Year: 2014

Gap between rich, poor schools doubled in 4 years under Gov. Corbett

Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The gap between what wealthy districts and poor districts spend to educate children has widened dramatically in the four years since GOP Gov. Tom Corbett took office, amid deep budget-balancing cuts in state aid under Republican-controlled Harrisburg and long-delayed pension obligation payments coming due.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/gap-between-rich-poor-schools-doubled-in-years-under-gov/article_53334702-5bf0-50cf-a772-6e4cd841dfd9.html

And according to spundge.com, he’s one of the villains who approved a gas tax increase:

“The Republican governor did approve a gas-tax increase in November as part of a more than $2.3 billion transportation package. The increase for gas and diesel is charged at the wholesale level, but multiple businesses have said they have to pass the cost along to consumers.
The increase is being phased in over multiple years, and the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, a think tank that says it’s dedicated to rolling back the size of government, calculated that it equals a minimum 27-cent per gallon increase for gas by 2017. The minimum increase would be slightly less than that by 2018.
The minimum increase would be higher for diesel.
The increases could be higher, depending on average wholesale prices calculated by the Department of Revenue.”

PCB contamination causes fish consumption advisory for catfish caught from Susquehanna River in Lancaster County

The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a consumption warning for channel catfish longer than 20 inches. Samples of the fish showed unacceptable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, often called PCBs.
MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/pcb-contamination-causes-fish-consumption-advisory-for-catfish-caught-from/article_ea4fd690-8f93-11e4-9e96-97713c0276f0.html?mode=jqm

Salt must go before bridge project begins

We know that too much salt is bad for your health, but it can be bad for the health of concrete structures, also. Rock salt (sometimes called “road salt” due to its use on icy roads) currently being stored under the Veterans Memorial Bridge may be contributing to spalling and cracking on bridge piers in close proximity to the salt pile, and PennDOT may require the borough to move the salt in the near future. At Columbia Borough Council’s Meeting of the Whole last Monday, Mayor Lutz stated the need for a pole barn or shed to contain the salt. The salt is used by borough and school district maintenance personnel. Lutz said that in the next year or two the bridge will undergo the largest bridge restoration project in Pennsylvania.

  A salt pile under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

 Deterioration at the base of a pier near the salt pile

 Spalling and cracking on one of the soldier piers, shown here and below

Tires slashed on 30 vehicles in Columbia – LancasterOnline

Tires were slashed on about 30 vehicles in Columbia Borough, apparently sometime Friday evening, according to police. 
Police said they began getting calls about 9 p.m. and found vehicles with slashed tires in the following streets:
200 block of South Second Street; 200 block of Lawrence Street; Mill Street; Furnace Avenue; the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Manor Street; 600 block of South 11th and 14th streets and the 1300 block of Central Avenue.
Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735.