Kids’ separation from family in prison

December 20, 2023

After 33 years of separation from incarceration, I still remain in awe that I am able to spend the holiday season with my dad outside of prison walls. I am extremely grateful for my father’s freedom. However, it would be misleading for me not to share that I am also still emotionally jolted by the holidays and decades of separation I experienced away from my father. The holidays represented a dark time in my life. It was a reminder of when my father was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison. Although I attempted to tuck away the pain, it somehow always seemed to ...

Pennsylvania House isn’t working

December 13, 2023

Early in 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the first time in more than a decade elected a Speaker from the Democratic Party. Speaker Mark Rozzi proceeded to adjourn the Pennsylvania House — which at the time had a Republican majority — while he went on a statewide tour to tout “bipartisanship.” Coincidentally, his tour ended right around the same time that the Democrats got a slim, one-vote majority in the House. It was only then that we were called back to work in Harrisburg. Later in the year, after a couple Democratic House members resigned and ...

Some tips on how to treat wait staff

December 11, 2023

It’s Friday night, and you’ve decided to go out to eat at the local diner with your spouse. When you arrive, you are promptly seated and given menus. Within the first minute, you’re greeted by your server. When she returns to the table with your drinks, she asks if you have any questions about the menu, or are ready to order. She takes the order back to the kitchen, and within 15-20 minutes, your meal is served. She checks back to make sure everything is correct with the order, and that you have everything you need. When she sees you are finished, she takes your dirty ...

We should have seen debt crisis coming

December 8, 2023

The U.S. incurs massive annual Federal budget deficits and has accumulated an almost insurmountable National Debt, which now exceeds $92,000 for each man, woman, and child. This debt accumulated exponentially since WWII— and coincided with the explosive growth of domestic Entitlement programs. The U.S. has yet to face the fiscal consequences of this profligacy, but it will likely be very unpleasant. How did we get into this situation? Since 1948, government spending has grown from 15% to 21% of the economic pie, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Entitlement ...

Spotlight PA puts our state first

December 1, 2023

HARRISBURG — State capitols are the testing grounds for the future of our country. New policies and novel legal theories on everything from abortion to education to election administration are being shaped at the state level. And the decisions made in Harrisburg have a far greater effect on your life than the little done in Washington, D.C. these days. That’s why Spotlight PA’s investigative and public-service reporting on the state capitol and urgent statewide issues is more vital than ever. Our journalism holds the powerful to account, keeps track of your tax dollars and ...

Signs of strep throat vs. sore throats

November 28, 2023

Having strep throat does mean having a sore throat. But not every sore throat is strep throat. People often get sore throats due to a virus, but strep is different because it’s caused by a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils. It gets its name from the type of bacteria that causes it: group A Streptococcus, or group A strep. Anyone can get strep throat, but it’s more common in children, especially those between 5 and 15 years old. And it’s more prevalent during the colder months when people spend more time together indoors and in close contact, especially in schools ...