Editorials
Common core, common gain
Thousands of high school seniors throughout Pennsylvania are about to have the common experience of receiving a high school diploma. That doesn't mean, however, that their diplomas have common value. And according to state statistics, about 43 percent of (read more)
Reinstate SSD ethics policy
Despite leading the charge to repeal a ban on Scranton school directors accepting campaign contributions from district vendors, Director Bob Lesh has returned $1,100 in such contributions during his campaign. Mr. Lesh was the board president last July wh (read more)

Chris Kelly Columns
Kelly: NEPA candidates are masters at stating a position on an issue without saying anything
Photo: N/A, License: N/A Ask a head coach what his football team must do to win on any given Sunday, and he'll spit out an answer that could have been uttered at any time since the first pigskin was snapped: "We need to focus on the fundamentals - blocking, tackling and moving the chains. (read more)
Letters to the Editor - 5/7/2013
Photo: N/A, License: N/A Dazzling recruiter Editor: Gov. Tom Corbett recently went to Brazil to encourage companies there to bring their businesses to Pennsylvania (Yeah, right!). We are sure these companies are going to flock to Pennsylvania when they hear that they won't be a (read more)
Kelly: Corbett's latest gaffe can only be case of chemical impairment
Photo: N/A, License: N/A Once again, Tom Corbett has tested positive for dope. Not the kind a stoner or junkie buys from a drug dealer, but the kind that makes people stay stupid things that inadvertently reveal what they really think. (read more)
Chris Kelly: In NEPA only convenient laws apply
Photo: N/A, License: N/A I could get to work much faster if stop signs and red lights were optional. And my workday would be much less stressful if my daily responsibilities were optional. I'd also have more money in my pocket if my mortgage payments were optional. (read more)
Kelly: Just like the runner who got up and finished, Americans will rise to defeat sociopaths
Photo: N/A, License: N/A "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers, so many caring people in this world." - Fred (Mr.) Rogers (1928-2003) (read more)

Roderick Random Columns
Random Notes: Volpe-Wansacz fallout, plus mystery flier
There's a new wrinkle to the referendum on Tuesday's primary ballot regarding a commission to recommend the future structure of Lackawanna County government. The referendum is the brainchild of Scranton insurance executive Charles Volpe, who is funding the political action committee promoting it. (read more)
At least they're called 'Mayor'
Outside of Scranton, mayor is mostly a part-time job. Except for Carbondale, mayors exist only in boroughs. Their pay is low, and their official duties limited, though many do a whole lot more than just oversee police departments and break ties in boroug (read more)
Record offers reasons to end local primaries
Photo: N/A, License: N/A, Created: 2013:04:29 18:04:53 Well, this has got to be one of the quietest elections we've seen in a while. Nobody is spending big money, probably because availability is limited, so nobody is attacking yet. With 17 days to the primary election, it seems like everybody is playing nic (read more)
Silence odd campaign tactic
The consensus among local politicos, backed up by Chuck Volpe's private poll, is that voters will overwhelmingly approve forming a commission to study the structure of Lackawanna County government, but the insurance man in Mr. Volpe isn't taking any chan (read more)