Thursday: Onorato snubs frack ban

Thursday headlines:

A city council bill calling for a referendum on natural gas drilling hasn't yet been sent to the county elections department, but county exec Dan Onorato is already questioning whether it's legal (Smydo)

County Council had harsh words for UPMC's Tom McGough last night (Barcousky)

Lots of good stuff in Gretchen McKay's look at cooking at city firehouses (that's Ben Sovyak at the Eight Engine and Truck Company in East Liberty above) including this tidbit:

It might seem like a punishment, having to cook while your fellow firefighters are chilling out on recliners in front of a flat-screen TV or working out in the third-floor weight room, but Mr. Sovyak quickly counts off two big pluses: Cooks are exempt from doing the dishes, and they're never disappointed at the dinner table.

"The rule in the firehouse is that the cook gets to make what he likes; you either eat it or make your own," he said.

If not, he added, you can always order pizza or take the "Walk of Shame" across the street to McDonald's.

The biggest benefit, though, may be job security. Good firehouse cooks tend to get fought over, noted Mr. Barr, 31, and chiefs will complain if they ask to move.