PA in the WSJ

This is a list of articles regarding Pennsylvania in this week's Wall Street Journal. Chances are I missed something, but these are the articles that caught my eye.

It should be noted that I routinely do not read the editorials in the WSJ. So any discussions of the state, its elected officials, businesses, or citizens, in editorials will not be mentioned here.


PA Politicians

None of our folks mentioned by name. However, we did get some press relating to the primary.

Christopher McNally, Pennsylvania chair for the Catholic Democrats and an Obama supporter is mentioned in “Clinton courts Catholic voters,” by Amy Chozick (3/17)

Bill George, uncommitted superdelegate and head of the PA AFL-CIO is quoted in “Obama gets renewed scrutiny about his past,” by Christopher Cooper and Nick Timiraos (3/17)

“Florida, Michigan specter will linger,” by June Kronholz (3/21) mentions the Pennsylvania primary.

“Obama puts race closer to center of campaign,” by Jackie Calmes and Nick Timiraos (3/19) is filed from Philly.

PA Businesses

An interesting note in “Mortgage mess this home for nation’s small builders,” by Michael Corkery (3/21)

These builders’ struggles mean that when housing demand recovers, the industry could be more consolidated and dominated in many markets by large buildings such as D. R. Horton Inc., Lennar Corp., Pulte Homes Inc., Centex Corp., KB Home and Toll Brothers Inc. While many of these publicly traded builders are coming under pressure from their banks amid a deepening credit squeeze, most have cash reserves that may give them an edge over smaller builders in renegotiating credit agreements with their lenders.

A few Alcoa mentions, “Iron ore is delayed en route to China,” by Shai Oster (3/20), “Alcoa, Chevron fall; Fannie, Freddie rise,” by Rob Curran (3/20) and “Alcoa, Chinalco discuss boosting Rio Tinto stake,” by Helen Sun, Jeffrey Sparshott, and Andrea Hotter (3/19).

West Chester-based Moody’s Economy.com is mentioned in “Housing bust fuels blama game: by Greg IP, James R. Hagerty and Jonathan Karp (3/19). No mention of Mark Zandi, who usually delivers Economy.com quotes.

Not so good. In “Medicare, Medicaid managed care gets scrutiny for fraud,” by Theo Franics (3/19), there is mention of a settlement by United Health Group, Inc. of Philadelphia.

CMF Associates LLC, a small financial-consulting firm in Philadelphia is mentioned in “When job shifts loom, it can pay to look wide,” by Sarah E. Needleman (3/18)

Brief Notes:
Air Products & Chemicals of Allentown (3/21)
Tasty Baking Co. of Philadelphia (3/21)

Other PA

A bit of pr for the region in “A slice of history,” by Suzanne Barlyn (3/22), on Bucks County as a potential retirement home.

Wharton School Prof. Joseph Gyourko is quoted in “Home vacancy rates post sharp increases,” by Matt Phillips (3/21)

According to the chart accompanying “Sunbelt sees slowing in population growth,” by Conor Dougherty (3/20), southeastern PA and the Lehigh Valley have had modest population growth but the rest of the state has had modest population decreas. A few counties (looks like around Pittsburgh but I could be wrong on this, geography not my strength) have had a more dramatic population decrease. Food for thought when our congressional districts get reconfigured in a few years.

Though not mentioned in the story, Special Agent Bastian Freund of the Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force appears in a screen shot accompanying “Kids, thugs, dogs, cats drafted into TV battle,” by Dionne Searcey (3/20)

Other Interesting Tidbits

Given our ties to selected Spanish energy companies, “Spain power deal worth $100 billion edges closer,” by Matthew Karnitschnig, Dana Cimilluca and Rebecca Smith (3/21). Iberdrola is one of the companies discussed.

“The web’s new political dynamic,” by Mary Jacoby (3/21) outlines the rise of the Internet as a conduit for small political donations, and the differences in fundraising tactics by various presidential candidates.

Sue Shellenbarger peruses studies on marital satisfaction and longevity in “In search of wedded bliss: what research can tell us,” (3/20). The four factors within our control that she points out are 1) doing things in order (finish education, get married, have children), 2) avoid living together unless engaged, 3) try to find a job that isn’t stressful, and 4) work to fix problems early on instead of letting them fester.

Our print friends just can’t get a break, “Rising prices for newsprint hits publishers,” by Jim Jelter (3/19) discusses another money problem for them.

Hmmm, “Attention, bloggers,” by Shelly Banjo (3/17) is on the use of advertising on blogs generally and actually mentions Pittsburgh in one spot.