Harrisburg To Get A Record $5 Million For Fire Protection For Capitol Complex

Harrisburg will receive full compensation from the state for providing fire protection and emergency services to the 40 tax-exempt state buildings located in the Capitol complex in the 2013-14 state budget making its way through the General Assembly.

Sen. Rob Teplitz, D-Dauphin County, applauded the funding that he along with state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, and Harrisburg’s city receiver Gen. William Lynch fought to get included in the $28.4 billion spending plan.

Despite that, Teplitz voted against the budget plan, which passed the Senate by a 33-17 vote. Democratic senators lambasted the plan for being too light on education and human service spending.

This amount going to Harrisburg exceeds the $2.5 million that Gov. Tom Corbett had proposed in his budget and what Teplitz called “the abysmal $496,000” in the House-passed budget.

Read more:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/06/harrisburg_to_get_a_historic_5.html#incart_maj-story-1

Germany Wants ‘Trust Restored’ After US Spy Report

(AP) The German government wants “trust restored” with the United States following reports that American intelligence agencies bugged European Union offices, and has invited the U.S. ambassador in Berlin to the Foreign Ministry for a meeting on Monday.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin on Monday that she was “alienated” by the reported eavesdropping conducted by the U.S. National Security Agency.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/apbusiness/5868074486027363366/Germany-wants-trust-restored-after-US-spy-report

Corbett Offers $140 Million For Philly Schools

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Part of that story includes the rescue package Corbett outlined Sunday for Philadelphia’s financially beleaguered school district, though parts of that too, still await legislative approval.

The governor told The Inquirer he backed a plan that would help raise $140 million for the School District in the next fiscal year to help prevent the doomsday scenario district officials have said would unfold without financial assistance.  The district faces a $304 million deficit and has sent layoff notices to 3,859 teachers and staff.

But the governor was banking on more than just an on-time budget this year.  Facing reelection in 2014, and trying to turn the tide of sagging poll numbers, Corbett had pushed an aggressive agenda and urged legislators to address it together with the annual budget.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130701_ett_endorses.html#kk0Wb8ECx92pXBYK.99

Summit Coordinates Major Cleanup Effort For Pottstown

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN — Three prominent forces in the borough have banded together to plan a cleanup effort to stimulate growth and vitality in parts of Pottstown.

Pottstown School District employees and school board members, The Hill School administration and staff, and borough employees were present at a Tuesday meeting at the Richard J. Ricketts Center to begin planning for the Pottstown CARES initiative.

The CARES project, standing for Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Empowerment, and Sustainability, has the three entities working on a community cleanup day scheduled for Oct. 25.

The planning meeting was spearheaded by Assistant Borough Manager Erica Weekley, Hill School Headmaster Zach Lehman and Hill Communications Director Cathy Skitko.  The meeting was called so the groups could work with locals to identify the primary concerns and problems to tackle in the assigned cleanup area, and to identify solutions for those problems.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130701/NEWS01/130629335/summit-coordinates-major-cleanup-effort-for-pottstown-#full_story

Pennsylvania Legislature OKs Budget, But Not Corbett Agenda

HARRISBURG – The main Pennsylvania state budget bill became law with Gov. Tom Corbett’s signature on Sunday night, as he acknowledged that the wider agenda he had sought with it of overhauling public employee pension systems, privatizing wine and liquor sales and increasing transportation funding has stalled until the fall.

Still, Corbett did not express disappointment, and instead sought to highlight the progress that occurred in the Legislature.

“I have to thank the people for what they’ve done and I certainly encourage them when they return in the fall,” Corbett told reporters shortly after the signing the bill at 10:15 p.m.  “Let’s get it done.”

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=489833

Today’s Funny

An elderly couple had just learned how to send text messages on their cell phones.   The wife was a romantic type and the husband was more of a no-nonsense guy.

One afternoon the wife went out to meet a friend for coffee.  She decided to send her husband a romantic text message and she wrote:

“If you are sleeping, send me your dreams.

If you are laughing, send me your smile.

If you are eating, send me a bite.

If you are drinking, send me a sip.

If you are crying, send me your tears.

I love you.”

The husband texted back to her:  “I’m on the toilet.

Please advise.”