Free Republic

Two years after signing a dreadful law that was designed to suppress voting by some of the state's most vulnerable citizens, Gov. Tom Corbett has accepted Judge Bernard McGinley's sound judgment that the Voter ID law is unconstitutional and illegal. Mr. Corbett announced Wednesday that he will not appeal the decision. Nor will he and the legislative architects of the blindly partisan law try to resurrect it for the November election. Pennsylvania's Voter ID law was part of a wave of such legislation in Republican-majority state legislatures. Some of those laws met constitutional muster. The Department of Justice signed off...

TOWANDA - Low natural gas prices are resulting in some changes at Chesapeake Energy. This week, The New York Times News Service reported that Chesapeake Energy announced that it would cut gas production "in response to plummeting prices." In a news release, Brian Grove, Senior Director - Corporate Development for Chesapeake based in Chesapeake's Towanda office, explained the effects locally. He said that "in response to natural gas prices that are at their lowest in a decade, Chesapeake is redeploying some of its rigs from areas with dry gas to expand production in liquids-rich areas, which are delivering superior economic...

TOWANDA - Approximately 125 parents, students and other members of the public attended the Towanda School Board meeting on Monday, many of whom spoke out against the approximately $2 million in proposed cuts to the school district's proposed $24.1 million budget. Towanda schools Superintendent Diane M. Place said the cuts were proposed by the district's administration because of the state funding cuts to public schools that are included in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed state budget. Echoing comments that Place has made, Towanda Junior/Senior High School Principal Dennis Peachey said the $2 million in cuts represent a "gutting of public education"...

ATHENS - The Athens Area School District became a sea of red on Monday as students, teachers, and staff wore red shirts to show their support for restoration of state funding for public education contained in the Pennsylvania budget recently submitted by Governor Corbett. Athens High School assistant principal Bill Clark told a student assembly in the high school gymnasium, "I expected to see teachers and support staff in red, but when I saw 500 students in red shirts, I was amazed." The students in red formed the letters "SOS" on the gym floor for "Save Our Schools."

When the state launched a new health insurance program Sept. 1 specifically aimed for people with pre-existing conditions and no coverage, officials were not sure what to expect. As it turns out, Pennsylvanians are leading the country in the number of sign-ups. Even so, fewer than half of the available slots have been filled, and some experts are saying many who are eligible are not aware that such coverage exists. By Nov. 1, there were 1,657 people signed up for what is called PA Fair Care, a high-risk insurance pool for uninsured individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, said state...

They will not say so publicly, but U.S. Reps. Chris Carney and Paul E. Kanjorski are not on speaking terms. Carney, D-10, Dimock Twp., wanted to be the next Pennsylvania member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee that controls federal spending. As senior member of the state's Democratic congressional delegation, Kanjorski could have helped him get that appointment to a vacant committee seat. Instead, the delegation recently voted to recommend a suburban Philadelphia congressman to congressional leaders who will fill the vacancy. The two congressmen refuse to say much about their spat, but their silence and veiled swipes at each...

By voting for health care reform Sunday, U.S. Reps. Chris Carney and Paul E. Kanjorski gambled that voters will understand the benefits in time to re-elect them later this year. Kanjorski, D-11, Nanticoke, a congressman since 1985, admitted he risked his political future and called it one of his most difficult votes ever. Carney, D-10, Dimock Township, in office since 2007, did not see his vote as politically risky and said voting yes was not difficult. Their opponents Monday predicted an end to their days in Congress. "People are livid," said David Madeira, one of three vying for the Republican...

Whether one lives in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, the Southern Tier of New York, or elsewhere in the United States, most Americans who will vote Nov. 4 never have seen the nation in such an uncertain position. For all of their lives, their country has had the world’s most powerful economy, rooted not just in knowledge but in fundamental optimism. Yet in recent months they have seen their own financial foundations — homes, jobs, access to health care and savings — erode at an alarming pace. For all of their lives, Americans here and elsewhere have been accustomed to...

Last night’s final presidential debate proved once again that Senator Barack Obama talks a lot, but really says nothing—nothing you can count on when he tells another whopper.

For the last 35 years, the couple has been involved in a lengthy list of activities, focusing on everything from ending corporal punishment to promoting peace. But now the two have said goodbye to Bradford County. They have moved to Sudbury, near Boston, to be near their children, Seth and Ethan, and their families. And they have left on a high note. Each has received awards for efforts they have undertaken.

Gore addresses the audience using a slideshow that includes photographs, charts and graphs of facts related to the problem of global warming. Sayre Theatre Manager Marjorie Ross asked businesses in Sayre, Athens and Waverly for contributions that would allow local students to see the film free of charge. "When people are educated about the problem at a younger age, it reaches them and they can become advocates for the environment," Ross said. "(Global warming) is certainly a topic that concerns all of us," Waverly Middle School Principal Diane Tymoski said. "I felt it was a very important issue to be...

The Senate yesterday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to secure the country's porous borders after years of warning voters of the dire need to do so. All but two Democrats and 20 Republicans voted against considering the border security-only bill, the last of three immigration votes in recent days. It was the only proposal that did not contain a guest-worker provision, and which many said would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens already in the country. "I think politics got in front of policy on this issue," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who voted against the bill.

"I'm sure it would not be withheld in one chunk," Towanda Borough Secretary/Treasurer Mary Ann Harris said. She said she was not sure whether it would be borough officials or employers who would set the schedule for when the tax would be withheld from paychecks. The Towanda Borough Council on Monday voted in favor of enacting the new tax. Specifically, the council voted 5-3 to prepare and advertise an ordinance that would establish a $52 annual Emergency and Municipal Services Tax in the borough. The council is expected to vote on the ordinance next month. The new tax would be...

WASHINGTON -- Baseball owners once passed up a chance to hire former colleague George W. Bush as the sport's commissioner, but now they're working hard to keep Bush at bat in the White House.

TOWANDA -- A rally to show support for the U.S. armed forces and President Bush will take place at 3 p.m. today at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda. The keynote speaker will be U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Tunkhannock. State Rep. Tina Pickett will also be in attendance. The program will also include prayer, patriotic music and addresses by several groups. Also in attendance will be representatives from American Legion Post 42 and from the office of state Sen. Roger Madigan. The group involved in the final planning for the rally included Wysox Supervisor Chairman Doug McLinko, the Rev. W....

Yesterday afternoon a truck drove down a side road in the Iraqi town of Safwan, laden with rugs and furniture. Booty or precious possessions? In a day of death, joy and looting, it was hard to know. As the passengers spotted European faces, one boy grinned and put his thumb up. The other nervously waved a white flag. The mixed messages defined the moment: Thank you. We love you. Please don't kill us. US marines took Safwan at about 8am yesterday. There was no rose-petal welcome, no cheering crowd, no stars and stripes. Afraid that the US and Britain will...

YOU know what will be the most immediately satisfying thing about voting for George W. Bush today? Knowing that I've done everything I can to ruin Rosie O'Donnell's tomorrow. And Barbra Rodham Streisand's. And that of Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts, Cher, Elton John, Alec Baldwin, and all the celebrity jackasses who have made fools of themselves with their snotty and hysterical political pronouncements. Yesterday, Righteous Rosie aired taped political remarks from Miss Rodham Streisand. The dimwit diva warned of imminent American apocalypse. "The best three reasons to vote for Al Gore are the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court and the ...

It'll be a hot time at the Scranton Iron Furnaces when Vice President Al Gore arrives tonight for a ninth-inning political rally. Not since its heyday at the end of the 19th century have the iron furnaces, located off Cedar Avenue, played host to such a large crowd. Turnout is expected to range in the hundreds to the thousands. "This will be anything but low key," said Jordan Barowitz, spokesman for the Gore/Lieberman campaign. "You won't believe what this place is going to look like." Preparations began Tuesday evening and crews were expected to work through the night to complete ...