The LuLac Edition #5, 187, October 17th, 2024

 

   BIDEN SAYS 

GOODBYE TO 

ETHEL.

 Our man Joe Biden eulogizes the late Ethel Kennedy, the widow of the late Senator Robert Kennedy. After three hours of eulogies, tributes from the RFK/Ethel children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, three Presidents, Kenny Chesney, Stevie Wonder and other, Scranton Joe summed it up from the soul and the heart,. 
Take a good look and listen... we're going to miss this decent man.

 

EDUCATION, CRITICAL THINKING AND THE LUZERNE COUNTY TRUMP VOTER PART 1

Here’s the Education break down of citizens in Luzerne County. 20% of them have college degrees. The rest don’t. I am not looking down my pug nose at the people who went to trade schools and were shop students. These people are most likely making more money than those educated in some cases.

But a college education gives one a nuanced view of the world. Critical thinking is the key in all of this. Further education gives you the opportunity to not only question but ascertain facts.  Take a look at the strength Trump has for men who do not have college educations. They are for Trump because he comes up with easy answers to complex issues and that gives them a comfort level of having an opinion they don’t have to think about and ponder. As Rush Limbaugh used to say, “We’ll do the thinking for you”.

On the other hand Harris seems to be gaining ground with what James Carvile calls a “sleeper demographic” . A sleeper demographic to watch in this race is college educated white men who don’t like what Dobbs means for their daughters and other female loved ones. The Marist poll, released Wednesday, found that 56 percent of college educated white male voters would be supporting Harris while 42 percent would be backing Trump.

Joe Trippi, a Democratic strategist at The Lincoln Project, also emphasized the importance of this voting group.

“At @ProjectLincoln we call them Dobbs Dads. And they are breaking to Harris. One our most important target groups,” he wrote on X. Whether those 20% of “Dobbs Dads” live in Luzerne County is anyone’s guess. But think of this. When A dedicated Trump voter is called out on supporting a guy who started an insurrection, and you give them the facts, on Facebook they consistently respond with a laugh emoji or call you a “Libtard”.

Certainly not nuanced or critical thinking.

 

SO EASY…………………..A CHILD CAN DO IT!!!!

Donald Trump suggested children could do the job of auto plant workers on Tuesday while delivering a head-scratching tangent to the Economic Club of Chicago.

Trump, 78, appeared to oversimplify how international car companies get their vehicles ready-to-be-sold, saying they ship parts stateside that merely require American workers to “take them out of a box” and assemble.

“We could have our child doing it,” Trump said before a moderator cut him off.

The former president called out Mercedes Benz specifically as he gave a brief rant about his well-documented, oft-discussed love of tariffs.

Again, listen to the language. Trump, if he had his way would bring back child labor. Again, this is an insult to auto workers  who are SKILLED and CAREFUL in their work. Something Trump CANNOT do!

 

POLISH PEOPLE FOR HARRIS/WALZ

AND EDDIE

Actress and advocate Christine Borsnski was in Wilkes-Barre yesterday knocking on doors and later spoke at a rally at Genetti's. She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Maryann Thorpe in the sitcom Cybill (1995–1998). Baranski is also known for her roles as Diane Lockhart in the legal drama series The Good Wife (2009–2016) and its spin-off series The Good Fight (2017–2022), and as Agnes van Rhijn in the period drama series The Gilded Age (2022–present), both roles which earned her Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Baranski is also known for her film roles in Reversal of Fortune (1990), The Birdcage (1996), Cruel Intentions (1999), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Chicago (2002), Mamma Mia! (2008), Into the Woods (2014), and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). For her recurring role as Dr. Beverly Hofstadter in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2009–2019), she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

 

 

GEORGIA VOTERS MORE THAN DOUBLE FIRST-DAY RECORD FOR EARLY VOTING

Georgia voters shattered a first-day record for early voting Tuesday as the state prepared to play a critical role in the hotly contested presidential election.

By late afternoon, more than 281,000 Georgia voters had already cast ballots, far more than the 136,000 voters who cast ballots on the first day of early voting in 2020 and the 134,000 who voted on the same day in 2022.

The big turnout came as former President Donald Trump visited Georgia on Tuesday for a rally and a town hall meeting and as Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to visit later this week. Polls show the race deadlocked in Georgia and other swing states, and many voters grasped the significance of their ballots.

DeKalb County resident Denise Holliday said she waited about two hours to vote for Harris.

“This election is critical to the democracy of our country,” Holliday said. “I’m still traumatized by Trump’s last presidency.”

 

CARTWRIGHT DELIVERS $730,000 TO EXPAND LUZERNE COUNTY’S JUVENILE WELLNESS COURT

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FUNDS WILL HELP EXPEDITE MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICES TO MORE AREA CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS - AND THEIR FAMILIES

Representative Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright , a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced a $730,000 award from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will go towards expanding Luzerne County’s Juvenile Wellness Court.

The federal funds from the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention will help expedite mental health and drug and alcohol services to more area children and young adults - and their families - to avoid further involvement with Luzerne County’s juvenile justice system. 

“The Luzerne County Juvenile Wellness Court is tackling tough problems and providing services to those who need it most. I am grateful for the work they do for our community and excited that this federal funding will help expand their reach and impact,” said Rep. Cartwright, who is the Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, where he oversees more than $80 billion in annual federal spending, including the budget for the DOJ.

“As an Appropriator, I will continue working down in Washington to ensure Northeast Pennsylvania receives ample federal funding so we can build a future where our children can grow up safely and those battling addiction can rebuild their lives with dignity.”

The Luzerne County Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention establishes consistent treatment routines to encourage long-term success in managing diagnoses with the potential to reduce recidivism. Young people engaged with the program will receive intervention from a probation officer and a licensed mental health and substance use treatment provider. These professionals will provide participants an intensive team approach to the appropriate services that are trauma informed, culturally competent, client centered and evidence based.

 

CASEY DELIVERS $4.5 MILLION TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

GRANTS FUNDED BY CASEY-BACKED INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

GRANTS WILL GO TOWARDS PURCHASING AND INSTALLING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AND IMPROVING WASTE DIGESTION TO HELP FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES SAVE ON ENERGY COSTS

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

Senator Bob Casey  secured a total of $4,537,255 to lower energy costs for farmers and small businesses across the Commonwealth. The twenty awards will help businesses and farms purchase and install solar photovoltaic systems, which will convert captured solar energy into electricity to power machines and operations and save Pennsylvanians thousands of dollars per year. These funds will also help a Pennsylvania dairy farm purchase and install a new engine for their anerobic digester. The funding comes from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“When we invest in technology that lowers energy costs for our businesses and farmers, we are investing in the Commonwealth’s long-term success,” said Senator Casey. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, farmers and small businesses can continue supporting their families and their communities and save thousands of dollars each year. I will always fight for investments that lower costs, support businesses, and protect our Commonwealth’s environment for generations to come.”

 

MOODY’S UPGRADES PENNSYLVANIA’S CREDIT RATING TO AA2, CITING SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION’S “SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT” AND “STEADY” ECONOMIC GROWTH

THE UPGRADE FROM MOODY’S IS THE SECOND CREDIT RATING UPGRADE IN TWO YEARS — AFTER FITCH RATINGS UPGRADED THE COMMONWEALTH’S CREDIT RATING LAST NOVEMBER — GIVING THE COMMONWEALTH ITS HIGHEST CREDIT RATING IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

RATINGS UPGRADE RAISES THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER SAVINGS AFTER LAST YEAR’S UPGRADE RESULTED IN A SUCCESSFUL BOND SALE THAT YIELDED MILLIONS IN SAVINGS.

Governor Josh Shapiro (Photo: LuLac archives)

Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Moody’s Ratings has upgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating to Aa2 from Aa3, citing the Commonwealth's “sound fiscal management,” balanced budgets, and "steady” economic growth. This follows a similar upgrade(opens in a new tab) from Fitch Ratings last year which raised Pennsylvania’s credit rating to ‘AA’ from ‘AA-,’ and a rating outlook upgrade from S&P Global Ratings,(opens in a new tab) which improved Commonwealth’s outlook to ‘positive’ from ‘stable’ while affirming its A+ long-term rating.

This rating upgrade is in anticipation of the Commonwealth’s plans to sell $1.4 billion issuance of new money, and $238 million refunding, planned for mid-October. Pennsylvania is now at its highest rating since 2013.

This fiscal progress reflects Governor Shapiro’s commitment to responsible financial stewardship, supported by a growing economy and the bipartisan 2024-25 budget(opens in a new tab). As a result of those upgrades last year, the Commonwealth conducted a successful bond sale in December which saved Commonwealth taxpayers millions(opens in a new tab) of dollars – including $99.7 million in gross debt service savings and $80.7 million of net present value debt service savings.

"Under my Administration, Pennsylvania has received two ratings upgrades in our first two years – a testament to our responsible fiscal stewardship that sets the Commonwealth up for success in the future while making critical investments in our economy and our workforce today,” said Governor Shapiro. "Pennsylvania has the only divided legislature in the country, but we’ve shown two years in a row that we can come together to pass balanced budgets that invest in Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, and create real opportunity for people all across the Commonwealth."

"Pennsylvania is clearly on a strong path toward continued economic and financial success,” said Secretary of the Budget Uri Monson. "Our responsible investments and sound management are keeping the Commonwealth on solid fiscal footing while providing critical support to Pennsylvanians."

Financial Overview and Ratings Rationale

Moody’s upgrade acknowledges Pennsylvania’s large, diverse economy and strong fiscal management as key strengths for the state’s creditworthiness. The Commonwealth’s expanded economic base and job creation efforts have made its financial outlook more stable, despite increasing spending pressures.

Additionally, Moody’s upgraded approximately $10.8 billion in outstanding general obligation bonds to Aa2 and raised ratings for several state-backed financial obligations, including:

Appropriation-backed debt upgraded to Aa3 and A1

 Pennsylvania School District Intercept Program rating upgraded to Aa3

 Pennsylvania General Municipal Pension System State Aid Program rating upgraded to A1

 Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC) $983 million Motor License Fund-enhanced bonds upgraded to Aa3

This latest announcement reinforces that Pennsylvania’s economy is strong under Governor Shapiro’s leadership and that his Administration’s sound fiscal management is positioning the Commonwealth for long-term success. 

 

 

 

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN

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 SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

 

STEVE CORBETT’S SCRANTON CITY NEWS

Here's the link: News – The Outlaw Steve Corbett (theoutlawcorbett.com)

 

BEATLE EDD’S FAB FOUR MUSIC HOUR

Tune in every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107.

 

 

1984

Our 1984 logo

Austrian Ferrari driver Niki Lauda becomes a 3-time Formula 1 World Drivers champion when he finishes 2nd in the season ending Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril; wins title by just 0.5 from Alain Prost….. Paul McCartney releases "Give My Regards to Broad Street" soundtrack… Chicago Cubs Rick Sutcliffe, selected as a unanimous choice as NL Cy Young……..NBC airs BBC footage of Ethiopian famine…… STS 51-A launch vehicle moves to launch pad…… 11 members of Colombo crime family arrested….Intelsat 5 re-enters Earth's atmosphere 5 months after it failed…."Give My Regards to Broad Street" premieres (Gotham Theater-NYC) and this”week in 1984 the number one song in LuLac land and America was Caribbean  Quen (No More Love On The Run  Billy Ocean.

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