🇺🇸 Harris, Walz to kick off bus tour in Pittsburgh

Proposed Closure Plan for PPS

A facilities plan presented to the Pittsburgh Public Schools board this week outlines closure and consolidation recommendations to make better use of the district’s buildings, including changing schools to K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade configurations and phasing out six magnet programs. The board will vote on the plan next year, after holding public meetings and receiving final recommendations. [PublicSource / 90.5 WESA]

• 🏫 Do you have questions about the closures? We want to hear your thoughts and concerns for an upcoming City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode.

Harris, Walz to Kick Off Bus Tour in Pittsburgh

Ahead of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, presumptive presidential nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz are campaigning in Pennsylvania, starting Sunday in Pittsburgh. Event locations haven’t been announced yet. [TribLIVE]

UPMC Leases Jet as Layoffs Soar

Less than a year before announcing 1,000 layoffs, UPMC started leasing a $50 million corporate jet for flights to places where the health care giant owns hospitals — including Italy, Ireland, and Croatia — and also where it doesn't, like Palm Beach and Boca Raton. [WTAE]

• Executives have also given themselves hefty raises: President and CEO Leslie C. Davis takes home $10 million annually, and former president and CEO Jeffrey Romoff brought in $18 million in deferred payment last year — millions more than what the city has sought to collect from UPMC in annual property taxes. [Pittsburgh City Paper]