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

Former 7th district Congressman Curt Weldon does the honors this week but probably wishes he didn’t. In “Russa deal tied to congress aide,” by Susan Schmidt and Glenn R. Simpson (6/10) we find this:

A former congressional aide admitted in court proceedings that his wife received unreported payments from an arms-control group with ties to top security officials in the Russian government, according to several people involved in an inquiry of a former congressman.

The aide worked as chief of staff for former Rep. Curt Weldon, a Pennsylvania Republican. Rep. Weldon had sought a federal grant for the Russian organization, known as International Exchange Group, according to the people familiar with the inquiry.

PA Businesses

Comcast customers take note of where your cable bill money is going. According to “Companies promise CEOs lavish posthumous paydays,” by Mark Maremont (6/10), Ralph J. Roberts, the chairman of Comcast’s executive committee had an agreement with the company that his family would continue to receive his $2 million salary for 5 years after his death. Comcast recently canceled this deal. “Still, as of Dec. 31, Mr. Roberts was entitled to an estimated $87 million in posthumous benefits from the Philadelphia-based cable-television company. “ This is primarily in a company funded life insurance policy. Still on the books is an agreement for CEO Brian J. Roberts’ family to collect his salary and bonus for 5 years after his death if he died while in office. As someone whose household sends Comcast money every month I’d like to officially go on record as saying I’m against this. [Full disclosure: I have life insurance through my employer which would pay Mr. J and the kids something like 2.5 years worth of my salary.]

“Sale of stores boosts Pep Boys profits,” by Donna Kardos (6/11)

“Jones Apparel buys stake in Rachel Ray luxury line,” by Rachel Dodes (6/12)

Bedford Springs Resort, in Bedford, PA, is one of the hotels featured in “Is this where the Beatles stayed?,” by Perri Capell (6/14)

Brief mention: Pepper Hamilton (6/11)


Other PA

A Philadelphia condominium is profiled in the 6/12 “Money’s worth: real estate” section.

A note on two Pennsylvania dairies selling unpasteurized milk is included in “FDA investigates dairy over unpasteurized milk,” (6/12).

“What’s in a name? If it’s ‘Mba,’ a degree of confusion,” by Joel Millman (6/13) has a Philadelphia byline and features a newly minted Wharton MBA from Nigeria whose last name is Mba. Other Mba’s, some also from Philly, are mentioned. (Trivia: Mba is pronounced “hymn-BAH”).

Other Interesting Tidbits

From “Crime rate fell in ’07 after 2-year rise,” by Gary Fields and Louse Radnofsky (6/10):

The data show the number of whites murdered dropped slightly, from 7,005 in 2004 to 6,956 in 2006, while the number of blacks killed rose 11% over that same period, to 7,421. In Washington last year, whites accounted for only 1.1% of murder victims.

An editorial “Honoring thy fathers,” by W. Bradford Wilcox (6/13) discusses the positive effect that attendance at religious services / events has on fathers and family structure in general.