It's official -- former GOP state Sen. John Pippy will head a new coal industry group, after resigning from the Legislature minutes after his final budget vote.

From our main news page:

Former State Sen. John Pippy will be announced this morning as the chief executive officer of the newly formed Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, an industry group representing dozens of coal companies and their political interests.

Mr. Pippy, a Republican from Moon who represented the 37th District for nine years, resigned from the Senate 10 days ago after voting on the state budget. A formal press conference is scheduled at 10 a.m. to announce the news, but the PA Coal Alliance website had already updated to include Mr. Pippy's name as its top executive.

The Coal Alliance is forming after a merger of the Pennsylvania Coal Association and Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy, or FORCE.

Mr. Pippy will lead a group whose members face troubled times. Preliminary data for the Environmental Information Agency's April report showed natural gas nearly edging coal in electricity production, the first time the two energy sources have been so close since the agency began collecting data several decades ago.

The Coal Alliance already has published two videos on its website calling for a resurgence in coal production, saying coal could solve the nation's debt and unemployment issues.

"You see, coal may be black, but it's also red, white and blue," the commercial says.

The PG's Tim McNulty is riding with President Obama today doing the pool report on the tour's way into Pittsburgh for a speech at Carnegie Mellon University. Here's his update from picturesque Poland, Ohio.

Pool joined campaign in Poland, Ohio, south of Youngstown, for campaign speech in a tiny rectangular basketball court at Dobbins Elementary.

Bill Basista, Veteran and OFA Volunteer, gave the pledge at 10:15 a.m. followed by a double-barreled campaign speech by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, where he lauded Mr. Obama's efforts to help the auto industry and the "ripple effects" that has had on local Chevrolet dealers, steelmakers and other industries.

"Barack Obama stuck his neck out and the Mahoning Valley is back to work because of this president. You see the ripple effect throughout our community," Mr. Ryan said.

He did not mention Mr. Romney by name but claimed his policies would "turn the clock back not to 1920 but to 1820."'

The crowd -- largely middle aged, mixed race -- waited about 25 minutes for Mr. Obama to enter the back of the gym, dressed in blue dress shirt and tan slacks. He spoke for 30 minutes and was far into his campaign address before addressing this morning's jobs report from the Labor Department.

There has been some jobs growth since he took office in 2009, Mr. Obama said, but, "We can't be satisfied because our goal was never to keep on working to get back to where we were in 2007. I want to get back to a time when people in the middle class had some basic security . . .We have to tap into the basic character of our country."

"The "economy is continuing to heal from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression," says Council of Ecomonic Advisers chair Alan Kreuger in the statement below, issued by the White House:

Good morning from lovely (really) Poland, Ohio -- a town south of Youngstown dotted with Victorians still draped with July 4 bunting -- where we await a speech at an elementary school from President Barack Obama.

Will the president address today's blah job numbers? Don't know. Mitt Romney's speaking any second from New Hampshire and we're sure Bobby Jindal and Tim Pawlenty will hit them hard in their remarks at Soldiers & Sailors around the same time.

The president goes from an elementary to the lawn of Carnegie Mellon later, where he's supposed to talk around 1:45 p.m. The school released some updated rules to those attending (small bottles of water are now allowed):

I'm writing with a few final updates and reminders regarding President Barack
Obama's campaign event on the College of Fine Arts Lawn today.

* Security gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Previously, the gates were expected to open
at noon. As a reminder, all attendees will go through airport-like security and
should bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, sharp objects, umbrellas,
or signs will be allowed in the venue. Cameras are permitted.

* Sealed, clear, plastic disposable water bottles not exceeding 24 ounces in size
may be brought into the secure area. Please be advised that this is an outdoor event
with no shade. The weather is expected to be in the high 90s, and guests should take
every precaution to stay hydrated. Additional water will be available on site.

*As a reminder, the CFA building, Hunt Library, Doherty Hall and Baker Hall will
close at 8 a.m. today and will re-open sometime after 4 p.m.  In addition, Wean,
Porter and Hamerschlag Halls will have no ingress or egress to or from the mall
during the event itself. The buildings will be open, but occupants are not allowed
near the windows and shades must be drawn.