Overall, the annual price survey found that average tuition and fees for full-time, in-state students at public four-year colleges and universities rose by 2.9 percent in 2014-15 to $9,139, up from $8,885 last year.
NATO says Russian troops in Ukraine amid fears of all-out war
“We have seen columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defence systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine,” US General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s commander in Europe, said in Sofia…
China and US deal to curb emissions draws mixed response
FINANCIAL TIMES: An unexpected move by the US and China to jointly set out their plans to tackle global warming prompted a lukewarm response in Europe and hostility in Washington in a sign that sealing a global climate treaty next year still faces big hurdles… “This unrealistic plan, that the president would dump on his […]
The Worst Voter Turnout in 72 Years
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL: …Over all, the national turnout was 36.3 percent; only the 1942 federal election had a lower participation rate at 33.9 percent. The reasons are apathy, anger and frustration at the relentlessly negative tone of the campaigns. Republicans ran a single-theme campaign of pure opposition to President Obama, and Democrats were too […]
Scheppele on democracy, constitutionalism, and rule of law in Hungary
NOVEMBER 12, 2014 BY BENJAMIN NOVAK BUDAPEST BEACON: What we have is a system in which Hungary has the appearance of constitutionalism, democracy, and rule of law, but no reality of constitutionalism, democracy, and rule of law. This is a constitution that can be changed at will by this two-thirds parliamentary majority that was engineered […]
Pa. Gov.-elect Wolf to impose ‘No, thank you’ rule on appointees
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE: A code of ethical conduct for Gov.-elect Tom Wolf’s transition team foreshadows something Wolf plans to impose on his first day as governor: a gift ban on his appointees and executive branch employees. It’s called the “No, thank you” rule, said Wolf spokesman Jeffrey Sheridan. “Anyone who works for him in the executive […]
Republican Sullivan Unseats Democratic Senator Begich in Alaska
BLOOMBERG: Republicans extended their control of the U.S. Senate as Dan Sullivan defeated Democratic incumbent Mark Begich in Alaska, a race that was too close to call on election night. Sullivan, 49, a former Alaska attorney general and U.S. Marine Corps officer who served as assistant secretary of state in former President George W. Bush’s […]
COST OF LOCAL HEALTH CARE: Who’s right: LGH, Medicare, or the Canadians?
Our publisher received the following statement from Medicare summarizing billings and Medicare reimbursements for a recent cataract operation on one eye:
China and US in deal to curb emissions
FINANCIAL TIMES: China and the US have set aside nearly 20 years of discord over how to combat climate change and laid out their respective plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The unexpected joint announcement by US President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing promises to galvanise efforts to seal a global […]
Health care crisis in Russia
On November 2, a rally of health-care professionals took place in Moscow. It drew almost 7,000 participants. The reason for the rally was the publication of documents informing that city authorities are going to shut down 28 medical centers and fire 30 percent of the city’s medical staff within the next two years.
Obama’s net neutrality push cheers some, riles others
USA TODAY: President Obama’s call for net neutrality could drive the Federal Communications Commission to regulate broadband service like a utility as a way to protect consumers’ ability to access all content without a threat of connectivity being throttled. The FCC is an independent agency that will establish its own rules. But Obama’s public prodding […]
Governor-elect Tom Wolf names Katie McGinty, former challenger, as chief of staff
HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS: Governor-elect Tom Wolf has named Kathleen “Katie” McGinty, former state environmental protection secretary and one of his opponents in the Democratic primary, as his chief of staff…
LCB nets record revenue because of strong wine sales, revamped stores
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE: The state Liquor Control Board’s record $2.24 billion in revenue was driven by strong wine sales, revamped state stores and improvements in operations, according to the agency’s annual report released Monday… Last year, the agency opened 10 new stores, remodeled 15 and enlarged the store at 5956 Penn Circle South in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside […]
Smucker challenging Scarnati for top Senate spot
“Joe Scarnati has served as President Pro Tempore for eight years, and he has provided honest and energetic service during that time. But now he says we need to change direction, and he has hand-picked a leadership team to carry it out,” Smucker wrote in a letter to Senate GOP members.