In performing research for the Convention Center series, Chris Hart-Nibbrig came across an article from Nov. 5, 1999 headed “Ridge shows Lancaster City the money.” After the jump from the front page and buried in the 25th paragraph was the following:
“Recently the Lancaster City Redevelopment Authority agreed to loan $4 million to Penn Square partners—a consortium including Lancaster Newspapers, publisher of the Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era and Sunday News; Fulton Bank; and High Real Estate Group—for the initial development of the hotel project. Penn Square partners owns the Watt & Shand building.”
WATCHDOG: A decision to loan interest free $4 million of tax payers’ money to a private company is an important story in itself. A newspaper can deceive by commission, omission, or concealment.
