Pittsburgh's Official 4th of July Celebration has moved back to the North Shore with the Pittsburgh Regatta and is souped up evn more than usual this year by a laser light show to accompany the always popular Zambelli Fireworks. The Equitable Resources Foundation "Flashes of Freedom Fireworks and Laser Light Spectacular" promises to be extra good this year, as Pittsburgh salutes her 250th anniversary.

So where are the best places to view the fireworks this year? Read more...

Tour of Pennsylvania It's not quite the Tour de France, but it promises to be just as exciting! The inaugural Tour of Pennsylvania kicked off on Tuesday in Philadelphia with 120 of the world's most talented young cyclists racing for 500 miles across the state to the finish line in Pittsburgh to win the largest cycling purse in U.S. history.

Tour of Pennsylvania sprint finishes and special festival activities take place this weekend in Ligonier on Friday and Pittsburgh on Saturday and Sunday.

The all new Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta is returning to the North Shore for 2008, bringing with it the return of Formula-1 speedboat racing as well. Scheduled for July 3-4, 2008, the 2008 Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta will also feature dragon boat races, the Star Spangled Sailing competition, BMX stunt shows, a U.S. Air Force "Patriotic Pass" flyover and, of course, the popular Fourth of July Zambelli fireworks show - jazzed up with lasers for 2008! Over at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have their Kid's Zone set up throughout the two day Regatta festival, while national and hometown acts will keep the music going on the South Plaza Stage at Heinz Field and a river barge stage set up opposite the Great Lawn. What a way to celebrate the Fourth of July!

It's been nearly 214 years since Western Pennsylvania farmers challenged a drink tax in the famous revolt known as the Whiskey Rebellion. But once again the area is the midst of a drink tax revolt begin dubbed Whiskey Rebellion 2. Hundreds of Allegheny County bar and restaurant owners gathered at the Priory restaurant on Pittsburgh's North Side Tuesday night to kickoff their effort to repeal the county's drink tax and begin a petition to put a referendum on the November ballot to let voters decide whether the 10 percent drink tax lives or dies. Similar petitions are now available at more than 130 bars and restaurants across the county. Petition backers need 24,000 signatures to get the issue on the November ballot.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato continues to strongly support the Allegheny County drink tax, which went into effect in January to support mass-transit. The alternative, he says, is to increase property taxes - something which he has pledged not to do unless he has to.

The Whiskey Rebellion II: Axe the Drink Tax Campaign is led by Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation (FACT).