The Rooney family is apparently not done with reorganizing the ownership structure of the Pittsburgh Steelers . Talks have taken place with J.B. Smith, a venture capitalist from Detroit, about joining the new ownership team headed by team Chairman Dan Rooney.

Mr. Smith, a Penn State University graduate and Steelers fan, confirmed that he is considering "a sizable investment" amounting to tens of millions of dollars. He would join three other new investors from outside the family who have provided capital to buy many of the shares formerly held by Mr. Rooney's brothers.

College offers help to laid-off workers

Laid-off workers in Westmoreland and Fayette counties can receive a free education at Westmoreland County Community College if they sign up for one of several programs. The programs train people in fields identified as having need for new workers, such as medical technicians, computer accountants and early childhood educators.

College officials announced that tuition and fees will be waived for those idled by layoffs or plant closings since Jan. 1, 2008. A similar program was announced last month by Community College of Allegheny County.

Cultural Trust makes first cutbacks in staff

The economic downturn has reached the staff of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, where layoffs occurred recently for the first time in its history. A total of 11 employees received pink slips.

The nonprofit organization has spent more than two decades reviving Downtown's theater district. Its officials say it has always had a small staff and lean budget, but cutbacks were necessitated there just as for other nonprofit groups throughout the region. Among those laid off was David R. DeSimone, senior vice president for operations.

Highway improvements planned for Cranberry

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has reached an agreement to build two new ramps to Interstate 79 at the bustling route 228 interchange in Cranberry.

Construction on the congestion-relieving $20 million project will not begin until 2012, at the earliest, because of environmental clearances and design work to take place beforehand. Announcement of the project came days after a developer canceled a huge plan called The Summit at Cranberry because of disagreements with PennDOT over larger improvements the highway intersection would have needed.

Turbulence surrounds airport wall sculpture

Many travelers using Pittsburgh International Airport are familiar with a wall-sized sculpture called "Silver Grid Wall," which dominates space above the main escalators in the airport's passenger terminal. The question is how much longer they'll see it, and where.

The airport authority had started dismantling the 78-foot-long artwork last week in order to clear wall space for advertising. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato came to the rescue of artist Peter Calaboyias, however, ordering a stop to the work. A meeting is to be held this week to see if there's a different location in the airport suitable for the sculpture.

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