.

ARNETHA F. BALL

The Johnson award recognizes the highest quality of academic scholarship published in one four AERA journals during the 2008 volume year. Ball’s article, “Towards a Theory of Generative Change in Linguistically Complex Classrooms,” was published in the American Educational Research Journal.

Celebrity basketball event

JULY 3—B. Marshall and the Community Empowerment Association will host the DeJuan Blair and LaMarr Woodley Independence’s Day Celebrity Basketball Extravaganza event at 12 p.m. at the Peterson Event Center, 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. The event will showcase four games, which includes City High School stars vs. WPIAL stars, media and former pro and semi-pro players. Blair and Woodley will be coaching teams in the final game. For more information, call T. Rashad Byrdsong at 412-371-3689, ext. 14 or 15.

The worst oil spill in this country’s history has occurred in the Gulf. We asked Pittsburghers who is responsible for paying for it and who should clean it up? Here’s what you said:

“It’s the biggest environmental and economic castatrophe that we have had in 40 years. The person/people responsible should pay for the damage and the cleanup costs. BP took shortcuts that caused the explosion and the equipment manufacturers produced faulty equipment. All responsible parties should pay.”
Alice Pittrell
East Liberty
Legacy Arts Project program manager

Hospital consolidates, cuts jobs

AP—Two hospitals in western Pennsylvania’s second-largest health care system will consolidate to save money and prepare for federal changes in a move that could cost 1,500 jobs.

Allegheny General Hospital will become the primary hospital of the West Penn Allegheny Health System, while West Penn Hospital, which is also in Pittsburgh, will close its emergency room and move most of its medical and surgical programs to AGH. West Penn will maintain its burn center, women’s and infants’ center, and inpatient rehabilitation programs.

The moves are expected to occur early next year. President and CEO Christopher Olivia said the decision to consolidate and cut up to 1,500 jobs was driven partly by changes in the nation’s health care system, pushed by President Barack Obama’s administration.