From the HUFF POST: At the end of a year in which five different candidates took turns leading in polls of likely Iowa caucus-goers, the final and most respected survey shows the Iowa caucuses headed toward a photo finish. The final Des Moines Register Iowa poll shows Mitt Romney and Ron Paul leading the pack […]
Month: December 2011
Report concerning needs of Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street)
Lancaster Public Library (LPL) required a new Strategic Plan to guide it through the 2012-2014 period. To assist in this effort, the Library requested and received a Capacity Building Grant from the Lancaster County Community Foundation. The grant allowed the Library to conduct a broad user needs study in the communities we serve and to translate these needs into a strategic services and funding action plan.
The 8 Biggest Financial Heroes and Villains of 2011
From the DAILY FINANCE: In a year saturated with big financial headlines — the debt-ceiling debate, Occupy Wall Street protests, the ongoing mortgage crisis and the eurozone meltdown, just to name just a few — identifying the fiscal heroes and villains is bound to be an exercise in oversimplification. But even against the constantly shifting backdrop provided by those major events, a handful of people and institutions grabbed and held the spotlight, for good or ill.
Herewith, DailyFinance presents our picks for the best good guys and the worst bad guys of the financial world for 2011….
LANCASTER NEW ERA
Editorial “The Saga that is … Penn State” states “Under legislation introduced earlier this month by two Pennsylvania lawmakers… witnesses of child abuse would be legally obligated to report it to authorities, not merely to supervisor.”
Thank G-d for Google
In the household where the Watchdog grew up, public affairs and history were subjects for ongoing discussions, especially when college friends of older brothers were at the Sunday dinner table. (Arlen Specter was representative of the college group.) But one had to be able to substantiate whatever was said. With 3rd son home for a […]
Clashes erupt as protests spread across Syria
ALJAZEERA: At least 32 people have been reported killed during fresh protests against the Syrian government, as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded streets across the country. Activists said the deaths on Friday came as protesters, emboldened by the presence of Arab League observers in the country, took to the streets after noon Muslim prayers. […]
Montana Supreme Court Restores Ban on Corporate Political Money
NEWSMAX: The Montana Supreme Court is setting up a possible challenge to aspects of the high profile U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted political speech rights to corporations. The state court decided Friday to restore Montana’s century-old ban on direct spending by corporations on political candidates or committees. The lawsuit was prompted by U.S. Supreme […]
Preventive care: It’s free, except when it’s not
From USA TODAY: His insurance company told him it would be covered 100%, with no copayment from him and no charge against his deductible. The nation’s 1-year-old health law requires most insurance plans to cover all costs for preventive care including colon cancer screening.
Bonds Prove Best Financial Asset to Own for First Time Since at Least 1997
BLOOMBERG: For the first time since at least 1997, the bond market produced the highest returns of any financial asset, beating stocks, commodities and the dollar as Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis threatened the global economy. Led by U.S. Treasuries, fixed-income securities worldwide returned 5.81 percent, including reinvested interest, this year through Dec. 29, Bank of America […]
Convention Center busted; ‘The Crossings’ on the way
The local news was nothing new last evening when the [Convention Center] and Visitors Bureau were asking for an increase in the bed tax [hotel room sales tax] to cover their shortage. Does this sound familiar? Sure does, the County was warned time and time again before this wonderful project was approved, the project that […]
High-deductible health plans on rise
This is what Obama’s health reforms are leading to — more expensive health insurance with higher deductibles that people are forced to buy. This will lead to more bankruptcies and foreclosures caused by health crisis suffered by people with insurance. KZ THE TENNESSEAN: Corporate employers, small businesses and nonprofit organizations are increasingly requiring their workers […]
Corporate Government Taking Hold in Europe, Threatening Social Safety Net and Euro Democracy
From IT’S OUR ECONOMY: An American style corporate-government is taking hold in Europe, revolving doors between corporations and government, policies that support big business interests and polices that undermine the social safety net. Below is a report from a watchdog website, the Corporate Europe Observatory on how it threatens European democracy — as it has […]
Legislators would be wise to start over with Marcellus Shale bills
From the HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS Op Ed: … Both Senate and House bills (SB 1100 and HB 1950) essentially strip local governments of their authority to adopt ordinances to protect their communities. The bills do this by expansively defining all efforts to regulate oil and gas operations as beyond the power of local government.
INTELL / NEW ERA: Two tears and one belly laugh
An AP article “Telecom immunity OK for eavesdropping” reports: “A federal appeals court on Thursday said a 2008 law that granted telecommunications companies legal immunity for helping the National lSecurity Agency with an email and telephone eavesdropping program is constitutional.”