Thew Lulac Edition #4, 796, August 31st, 2022

 

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo.

 This week the Times Leader outlines the great partnership between King’s College and the city of Wilkes-Barre. The college recently began getting the old Times Leader building ready for occupancy. This editorial chronicles the special relationship among the school, the paper and the residents both serve. That’s this week’s “Write On Wednesday”.  

KING’S COLLEGE CONTRIBUTES TO THE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL LIFE OF DOWNTOWN WILKES-BARRE

These stories shouldn’t be about us.

Over the past many months, we have used our weekly Diamond City Partnership/Downtown Rebound page to talk with officials from downtown Wilkes-Barre businesses and institutions about why they chose center city as their place of operation, why they’ve stayed, and how they have rebounded from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy.

Their words, their experiences are what matter, not our opinions. We have used these pages to provide a forum for those with stories of survival and resilience to tell. We hope those stories have been informative for all and helpful for the downtown business community, whose success is vital to the entire region. But again, we aim to tell those stories as impartially as possible: Let the people speak for themselves.

With this week’s piece, our views — and our story — are going to creep into the picture a bit, but there is a good reason.

In the accompanying column, King’s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney talks about his dedication to the institution’s mission, as well as King’s commitment to downtown Wilkes-Barre. It’s a commitment our organization shares, being a fellow downtown institution with over a century of history.

King’s story and our story overlap in many ways, as we were recently reminded during a tour of the former Times Leader building on North Main Street.

King’s College purchased the historic building for $725,000 in 2018 after the Times Leader moved a few blocks to 90 E. Market St., and plans to have the building ready to house a doctoral program in occupational therapy — the first doctoral program for King’s — in time for the 2024 fall semester.

At the urging of Times Leader history columnist — and King’s alum — Tom Mooney, we were led through the building by Father Looney and Tom Butchko, King’s associate vice president of facilities. The purpose was to see it one more time before it is well and truly gutted.

At the outset, Father Looney paused to give remarks about the project, and the building’s transformation from journalism to science education — or from deadlines to dissection, as I quipped to a few colleagues.

“The project that we’re engaging in here, in the former Times Leader building, is so important to us, and so important to our future, and to our way of embracing the broader community,” he said.

“This building is so much a part of the history of the city of Wilkes-Barre,” Father Looney said, adding for the current and former Times Leader staffers that it holds memories “of the sacred work that you do.”

Some of us did chuckle — respectfully — bearing in mind how daily life at a newspaper often feels much more profane than sacred, but Father Looney’s thoughtful and gracious remarks hit home.

And as he mentioned, it wasn’t the first time King’s had repurposed a sacred space.

When King’s renovated the former Memorial Presbyterian Church for use as the new Chapel of Christ the King, Father Looney said, members of the Presbyterian congregation were invited to visit the rededicated space, where many warm memories poured forth.

Likewise when we visited our old headquarters.

That visit was poignant, also, because there were several King’s graduates in the group. Colleague Mary Therese Biebel, who is one of them, pointed out that there currently are several King’s alums on our staff, and have been many over the years. We’re not naming them here just so we don’t inadvertently forget anyone!

It’s just another reminder of King’s physical and symbolic footprint — as a dominant institution in downtown Wilkes-Barre, and through its ranks of graduates in Luzerne County and beyond.

Father Looney’s column reminds us of some of the college’s key re-developments in recent years. I’d like to recap them and others here:

• Richard Abbas Alley Center for Health Sciences: Previously known as “King’s on the Square,” the Alley Center occupies the former Ramada Hotel on Public Square. King’s purchased the former hotel and spent $17 million for complete renovations that created student resident space in the upper floors with classrooms and other education space on the lower floors. The building houses the physician assistant studies, exercise science and athletic training programs.

As part of its ongoing reevaluation of campus activities and investments, King’s initially had a bistro called Zime in part of the first floor, but switched food service contractors and managed to draw in Wyoming Valley’s first Chick-fil-A.

King’s also converted part of the lobby to house a permanent display of local artist Sue Hand’s expansive “The Anthracite Miners and Their Hollowed Ground,” and carved out enough space next to the building to make a Miners Memorial Wall of Honor.

• Mulligan Engineering Center: Built in 1907, the former Spring Brook Water Supply Co. on Franklin Street was long a dormant shell. In 2019, King’s rededicated it as home to the college’s expanding civil and mechanical engineering programs. At that dedication, Fred Pettit, vice president of institutional advancement, called it “one of the most important academic buildings in our history, and one of the most important to our future,” while state Sen. John Yudichak referred to the project as a $6 million “game changer.”

• Christ the King Chapel: That same year, King’s opened the former Presbyterian church as its own chapel with a ceremony and a Mass of Dedication. Located next to the next to the George and Giovita Maffei Family Commons, the former church had been closed for about a decade prior to its refurbishment and reopening.

• New bookstore: Last year, King’s opened its own standalone bookstore on North Main Street, in the former S&W Restaurant across the street from the gym.

During his comments near the end of the ceremony, Looney called the building part of the school’s “heritage” because many students and staff had met and dined at the restaurant for years.

Kind words for that project and others flowed during the ceremony.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, a King’s alum, praised the work King’s has done in helping update and renovate the downtown, saving old buildings and putting them to new use.

State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre said King’s and Wilkes University have created numerous new programs in renovated or new buildings “to the point it improves the outside image of Wilkes-Barre.”

Absolutely.

I am neither a native nor a King’s graduate, though I did attend Niagara University, different Catholic-affiliated college in a different state. The mission and overall feel of King’s are familiar to me, with one key difference: Niagara was a suburban campus, while King’s is in the heart of Wilkes-Barre. It would have changed the whole character of my college years, to be sure.

As we all work to keep downtown Wilkes-Barre a vibrant place and rebound from the pandemic, the ongoing efforts put forth by King’s are important steps to generating foot traffic for center city and promoting the image of a progressive, hardworking community with top-notch higher education facilities, of which King’s is just one.

Its dedication to adaptive reuse of historic structures — likewise with crosstown rival Wilkes University — enhances the character of this beautiful city.

We can’t wait to see our old building when it is finally ready for its new role.

 

The LuLac Edition #4, 795, August 30th, 2022

 

BIDEN COMES TO WILKES-BARRE

 

For the first time in fifty years, a sitting President has come to Wilkes-Barre. President Joe Biden came to Wilkes University and did not disappoint. The President  forcefully defended the FBI as the agency and its employees have come under withering criticism and threats of violence since executing a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence earlier this month. Biden also used his remarks Tuesday to promote his administration’s crime-prevention efforts and to continue to pressure Congress to revive a long-expired federal ban on assault-style weapons. Democrats and Republicans worked together in a rare effort to pass gun safety legislation earlier this year after massacres in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. They were the first significant firearm restrictions approved by Congress in nearly three decades, but Biden has repeatedly said more needs to be done.

Biden also said he would work to ban assault weapons. He said, "I did it once before and I'll do it again" referring to his time in the Senate in the 90s.  The President said there is no good reason for guns that kill like that and eviscerate bodies of children, so much so that some parents needed to provide DNA to identify the victims. 

A crowd of 500 people reveled in the manner in which Biden addressed them. Relying on his Scranton roots, he gave a friendly but commanding performance. Anyone who will tell you “he’s senile” or “not up to the job”, you know the usual GOP talking points didn’t see him today. Senator Bob Casey, Governor Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Congressman Matt Cartwright, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown (who introduced the President) were among the dignitaries. 

Biden at Wilkes.  

Our LuLac correspondent Karel Zubris caught up with the great Paul Kanjorski who served his district well for over two decades. 

Here is Zubris with Matt Cartwright and Jane Turner.

She and Turner  also up with  Governor Wolf and Senator Casey. 

 Here's Fermin  Diaz with Congressman Matt Cartwright.  

PHOTOS: Karel Zubris  

  

 

and then there were the Trumpanzees, aka ***holes"

TREASON IN FRONT OF OUR EYES

Anyone who chooses to ignore the signs the Republican party under Trump are telegraphing had better be prepared for a different type of country in a few years. Unlike quiet coup plotters ala Julius Caesar these guys are telling us what they are going to do.

Lyndsay Graham for example. Here’s telling us right off the bat that if Trump gets indicted, people will riot in the streets. He might be saying this is ONLY a prediction but he is telling the “crazies”, the “proud boys” and the Trumpanzees to get ready to rumble.

That is TREASON! Not free speech but treason. Plain and Simple.

Then there is Doug Mastriano running for Governor in the state we call home. A photo surfaced recently of the former military man, a 30 year veteran by the way, dressed up in a Confederate Soldier uniform. 

Am I wrong here or didn’t guy in a Confederate uniform fight to keep slavery? Didn’t the guys in a Confederate uniform represent states that left the Union? Didn’t the guys in Confederate uniforms take the side of oppression rather than a unified nation?

By wearing that uniform Mastriano has made a mockery of all soldiers who died for THE UNITED STATES (all 50 of them) OF AMERICA as well as the men and women who served and died in the cause of liberty. Liberty from oppressive foreign enemies.

Never did I dream we’d need liberty from our domestic enemies like Graham and Mastriano.

They are unpatriotic thugs.

 

The LuLac Edition #4,794, August 29th, 2022

 MONDAY MEMES 

RUDY HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE RITZ

 

 Lenny Dawson KC Chiefs 

"Lemme take another drag and then I'll be right in coach!" 

 

The LuLac Edition #4, 793, August 25th, 2022

 

COUNTY COUNCIL RECORDS SANE VOTE ON DROP BOXES

The Luzerne County Council meeting on Tuesday featured a lot of debate on whether or not the County should be paying for drop boxes in an election. A segment of the GOP majority along with Democrat Tim McGinley saved their sorry asses from embarrassment and possible retribution at the polls next year by dispatching this silly and stupid move.

Drop boxes DO NOT cause voter fraud. The argument made by some Luzerne County Trumpanzee lemmings was just plain silly. People are used to mail in voting and  it is convenient.

The six council members voting against the ordinance: Vice Chairman John Lombardo, LeeAnn McDermott, Tim McGinley, Matthew Mitchell, Chris Perry and Chairwoman Kendra Radle. Those in support: Carl Bienias III, Kevin Lescavage,(Frick) Lying Brian Thornton, (Frack) Urban and Gregory Wolovich Jr.

Lombardo brought up n interesting point saying he was working hard for statewide GOP candidates who would repeal the need for boxes and mail in ballots which means he’s supporting a fascist  like Mastriano. For now though, mail in voting stands.

 

NOW IT’S ABOUT VEGGIES

Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz's campaign is taking a jab at Democratic opponent John Fetterman after the lieutenant governor’s campaign ridiculed - and raised money off of - a video showing the GOP hopeful shopping for groceries while complaining about the price of crudité.

“If John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn’t have had a major stroke and wouldn’t be in the position of having to lie about it constantly,” Rachel Tripp, Oz’s senior communications advisor, said in a statement, which was first reported by Insider.

Typical GOP tactic. You screw up, make an ass out of yourself and then attack the guy who called you out. Dr. Oz couldn’t diagnose his way out of a watermelon let alone speculate on why people have difficulties.

 

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TO HOST RALLY AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

The 45th President of the United States announced he will be holding a rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena in the upcoming weeks.

According to a representative from Donald Trump’s team, the former president plans to go to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, September 3 at 7 pm to deliver remarks in support of Doug Mastriano, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and the entire Pennsylvania Trump ticket. See Donald now in a navy blue suit. He'll be wearing an orange suit before the decade is over.

 

RICK SCOTT SLAMMED FOR CRITICIZING JOE BIDEN'S STAYCATION WHILE TWEETING FROM A LUXURY YACHT IN ITALY

Hypocrite Rick Scott

Rick Scott is once again under fire. The former governor who now serves as a U.S. Senator and the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is being criticized for taking a swipe at President Joe Biden for his “staycation” at his home in Delaware, which reporters discovered the Florida Republican did while tweeting from a luxury yacht in Italy.

Presidents generally take a few weeks off in August because Congress is on their summer recess.

Scott, the former CEO of a healthcare company who oversaw the largest Medicaid fraud in U.S. history, is considered to be the richest person in the U.S. Senate.

The Florida GOP lawmaker “is spending part of his congressional recess on a luxury yacht in Italy with his family after criticizing President Biden for vacationing in Delaware,” Axios reports. “Vacationing in Europe while Republicans face cash problems and rough headlines about their midterm chances could further hurt his standing with his GOP colleagues.”

Scott is already under fire for lavish spending of the NRSC’s meager finances, including on efforts to improve his standing ahead of a possible presidential run.

Pointing to a Washington Post article about the NRSC’s money troubles, Talking Points memo editor Josh Marshall last week said: “There’s clearly been some shift in momentum over the summer. But fundraising collapses like this don’t happen in a week or a month. Did Rick Scott defraud the NRSC like he did Medicare? How on earth can they be out of money after a year of gop surge?”

The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman Tuesday afternoon, pointing to the Axios report, added: “The figurehead of the NRSC, whose staff posted in giant posterboard a tweet questioning if he’d have fundraising troubles after his J6 vote, is aboard someone’s luxury boat as R candidates are struggling and the NRSC’s $ situation is also troubled.” (Washington Post, CNN)

 

REP. CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES NASA INDUSTRY DAY AND SMALL BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT

NASA WILL OFFER AN INDUSTRY DAY AND NETWORKING EVENT FOCUSED ON COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES.

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Matt Cartwright was  pleased to announce that NASA will offer an industry day and networking event focused on collaboration opportunities with local businesses.

 The NASA Northeast Pennsylvania Industry Day will be held Friday, September 23, at the University of Scranton’s DeNaples Center. The regional business-building event will include national and local speakers, presentations, and networking opportunities in collaboration with the Keystone Space Collaborative, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, and Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Local business owners, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and university representatives are encouraged to attend the free event. Registration is required.

“Northeastern Pennsylvania has a proud industrial heritage, and I’m looking forward to helping our local businesses work with NASA on advancing America’s world-leading space exploration program,” said Rep. Cartwright, who chairs the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds NASA. “I thank NASA for their valued effort to form successful partnerships with local businesses that will generate a strong economic impact in our community.”

During the event’s one-on-one networking sessions, participants will be paired with multiple “buyers” from government and industry relevant to their company’s offerings. The meetings will also provide attendees government contract advice and guidance on how to work with NASA and other aerospace contractors.

“Collaboration with businesses is a cornerstone of NASA’s technology development and exploration work,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “We look forward to connecting with the innovators of northeast Pennsylvania and sharing information about opportunities to work with NASA.”

“The University of Scranton is pleased to be able to provide a venue for NASA representatives to explore opportunities with local business representatives and is grateful to Congressman Cartwright for facilitating these connections. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students as well as for members of the greater Scranton community,” said Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at The University of Scranton.

“We are very pleased to be supporting this event to show Northeastern Pennsylvania is open for business and our manufacturers are ready for the opportunity to hear from NASA speakers, and to be part of the matchmaking portion of the day,” said Jeffrey Box, president and CEO of the NEPA Alliance PTAC. “This would not be happening without the support of Congressman Cartwright and his staff, and we thank him for making this event a reality.”

 

CASEY HOLDS HEARING TO HIGHLIGHT FINANCIAL SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

1.7 MILLION ADULTS WITH A DISABILITY AGES 25 TO 64 DO NOT HAVE BANK ACCOUNTS

CASEY’S ABLE ACT, PASSED INTO LAW IN 2014, ALLOWS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO SAVE WHILE MAINTAINING FEDERAL BENEFITS

Senator Bob Casey (LuLac archives)

On Wednesday, August 17, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) held a field hearing entitled “Saving with ABLE: Financial Security for Pennsylvanians with Disabilities.” The hearing, held at the University of Pittsburgh, highlighted how Chairman Casey’s ABLE Act, passed into law in 2014, is helping hundreds of thousands of Americans with disabilities open ABLE Accounts and save money without risking loss of their federal disability benefits. Chairman Casey also discussed his bipartisan ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which would provide 6.2 million additional Americans, including more than one million veterans, the opportunity to open an ABLE account and save for the future by extending access to people who acquired their disability between 26 and 46 years of age.

Approximately 1 out of 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability. People with disabilities across the Nation have half the rate of workforce participation as the non-disabled population and are more than twice as likely to be living in poverty compared to the general population. There are almost 120,000 ABLE account holders in the United States— these accounts contain over $1.1 billion in assets for an average account size of nearly $9,300.

“Today, I was honored to hear from three Pennsylvanians who are using their ABLE accounts to fulfill their dreams, as well as another who is unable to save with ABLE due to the age at which she acquired her disability,” said Chairman Casey. “In creating ABLE, we knocked down a barrier that people with disabilities face as they work to improve their lives. When we see a federal program working for Americans, we should do everything we can to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from it. That’s why I’ve introduced the bipartisan ABLE Age Adjustment Act to build on the success of the ABLE Act.”

Senator Casey’s ABLE Act, signed into law in 2014, makes it possible for people who acquired their disability before turning 26 to save money without risking loss of their federal disability benefits.

During the hearing, Chairman Casey heard from Brenda Dare, community advocate and artist; Colton Vazquez, Welcome Director at Open Up Pittsburgh; and Andrew Duch, advocate, on how saving with ABLE accounts have allowed them to save and fulfill their goals. Casey also heard from Carrie L. Bach, Director of MCO Operations and Business Intelligence at Voices for Independence, who advocated for the need to expand ABLE for people who acquire their disability after age 26. Senator Casey’s ABLE Age Adjustment Act would make it possible for allow Carrie Bach and people like her to open ABLE accounts and save.

 

GOV. WOLF: HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION IS MAJOR STEP TOWARD BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR PENNSYLVANIA

Governor Tom Wolf (Photo: LuLac archives)

Governor Tom Wolf today joined students, educators and elected officials in the Scranton School District to celebrate the administration’s historic $3.7 billion investment in public education over the past eight years.

“From day one, building a brighter future for Pennsylvania’s kids has been my top priority, to give our kids a strong foundation, to set them up for a future of success and prosperity,” Gov. Wolf said. “There is still work to do to ensure every student in Pennsylvania has equal access to the high quality education they deserve, but we’ve made a major step forward over the past eight years.”

This year’s budget alone includes a record $1.8 billion in education investments.

Speaking at Scranton High School’s about-to-be-launched STEMM Academy today, Governor Wolf recalled that proper funding for education was his top priority when he took office in 2015. This year, that priority resulted in:

$525 million increase through the Fair Funding Formula. On average Pennsylvania schools will see their funding increase by 8 percent.

$225 million increase for Level Up to provide targeted support to the 100 most in-need school districts, ensuring that every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to thrive and succeed through equal access to a high-quality education no matter their zip code.

$100 million increase for Special Education.

$79 million increase for Early Education through Pre-K Counts and Head Start.

$220 million for public higher education.

The investment in education includes $850 million in recurring funding to allow school districts to invest in student learning while simultaneously cutting local property taxes.

“I commend Governor Wolf’s commitment to fight for bigger and better investments in education. He’s brought more funding to education than any other governor in Pennsylvania’s history,” said state Sen. Marty Flynn. “This year’s historic increase in education funding will help schools in my district, like Scranton High School where we are today, that have been starved for resources and basic tools that are needed to provide students with a high quality education and learning environment.”

Level Up, first funded in last year’s budget, provides an equity supplement to each of the state’s 100 most underfunded school districts.

“I want to especially thank the governor for fighting for the $225 million in Level Up funding included in the 2022-23 state budget,” state Rep. Thom Welby said. “These funds will help historically underfunded school districts like Scranton and many others, and they are an additional appropriation, on top of the basic education and historic Fair Funding Formula dollars that will be distributed to school districts across our commonwealth.”

“Today marks a major victory in the fight for adequate and fair funding for our school children,” said state Rep. Kyle Mullins. “I’m proud to stand with Governor Wolf and other elected leaders who never wavered in their commitment to public education, and our efforts must continue behalf of our kids, educators, and taxpayers.”

“Lackawanna County schools alone are receiving an additional $19.4 Million from this budget, which is 15.2% more than last year,” said state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski. “The Scranton School District has been consistently underfunded for years and I am not standing here today saying every issue is now corrected. But providing a district that is still in financial recovery an additional $11.5 million, including $5.1 million in Level Up funding, is something that should certainly be celebrated and should become a blueprint for future budget discussions.”

Even before the 2022-23 budget was finalized, the Wolf administration had:

Invested more than $1.9 billion in education from pre-k through college, including the largest single-year education funding increase in state history in 2021.

Created the Level Up initiative to provide $100 million to the 100 most underfunded school districts.

Established the Public School Fair Funding Formula to help address chronic inequitable and inadequate funding for school districts in the commonwealth.

Invested $116 million in science, computer science and technical education, including $80 million in the innovative PAsmart program, and $36 million in apprenticeships and workforce training.

Modernized standards for science education.

Invested more than $130 million in School Safety Grants to make schools and school communities safer.

Reduced the age when students must start school to 6 and raising the high school dropout age to 18 to set students up for a lifetime of success.

Launched first-of-its-kind “It’s On Us PA” Campus Sexual Assault Prevention initiative to combat sexual assault and make colleges and universities safer.

 

 

MEDIA MATTERS

 

WALN TV

 

CORDARO’S LIES

The Mid Day Mussolini is again spouting the lies about Medicare saying that the new bill passed by the Democrats would take money away from that fund, He started pig squealing about Obama care did the same thing and this new bill would be horrible. And the crap goes on.

MEANWHILE ON FRANK ANDREWS SHOW

“L” or whoever the hell she is said that she wanted Joe Biden IMPEACHED because of all the bills he has championed. “I wanna see the total amount of money all those bills cost” whined the very annoying resident from Wayne County. Andrews gently told her that impeachment was a process and that it would need legislative support. He then told her that anyone can propose a bill BUT if it didn’t get in committee it would go nowhere.

1.       This stupid lazy cow should go on the internet and look it up herself!

2.      Her lack of knowledge is just plain breathtaking. And she my friends VOTES! 

3.        

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River.

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SATURDAY NIGHT

 

1975

Our 1975 logo.

In a luxury railroad car parked in the middle of the Victoria Falls Bridge, Ian Smith, the Prime Minister of Rhodesia and leader of the white minority government of the mostly black African nation, met with Bishop Abel Muzorewa of the black African National Council, to negotiate a peaceful solution to a threatened racial war. The bridge linked white ruled Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) and the black ruled Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia). Earlier in the day, Prime Minister John Vorster of white-ruled South Africa met with Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda at the Musi-o-Tunya Hotel at the Zambian town of Livingstone, later referred to as Maramba, with both leaders sponsoring the meeting between Smith and Muzorewa.However, the meeting was not successful……..Bruce Springsteen's album Born to Run was released in the United States, becoming a hit and making Springsteen a rock superstar………The death of Haile Selassie I, the last Emperor of Ethiopia, was announced by the African republic's radio station. Officially, the 83-year-old deposed Emperor had been found dead in his palace, and had been in failing health after prostate surgery two months earlier, and he was buried in a "secret location" by orders of President Mengistu. After the overthrow of the Mengistu regime 16 years later, Selassie's body was unearthed from a grave beneath Mengistu's office at the former Imperial Palace, and it was revealed that the Emperor had been smothered with a pillow while sleeping, after he refused to provide information about his overseas bank accounts…….The defendants in the 1970 shootings at Kent State University were acquitted of all responsibility for the May 4, 1970 killing of four students. Former Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes, former KSU President Robert I. White, and 27 members of the Ohio National Guard had been sued by the parents of the four students for $46 million……The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a ban on the use of polyvinyl chloride plastic for packaging of certain foods, because of its potential for causing cancer. At the time, PVC was the second most-used plastic in American food packaging. Although PVC film wrapping of meat and fruits was still permitted, the use of hard PVC plastic on lunch meat packages, and for bottles of liquids, was to be prohibited……..The FBI released the first 725 of 48,000 pages of its files concerning Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, 22 years after the American couple's execution for treason. The materials were made available following a Freedom of Information Act request by Professor Allen Weinstein of Smith College…Juan Velasco Alvarado was deposed as President of Peru by a military coup, after seven years of dictatorial rule. His Prime Minister, General Francisco Morales Bermudez, was installed as Velasco's successor.[…..General Vasco Goncalves was fired as Prime Minister of Portugal by President Francisco da Costa Gomes…..The nova V1500 Cygni was first observed on Earth, reaching a magnitude of 1.7 the next day, making it bright enough to be visible with the naked eye. It would remain visible for about a week. It was the second brightest nova of the 20th Century, exceeded only by CP Puppis in 1942. The distance of the V1500 Cygni was calculated at 1.95 kiloparsecs (6,360 light years), so the nova occurred in roughly 4400 BC.       Éamon de Valera, 92, Irish statesman who served as President of Ireland from 1959 to 1973, and as Prime Minister 1937–48, 1951–54 and 1957–59 passed away  

and this week in 1975 the number one song in LuLac land and America was  “Jive Talkin'” by The Bee Gees.