Bill OBoyle: NEPA is gettin' better all the time
As you know, Mama Cass was the powerful voice of the Mamas & Papas group and had a few solo hits, including "It's Getting Better."
"And it's gettin' better
Growin' stronger
Warm and wilder
Gettin' better every day, better every day
—And it's not hard to see
That it isn't half of what it's gonna turn out to be."
It's always good when you can find appropriate lyrics in the iconic music of the 1960s and 1970s.
But Mama Cass really belts out that song and it fits when we talk about economic development here in Northeast PA.
Just look at the Times Leader's 50-page Innovation insert today and you will see what I mean. After reading all the stories about all that is going on and will continue to happen, you will come to the same conclusion:
It's gettin' better — all the time.
Don't take my word for it — just read the stories. Then you will see that we all should be proud of where we live, work and play.
A lot of this comes down to leadership. People like Lindsay Griffin-Boylan at the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber. And Larry Newman at Diamond City Partnership. And John Augustine at Penn's Northeast. And Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, Pittston Mayor Mike Lombardo and our state and federal legislators who are trying to, as our Gov. Josh Shapiro says, "Get stuff done."
'It's a huge deal!'
Earlier this year, Augustine, President/CEO at Penn's Northeast, said a recent ranking of Northeastern Pennsylvania as a top location for economic development represents the tremendous growth in the region.
"It's a huge deal," Augustine said when the rankings came out in early March. "And most importantly, it represents the thousands of jobs that were created because of that. This ranking represents the more than 25 companies that weren't here in our area two years ago."
Did you catch that? The lofty ranking for the region represents more that 25 companies that weren't here just two years ago.
"It's gettin' better all the time."
And take note that this ranking, for the fifth consecutive year, recognized NEPA as one of the top locations in the United States for economic development projects.
Augustine said the region ranked in the Top 10 for both the number of projects and projects per capita.
Yes, NEPA — the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region — ranked 9th in the 2024 Tier 2 Top Metros by total projects (25) — and the region ranked 8th for per capita.
And Augustine was quick to note that those thousands of new jobs pay "family-sustaining" wages.
"Competition raises wages — that's a fact," Augustine said, adding that the ranking highlights the region's continued success in attracting and expanding businesses.
Data centers are coming
Just a couple of weeks ago, Augustine said in a Times Leader story that Northeast Pennsylvania has become one of the most sought-after landing spots for data centers.
"They will bring good-paying jobs, lots of opportunities and add to the tax base," Augustine said. "It's a win, win, win situation."
Augustine said several companies have contacted his office about building a data center in the region, but they can't be revealed for confidentiality reasons.
One developer, NorthPoint Development, recently gained approval for a 15-building data center campus in Hazleton.
Two others are planned around the Invenergy natural gas plant in Jessup, and others have been checking out undisclosed locations in the region.
Augustine said. "You can reach one-third of the United States and half of Canada in a one-day's drive from Northeastern Pennsylvania."
NEPA is clean, safe, and beautiful. We have a great educational network and we have become a regional center of arts, culture, dining, and entertainment. And there's more — historic architecture, riverfront, and high-quality public environment.
In summary — NEPA has it all.
And it's gettin' better.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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Education Commissioner: Brevard teacher who lost job over name issue deserves suspension
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At the meeting, the Florida Board of Education questioned whether they could overrule the decision and suspend former Brevard teacher Melissa Calhoun, an educator with more than 12 years of experience who was ousted after using a then-17-year-old student's name without parental permission — an act in violation of a 2023 Florida Board of Education rule. "I fully support that superintendent's decision not to rehire this teacher," Kamoutsas said. "Florida remains firmly committed to protecting parental rights. We will not tolerate situations where critical information is withheld from parents in violation of the law." The decision to not rehire Calhoun in Brevard, made by Brevard Superintendent Mark Rendell, was made public on Aug. 5, a day after Kamoutsas visited Brevard County. The decision was not influenced by his visit, according to the district. 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Noble Reports Updates on Homeland Nickel
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More detailed information can be found on the Company's website at: Cautionary Statement Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". 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A number of factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: an inability to develop and successfully implement exploration strategies; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the lack of available capital; impact of the evolving situation in Ukraine on the business of the Company; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at The Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release. 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Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the Company's plans and expectations. These plans, expectations, risks and uncertainties are detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with the TSX Venture Exchange and securities regulators. Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts: H. Vance White, PresidentPhone: 416-214-2250Fax: 416-367-1954Email: info@ Investor RelationsEmail: ir@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Boston Globe
13-08-2025
- Boston Globe
Environmental concerns could halt construction at Florida's ‘Alligator Alcatraz'
President Advertisement Environmental groups and a Native American tribe have sued over the facility, saying it was hastily set up without the environmental impact considerations needed for all federal projects, even though it deals with immigration, a federal matter. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It just flies in the face of what NEPA requires,' said Paul Schwiep, an attorney for the environmental groups, referring to the National Environmental Policy Act. Florida and the Trump administration argue that the state is building and operating the detention center, so those rules about an environmental review don't apply. Adam Gustafson, an attorney for the federal government, said during the hearing's closing arguments Wednesday that the federal government only plays an advisory role at the facility. The judge last week said the center was, at a minimum, a joint partnership between the state and federal government. Advertisement The first phase of 'Alligator Alcatraz' opened in July atop a lightly used, single-runway training airport. Less than 1,000 detainees were being held there as of last week, and it's designed to eventually hold up to 3,000 people. Inside the compound's large white tents, rows of bunkbeds are surrounded by chain-link cages. People held there say worms turn up in the food, toilets don't flush, and floors flood with fecal waste, while mosquitoes and other insects are everywhere. At times, the air conditioners abruptly shut off in the sweltering heat. Detainees are said to go days without showering or getting prescription medicine, and can only speak to lawyers and loved ones by phone. Governor Ron DeSantis has said the location in the rugged and remote Everglades was meant as a deterrent against escape, much like the island prison in California that Republicans named it after. The detention center has an estimated annual cost of $450 million, according to a public database. When asked by the judge why a detention facility needed to be located in the middle of the Everglades, Jesse Panuccio, an attorney representing the state of Florida, referred to government officials' statements that the remote location and existing runway made it ideal for immigration detention. Williams pointed out that many other detention centers were operated safely and effectively in urban areas. 'Florida is lousy with airports,' the judge said. 'Why in the middle of the Everglades?' Witnesses for the environmental groups have testified that at least 20 acres of asphalt have been added to the site since the Florida Division of Emergency Management began construction. They said additional paving could lead to an increase in water runoff to the adjacent wetlands, spread harmful chemicals into the Everglades, and reduce the habitat for endangered Florida panthers. Advertisement Chris Ajizian, an attorney for the Miccosukee Tribe, said that neither the state nor federal government gave the tribe any notice of their plans for a detention facility, despite legal obligations and the tribe's incontrovertible connection to the Everglades. 'It is the lifeblood of their community, their history and their identity,' Ajizian said during the hearing's closing. The lawsuit was being heard as DeSantis′ administration was preparing to build a second immigration detention center at a Florida National Guard training center in the state's north. A second lawsuit claims detainees' constitutional rights are being violated because they are barred from meeting lawyers, are being held without any charges, and a federal immigration court has canceled bond hearings. Over the weekend, a federal judge gave the state until late September to prepare arguments against an effort to get the civil rights litigation certified as a class action.
