[naviga:h3]Oil giant to close Pittsburgh office[/naviga:h3]

SEWICKLEY — Royal Dutch Shell is closing an office near Pittsburgh next summer, but that won’t affect a pending decision on whether to build a major petrochemical plant in Western Pennsylvania.

Shell spokesman Kimberly Windon said that most of the 180 workers at its Franklin Park office who are involved in gas and oil drilling will be moved to Houston, the company’s U.S. headquarters.

Asked whether any of the workers will lose their jobs, Windon said, “Employee retention is key to our success and we remain committed to developing our people.”

She also said the decision won’t affect ongoing efforts to redevelop a former zinc plant for possible use as a petrochemical cracker plant in Potter Township, Beaver County.

Shell hasn’t formally committed to the project, but has spent millions on the site.

[naviga:h3]AIDS prevention campaign starts[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County health officials are collaborating with Pittsburgh’s two largest health systems in a five-year campaign to stop new AIDS cases in the area by 2020.

The campaign, called AIDS Free Pittsburgh, aims to reduce HIV infection rates across the county and improve health care for those already infected.

The Allegheny Health Network and UPMC plan to work with the county, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh and other local groups.

County health director Karen Hacker said the county sees about 130 new HIV infections each year. The campaign’s strategies include improving screening rates for HIV and AIDS and increasing awareness of preventative treatments.

University of Pittsburgh professor Sharon Hillier said the two health systems pledged $250,000 for the first year.