Deep cuts at Tobyhanna depot
In its first public announcement since the federal budget sequestration, Tobyhanna Army Depot unveiled $309 million of budget cuts that will result in furloughs of 5,136 civilian employees. The employees will be required to take 22 non-consecutive furlough days between late April and Sept. 30 unless the federal budget impasse in Washington, D.C., is solved.
Snö Mountain sale OK'd
A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved DFM Realty Inc.'s $4.6 million bid to take over Snö Mountain. DFM's parent, National Penn Bank of Boyertown, extended two mortgages to Snö Mountain's owners totaling more than $8.9 million and is the facility's largest secured creditor.
Jobless rate drops
The national unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percent to 7.7 percent, its lowest level in more than four years, The Associated Press reported. The jobless rate is now at its lowest since President Barack Obama entered office. The upbeat report fits with other big economic news of recent days, including surging stock prices and steady home price increases that have finally allowed Americans to regain the $16 trillion in wealth they lost to the Great Recession. Job growth has averaged more than 200,000 a month since November.
Boscov lauded
Department store owner Al Boscov became the first inductee into the Pennsylvania Retailers' Hall of Fame this week. Gov. Tom Corbett and former Govs. Ed Rendell and Tom Ridge were honorary co-chairmen of the event. It was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Retailers' Association, a Harrisburg-based trade association. The celebration was appropriate, considering his efforts to preserve downtown commerce in many Pennsylvania municipalities, said Austin Burke, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
Private liquor sales touted
During a tour of the café in Weis Markets in South Abington Twp., Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley promoted the plan to privatize Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board "state stores" and make alcoholic beverages more available for Pennsylvania citizens.
Casey: Program neglected
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is launching an inquiry into a financial shortfall at the federal Department of Labor Job Corps, outraged that the valuable job-training program appears to be neglected by the agency and is under an enrollment freeze.
Geisinger plans new facility
Geisinger Health System plans to construct a new clinic on South Mountain Boulevard in Fairview Twp. to consolidate three current Geisinger locations in the Mountaintop area.