Editorials - News Item

Week in News

AP news editor gives debrief on Boston bombing coverage

As east regional editor for the Associated Press, Karen Testa directs AP's news reports for 10 Northeastern states. She's wondering if, somehow, she's cursed the news gods, considering this list of tragic stories in her territory over the past half-year (read more)

Pomp, tragedy share headlines

Amid the "pomp and circumstance" of a busy graduation week for local high schools has been a rash of bad news. Graduation is a busy and fun time in the news business. We still treat coverage of commencement exercises as a priority, and include a list of (read more)

All Betz Are Off

Every day's a blooming holiday

Here's a profound revelation: Every day is special. But I guess you already knew that, didn't you? I know what you're thinking. Smell the roses now because a heavy wind could blow the petals off the bush, or to put it another way - enjoy your hair becaus (read more)

Summer break is greatly overrated

This isn't what kids or teachers want to hear, but you guys have too much time off every summer. (We pause here a moment for a collective cacophony of boos and hisses). The world has changed, I beg to point out - in very dramatic ways. We don't write let (read more)

Wanderings

A D.C.-style barbecue

It's Father's Day, and that means the Great White Republican hierarchy in Washington smells burnt charcoal and is ready to barbeque some Democrats. Because Father's Day is special, the Republican-proposed sequester is waived, and there is no budget limit (read more)

Fracking for food

Fracking - the process the oil and gas industry uses to extract fossil fuel as much as two miles below the ground - may directly impact the nation's water supply, reduce water-based recreational and sports activity and lead to an increase in the cost of (read more)

Walt's Way

Guys destined to be holding the bag in 'Purse Purgatory'

I was walking down the aisle of a department store when I spotted him - poor devil. There was a middle-aged guy standing in the middle of the misses' sportswear section holding a purse. He was a huge guy, big enough to play be an offensive lineman - or e (read more)

Of the many parts I've had to play, groom was easiest on wedding day

I don't want you to think you started to read the wrong article by mistake, but I wanted to start off with a quote from William Shakespeare. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." It's amazing that Shakespeare wrote as many (read more)

Capitol Matters

Budget ball in Senate's court; rhetoric endures

The overriding debate in this year's state budget battle is about restorative spending. The big question facing state lawmakers is how far to go to restore state aid to basic education, higher education and county-run human services and other programs a (read more)

Advocates urge Medicaid $$ to tackle drug, alcohol abuse

Getting Pennsylvania to participate in the federal expansion of Medicaid coverage will provide new funding to tackle the problems of drug and alcohol addiction, which are a root cause of crime, a Lackawanna County judge told a House committee last week. (read more)

'Integrity budget' boosted?

The $28.3 billion state budget bill rolled out last week by the House Republican majority emphasizes government transparency and accountability as one of the guideposts framing the tax-and-spend plan. The bill, which faces action this week in the Hous (read more)

Effort to phase out 'franchise' tax began four governors ago

It's been a long good-bye. Pennsylvania's effort to phase out the state Capital Stock and Franchise Tax (CSFT) began four governors ago under Tom Ridge. This tax on a company's assets is scheduled to be eliminated entirely by 2014 under the $28.4 billio (read more)

Talking Points

Editorials

'Pay for delay' can be challenged

Generic drugs are an undisputed means to reduce health care costs. Due to generics, the amount of money Americans spent on prescription drugs in 2012 declined for the first time ever, by about 1 percent to $325.7 billion, according to the research firm I (read more)

Time Machine for June 19, 2013: Back in 1967

- An issue that seemed to arise regularly in the hard-coal region was in the news. Philadelphia wanted to ship its excess garbage to the Mount Carmel area, using abandoned mines as dumping sites. Reading Anthracite Company said the idea was OK with them, (read more)

Medical residencies should be expanded

It's hard to believe, with the huge baby boom generation and the impending new federal health care law driving up demand for physicians, but just over 15 years ago, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association complai (read more)

Adding to the forest of state tax exemptions

Pennsylvania already has a forest of tax exemptions for narrow special interests favored by lawmakers, so perhaps it makes sense to include the timber industry in the largesse. The House Finance Committee has approved a bill introduced by Rep. Matt Gable (read more)

The case for Corbett's tax reform

Pennsylvania's small business owners face a daunting challenge: How can you invest and expand your business while paying the second highest corporate tax rate in the country? If you can believe it, combined with the federal tax rate, Pennsylvania busines (read more)