today’s news and information gleanings from here and there!

Quote for today… “But (Matt) Johns and the Tide are one of the top stories of this L-L basketball season thus far.” – From an Ed Gruver column (Rising Tide making waves in boys’ race) in today’s Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era.

WINTER STORM WATCH: “SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY… .A FAST MOVING BUT POTENT WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING PERIODS OF SNOW TO SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY EVENING. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SIX INCHES OR MORE OF ACCUMULATION ALONG THE MARYLAND BORDER AND INTO THE HARRISBURG METRO AREA.”

• Administrative Law Judge recommends against Columbia Water Company rate hike: “PUC Conducts Binding Poll on Columbia Water Co. Rate Increase Request” – Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission press release

• The trail

• the recommended decision

• Any of this info at the Columbia Water Company Website? What do you think?

• Maybe at the Borough Website? Nope!

• And you expected something else? “Patients’ Costs Skyrocket; Specialists’ Incomes Soar” – The New York Times
  

• Need more? Read one of the “letters to the editors” in today’s Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era in which the writer claims, “She (a caller from the hospital) explained that LGH is now requiring some deposit of the amount I would owe.” The letter writer stated that Lancaster General Hospital is now asking persons undergoing procedures to “prepay” on their co-pays before the procedure.

• “Physicians and other health professionals are traditionally the largest source of federal campaign contributions in this sector, which contributed a record $260.4 million to federal candidates during the 2012 election cycle.” – OpenSecrets.org

• It’s the Pitt$ how much health care money follows the elected public servant. – OpenSecrets.org

• Note to anonymous: The folks on the other side of the county may have something to say about that.

• Ch-ch-changes: “LancasterOnline is also moving to Facebook’s commenting system. That means you will need a Facebook account and be logged in to comment on any of our stories. To sign up for Facebook, or get answers to some commonly asked questions about Facebook, please visit this site.Many news outlets that have moved toward Facebook’s commenting system report their online discussions have been more thoughtful and less vitriolic. Once the move is made, readers will no longer be permitted to post comments anonymously.” [NOTE: Columbia news, views & reviews added bold face and underscoring to the quote.]

• Strange struggle because neither has great Customer service: “Postal Service, union wrangle over Staples outlets” – The York Dispatch

• Again: “Former president of HIA police union accused of stealing more than $11,000 from union” – Harrisburg Patriot-News

• Polar vortex comeback: Much colder weather is expected to arrive with the passage of a strong Arctic front moving southward into the Upper Midwest and this will reach the East Coast by Tuesday. – Harrisburg Patriot-News

• “Rock Lititz starts push to make Lititz area an entertainment technology hub” – Reading Eagle