NEW YORK TIMES: A prominent opposition leader, Boris Y. Nemtsov, was shot to death on a street in central Moscow on Friday night, the Russian Interior Ministry confirmed to the news agency Interfax. Mr. Nemtsov, 55, was one of the principal organizers of an opposition march scheduled for Sunday in Moscow. A smooth-talking and worldly […]
FCC approves new net neutrality rules
USATODAY: The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to implement new net neutrality rules designed to make sure Internet service providers treat all legal content equally. The historic vote on the proposal, pitched by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, elicited hearty cheers from a wide array of technology companies and consumer groups while setting the table for […]
Is Greece Becoming a New Russian Satellite State?
DAILY BEAST COLUMN: …“Maria”, a volunteer who declines to give her real name is blunt: “In Greece the media always talks about the conflict as a civil war. There is no mention of Russian involvement whatsoever, “ she says. “Nor is there any real mention of the Russian equipment and weapons flowing to the separatists. […]
You could soon pay more for your landline phone
PENNLIVE: …In a 3-2 vote, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission members partially approved apetition from Verizon to have 153 telephone exchanges in those areas declared “competitive,” thus ending the PUC’s historic control over rates. The move covers landline telephone customers in the cities and suburban areas of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and York, Allentown, Scranton / Wilkes-Barre […]
Wolf ‘s search for inefficiencies in state government finds $109 million in savings
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: …The vast majority of that — $100 million — would come from procuring goods and services more efficiently. The administration believes that making Pennsylvania’s bidding processes more competitive could help the state get better prices. The governor’s office said the Department of General Services has begun working with agencies in an effort to […]
Disclosure on First Anniversary of Maidan
A year has passed since the beginning of the protests on Kiev’s Independence Square (Maidan) against the Moscow-backed president, Viktor Yanukovich. The date was commemorated in Kiev by the meeting on the protest site.
Rick Gray’s EPA chickens are coming home to roost
All of this is the result of Mayor Rick Gray and City Planner Randy Patterson attempt to tip toe around a major problem by offering the state EPA palliatives rather than seriously and legitimately coming up with long term plans for substantially improving sewer treatment.
Fast-Track Attacks on Cancer Accelerate Hopes
NEW YORK TIMES: …Cancers often tend to be fueled by changes in genes, or mutations, that make cells grow and spread to other parts of the body. There are now an increasing number of drugs that block mutations in cancer genes and can halt a tumor’s growth. While such an approach has worked in a […]
Wolf: Cut corporate tax rate, close loopholes
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Gov. Wolf on Wednesday proposed cutting the state corporate net income tax rate in half by 2018, a step he said would vault Pennsylvania from the nation’s second-highest rate to one of its lowest. Unveiling pieces of his economic plan to Lehigh Valley business leaders, Wolf called for gradually reducing the state’s corporate […]
Obama Aide Calls Netanyahu’s Planned Visit ‘Destructive’ to U.S.-Israel Ties
NEW YORK TIMES: Susan E. Rice, President Obama’s national security adviser, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Tuesday over his plans to address a joint meeting of Congress next week, saying his actions had hurt his nation’s relationship with the United States. Mr. Netanyahu’s decision to travel to Washington to deliver the […]
Gov. Tom Wolf’s first state budget may include a plan for lower school property taxes
PENN LIVE: With campaign promises solidifying into governing plans at this writing, Gov. Tom Wolf appears to be ready to join a long line of Pennsylvania governors who have tried to significantly reduce property taxes. Multiple sources told PennLive this week they expect Wolf’s “tax fairness” plan to include a major slash at residential school […]
Part 3: Pennsylvania judges make million dollar pay grab
Today’s advocates of extending the retirement age of Pennsylvania judges to 75 intentionally ignore the political influence and corruption issues of the proposal, and instead try to change the conversation to medical issues.
Alaska becomes 3rd state with legal marijuana
USA TODAY / AP: Smoking, growing and possessing marijuana becomes legal in America’s wildest state Tuesday, thanks to a voter initiative aimed at clearing away 40 years of conflicting laws and court rulings. Making Alaska the third state to legalize recreational marijuana was the goal of a coalition including libertarians, rugged individualists and small-government Republicans […]
Christie broke law by cutting pension payments, judge rules
NJ.COM: In a significant blow to Gov. Chris Christie, a judge ruled today that the governor broke a law he signed by cutting $1.57 billion from a pension payment this year, and must now work with state lawmakers to restore the money. The decision could blow a massive hole in the current state budget, sending […]