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Diamonds to students participating in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program. They’re pioneers, of sorts, proving that new ways of teaching, even in a decades-old building like Meyers High School, can prepare young people for the careers of the future. Several ninth-graders recently agreed to report to school on a day off purely to demonstrate some of the startup program’s equipment, such as 3-D printers, and applications. They seemingly impressed visiting administrators from nearby schools and reporters. Next, let’s hope more of their teen peers are persuaded to pursue STEM interests.
Coal to Attorney General Kathleen Kane. The state’s top prosecutor, who hails from Scranton, seemingly undermined a 2013 investigation into a former state gaming official with ties to Louis DeNaples, who formerly owned Mount Airy Casino, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported this week. Kane previously took heat for failing to pursue public-corruption cases against several Democratic state representatives accused of taking bribes. Aside from generating headlines for these apparent professional miscues, Kane’s personal life has supplied distractions: a crash, a concussion, a divorce. Her tenure so far has been marked more by the stuff of “TMZ” than “Law & Order.” No wonder some people are calling for her resignation.
Diamonds to McDonald’s. The fast-food chain announced its company-owned restaurants will pay starting employees $1 more per hour than the local minimum wage. Individual franchises, including local restaurants in Greater Wilkes-Barre, will “make their own decisions” on whether to follow suit, the corporation said. Let’s hope the trend catches on.
Coal to parents who go overboard when hiding those Easter baskets. Is it in the closet? The cupboard? The clothes washer? C’mon already. Show me the candy!
Diamonds to PennDOT’s pothole patchers. Beginning Monday, crews from the state Department of Transportation intend to conduct a two-week blitz on the region’s weather-beaten roads, smoothing surfaces for motorists’ comfort and safety. They aim to put down 1,700 tons of asphalt in the region, including on hole-riddled streets and highways in Wyoming, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. If all goes as planned, they’ll fill 80 percent of the potholes reported on state roads by campaign’s end. They’ll get to the remainder of the trouble spots as soon as possible, according to a department news release. Drivers are urged to travel cautiously through highway work zones. Also, you can report pothole locations – on state-maintained roads – by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD. Plus, if you’re deep into the science of potholes, learn about their formation by visiting the department’s YouTube page and viewing “Pothole Patrol.”