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1. How northern Pennsylvania is being left behind

By Seth Higgins
 

Within the last year, several institutions that the communities of northern Pennsylvania depend upon — including healthcare services, a college branch campus, and two correctional facilities — have been snuffed out or find themselves on life support. Officials in Harrisburg have proven unable or unwilling to intervene. If trends continue, this region may soon find itself in an economic and demographic death spiral from which it cannot recover.

There is still time, but it is running out.

Why It Matters. The residents of this vast rural expanse tend to be older, lower-income, and less educated than the rest of the Commonwealth. Given the distances between communities, most residents must travel greater distances to access basic services, such as healthcare, educational institutions, and economic opportunities, than people living elsewhere.

Within the last year, several pillars of northern Pennsylvania have crumbled or are under threat. 

This trend began last winter when Penn Highlands Healthcare, which is the sole provider of healthcare for many communities in western Pennsylvania, closed the labor and delivery service at its Elk County facility. I’ve written about this issue before. Despite the community’s efforts, Penn Highlands’ executives refused to change course. 

This decision created a maternity care desert the size of Delaware.

These closures point to a broader, underlining issue. Many healthcare systems in Pennsylvania are under financial pressure. Penn Highlands’ financial situation is especially bleak. Although Penn Highlands’ executives have suggested otherwise, this may make other cuts to healthcare services inevitable.

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2. Thank you, Democrats

By Guy Ciarrocchi
 

Thank you, Congressional Democrats, countless Democratic Governors and mayors and the well-funded (often by taxpayers) left-wing activist, professional agitators. Thank you.

Rather than feeling angry, or shouting back, I offer you my sincere thanks.

In case any taxpayer or any citizen thought this past election was merely a contest between two people running for President, or simply a battle between two political parties, the last five weeks have helped us all see that what is at stake is much, much bigger than one election or even one session of Congress.

The major differences between the two parties are not over policy. The major battles are over priorities, values and goals. The Democrats and Republicans are not trying to achieve the same things, just by different policies

So, I wish to thank all the left-wing activists, talking heads, and politicians. We now have complete clarity of all that is at stake.

Why It Matters.  These are not merely two parties with disagreements on how to make America great again.

There are genuine, Grand Canyon-sized differences on what America is and what it should be.

The Democrats in Congress, their gubernatorial and mayoral allies, and countless well-funded professional rally activists have told us what they value. What they will fight tirelessly for, in the courts, in halls of Congress, in capitols and in the streets.

So, on behalf of those of us voting for and wanting common-sense, results-oriented government and stability in our communities and lives: you have made the choice crystal clear.

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3. Lightning Round

• As Bucks sues Big Oil, nearby governments lose same fight

• Schorn runs for full Bucks DA term, potentially facing ex-solicitor Khan

• Paul Davis: Twenty-year-old cold case still lingers over South Philly

• Kyle Sammin: Are Republicans already tired of winning?

• Tom DiBello: Federal resources are needed to support election workers

• Christine Flowers: The Oscars, like diamonds, are forever — just tune out the nonsense

• Thom Nickels: The tightly controlled life of an air traffic controller

• Former state senator spent $10K on Phillies from campaign account

• Guy Ciarrocchi: Go, Eagles, Go

4. PA's #1 Export is Not What You Think

5. What we're reading

“Congratulations, attention-hungry House Democrats: You stole the spotlight from Donald Trump on Tuesday night. Your reward? Undercutting your own message in the fight against Trump, making your party look small and desperate, and making Trump look like the commanding figure he desperately wants to be.” So writes POLITICO’s Rachael Bade this week in a forceful yet thoughtful examination of the tactics adopted by some of the minority party’s wackier members. 

It’s a strange thing — and maybe one reason for Trump’s success — that he drives his opponents so crazy that they lash out in ridiculous ways, making Trump look sane and calm by comparison. Sixteen years ago, Democrats lambasted a Republican representative for loudly (and rudely) calling out one of President Obama’s lies. Now, they’re even louder and ruder, and it’s not just one rep but an organized cadre. So much for the promise of normalcy.