Risk, reward in running Ross in the 158th

Let’s just say the race got a lot more complicated By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times So Cuyler Walker is out, and it appears that Chris Ross is in. Let us set aside the circumstances for moment, as complicated and messy as they are, and look at the situation in the 158th District from a purely political standpoint. Obviously, assuming that Ross is the choice Sunday night — and every single...

Concussion awareness – A mom’s perspective

New tech, early diagnosis, focused therapy & close recovery tracking yields promising results By Kim Chiomento, Staff Writer, The Times You probably know someone with a concussion or perhaps, like me, are a parent of children who have had concussions.  Concussions are never good news, but with nearly five million diagnosed annually, it seems like they really are everywhere. They can and do...

Op/Ed: Time to boost accountability and transparency for Congress

By Ryan Costello, Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello The gridlock and partisan rancor in Congress is taking its toll on the public’s perception of Congress, and rightfully so.  According to a recent Gallup poll, only 14 percent of Americans think Congress is doing a good job.  That puts the public’s approval of the job Congress is doing at one of its lowest points in history. As a...

Op/Ed: Rendell (and Wolf) shouldn’t escape pension blame

By Kelly Lewis Kelly Lewis I have read about 5% of the noise surrounding the upcoming Governor’s race in Pennsylvania. As a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I’m always amazed at what issues become amplified, minimized, and often buried. Less than 1% of the voters will read this little note, but as a son of teachers, and a friend to many current and retired...

Numbers, both in polls and finance reports tell a story

While Corbett’s numbers suggest a Democratic opportunity, can they raise enough $$ to take advantage? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Not to beat a dead horse, but there are even more bad poll numbers this week to make even the stoutest of Republicans more than a tad worried about not just the fate of Gov. Tom Corbett, but whether an electoral tsunami could hurt down-ballot candidates,...

Another tough week for Corbett

Will GOP turnout take a big hit? And ‘Donationgate’…yawn By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As Labor Day looms, we kick into high gear for the fall election, campaigns are gearing up with charges, counter charges — and in some races, what appears to be candidates distancing themselves from a certain Harrisburg office holder. That office holder is, of course, Gov. Tom Corbett,...

A tough week for Corbett, but an interesting tax idea

While the Fraternal Order of Police endorse Wolf, Corbett goes after Amish Mafia By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Gov. Tom Corbett’s struggling gubernatorial campaign took another hit this week when the state’s Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Democrat Tom Wolf, while the governor made headlines calling for the cancellation of the popular Amish Mafia TV show. Yup. Really. First on the FOP...

OP/Ed.: Wrong for state and Rafferty to back drilling on parkland

By Kathi Cozzone, Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone On Tuesday afternoon, we saw over twenty committed citizens standing outside my opponent’s office protesting the Senator’s vote to lease state-owned parkland to drilling companies. In addition to being harmful to our forests and parks, this vote was part of a larger problem happening in Harrisburg right now. The vote to lease state...

Op/Ed.: Is ‘settled science’ really settled?

By Gerald K. McOscar Gerald K. McOscar Contrary to what some scientists and politicians profess, one need not look far to see that science is rarely settled and that much of yesterday’s “science” is today’s old wives’ tale. In June, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the case of Han Tak Lee who nearly 25 years ago was convicted of the July 1989 arson murder of his 20-year-old daughter...

Poll numbers don’t always tell the whole story

Also: is it time to fire legislators too busy ‘on vacation’ to do their jobs? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Ah, the sweet smell of late summer. Fruits ripening, corn growing, backyard grills fired up, maybe even a whiff of chlorine from the pool all in the air. Also floating in the air: polling data, much of which might leave folks scratching their heads a bit. You may have seen...