Wednesday, May 16, 2012
State Rep. Jesse White says no area of Pennsylvania's state budget 'reflects poor priorities more than the continued slashing of education funding.'
Sometime within the next six weeks or so, the State Legislature will pass a state budget for the upcoming year. With the Republican party holding a 30-20 majority in the Senate, a whopping 111-90 majority in the House, plus Tom Corbett in the governor’s mansion, the state budget has become a strictly one-party affair. Democratic House and Senate members have virtually no input whatsoever in how Pennsylvania spends its money; we aren’t even in the room while the discussions are being held. Remember that unlike Congress at the federal level, the Pennsylvania Constitution clearly requires balanced budgets every year, which is why you never hear me talking about a debt ceiling or deficit spending problems. So all this talk about “needing to …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Officer John Dryer was honored on annual Law Enforcement Day. Summer jobs for teens also discussed.
The family of the East Washington police officer who was killed along I-70 last December visited Harrisburg last Monday for the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service. I was proud to host John and JoAnn Dryer, parents of Officer John David Dryer, their grandson Ben, and other family members for the memorial event and an introduction on the Senate floor. I reminded my colleagues in the Senate that every family of a law enforcement officer knows how difficult it is to say goodbye every day and hope and pray that the person they love, who happens to carry a badge, will return home at the end of their shift. Officer Dryer was killed by gunfire during a traffic stop near the Beau Street Interchange six days before Christmas. His service to …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Add a photo of you and your mom and tell us about the special lady in your life this Mother's Day!
Today, we celebrate our mothers! Your mom deserves a little public display of affection, so we at Patch are asking you to add photos of you and your mom. Tell the whole world why you love her and what makes her so special! To add your photo, hit the "Upload Photos and Videos" button on the page. Happy Mother's Day!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
This dog is looking for a new home where he can share some puppy love.
Archie turned up at the Animal Rescue League after being abandoned outside. He is very playful and still has a lot of puppy energy. He is hoping to find an active home where he will get lots of exercise and attention. Archie, which the Rescue League believes is about a year old, is a smart boy and already seems to know some skills. He is able to sit and give paw for treats and appears to be house-trained. Archie responds well to verbal praise and is a real people-pleaser. He does walk fairly nicely on a leash and is constantly checking on his handler to make sure he is doing the right thing. Archie has shown some guarding issues around food and his blankets and toys while in his cage. We had worked hard on breaking him of these habits, and…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The president told ABC that 'gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally.'
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, May 10
U.S. President Barack Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts during a sit-down interview that will air on "Good Morning America" on Thursday that he is supportive of gay marriage. The Huffington Post reports that Obama told Roberts, "I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. " ... It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married." Do you agree? Vote in our poll above and feel free to tell us why you voted the way that you did in the comments section below. --- Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for the daily Baldwin-Whitehall newsletter.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
State Sen. Tim Solobay also discusses hazmat bill, Marcellus Shale expo and naming a highway interchange for a local hero.
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Tuesday, May 8
Some of our local horsemen traveled to Harrisburg this week to talk about the economic success of the Race Horse Development Fund, and the risks to the state’s economy if the fund is raided to plug budget holes. When Pennsylvania legalized gaming in 2004, a prime motivator was the revival of the horse racing industry, a key component of the state’s agriculture economy and tradition. The Race Horse Development Fund is fueled by 11 percent of slot machine proceeds. Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2012-13 budget calls for taking $72 million from the fund to plug other holes in the agriculture budget. Since the fund was created, it has become a model for surrounding states which have emerged as competitors while Pennsylvania has returned to the top tier …
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Here's a cool, tasty summer salad for that hot day.
The hot weather is here, and what better way to cool down than with this unique salad? I found this receipe for Cucumber Fruit Salad on AllRecipes.com, and it sounds like a simple sidedish that could be thrown together on a warm spring day. These ingredients would be easy to change up, too, so you could start with this recipe and build your own favorite spring salad! Here's what you need: Here's what you do: In a bowl, combine the cucumber, apple and grapes. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, sugar and parsley. Pour over cucumber mixture and toss to coat. Stir in walnuts if desired. Serve immediately.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Moon Patch Editor Jenna Staul reflects on viewing the night skies Saturday from a place called Moon, and learn the place on the North Side where you can take the kids (for free!) to a space-themed playground.
Do you ever get a funny reaction when you tell people that you live in a town named Moon? I do. It's usually something along the lines of "Oh, so you're from the Moon?" Or "How is it out there, living on the Moon?" Never funny. Gets old after a while. Even out here in Patch land, I'll get the occasional lunar-themed quip from a co-worker ("And Patch even covers news on the Moon ..."). It comes with the territory of living in a town with a quirky name. But Saturday night is our night, Moon Township. Break out your telescopes: tonight brings us Super Moon 2012. A Super Moon occurs when the moon goes into its full phase at the same time it approaches Earth at the shortest-possible point in its orbit—an event known as a perigee. If you're …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Q: I am planning to hire an attorney for the first time. What should I do to prepare, and what should I expect?
A little preparation by clients goes a long way in helping attorneys quickly decide whether to take a case. When talking to potential clients for the first time, lawyers need to determine whether they are qualified to help and whether the representation would involve potential conflicts of interest with their existing clients. Before talking to an attorney, take a moment to organize your thoughts and develop a concise and coherent narrative that describes your problem. Be sure to make note of all other people who are involved in, or affected by your issue. Keep track of any relevant factual details, but leave them out of your first conversation with a lawyer unless asked. During this initial conversation, most attorneys will want all of …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
After winning both the Democratic and Republican nominations for the fall general election, state Rep. Jesse White plans to get back to work on issues.
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Wednesday, May 2
What is a win worth? In this case, a lot. Last Tuesday, the voters of the 46th District chose to re-nominate me for a fourth term as their State Representative. I received not only the Democratic nomination, but also the Republican nomination as the result of an effort of nearly 500 Republican voters who chose to write my name in on their ballot. As a result, I am both the Democratic and Republican party nominee for November’s General Election, and will therefore be unopposed for the first time in my career. Obviously, I want to thank everyone who supported me last Tuesday and over the past six years. My political career has been a grassroots labor of love from the very beginning, and there aren’t enough words to express my deep gratitude …
Mana
8:50 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
As much as people may hate them, vouchers are the answer. First, given a voucher makes you think about how you want your child educated. Maybe one school would hit hard on science and math. Another fine arts. This would also challenge teachers to be the best or they will be out of a job. Take a look at the success stories coming out of Pa cyber. ... So many examples of children pursuing what the … more ›