Rated one of Pennsylvania's top blog/sites, the LuLac Political Letter delves into issues of politics on all levels (with special concentration on Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties: thus the name LULAC) and pop culture.
The LuLac Political Letter was also named Best Political Blog of the Year for 2014 by NEPA BLOGCON and most recently David Yonki was named Best Blogger of the year 2015 by the publication Diamond City.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
The LuLac Edition #3133, January 31st, 2016
IOWA: THE LEDGER SHEET
What a caucus looks like.(Photo: Politico)
2016 logo. (blog4president.org)
You’ve heard a lot about Iowa. The Caucuses are Monday night and for those who wonder what the big fuss is all about, I did a ledger sheet of why or why not this state is important in an election year.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
1. It is the first national test of Presidential candidates. The caucuses started in 1972. It is not a long standing historical part of American history. Iowa gives many candidates the opportunity to try and get exposure and traction. Some like George McGovern, and Jimmy Carter got enough momentum to gain their party’s nomination. But the dirty little secret of Iowa is that McGovern came in third behind Edmund Muskie who finished second. Carter came in second too. But who came in first you might ask? UNDECIDED. However winning the Iowa caucuses does not mean a win. Presidents who lost in Iowa were Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Bill Clinton. 2. The Iowa contest creates a media buzz. In the day of a 24 hour news cycle, the media is drawn to Iowa like a moth to a flame. Iowa essentially exists as a tourism gimmick for a state no one really would want to visit and an opportunity to fatten up national news budgets. The 24 hour media cycle gets to feed their beast too.
WHY IT’S NOT IMPORTANT
1. The outcome in Iowa is not a real state or federal state sanctioned election. You don’t vote. Rather you go to a town hall or someone’s house and commit to your favorite. The person who wins does so by organization and popularity. 2. Candidates need delegates to win the nomination at the Convention. Very few delegates come out of these caucuses. Most of the delegates are chosen by the 99 County Chairs in the state.
ONLY 1% OF THE DELEGATES WHO ACTUALLY VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE AT THE CONVENTION WILL COME FROM MONDAY NIGHT'S CAUCUSES.
UNLIKE REAL ELECTIONS, YOU CAN JUST WALK IN! SET A SPELL, CHEW THE FAT AND PICK THE NEXT LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD!
IF IT’S A GOOD NIGHT, LESS THAN 375,000 PEOPLE WILL TAKE PART!
3. The process is not representative of true voting. As a matter of fact, the Republicans and the Democrats each have different ways to choose delegates. The Democrats will meet in designated areas of the hall or home. For 30 minutes people advocate for their candidate. If a 15% threshold is met for viability, then another 30 minutes is taken to state their case and try to get the support of those candidates who are not viable. When the final count is given, it is reported to the county chair who reports it to the state. Yeah isn’t that freaking crystal clear??????? The GOP process is easier. Starting in 2016, the caucus site voting that was previously a non-binding poll becomes the binding method of selecting delegates. The delegates are bound to vote for candidates in proportion to the votes cast for each candidate at the caucus sites. But looking at both methodologies there is no way you can say that the Iowa caucuses are representative of any type of sane voting process. My heavens, my 8th grade election for class President was more Democratic and less confusing than this. 4. Iowa is not representative of either major party in terms of economy or demographics. It is important because it is first and the media has pumped it up. 5. Iowa is more important today because everybody thinks they are important right? After Monday night, the media and the candidates will blow a kiss and kiss off the corn fed denizens of political wisdom. We’ll hear from them if the General is close. But the Iowa drama may not end because the weather people are calling for a blizzard after midnight Monday night. The big story is how the candidates and media might get stranded in Iowa. 6. Iowa is so confusing to most Americans that in my estimation it scares more prospective voters away than bring people to the political process. So whatever the results Monday night, remember it is only 1 per cent of an electorate. And in my opinion, Iowa is a very entitled group in the election calendar whose importance is over inflated and doesn’t deserve the attention.
Once more this Valley is the home of gullibility. The recent case of The Good Shepherd Mausoleum on Westminster Road is a prime example. Out of town landlords, residents from the shyster state, Florida buy the thing and then let it rot. Hey what do they care, we’re just a bunch of cold weather coal crackers to them! Then when things go to hell, when there are NO RECORDS of who the hell is laid to rest there, we can’t get any answers. Then when repairs are needed, do the absentee landlords lift a finger to help? Not our fault, we didn’t even know we bought a mausoleum. So if this is true this is still another storied slap in the face of the famed Luzerne County era under the Commissioner form of government. And people want to think about going back to that system? Lawrence Lee and Viktoria Evstafieva are arguing that the property should never have been put up for tax sale by Luzerne County. The matter is currently in court. Here’s the bottom line. People bought plots for their loved ones in good faith. The county puts it up for Sheriff sale. The buyers claim no one told them it was a cemetery. Did they not have an agent in the area to tell them? Were these “investors” that disinterested that they never bothered to ask what they were buying? The bodies, some unknown lay disrespected in a run down burial ground. Who is responsible? The owners? Nope. The County who ran the Sheriff sale? Well the Courts will have a say in that. No one is responsible. So the good people of this area have to clean up the mess of the sainted investors and public officials who don’t care or don’t know. Kudos to Greg Grant of Shickshinny’s Excavating and Trucking who gave an estimate of $52,000 to replace the ruined roof. He stepped up when no one else would. What a place to call home and what a place to even consider burying your loved ones.
RAFFERTY AND BARLETTA TO SPEAK AT LUZERNE COUNTY GOP BREAKFAST
Pa. Attorney General Candidate John Rafferty and Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photos: Luzerne County GOP)
In honor of our nation’s first Republican President, the Republican Party of Luzerne County will host a Lincoln Day Breakfast on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00 AM at Genetti’s Hotel and Convention Center in Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania Attorney General candidate State Senator John Rafferty, and Congressman Lou Barletta, who is seeking his fourth term representing the 11th Congressional District, will headline the event. “We are very pleased and fortunate to have both Sen. Rafferty and Congressman Barletta as our guests,” said Luzerne County GOP Chairman Bill Urbanski. “Both men have distinguished records of service to their communities and to our Commonwealth.” All candidates, committee persons, elected officials, and friends of the Republican Party are invited and welcome to attend. RSVP to tlvgop@gmail.com or by calling Event Chair Lynette Villano at 570-654-6567. Tickets are $20.00.
REP. CARTWRIGHT PRESENTS VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WITH GIFT DURING DEMOCRATIC ISSUES CONFERENCE
Vice President Joe Biden and our Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: Congressman Cartwright's office)
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright made sure that Vice President Joe Biden knows that the Democratic Caucus has his back. On behalf of the Caucus, Cartwright had the honor of presenting Biden with a pewter tray, inscribed “We’ve got your back!,” after his keynote speech at the Democratic Issues Conference, United for Opportunity, Thursday afternoon in Baltimore, MD. “On behalf of my colleagues, it was a privilege to present this gift to Vice President Biden. Biden is no stranger to the issues that middle class families and seniors face every day. A Scranton native, Biden has always held his northeastern Pennsylvania working class roots close, as a senator from Delaware, and now as Vice President. I look forward to working with him for the remainder of his term,” said Rep. Cartwright.
Wow wait until you hear this one. MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough’s name was floated by Radio Talk Show Host Hugh Hewitt as a possible running mate for Donald Trump. At first glance you might think that NBC might be taking over the political world. But it can make sense for the following reasons. Scarborough is a former Congressman. The TV Talk Show host who got his morning break on MSNBC when Don Imus made unfortunate remarks about female African American athletes speaks way too frequently about his days in Congress. I mean you could make a drinking game out of it. He came into Washington during the 1994 GOP revolution as a Young Turk. He was soon disillusioned with the way that Bill Clinton rolled over Newt Gingrich strategically and was certainly a person who adhered to his principles. However Scarborough is reasonable and has suffered the slings and arrows of right wing tea party non compromisers who took umbrage at his slightest deviation from the party line. Even Mitt Romney shunned his strategic advice in 2012 and as a long time viewer of the show I think if the Romney camp listened to him the election might have been closer. But I digress. Scarborough comes from a big state, Florida and would be straight forward, reasonable and stubborn in what he believed in. However you have to wonder if that stubbornness would play well with Donald Trump. Out of all the cable networks, MSNBC has given Trump time, elbow room, treated him fairly and in some cases firmly. Scarborough actually shut down The Donald one day when the Presidential candidate didn’t adhere to time constraints. If you look at the Electoral map, that ticket gives you two big states in the GOP column, New York and Florida. So there are some positives. The negatives are that I wonder how mainstream America will take to a Media Ticket. A reality show host and a Talk Show host? In this age of American Idol it is not out of the realm of possibility that this could happen. After all this is an unusual year. However I’m wondering how many Americans who take the process seriously more than every four years, those who pay attention all the time would react to this presentation. Check out this article from earlier in the day from the Daily Caller. http://dailycaller.com/2016/01/28/joe-scarborough-calls-bullsht-on-cnn-media-writer/
REAGAN’S CHALLENGER SPEECH
John Gillespie MaGee Junior. (Photo: Arlington Nation Cemetery Website).
It was thirty years ago today that The Challenger Space disaster happened. Seven astronauts lost their lives as the rocket exploded seconds after launch. Unlike the Apollo 1 Mission where Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died in a training accident, this disaster was on national TV. Like my generation’s historical defining moment was the death of JFK, the Challenger disaster was a new era’s bookmark. During the tragedy, Ronald Reagan was at his best. Reagan in a speech crafted by Peggy Noonan gave comfort and hope to America. It was a masterful performance. In the speech Reagan quoted from John Gillespie MaGee’s poem “High Flight”. Gillespie MaGee was an American pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War. He came to Britain, flew in a Spitfire squadron, and was killed at the age of nineteen on 11 December 11th 1941 during a training flight from the airfield near Scopwick. In the fall of 1941 he sent the poem to his parents. By December he was gone: Here is the short poem that inspired a speech writer, and made memorable the words of a that speech delivered perfectly by a Commander In Chief in a nation in need of comfort.
HIGH FLIGHT
"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
"Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God."
SANTORUM’S DE JA VU????
Rick Santorum: Decision time. (Photo: CNN)
Four years ago around this time Rick Santorum was doing a victory lp after a very close win in the Iowa Caucuses. However this year the Santorum campaign is reaching out to supporters to point blame at the media for the results thus far of the campaign. The appearances in 2016 national media have been sparse compared to Santorum’s 2012 effort. I can see why he’s pissed. Will this fundraising letter get movement for a Santorum run or will it be its last gasp? Dear Voter, I can’t stand the media. From the start of this campaign, they’ve decided that we’re not worthy of them. They think it’s their job to anoint who they think should be the Republican nominee. Seriously? The media determining the Republican nominee? Give me a break! We’ve pushed on and fought tooth and nail for coverage, but yesterday USA Today put the final straw on this camel’s back. Enough with being a “statesman.” We’re fighting back! They want to force us from the race, but that’s the last thing that will happen because next Monday night at the Iowa Caucus we’re going to force them to cover us. We’re going to force them to follow us to event after event after event all across America. Why? Because we’re going to blow their expectations out of the water. You read that right. We’re going to shock the world again on February 1st. And USA Today and their buddies in the mainstream media won’t know what to do. But I need your help to do this. We need the resources to make this a reality. We have recruited hundreds of Caucus leaders. Our team on the ground has knocked on thousands of doors and we’ve made tens of thousands of phone calls. But we need to get over the finish line. Apparently USA Today said that Santorum should just pack it in. He disagrees. Let’s see how the voters in Iowa feel next week.
AUDITOR GENERAL EUGENE DEPASQUALE ANNOUNCES BID FOR SECOND TERM
AGGRESSIVE AUDITS UNCOVER $100 MILLION IN WASTE IN FIRST 3 YEARS
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. (Photo: Auditor General’s website).
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale formally announced his intentions to run for re-election. In his first term as Auditor General, DePasquale has: Uncovered wasteful charter school spending and lack of plan for Pennsylvania to improve 561 struggling schools throughout the state. Improved job funding programs through identifying that nearly half of grant recipients failed to meet goals. Protected health care workers and patients by finding Pennsylvania rarely enforced mandatory overtime laws. Protected drinking water throughout the state by discovering mismanagement and ineffective oversight of natural gas drilling. Uncovered $129 million surplus within the Pittsburgh School District that prevented a property tax increase. DePasquale has also saved over $2 million in the Office of Auditor General by reducing the vehicle fleet by over 90% and modernizing office functions. Furthermore, he has continued groundbreaking transparency efforts by posting all travel expenses online for public review. “Four years ago, I promised to be a tough, fair, and independent watchdog on behalf of Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. Since then, my team has uncovered millions in wasteful spending by governments and fought to increase transparency and accountability. There is still much more work to do, which is why I’m announcing my re-election campaign,” said DePasquale. "The state’s continued budget stalemate highlights the importance of our audits in discovering waste, as well as explaining the drastic costs of the impasse on our local school districts". “If re-elected, I plan to continue to be the watchdog of the taxpayers and work to bring more attention to improvements in job creation, public health, transportation, and education while fighting the difficult battles to protect taxpayers,” DePasquale said. “I also plan to perform follow ups of audits performed in my first term to ensure commitments to improving government are kept.” Since being elected as Auditor General in 2012, DePasquale has focused his audits on a wide variety of subjects including protecting the constitutional right of Pennsylvanians to clean water, calling attention to the growing municipal pension crisis, and discovering vast examples of waste and mismanagement in the Department of Education. DePasquale has also continued to set a strong, fiscal example as the first statewide elected official to post his expenses online while keeping them as low as possible.
MEDIA MATTERS
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
This week's guest is Linda Pacewicz from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Game Sports Radio Network 1400/1440 am and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.
ECTV LIVE
ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will ake you into the "Cold/ Old West" during the week of February 1st. Gail Rees will join the team to outline plans for the annual Clarks Summit Festival of Ice. The festival's theme this year is "The Frozen Frontier!"
It's also a special occasion for the Electric City TV Public Affairs show as it marks its 300th episode! Airing a minimum of 15 times each week (often more) ECTV Live has presented over 2100 hours of programming about public events and services in northeastern Pennsylvania! It is produced by David DeCosmo who also hosts the show. In addition to Rusty Fender who co-hosts with DeCosmo now, other co-hosts have included Judge Tom Munley, Paula Deignan, Barry Finn, Derry Bird, and Frank Andrews. The program is Directed by Mark Migliore of Electric City Television.
ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is broadcast multiple times daily. The weekly series begins with a Live airing Mondays at Noon.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
Dr. Joe Leonardi. (Photo: LivingLaVidaLLowCarb.com)
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Dr. Joe Leonardi about the "Concussion" movie, and how serious an issue concussions can be to the future of organized football. This Week in Harrisburg features comments by State Senator Lisa Baker of Luzerne County on the Special Committee on Senate Address recommendations about the future of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane. And Brian speaks with health expert Laure Stacik about gluten free food for Valentine's Day and Celiac Disease. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9 and Sports Radio 590, WARM, and 6:25am on Magic 93.
SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION
Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.
BUDDY RUMCHEK
Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”
KAREL ON THE STREET
Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.
BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!
The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net www.doowopsockhop.net
1971
Our 1971 logo.
In Uganda, Idi Amin deposes Milton Obote in a coup, and becomes president......In Los Angeles, Charles Manson and 3 female "Family" members are found guilty of the 1969 Tate–LaBianca murders…….Apollo program: Apollo 14 (carrying astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell) lifts off on the third successful lunar landing mission……
In Harrisburg Governor Shapp pushes for a temporary tax increase to get the state out of debt…..in Luzerne County Frank Jagodinski makes his intentions known as he makes plans to run for Luzerne County Sheriff and 46 years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was believe it or not a ballad from Perry Como called “It’s Impossible”.
When I was growing up in a Democratic family, I always felt that splitting a ticket might have been frowned on. But my parent’s mantra was “Vote For the Person” although my dad only strayed once at my urging in 1974 as far as I know to vote for the GOP's Dick Schweiker in his Senate run against Democrat Pete Flaherty. Even when everyone seemed to be for Bill Scranton in the 1962 Governor’s race my father steadfastly wore a Dillworth button throughout the entire fall campaign. While I clung to the principles of the Democrats, I did vote for some moderate members of the GOP because they were reasonable. That stopped after 2006 when the national GOP got very strident. Even on a Statewide level, I was hard pressed to even consider a Republican because of the fierce partisanship of the GOP. I’m not alone, former Senator and Presidential nominee Bob Dole referred to the GOP Tea Party members as “those 40 knuckleheads of Congress”. The only member of the GOP I will consider this year is Joe Peters of Scranton for Attorney General. My ticket splitting or lack thereof is the subject of a great article written by Dr. G. Terry Madonna and Dr. Michael Young. The article takes a look at ticket splitting and how it has changed the way people vote but more importantly how candidates campaign.
THE DECLINE OF TICKET SPLITTING AND WHY IT MATTERS
In electoral politics, the things that most matter are too frequently obscured by the things that most entertain. This isn’t new or novel in American political campaigns where the raw, sensational and gaudy often eclipse the sober, serious and consequential for the attention of the electorate. Thus in 2016, media attention and voter focus has alternated between the circus like nomination battle being waged by national Republicans and the soap opera drama sponsored by national Democrats. What will the Donald say next? Can the son of a Cuban father born in Canada grow up to be president some day? Is Hillary really to blame for Bill’s behavior? Should Bernie answer any more questions about Bill’s behavior? The future, if not the survival, of the nation rests on these and other weighty questions of similar merit. Or not! More realistically, on these and similar questions might rest the fate of TV ratings – and not much more. That trivia and trash dominate our national presidential election dialogue is more a symptom of a problem than the underlying problem itself. Substance is absent from our politics because our politics no longer confronts substance – indeed no longer can confront substance. Instead, we’ve become a nation of ideologically driven, politically polarized partisans who increasingly eschew the bargaining and compromise that have historically lubricated politics. Not only are moderates gone from American politics; moderation is gone as well. Nothing illustrates this better or explains this more fully than the enormous decrease in ticket splitting. Ticket splitting in presidential elections, a norm in American elections since World War II, is the act of voting for the presidential nominee of one political party while also voting for one or more congressional nominees of a different party. According to the American National Election Study, ticket splitting in presidential elections dropped to a record low in the 2012 presidential election. In virtually every election cycle, fewer and fewer voters split their ticket. A Pew Foundation study in 2014 estimated that at least eight of 10 voters are now voting a straight ticket. Historically this represents a revolution in voting behavior. As recently as the presidential election of 1972, more than four of every ten congressional districts (44 percent) could be characterized as ticket splitters - voting for one party’s candidate for president and one or more candidates of the other party for the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives. That number has now dropped to about 1-in-20 House districts that show vote split results (5 percent). That decline represents almost a century low for ticket splitting. One has to go back to 1920 and the election of Warren Harding to discover a lower percentage of ticket splitting (3.2 percent). Moreover, the swing away from ticket splitting marks a consistent downward trend line covering the past 44 years, encompassing eleven presidential elections – the sole exception being the 2000 election. For every eight voters who split their ticket in 1972, just one voter did so in 2012. In the same period, the number of congressional districts recording split results between the top of the ticket and so-called down ticket races declined precipitously – from 190 districts in 1984 to just 25 districts in 2012. The raw numbers make explicit how enormous the decline in ticket splitting has been. There are 435 members in the House of Representatives. Only 26 of them represent districts won by the presidential candidate of the other party. So, only nine Democrats won in districts also won by Republican Mitt Romney, while only 17 Republicans won in districts also won by Democrat Barack Obama. No crystal ball is necessary to foresee where the trends in ticket splitting are taking us. If the decline documented above continues into 2016 we may see a virtual demise of ticket splitting – even among independent voters. This is pregnant with implications for American politics. In the upcoming 2016 presidential election, even narrow victories of a few points in many states will mean that some if not all of statewide candidates including U.S. Senate races will be determined by the top of the ticket. Even close races at the top of the ticket may sweep in many down-ticket candidates. Democrats defending only 10 of the 34 Senate seats up for grabs in 2016 need only win five seats if they fail to capture the presidency. Consequently, there is going to be intense pressure brought upon presidential campaigns in both parties to remain competitive in as many states as possible. Already high profile Senate races in key states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, Nevada, Wisconsin and Florida are being scrutinized for the effect presidential nominees will have on competitive contests. But the decline of ticket splitting casts a long shadow that spills far beyond the 2016 election – auguring not well for the health of our democracy. Straight ticket voting produces elections that only increase the virulent polarization infecting our politics. Worse perhaps, it undercuts ever further the compromise and accommodation so central to our intricate governmental system of checks and balances - inevitably unleashing more of the divisive and dysfunctional governance that increasingly alienates American voters from their government. Dr. Madonna is Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College, and Dr. Young is a speaker, pollster, author, and was Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Penn State University.
In case you missed it the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 on Monday to give teen age killers a second chance. Really they did. By a 6-3 decision the Justices extended a decision from 2012 which….wait for it….struck down automatic life terms with no chance of parole for teenage killers to include offenders who committed their crimes in the distant past and have exhausted their appeals. What this means is if you killed someone as a teenager, and were either sentenced to life or death (with the death penalty now in abeyance in the state again!) you get another bite of the apple. Further you can go free. According to Dave Singleton’s article in the Times Tribune, there are 400 individuals, 400 killers in the state who would be eligible for this. There are three cases I want you to focus on. First and foremost is Little Joey Aulisio was 15 when he shot and killed 8-year-old Cheryl Ziemba and her 4-year-old brother, Christopher. He shot and killed two kids. Talk about being the ultimate bully! Then there’s this piece of crap, Aazis Richardson who won’t get parole until the age of 62. Can you see him trying to get out? This was the guy who shot a working man who was trying to support his family. He was “disrespected” because he thought the driver was taking a different route. As if time and money meant anything to this young worthless piece of humanity! Little Kenny Crawford III was also 15 when he and another punk shot and killed Diana Algar and Jose Molino at a resort in 1999. Little Joey and Little Kenny were stopped the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which voted in 2013 to deny their request to overturn the life sentences because our Justices said they couldn’t do it retroactively. But the decision Monday gave these little guys another chance at freedom. Or murder. Or mayhem. In the meantime, good innocent people lay stone cold dead in cold graves while these sacks of shit look to another day in the sun. Stupid.
TRUMP SAYS HE WON’T SHOW FOR FOX DEBATE
One could hope Donald Trump makes good on his word and not show up at the next debate. It will give other more credible, sensible candidates the time to state their cases. Trump is having a tantrum because Fox commentator Megyn Kelly will be there. Apparently the only blonds that Trump can control or not have a reaction to are those dumb enough to marry the his big white sorry ass. If Trump is afraid of Kelly, how I’d love to introduce him to my buddy Tiffany Cloud. She'll show him what a true Conservative is!
PLEASE JOIN
Congressman Matt Cartwright
For a Campaign Kick-off and Petition Event!
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Greenwood Hose Co.
3727 Birney Avenue, Moosic, PA 18507
Entry is free and refreshments will be provided by Arcaro and Genell’s Pizza!!
For more information or to RSVP please call: 570-793-1296
Joe Peters has given the go ahead for people to start circulating petitions in his race for Attorney General. That news comes from after a draft effort from this draft Joe Peters Facebook page. They will begin the process of collecting signatures tomorrow. https://www.facebook.com/JoePetersforAG
PA GOP RELEASES STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FORMER CHAIR MARTHA BELL SCHOENINGER
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding the passing of former State Party Chair Martha Bell Schoeninger, the first woman to be elected as Chair of either major Party in Pennsylvania. “Martha Bell Schoeninger was a trailblazer in Pennsylvania politics,” Gleason said. “Starting as a precinct captain, Martha’s dedication to the Republican Party culminated with her election as Chair of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. Martha was an inspiration to everyone who knew her, and we are grateful for her efforts to grow our Party in the Keystone State. “On behalf of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, I offer my deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Chair Martha Bell Schoeninger during this difficult time.”
SESTAK MAKING HIS CASE
Joe Sestak. (Photo: Twitter.com)
Former Congressman Joe Sestak who is running for another crack at the Senate this year and Pat Toomey has been quoting the GOP State Chairman Patrick Gleason. Sestak said, "The Democrats cannot win the United States Senate without beating Pat Toomey.” That’s what Rob Gleason, the PA Republican Party Chairman, said yesterday about what’s at stake in this race. If the GOP picks a non traditional candidate like Donald Trump or even a Ted Cruz, they might lose a lot of Senators in the process. One of them will be Pat Toomey. Sestak is reminding people in the primary that he has the military and Congressional credentials to win. Let’s remember that Joe Sestak was the highest ranking military officer ever elected to Congress, no one in the Senate today – or running for the Senate – has the depth of national security qualifications that Admiral Sestak possesses. Sestak is opposed in the primary by former Wolf and Rendell staffer Katie McGinty.
BARLETTA WARNS OF BOGUS IRS TELEPHONE SCAMS
AREA RESIDENTS REPORT RECEIVING CALLS ATTEMPTING TO SOLICIT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo:LuLac archives).
Congressman Lou Barletta, warned Pennsylvanians about a possible telephone scam occurring in recent weeks, in which a caller solicits personal financial information while impersonating a representative of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Department of Treasury. Numerous residents have contacted Barletta’s offices to report receiving such calls from people demanding payment of supposedly delinquent federal taxes and threatening legal action. Barletta strongly advised citizens to refuse to provide personally identifying or financial information over the telephone and to report any incidents to the U.S. Department of Treasury. “These callers are aggressive, and may already know certain information about their intended victims, like the last four digits of a Social Security Number,” Barletta said. “People should never, under any circumstances, give out financial information like credit card numbers over the phone to someone who calls out of the blue demanding such payments.” According to the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration (TIGTA), the scam may be automated or feature live callers who can use caller identification technology to make it appear as though they are actually calling from the IRS or Department of Treasury. Followed up phone calls may be from people claiming to be from local law enforcement or the Department of Motor Vehicles. "The people running this scam are criminals, and they are just trolling for victims,” Barletta said. “Protect yourself, and be aware that the IRS would never ask for such financial information over the phone.” Barletta encouraged anyone who has received such a call to contact TIGTA at (800) 366-4484 or fill out an “IRS Impersonation Scam” form at https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml. Citizens may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov. To determine if actual federal taxes are owed, residents can call the IRS directly at (800) 829-1040.
Many people are calling it groundbreaking. Others are calling it game changing. There are those who are pulled back to the activism of the 1960s. And there are those that think it is a pompous overblown ad that would make Don Draper blush with shame. But this week the Bernie Sanders campaign debuted an ad using Simon and Garfunkel’s “America” which was from the iconic “Bookends” Album. That collection has gone from Long Play to whatever device is being used today for music. Garfunkel and Paul Simon gave their blessing to be used in an ad that has been burning up the political landscape since it aired.
TRUMP’S RUSSIANS
Apparently Donald Trump’s compliments to Vladimir Putin might have extended to his political advertising. Well, no not really. Trump quickly pulled a new veteran-focused campaign ad after observers pointed out that the footage included Russian veterans, not American. Trump has said numerous times about the Veteran’s Administration and even in the commercial, "Our great veterans are being treated terribly. The corruption in the Veteran's administration, the incompetence is beyond. We will stop that." (AOL News) The ad then cuts from Trump sitting at his desk to footage of faceless decorated veterans ... who happen to be Russian. Well I guess he has to start rebuilding the Veteran’s Administration one step at a time. But it makes you wonder if Trump would recognize a veteran if one fell on him.
KASICH GAINING GROUND
Ohio Governor John Kasich. (Photo: CNN).
Right from the start when John Kasich entered the race, it was my feeling that he had the opportunity to make an impact. However his “inside Washington, former corporate, current incumbent resume derailed that prospect in the age of Trump, Carson and Cruz. Kasich was not the anti-candidate. But all that said, if anyone will finish well in prickly New Hampshire, it might be Kasich. He has done 75 Town Halls, spent money and has been reasonable in most of his stances. Unlike other candidates who carry baggage, Rubio and Cruz on Immigration, Christie on Bridge gate and Bush on well George W. Bush, Kasich’s baggage is positive. Ohio’s 18 Electoral Votes. The path to the Electoral College is 270 and if the GOP can peel off West Virginia, Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin, the will be competitive. Kasich can only help.
Sarah Palin and her son Track in 2008. (Photo: People.com)
Sarah Palin went on the trail and immediately made news. Palin referred to her son’s recent arrest for domestic violence and blamed the boy’s plight on Barack Obama. I think it is sooooooooooo rich that these “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” Republicans immediately blame someone else for their troubles. The White House pushed back saying the issues she raised on the campaign trail are some the Obama administration takes "quite seriously." Palin's son was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman and carrying a gun while intoxicated, according to a police report filed in Palin’s Alaska hometown. In a speech she made Wednesday to support leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Palin linked her son's charges to his experience in the U.S. military and blamed the Obama administration for not doing enough to support its veterans. Okay, I’ve been accused of stretching things but this has me beat by miles. If anything this administration has pulled the band aid off of the V.A.’s and made it more transparent. There are many veterans who suffer from depression and anxiety but you don’t see their mommies blaming the freaking President of the United States. Furthermore there are many young men and women suffering from the traumas of war. But a minority are arrested. Most just suffer in silence and then either die by their own hand or try to sort it all out. But unlike the aftermath of the Vietnam War or even The Gulf War, there is plenty of word out there on how to get help. Palen’s little homily on veterans is typical of a no nothing angry woman who blames others for what she can’t contain in her own wretched family. But there is a silver lining for me here anyway. If Hillary loses the nomination I can blame Palin for the rejection of any candidate who happens to be a woman. Sounds stupid right? Just as dumb as blaming Obama for her son’s actions. But I suppose that “take responsibility” only applies to the rest of us.
GLENN BECK COMES OUT FOR CRUZ
Cruz counters with Beck. (Photo: Theblaze.com)
To blunt the impact of the Sarah Palin endorsement of Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz has brought on Conservative Talk Show host and Icon Glenn Beck. Predictably Trump fired a salvo on Twitter writing Wacko @glennbeck is a sad answer to the @SarahPalinUSA endorsement that Cruz so desperately wanted. Glenn is a failing, crying, lost soul! Well at least Beck claims to have a soul when he urged his supporters to “fast and pray like you have never fasted and prayed ever before” for Cruz after he declared his candidacy, according to Politico. On Tuesday, Beck took to Facebook to attack Trump for changing his views on conservative issues and Palin for supporting him. I think Beck is crazy but he has as much of a bedrock constituency among Christian Conservatives as Palin does. The Iowa caucuses are on February 1 but if I were the other candidates I’d be strong arming Ben Carson for his nod. That would really neutralize things. Or blow them up.
MEANWHILE BOB DOLE WEIGHS IN
Bob Dole still worrying about the future! (Dole for President).
For GOP nominee and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole said Wednesday that if Ted Cruz got the nomination GOP would suffer 'cataclysmic' losses if Cruz is the nominee. Dole e told The New York Times, "Nobody likes him," referring to members of Congress. The former presidential candidate issued a warning that the party would suffer "cataclysmic" and "wholesale losses" if Ted Cruz is nominee.
FEDERAL WAGE PANEL VOTES TO RECOMMEND INCREASING WAGE GRADE PAY IN MONROE COUNTY, TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT
Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives).
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) has voted to recommend moving federal facilities in Monroe County, Pennsylvania into the New York City wage area for the computation of pay for wage grade, hourly federal workers. If adopted by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the recommendation would increase pay for approximately 1,500 wage grade federal workers at Tobyhanna Army Depot. FPRAC, a labor-management committee which advises the Director of OPM on policy matters pertaining to the Federal Wage System (FWS), voted 5-4 in favor of the motion on Monroe County during a hearing today. Sheldon Friedman, Chairman of FPRAC, broke a tie and voted “yes” on the grounds that the disparity in treatment between hourly and salaried workers at Tobyhanna Army Depot was inequitable. Under the current policies, general schedule, or salaried employees, at Tobyhanna are treated as working within the New York City regional boundary. As a result, they receive a roughly 20-25% locality addition to their pay. However, hourly employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot are currently included in the Scranton wage area, which is part of a pay area known as the Rest of the US, meaning no locality increase. Cartwright’s District Director, Robert Morgan, testified in front of the Committee today highlighting the need to replace the current outdated and unfair system, arguing that hourly and salaried workers live in the same places, travel the same highways, and buy lunch in the same places. After the vote, Rep. Cartwright said, “The workers at Tobyhanna Depot deserve the same pay regardless of whether they are hourly or salaried. It’s time to fix this problem, and today’s recommendation is an important step. Now we need action by OPM.” Cartwright indicated he would formally urge the OPM Director to adopt today’s FPRAC’s recommendation on Monroe County. The regional economic impact of raising wages for 1,500 Tobyhanna workers would be measured in the millions of dollars. One estimate placed the range at $5-10 million per year.
MEDIA MATTERS
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
This week's guest is Dr. Michael Marino, Medical Director of Geisinger Sleep Services. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Game Sports Radio 1400/1440 am and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.
ECTV LIVE
ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will welcome Stan Zygmunt from the University of Scranton to the program during the week of January 25th. He'll review a list of programs at the University that are open to the public over the next few months. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired several times each day throughout the week.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Admiral Joe Sestak, who discusses issues ranging from health care and national defense to jobs. Magic 93 's Frankie int he Morning speaks with Mary Carrol Donahue from United Neighborhood Centers about their upcoming "Party Gras" fundraiser, coming up on Friday Feb 5th at the Radisson Hotel in Scranton. Brian speaks with Wendy & Stephanie about their "Splashin With Compassion" fundraiser to benefit cancer research coming up next Saturday at Montage Mountain. And Frankie speaks with Mike Zimmerman, CEO of family Service Association about their annual campaign. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, WARM, and 6:25am on Magic 93.
SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION
Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.
BUDDY RUMCHEK
Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”
KAREL ON THE STREET
Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.
BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!
The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net www.doowopsockhop.net
1971
Our 1971 logo.
The landmark television sitcom All in the Family, starring Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker, debuts on CBS….but before there was the first episode on CBS, there was this pilot on for ABC.....
Seventy Brazilian political prisoners are released in Santiago, Chile; Giovanni Enrico Bucher is released January 16……The Aswan High Dam officially opens in Egypt……news from the Commonwealth comes out of Philadelphia where Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo says he will run and win election as the city’s Mayor in Lackawanna County Commissioners Melody and Zipay say they will go for another term…and 46 years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “One Less Bell to Answer” by The 5th Dimension.
I have only been following the story about the idiots in the West who have occupied a wild life preserve very sporadically. When I hit a certain age I decided that life was too short to pay attention to anything that is just not worth it. But something came across the e mail machine this week that crystallized everything for me. Like unions, militias have become caricatures of themselves. Take a look at this and see if they even have a case.
Dear friends,
I'm sure by now you've heard about the armed militia that has seized a national wildlife refuge in Oregon. They vow to remain there until the federal government returns this land to its rightful owners - THEM. They warned law enforcement authorities they will fight to their death. This band of deadbeat brothers has stiffed the U.S. taxpayers for years by refusing to pay the meager grazing fees they are charged by the federal government. They have a history of letting their cows overgraze federal land, trashing the environment in the process. To support their noble efforts, these government-haters have asked millions of their fellow "patriots" to send supplies like pizza and beer. Such supplies are now being delivered by a government agency known as the U.S. Postal Service on roads built by the government. In the meantime, since there really isn't much for these God-fearing militants to do while they patiently wait for government tanks, fighter jets, and guided missiles to light up the night sky, these REAL Americans thought it was time to redesign their popular "Tea Party" flag, which they so proudly fly. In case you don't remember, the old Tea Party flag had these fearful words emblazoned across the bottom: "DON'T TREAD ON ME".
Oh and by the way, the brave militia men are getting annoyed by some of the care packages “patriots” are sending. People are sending dildos which I guess is a fitting gift for the group.
Trump and Palin in New York City. (Photo: NY Daily News)
As the Iowa caucuses draw near, Donald Trump has received the endorsement of former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Palin who is John McCain’s blot on history decided to come out for Trump. This should come as no surprise and as a warning. Palin has a right wing know nothing constituency that blends well with Trump’s bombastic, no facts persona. They are made for each other. The bottom line in Iowa is whether the Trump troops can outmaneuver Ted Cruz. They just might because unlike the other alternative candidates, no one in the GOP really cares for the Texas Senator. Sarah Palin is once more jumping on a publicity bandwagon. Let’s hope and prayer Trump gets totally infatuated with her politically and gives her another run at Veep.
WHAT WOLF IS FACING
Senator Scott "Tough Guy" Wagner. (Photo: Philly.com)
Here's what Senator Scott Wagner said about Governor Tom Wolf at a PA GOP meeting this past weekend:
"We had him down on the floor with our foot on his throat and we let him up. Next time, we won't let him up."
Again typical of what this Governor is facing in terms of the mentality of the GOP in Pennsylvania. Wagner's remarks was incendiary and violent and has no place in any reasonable conversation on how Pennsylvania can move forward to end the structural deficit and fund our schools. This……………is not Wolf’s fault.
Tune in this weekend at 11AM on WBRE TV and 11:30PM on WYOU TV when Eyewitness Newsmakers feature Interim County Manager Dave Pedri and for Luzerne County Council Chair Rick Morelli. WBRE’s Andy Mehalschick and Jayne Ann Bugda host.
DEMOCRATIC DEBATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT
The three Democrats running for President Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley appear Sunday night at 9pm for their final debate before Iowa.
PLEASE JOIN
Congressman
Matt Cartwright
For a Campaign Kick-off and Petition Event!
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Greenwood Hose Co.
3727 Birney Avenue, Moosic, PA 18507
Entry is free and refreshments will be provided by Arcaro and Genell’s Pizza!!
For more information or to RSVP please call: 570-793-1296
Then Reverend Joseph J. Super (Photo: circa 1967, LuLac archives)
It was Sunday January 15th, 1967 and the Yonki family was firmly ensconced in pew number three, left side at St. John the Baptist Church in Pittston. We always attended 9:30 Mass and the usual suspects were there. Or parishioners. The Dellartes were on the opposite side of the church, pew 7, and the Andy Zavadas were right behind us. The Mass started and the Pastor, Father Super gave the homily. He intoned right from the start that the great football game to be played that afternoon, the actual day, was named after him. Super Sunday. It was not yet the Super Bowl yet. Super Sunday came from the LaMarr Hunt family. One of Hunt’s sons said that the Super Ball (a round object that bounced very high and was very popular) would be a great name for this Sunday. It was a regular Sunday in January but you knew this would not be just another game. This would be akin to a World Championship of two leagues in its most basic form. Well maybe. Despite my enthusiasm as a Packer fan and the fact that two networks were covering this, the game itself was pretty anti climatic. The Packers won 35-10 over Kansas City, Father Super had his Super Sunday as did most Americans and life went on. Life went on so mundanely that the two networks who broadcast the games erased footage of what they had. That’s how unimportant they thought the game was. Now the game was not erased by accident. When I began in broadcasting, it took much effort to erase a tape. You had this bulky eraser and had to go over the tape for at least 5 minutes making sure every section of the magnetic tape was erased. Through the years Super Sunday has morphed into The Super Bowl, a national holiday of incredible economic and pop cultural proportions. That’s why it is that much sweeter this year that on the 49th anniversary the NFL Network actually pieced the original game back together. The audio comes from a radio broadcast featuring NBC Radio. In an exhaustive process that took months to complete, NFL Films searched its enormous archives of footage and were able to locate all 145 plays from Super Bowl I from more than a couple dozen disparate sources. Once all the plays were located, NFL Films was able to put the plays in order and stitch them together while fully restoring, re-mastering, and color correcting the footage. Finally, audio from the NBC Sports radio broadcast featuring announcers Jim Simpson and George Ratterman was layered on top of the footage to complete the broadcast. The final result represents the only known video footage of the entire action from Super Bowl 1 and NFL Network will show it to the world for the first time on the 49th anniversary of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs, January 15. The game is being broadcast as we put this up but will be repeated on the NFL Network at midnight. Even though I watched that first game, it will be refreshing to see what they call “The Lost Game” on Reverend J.J. Super’s Sunday.
Had a 36 month job creation record of more than on average 100,000 jobs a month? Had negotiated with enemies like Korea and Iran instead of starting another war? Had regulated Wall Street but did not make the brokers poor and have investors doing well? Had provided health insurance for 90 million Americans? Had been free of any corruption or peccadillos since Ike’s administration? Had brought the unemployment rate down to pre-recession George W Bush numbers? Had run an administration that retooled our energy policy, made us less dependent on Mideast nations for oil and reduced gas prices nearly under 2 dollars a gallon?
You’d take that deal if the guy pictured below became President in 2012.
But the fact is we already got that with this guy!
One thing the GOP won’t ever admit is why.
ILLEGALITY IN THE LAC
Nope no one from the Board of Commissioners is going the way of Munchak and Cordaro but the fun has started. At the very first meeting on Wednesday, Pat “The Statesman” O’Malley and Laureen Cummings voted yes on several actions. Democrat now self proclaimed minority Commissioner Jerry Notarriani said nothing. Pulling a Simon and Garfunkal, Notarianni explained his action or lack thereof. The high vote getter told WNEP TV "I believe that this is an illegal meeting. We don't have a solicitor, not a duly appointed one”. Notarianni claims the solicitors were appointed without his input and now he wants a Minority Solicitor. My late Uncle Andy Dziak used to say that ships were created for starving lawyers. O’Malley claimed his old running mate wanted to hire his cousin Paul Walker for the job. Walker ran for Judge in 2013 and people know him and like him. Plus Jerry will vouch for him. “Cheese” has a problem with that??? Notarianni said he might even sue the county over this. That will employ more lawyers. The first two meetings proved one thing. The most powerful person on that Board of Commissioners is not the top vote getter Notarianni or the wily Pat “The Statesman” O’Malley but Laureen Cummings. I mean this is like a TV show, “The Courting of Laureen”. Cummings never suffered fools gladly and you really wonder how long she’ll stay with O’Malley. Notarianni might just make a move leaving “The Statesman” out to sea. After two meetings where do you think this will all lead? Well if this continues you might see a Home Rule Charter adopted in The Lac. When it happens remember where you read it first.
BARLETTA BACKS MEASURE TO PROTECT COAL INDUSTRY
STREAM ACT PROTECTS COAL AGAINST FURTHER REGULATORY OVERREACH BY FEDERAL AGENCY
Congressmn Lou Barletta. (Photo: LuLac archives)
Congressman Lou Barletta, voted in support of legislation that would protect the coal industry from further regulatory overreach by the federal agency overseeing mines, introducing common sense into the process and protecting jobs and energy. The Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act addresses planned Stream Buffer Regulations from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), which are aimed directly at shutting down surface coal mining operations by banning mining within 100 feet of anything the agency defines as a stream. The regulations would also prohibit mining underneath a stream, which would make underground coal mining practically impossible. The bill, H.R. 1644, passed the House by a vote of 235-to-188. “While he was a candidate for president, Barack Obama pledged to bankrupt the coal industry, which is the one energy policy he has had that seems to be working,” Barletta said. “Pennsylvania was built on coal. Thousands of our residents still rely on the industry for their livelihoods, and millions depend on it for their electricity. If you shut down coal mines, it will kill jobs and make electricity bills cost more. I will always do everything I can to stand strong for coal.” Passage of the legislation comes at the same time as Arch Coal, one of the largest coal companies in the country, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. That move follows bankruptcies of other industry companies Alpha Natural Resources, Walter Energy, and Patriot Coal. The National Mining Association estimates that 40,000 coal-related jobs have been lost nationally since 2008.
The STREAM Act protects the coal industry by:
Requiring OSM to study the impact of new rules on industry. Preventing the implementation of new rules for one year following the completion of the study to allow Congress, the industry, and the public to examine the results. Blocking the implantation of OSM rules that are duplicative and already enforced by other agencies. Mandating the public release of all scientific data used in the drafting of any new rule. “There is renewed interest in anthracite coal, because of the high carbon content, which could mean an industry boom in our region of Pennsylvania,” Barletta said. “We cannot allow for job creation, economic development, and energy generation to be held hostage by overzealous regulators in Washington, D.C.”
MEDIA MATTERS
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
This week's guests are Mary Ann LaPorta and Jennifer Aglialoro from the Children's Advocacy Center of Lackawanna County. You'll hear the program Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA's Sports Radio-The Game 1400/1440 am and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River
ECTV LIVE
ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will welcome Bill Miesch from the APPRISE program to the program during the week of January 18th. Mr. Miesch will discuss a free Tax assistance program available to Senior Citizens in Lackawanna County and offer suggestions as to financial records people should have ready for this year's Income Tax forms. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aided three times daily throughout the week.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Ron Davis of R.J. Financial Services about their 3rd Annual Bowl for a Cause event, coming up next month at Chacko Lanes in Wilkes Barre. Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Dave Skutnik from the Red Cross about the MLK Day of Service coming up on Monday. Brian speaks with nurse Barb Dehn about Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. And an encore of Brian's interview with Terri Stocki from Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeast Pa. about how they can help you shop for a health insurance plan. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, WARM, and 6:25am on Magic 93.
SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION
Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.
BUDDY RUMCHEK
Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”
KAREL ON THE STREET
Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.
BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!
The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net www.doowopsockhop.net
1971
Our 1971 logo.
Strikes in Poland demand the resignation of Interior Minister Kazimierz Switala. He resigns January 23 and is replaced by Franciszek Szlachcic……Representatives of 23 western oil companies begin negotiations with OPEC in Tehran to stabilize oil prices; On February 14 they sign a treaty with 6 Khalij el-Arab countries…..The Guinean government sentences to death 92 Guineans who helped Portuguese troops in the failed landing attempts in November 1970; 72 are sentenced to hard labor for life; 58 of the sentenced are hanged the next day…..in Washington D.C. Senator Hugh Scott is sworn in for his third and final term in the U.S. Senate…..
in Lackawanna County Robert Mellow opens up a State Senate office in Peckville. Mellow won a stunning victory in the 1970 22nd Senatorial District race and 46 years ago the number one song in the country an LuLac land was “Knock Three Times” by Dawn.
Location: Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States
Political analyst for WBRE TV's Pa. Live program and post election commentator for WBRE TV's Eyewitness News Daybreak show. Author of the book "A Radio Story/We Wish You Well In Your Future Endeavors" and "Leges Vitae" "26 Rules of Life" and the new novel, "Weather Or Knot". The blog editor also writes various news articles and columns as well as upcoming literary projects. The blog editor was a frequent guest on WYOU TV'S INTERACTIVE NEWSCASTS when political issues were discussed on the national, state and local level. Yonki was a weekly panelist on WYLN TV 35's Friday Topic A program. He also appeared on the Hazleton, PA. station on Election Night doing coverage and did special projects and stories for WYLN TV 35's 10PM Newscast "Late Edition".
