[naviga:h3]Armed protesters rally in Pgh. against proposed gun ban[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — Hundreds of protesters — many openly carrying guns — are gathered in downtown Pittsburgh to rally against the city council’s proposed restrictions on some firearms and ammunition.

The protest was under way Monday outside the City-County Building.

The bills would ban semi-automatic rifles and certain ammunition and firearms accessories within city limits.

City Council introduced the bills last month in the wake of the October massacre at Tree of Life synagogue, where 11 worshippers were killed.

Gun rights activists are decrying the proposals, contending the restrictions would violate Pennsylvania law.

State law prohibits municipalities from regulating firearms.

The protest was organized by Justin Dillon, the founder of the advocacy group Open Carry Pennsylvania.

Speakers included Kaitlin Bennett, who drew attention when she posted photos of herself on the Kent State University campus with an AR-10 and a mortar board reading “Come and take it.”

[naviga:h3]Rabbi who survived massacre to speak at inauguration[/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — A rabbi who was leading services the morning a gunman killed 11 people inside a Pittsburgh synagogue will give the invocation next week at Gov. Tom Wolf’s second inaugural ceremony.

Wolf’s inaugural committee said Monday that Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life synagogue will speak immediately before the governor is sworn in.

The Democrat’s second term ceremony begins at noon Jan. 15 at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Tickets are free but must be reserved.

Myers presided over seven funerals for members of his congregation in the week that followed the Oct. 27 attack.

Wolf will be sworn in by Chief Justice Thomas Saylor of the state Supreme Court.

The inaugural celebration that night at the Farm Show Complex will feature music by The Roots.

[naviga:h3]Special election set April 2 to fill vacancy in Senate [/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — Voters in southwestern Pennsylvania will fill a vacancy in the state Senate in a special election on April 2.

The office of Lt. Gov. Mike Stack said Monday that it is informing Allegheny and Washington counties of the special election date to fill the remainder of Guy Reschenthaler’s term.

Reschenthaler resigned from the Senate seat in suburban Pittsburgh last week to become a member of Congress after he won November’s election for a vacant U.S. House seat. Reschenthaler’s Senate term ends in 2020.

The now-vacant Senate seat covers portions of Allegheny and Washington counties.

The parties will pick candidates to run in the special election.

[naviga:h3]Commission hears dispute over school’s nickname[/naviga:h3]

LANGHORNE — A long-running dispute over a Pennsylvania school district’s “Redskins” nickname for its sports teams has been taken up by a state commission.

Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission attorney Lisa Knight argues the Bucks County district wouldn’t use a nickname based on any other racial group, so they should not use the current “Redskins” nickname either. Philly.com reports Neshaminy’s attorney Craig Ginsburg argues that students aren’t offended by the nickname and that it has been in use for more than 60 years.

The dispute dates back to 2013 when the PHRC received a complaint which then resulted in the commission filing its own charge which accused Neshaminy of violating a state human-relations law.

Also in 2013, the high school’s student newspaper moved to ban the word “Redskins” from the publication.

If the hearings result in a finding of discrimination, the commission could order the district to change its nickname.