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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
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Chris Kelly Opinion: Bolus kicks off Pride Month with foot in mouth
I gave up on Bob Bolus years ago. From the late '90s to the early aughts, we were friendly adversaries who appreciated each other's opinionated natures and willingness to say things no one wanted to hear. Bob was wrong about everything, but his ignorance and arrogance were unquestionably authentic. He was a bellicose showboat with a cracked hull, but he disrupted local government meetings with a pigheaded glee I found adorable. It was fun. For a while. Bob was a handy foil for mocking whatever crackpot cause he was hawking at the moment, and he loved the ink and attention his tedious tirades generated. He was cartoonishly obnoxious, but rarely sniped at anyone who wasn't an elected official, a candidate for office, or me. That changed in 2018, when Clarks Summit native Adam Rippon became the first openly gay athlete to qualify for the U.S. Winter Olympics Team. Rippon won a bronze medal in men's figure skating and brought positive international attention to Northeast Pennsylvania. Bob was not on board. Seated next to me on a panel discussion of politics in the Trump era at Keystone College (my alma mater), he said 'no one would care' about Rippon 'if he wasn't gay.' He said 'real Americans' don't want to be 'represented by a gay.' Homophobia was a new part of Bob's act. There was nothing funny about it. Loony, loud and ludicrous were replaced with unhinged, hissy and hateful. The next year, Bob debuted his new material on televised Scranton City Council meetings. The region's most cringeworthy 'Cro-MAGA Man' waged a quixotic campaign against Jessica Rothchild, then a candidate for council. As I opined at the time, Rothchild became the first openly gay member of council thanks in large part to the bigoted bilge Bob spewed from the public podium. The married mother of two is now serving her second term. She was on the dais Tuesday when Bob came to share his rancid thoughts on Pride Month and trash a young woman for daring to make a veiled reference to a truth about himself Bob refuses to accept. Here it is, for the umpteenth time: A past felony conviction disqualifies Bob from holding public office. If by some inconceivable quirk of the universe a majority of Scranton voters said, 'To hell with everything' and elected him mayor, he would be ineligible to serve. Bob has railed against this reality for years, but it remains resolute. Bob claimed he was triggered by Angel Ramone, who recently moved to Scranton and routinely advocates for marginalized minorities at the public podium. She didn't say his name, but noted the futility of 'a candidate' who isn't eligible to serve. Bob was also triggered by the sight of a Pride flag flying over City Hall. (If it was a pro-Trump or 'Bleep Joe Biden' banner, he'd salute it 24 hours a day with a lump in his throat and reverent tears streaming down his cheeks.) He also slandered the Pride flag as an affront to military veterans, as if no LGBTQ+ patriots have sacrificed life and limb in defense of Our Republic. That's an ugly, obvious lie, which Bob ironically capped by saying, 'Respect is earned, not demanded. They (LGBTQ+) didn't earn the respect they demand.' Bob earned no respect as he deliberately misgendered Ramone several times, called her 'sweetheart' and threatened legal retribution if she continued to trigger him by telling the truth in a public forum. I loathe giving Bob the ink and attention he craves, but he delivered an encore performance at Wednesday's Lackawanna County commissioners' meeting and our LGBTQ+ neighbors deserve to be heard and defended. Neighbors like Jessica McGuigan, 40, a mental health therapist who works primarily with the transgender community. Watching Bob's rant, she was most disappointed by council President Gerald Smurl's failure to step in and stop the nasty personal attack. 'Listen, I think people deserve the right to speak and to be heard,' McGuigan said. 'That's what these forums exist for, as long as it doesn't get to a place where it's inciting hatred, violence or hurt towards marginalized people.' Council's rules for public comment, created in response to blowhards like Bob, are not vague: 'No person, including members of council, shall use their time during Citizens' Participation to personally insult or attack any individual. Name-calling, profanity, racial or ethnic slurs, discriminatory remarks based on race, color, religion, national origin … sex, gender identity, sexual orientation … shall not be permitted.' Those who violate the rules 'shall be ruled out of order' and 'may be removed' by a police officer at the president's request. Bob clearly violated the rules and was rightly condemned by members of council and sane, decent citizens who followed him at the podium. Smurl chose not to intervene while Bob trolled one of the city's most vulnerable constituencies and made a mockery of productive public participation in government. 'The other thing that really pushed every button that I have was at the end, when the council member (Smurl) thanked him for his remarks,' McGuigan said. 'And then, after he gets off of the microphone, (Bob) proceeds to continue yelling hateful things … 'We're all a part of this community, and we deserve to feel safe in public places. And it particularly hits differently during Pride Month, which is a month that's all about the journey that we've had to get to a place where we have visibility. So for this person to go to a city council meeting and express their views is one thing, but I also feel like it's important to emphasize that there are opinions that can cause harm and could potentially incite violence.' I didn't call Smurl to ask him why he didn't gavel down Bob's diatribe and have him removed if he refused to relent. I don't care why. Smurl had a duty to direct the meeting in compliance with the standards set by council and the higher code of common decency. He failed. Smurl should learn from the experience and do better next time. And there will be a next time. Bob will be back. At the podium and, regrettably, in this column. Sometimes, ignoring him is not an acceptable option. It will pain him to read it, but this isn't about Bob. It's about a once entirely marginalized community who refuses to go back 'into the closet' because bigots are triggered by their mere existence. I stumbled my way through high school in the Reagan '80s. There were no openly gay or transgender students in my class, and no support or advocacy groups for any minority more at risk than the Dungeons and Dragons Club. There was no Pride Month, no rainbow flags flying over government buildings and no safe space for human beings whose chief demand is to be treated like human beings. The LGBTQ+ community and society at large have come a long way since 'gay' was used as a synonym for 'weird' or 'lame' or worse. 'Queer' is no longer an epithet. Words once used as weapons are now signifiers of pride. 'It mirrors a little bit of what people in the brown and Black communities did,' McGuigan said. 'We're reclaiming words and terms that have been hurled and used as vitriol towards us.' Bob gave up on learning anything new years ago. As a show of respect, I used to call him before mocking whatever crackpot cause he was hawking at the moment. We'd trade insults and swear at each other, but hang up peaceably. I didn't bother reaching out this time. I've heard it all before, and nothing he might say could add redeeming context to his dehumanization of people who dare demand to be accepted for who they are. I accept Bob for who he is — a bitter, petty old crank who's mad at a world he won't even try to understand and who will say anything to get attention. Bob would (and likely will) say the same about me, but, as he demonstrates any time he's near a microphone, Bob is wrong about everything. CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, wishes you and yours a happy, peaceful Pride Month. Contact the writer: ckelly@ @cjkink on X; Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune on Facebook.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Keystone College completes merger with Washington, D.C., nonprofit
Keystone College officially merged with a nonprofit aimed at boosting higher education, a move officials at the financially struggling institution touted as a positive development. College officials announced Monday the merger transaction with the Washington Institute for Education and Research, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit formed to further and support higher education. The merger was completed Friday afternoon, officials said in a news release issued Monday. Under it, Keystone continues operations under its current name and educational mission. Keystone College, in Factoryville, will host the Think Spring gardening seminar on April 26. 'I am pleased to report that the merger transaction between Keystone and WIER was concluded on Friday, May 30, finally joining the College with its strategic partner after nearly a three-year journey that at times threatened the future of the College,' college President John Pullo said in a message to the college's trustees and campus community. 'The fact that we can make this announcement today is a testament to the remarkable commitment and trust that WIER, especially Dr. Ahmed Alwani, placed in Keystone and to the perseverance, courage, and resilience of the extraordinary group of individuals on the Keystone team who fought through the adversity and took respite in the positive developments as things began to turn our way.' The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reviewed and approved Keystone's complex substantive change request Thursday. It included the merger, as well as a change in its legal status, form of control and ownership within the college's scope of accreditation, all of which took effect Friday. Prior to the announcement from Middle States, Keystone secured approvals from its regulatory agencies, including the state Department of Education, the state attorney general's office and the United States Department of Education. Among the final pieces of the transaction was the merger of Keystone College Inc. into Keystone College LLC, with WIER as the sole member, according to officials. The college in La Plume Twp. in Lackawanna County and Factoryville in Wyoming County had said it would continue to be accredited once the merger was finalized. Keystone is required to work closely with Middle States on several milestones and reviews as part of its continued accreditation, officials said in Monday's news release. Keystone representatives worked for more than a year on an agreement with WIER, founded in 2023 by Alwani for the purpose of funding, promoting and supporting postsecondary education. In March 2024, Keystone and WIER mutually agreed to discontinue previous arrangements for a potential alliance, but in August, WIER inked a deal to merge with Keystone. Alwani expressed his elation about the merger in the news release. 'I am delighted and grateful to the entire Keystone team that we have finally reached this point,' he said. 'When I was first introduced to Keystone, I realized that it was a special place with a rich history in serving students for whom a college education changes their entire family's trajectory. While we are dedicated to enhancing that mission, we are equally driven to being innovative with respect to the educational opportunities needed for today's students in all areas, including online, international, and certifications.' The announcement is the latest positive development for Keystone. In late February, commission officials said they received financial information they had been looking for, including a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the college's new ownership structure request, none of which was available when the commission notified the college in November that its accreditation was being withdrawn. The commission formally accepted Keystone's appeal in December, and the college won't appeal the commission's action. As a result, the commission changed the college's status from 'accreditation withdrawn under appeal' to 'non-compliance show cause.' The college is required to demonstrate by Sept. 2 why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. In addition, the commission stated the college isn't required to implement a teach-out plan, and the U.S. Department of Education removed the college from 'heightened cash monitoring' status. The positive news came after a difficult time for the college last year. In April 2024, the commission ordered the college to prepare a teach-out plan that would allow students to complete their education elsewhere in the event of a closure. College officials also cut positions and placed an administrator on leave. College officials praised the merger in Monday's news release while acknowledging the work ahead. 'As we have stated many times throughout this process, the commitment to saving and rebuilding a college is exhaustive and must be done deliberately,' Tim Pryle, the college's vice president of enrollment, institutional advancement and marketing, said in the release. 'This is a milestone moment worthy of celebration. However, we are all well aware of the task at hand. And that task includes reestablishing confidence in Keystone College and in sharing with prospective students and their families the unique value proposition that Keystone offers for a quality, private, liberal arts-based education at an affordable investment within today's ultra competitive higher education market.' Pullo said in the release that in addition to Alwani and WIER, he is 'sincerely grateful for the community's continued support for Keystone.' 'We still have much to do, but for today, we can all celebrate that the College will continue not only serving its vital educational mission, but also preserve its profound cultural and economic impact in the community and the region as we build upon our 157-year legacy,' he said.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Key witness in art heist trial sentenced for his role in theft ring
A federal judge sentenced a Dunmore man for his role in a high-profile theft ring that targeted art, sports memorabilia and other valuable items. United States District Judge Malachy Mannion sentenced Thomas Trotta, 49, to eight years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $2,759,073 in restitution Thursday. Prosecutors said he led nine people in the theft ring that spanned two decades and stole millions of dollars' worth of art, antique coins and firearms, World Series rings, golf trophies and more from museums, galleries, halls of fame, estates and jewelry stores in Pennsylvania, other states and Washington, D.C. Items stolen locally included Jackson Pollock's 'Springs Winter' and Andy Warhol's 'La Grande Passion' from the Everhart Museum in Scranton; Factoryville native and baseball great Christy Mathewson's contracts and other memorabilia from Keystone College; a century-old Tiffany lamp from the Lackawanna Historical Society; and professional golfer Art Wall Jr.'s trophies from the Country Club of Scranton. Last month, jurors found Nicholas Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst Twp., Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow, and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook Twp., guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property, as well as multiple related offenses. They await sentencing. They found Atsus' brother Alfred Atsus, of Covington Twp., not guilty on all counts. Three other Lackawanna County residents — Thomas Trotta's sister Dawn Trotta, Frank Tassiello and Ralph Parry — pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property. Mannion sentenced Dawn Trotta, 53, also of Dunmore, to 15 months in prison, Tassiello, 52, of Taylor, to six months' imprisonment, and Parry, 47, of Spring Brook Twp., to three years of probation and a period of home confinement earlier this year. A fourth man, Daryl Rinker, of Thornhurst Twp., pleaded guilty but died in April 2024. Authorities said the men transported the stolen items to Northeast Pennsylvania, often to Dombek's home, and melted them down into metal discs or bars. They then sold the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for hundreds or a few thousands of dollars, significantly less than the sports memorabilia would be worth at fair market value. The whereabouts of many of the paintings and stolen objects are unknown. Trotta, who appeared on an episode of '60 Minutes' about the art theft, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to a count of theft of major artwork and cooperated with the government in return for a reduced sentence.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Middle States delays withdrawing Keystone College accreditation after college provides information that could save it
Keystone College won't appeal the Middle States Commission on Higher Education's decision withdrawing accreditation after the college provided financial information the commission was seeking — a positive development for the struggling institution. Commission officials said Friday it received the new financial documentation from the college, including a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also received the new ownership structure request by the college to merge with the Washington Institute for Education and Research, or WIER, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. None of the information was available when the commission notified the 156-year old college in November that its accreditation was being withdrawn. As a result, the commission changed the college's status from 'accreditation withdrawn under appeal' to 'non-compliance show cause.' The college remains accredited but there won't be an appeal of the commission's action. A hearing on the appeal was scheduled for March 31. This is good news for Keystone College in La Plume Twp. in Lackawanna County and Factoryville in Wyoming County. All of the conditions placed on Keystone during the appeal, including that the college could not market to, recruit or enroll new students, are no longer in effect, college officials said Friday. The commission also withdrew its previous directive that officials implement a teach-out plan. The college is required to demonstrate by Sept. 2 why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. Officials are required to: • Submit a report demonstrating Keystone is following all applicable government laws and regulations. • Document financial resources, funding base and plans for financial development, including those from any related entities. • Provide a record of responsible fiscal management, including preparing a multiyear budget and complied with program responsibilities under existing federal Title IV and other state laws and regulations. • A governing body that serves the public interest must ensure that the institution clearly states and fulfills its mission and goals, has fiduciary responsibility for the institution, is accountable for the academic quality, integrity, planning and fiscal well-being of the institution, and plays a basic policymaking role in financial affairs. The report also has to include evidence of progress related to its partnership with WIER. Accreditation is important to higher education institutions like Keystone as it is required to gain access to federal money for student financial aid. College officials welcomed the action by the commission in a news release Friday afternoon. 'This recent action by Middle States is welcome news to not only the Keystone community, but we feel the higher education community at large,' President John Pullo said in the statement. 'The process of saving and rebuilding a college in today's higher education landscape is very challenging and requires innovative approaches, open communication and partnerships. We are grateful for the care, diligence and attention that Middle States continues to show Keystone and its students as we navigate to a new future for the college.' College officials must be in frequent contact with the commission, inform it of any changes in its status and be transparent about its accreditation status with all constituents. The complex substantive change review process will continue. 'We are grateful for the careful attention that all of our partners have given to Keystone College,' Tim Pryle, the college's vice president of enrollment, institutional advancement and marketing, said in the statement. 'We understand that there is still much work to be done. The recent news about the future state of higher education, not only in Pennsylvania but nationwide, only highlights the need for a shared commitment to affordable, accessible and accredited options for all students interested in pursuing a college degree. Keystone remains committed to enhancing and building upon our 156-year legacy.' Friday's announcement by the commission came following a difficult year for the college. Last March, Keystone and WIER mutually agreed to discontinue previous arrangements for a potential alliance. Then in April, the commission ordered the college to prepare a teach-out plan that would allow students to complete their education elsewhere in the event of a closure. College officials also cut 29 positions and placed an administrator on leave. In August, WIER inked a deal to merge with Keystone, capping several months of negotiations. The agreement, when fully executed, will merge the college's operations under a newly formed subsidiary of WIER while allowing Keystone to continue operations under its current educational mission. The commission formally accepted Keystone's appeal in December. The spring semester is underway, with midterms being administered next week.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Yahoo
Three Pennsylvania men convicted for role in art, memorabilia heists
(WHTM) — Three Pennsylvania men were found guilty for their roles in several art heists after a four week trial. Nicholas Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst; Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow; and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook, were convicted Friday on federal theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property charges. The three men were part of a nine-person conspiracy over two decades to break into multiple museums and other institutions to steal priceless works of art, sports memorabilia, and more. PREVIOUS COVERAGE > Nine Pennsylvanians charged for decades-long museum heists Some of the items stolen included a Christy Matthewson jersey and two contracts signed by him, stolen from Keystone College in 1999; 'Le Grande Passion' by Andy Warhol and 'Springs Winter' by Jackson Pollock from the Everhart Museum in Scranton; Ten World Series rings, seven championship rings, and two MVP plaques belonging to Yogi Berra from his museum in Little Falls, New Jersey; fourteen trophies and other awards from the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen New York, and more. Five co-conspirators pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Another man was acquitted. The three men were accused of taking the stolen goods back to northeast Pennsylvania. melting the memorabilia down into metal discs or bars and selling the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for significantly less than the memorabilia was worth. Dombek burned the painting 'Upper Hudson' by Jasper Cropsey to avoid it being discovered by investigators. Other items' whereabouts are unknown, though several antique firearms were recovered. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
