Comitta looks to be in good shape on 156th recount

Will there be a local price for GOP overreach? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times So much for putting the feet up and enjoying the holiday season before wading back into this column in 2017 — so consider it a pre-holiday gift (or curse) — as news makes a surprise return needed. While the last provisional ballots have to be counted, it appears that Carolyn Comitta has pulled off a narrow win in...

Endorsements: Maxwell, Truitt and Rzucidlo for State House

If you think everything in our commonwealth is fine — you have simple choices in Tuesday’s state legislative elections. Returning your local representative will continue the policy and politics we’ve seen for a number of years now. For the rest of us, who see the state lurching from financial crisis to financial crisis, see alleged “fiscal conservatives” run up the state’s credit card like...

Things heating up in final days of election season

With 10 to go, intensity picks up; pension efforts fail again By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Well, we’re getting down to the end of it, just 10 more days and Election 2016 will in the history books. And make no mistake, it will be one for the history books. Or maybe, the horror section. And no, don’t ask me to email it to you. From filing what appear to be criminal charges against a state representative...

Democrats play their Trump card and hard

Ads start to go negative, too, shockingly By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Last week, in this space I noted that Democratic candidates would be looking to staple their Republican opponents to GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump. Based on a flurry of TV ads and mailers I’ve seen this week, I had it mostly right, except maybe the implement: Democrats are using a nail gun, and one has to wonder...

The Trumpocalypse hits home

Meanwhile, local candidates gather and talk issues thoughtfully By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Well, that was a week to be proud of in politics, right? As Donald Trump continues to loom over the election of down ballot candidates much as he did over Hillary Clinton during last Sunday night’s town hall forum — frankly, all it needed was slasher movie music to make it perfect — it seems likely...

Lewis, Truitt unite to help Safe Harbor

Nick Deminski, Rep. Harry Lewis Jr. (R-74), Mary Robins, Eric Ciarrocchi and Rep. Dan Truitt (R-156) gathered after dropping off crates full of drinks to Safe Harbor in West Chester Borough. WEST CHESTER — On Friday morning, Reps. Harry Lewis Jr. (R-74) and Dan Truitt (R-156) participated in a food rescue with Fiorenza’s Food for Friends (F4) for the benefit of local homeless shelters.  “Through...

Roundtable on poverty a start, but more is needed

Until there is a collective will to really address poverty, things won’t get better By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times COATESVILLE — With wealth bordering on abundance at times in Chester County, it can be difficult to confront the truth that for many here — arguably far too many — poverty remains a stark reality and a reality that in recent years has gotten worse. This past week, six state...

Rewarding military service with price breaks

New Veterans ID & Discount Program to launch in county on Friday Many areas businesses are not waiting for Veterans Day to thank the men and women who have served in the military. From dining to dentistry, car repair to chiropractic care, a host of vendors are participating in a new program for veterans. On Friday, Chester County Recorder of Deeds Rick Loughery, whose office manages DD-214 military...