An article of July 2nd states “Local woman, 58, charged with not returning rental car” relates that Manheim Township police are seeking the whereabouts of Cynthia J. Barnett who rented a car in February and has not returned it. WATCHDOG: Big mystery! Police and the reporter would have done well to check with the County […]

Kudos! Its June 27 front page article “No ‘Helping Hand’ from Highmark: Insurance giant denies money for parents’ preferred procedure” describes how “Highmark would cover the surgery cost of $150-200,000” but would “only pay $4,907.18 of the $15,600 total billed” for prosthetics that give the same appearance and avoid complicated major surgery. WATCHDOG: It is […]

Published on June 28th an editorial favoring paper ballots and a column entitled “F&M’s presentation on rail yard fails to win over skeptics.” WATCHDOG: New Era earned double kudos! First, an Editorial entitled “Paper ballots on comeback trail” states “Following Florida’s presidential election fiasco in 2000, many states abandoned punch cards – once used by […]

In a June 24th lead article, the Intell reports County home prices rising. “‘Stable’ local market ranks well on national index.” WATCHDOG: According to AP in an article , “… a report from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight said U.S. home prices fell 4.6 percent in April from the same month last year, […]

In a three inch article on June 22 headed “F&M Drops Charges”, the paper states “Harper was cited with trespassing based on an order banning him from college property” and “Harper … is still banned from college property.” WATCHDOG: Wrong on both accounts! “Order” from whom? It was not a court order but simply a […]

June 20. Sub headline: “Residents oppose F&M backed plan” WATCHDOG: This “pup” has probably had a lot more experience than the Intell reporter with such meetings with many scars to show for it. The ‘opposition’ was relatively muted and issues raised thoroughly and, as far as the preponderance of the audience was concerned, satisfactorily responded […]

Editorial, June 19, 2008: Commenting on a 32% rise in head industry deaths for motorcyclists riding without helmets, the Intell rhetorically asks: “How can saving a few lives compare with the wickedness of restricting liberty, America’s most cherished value?” And responds: “To that argument we respectfully say: baloney.” WATCHDOG: Having spent many happy years on […]

On June 15, the almost four decade old newspaper that evolved into a web site asked “Did the Lancaster Newspapers pressure Turkey Hill?” to cease distributing the Lancaster Post. WATCHDOG: This may be the case, although we have no evidence to believe so and are skeptical. But Post News Editor Ron Harper, Jr., through several […]

Kudos for a very balanced and informative lead article “‘Talk Back:’ Where opinion is 24/7” WATCHDOG: The article states “Talk-Back was launched ‘as a means to add fresh, unique and user-provided content’ to LancasterOnline.com’” according to Harold Miller, Lancaster Newspapers’ (LNP) president and CEO. Along with comments from participants and authorities, the article deals with […]

In his June 15 column, Gil Smart, in reference to John McCain’s self confessed inability to use a personal computer, asks “How can a candidate ill at-ease with the current era lead us safely into the future.” WATCHDOG: Fair question. Furthermore, presidents today cannot safely venture from the Secret Service cocoon, and thus must rely […]

A political cartoon in the middle of the June 15 Column-Letters page showed a jet liner entitled “Gitmo Lawsuits” about to collide with the Statue of Liberty, entitled “Homeland Security.” WATCHDOG: Portraying the Statue of Liberty as representing “Homeland Security” seems contradictory. And likening Gitmo Lawsuits to a terrorist attack even more so. The Supreme […]

In a June 12th front page article titled “Fiscal health of hospitals: mixed”, The New Era endeavors to explain (rationalize) Lancaster General Hospital’s amazing $135.8 million profit, up 27.5 percent from 2006, as follows: “Though the large size of its facilities alone would seem to guarantee big revenues and profits, LGH is exceptionally efficient inside […]

June 5: “Man Gets Stuck Naked Inside Port-a-potty, Police Say” WATCHDOG: It’s June 10th. Certainly, within the past five days, Fox 43 could find something else to post on the news section of their site. There have been shootings, murders, armed robberies, serious and fatal traffic accidents, and a college president in the midst of […]

The June 8 front page banner headline reads “LGH’s healthy surplus: $136 million. Up from $106 million; other side of coin is millions it gives in free medical care and its investments in community.” WATCHDOG: The article lavishes praise on Lancaster General Hospital, some of which may be well deserved. But the Sunday News ignored […]