Armed with signs and a megaphone, around 15 people continued their protest against UPMC at its Downtown headquarters over the medical giant's decision to close its hospital in Braddock Jan. 31.

"UPMC does not care!" bellowed Braddock resident Delia Winstead over the megaphone as she paced up and down Grant Street. Ms. Winstead said she fears for her 84-year-old husband's life if the hospital shutters. "If he goes into diabetic shock ... he's going to die by the time he can get [to a hospital] downtown or to [UPMC] McKeesport."

Braddock council member Tina Doose said the hospital's closure is already straining the small, impoverished community's budget. On Tuesday, council passed a budget that includes a 1-mill tax increase to cover the loss in tax revenue that will result from the hospital's closure. The borough will also have to take money originally allocated to repair its aging sewer system to cover expenses this year.

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