There is no DNA evidence saying he drove the car. The only evidence that he did came from the shooter and another passenger who changed his story. And the jury initially returned a not guilty verdict.

DREW PRITCHETT

Yet Drew Pritchett, 18 at the time, is going away for life plus 20-40 years for his part in the 2007 homicide of Terrance Monroe on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

“He didn’t do it. He was taken advantage of by the other boys who knew the system,” said his mother, Patricia Alexander. “He was in college, had no criminal history. Now he faces a life sentence, with no possibility of parole for a crime he did not commit.”

After nearly two months since the bill was first proposed, legislation to activate the city’s living wage ordinance received a public hearing before city council. However, the bill proposed by Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess seems to have gained minimal public support with only a handful of speakers attending the March 11 hearing.

PUBLIC HEARING—Rev. Ricky Burgess hears public testimony in support of his living wage legislation.

“The living wage can be implemented and it needs to be. To live on minimum wage is impossible,” said Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman Tim Stevens. “We’re hoping council will take the lead and do the research.”

A study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice found that bullying across the country has decreased, especially for children from low-income households. Released at the beginning of this month, the study showed that the percentage of children who reported being physically bullied over the past year had declined from nearly 22 percent in 2003 to under 15 percent in 2008.

STAND TOGETHER—Middle school students stand with NBA player DeJuan Blair.

In an effort to ensure bullying continues to decrease but also that incidents of bullying do not go unreported, the Pittsburgh Public School District has unrolled a new campaign against bullying. The campaign hopes to reemphasize the district’s long existing anti-bullying policy with a series of posters featuring NBA player, and Schenley grad DeJuan Blair.

The U.S. Census is coming up soon, so we asked Pittsburghers if they planned to respond. Here’s what you said:

“Yes, it is important. I definitely will participate. It is for our people. It keeps count of who we have here. I urge other African-Americans to participate. We want things and need to be accounted for.”
Dorian Johnson Sr.
Homewood
Business owner

DORIAN JOHNSON SR., DAMIAN BROWN, ELLIOTT SHORTER