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

Quote for today … “So the GOP elects to TAX instead of spending restraint. Yeah, that’s about right, so much for the fiscal responsibility of republicans.” – Comment following this Pennlive article: Pa. tax package to fund its 2016-17 budget is now a done deal.

• Borough to hire a manager for the market house?

• Columbia Borough School District gets bigger bump under the new PA Budget allocations. Yet, Columbia’s school tax rates are the highest in the county.

• Need incentive to quit smoking? This new budget adds a buck a pack to the cigarette tax. Vapers … you get to pay tax too! And includes a tax on “purchases of satellite radio services, movies, books, games and other applications that you pay on any devices for which the billing address is in Pennsylvania.”

• Another mayor and police chief address relations with stressed citizens … without one reference to “submitting” or “control” or “doing what the officer tells you to do.” In fact, Lancaster’s mayor says, ” … police officers must be held to a higher standard in all aspects of their service.”

• The reasons for political conventions: PERKS – PROPAGANDA – BIG-MONEY PAYBACK. – Robert Reich column

• Worst fear of the bathroom law – FOX43-TV

• Today’s the anniversary of Bastille Day – Celebrate with the State’s Liquor Control Board’s free wine tasting (and free ad) at the Centerville State Store tomorrow: Lancaster store, 558 Centerville Road, 4 to 6 p.m. Friday

• “The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will hold two “Smart Hearings” on Tuesday, Aug. 9, to gather public comment on plans to address the predicted exhaustion of telephone numbers in the 717 area code service area.” – Pennlive