State News

Corbett Administration Pushes Back Against Medicaid Expansion Savings

As much as $515 million in costs and savings of Medicaid expansion were mis-estimated by the IFO, according to the Corbett Administration.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — The administration of Gov. Tom Corbett says a report on Medicaid expansion by the state’s Independent Fiscal Office improperly claims as much as $515 million as savings, revenue or underestimated costs to the state. The IFO report, published in April and updated last week to reflect new information, showed expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania would produce $180 million in savings for the next during the next budget year – mostly due to shifting state-level costs to the federally funded Medicaid program. The expansion of Medicaid is a part of the federal health-care reform law, but states must voluntarily opt-in to the program, something Corbett has so far been unwilling to do. In a letter sent to …

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WWII Veteran Reflects on Military Service

Peter Rossetti, 91, a resident of ACTS, Southampton Estates, served in five campaigns during World War II and received a purple heart.

After nearly 71 years, Peter Rossetti still rattles off his enlistment date like it happened yesterday: Oct. 12, 1942. Rossetti, 91, a resident of ACTS, Southampton Estates for the last three years and a moderator for the retirement community's annual Memorial Day service, joined the Navy during World War II and served as a Quarter Master Third Class in five campaigns, including the Invasion of Sicily, Salerno, Angelo and D-Day Normandy.  Just as readily as he shares the start of his military career, Rossetti remembers the eight-month-long hospital stay and struggle to walk again after his ship struck an underwater enemy mine on July 12, 1944. Three men perished in the engine room, he said.  “All I remember is being blasted into the air," …

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Tom Sofield

5:12 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Thank you for your service, Pete! For the past few years that I've known Pete, he has always enthusiastically promoted honoring veterans for their service and commitment to our nation.   more ›

Baseball, Pancakes, Picnics and More

There's so much to do this weekend!

HATBORO SUMMER FUN FESIVAL AND CARNIVAL Where/When: 6 p.m. nightly through Monday at Miller Meadow Natural Area, Horsham & South York roads, Hatboro. Why go: The Festival includes thrill rides, games, food and live entertainment to benefit the Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro and the revitalization project of  Elm Street Hatboro. Cost: $2  VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME RETURNS Where/When: Noon Monday at Pickering Field, N. Chancellor and Jefferson streets in Newtown Borough. Why go: Players from the Newtown Strakes will face theFlemington Neshanock Base Ball Club, a squad that wears uniforms and uses equipment from the 19th Century. The game is sponsored by Council Rock Newtown Athletic Association. Cost: No cost for admission.   BRING YOUR OWN …

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Where's the Cheapest Gas in Lower Southampton Patch?

You can use this gas price widget to always find the lowest price of the moment. Pro tip: Gas up early this week to save money.

Click here for a full-screen view of the gas price map. If you don't see a map of our local area, click the magnifying glass in the upper right to enter your address. Nationwide, gas prices were predicted to be lower this summer compared to the last three years, but that won't translate into savings at the pump  this Memorial Day weekend, experts said. "Motorists this year are facing rising gas prices heading into the Memorial Day holiday," said Michael Green, a AAA spokesman, adding that Memorial Day 2013 would probably be the most expensive since 2011. In past years, prices have declined heading into early summer as oil refineries produced more gasoline to meet expected summer driving demand. This year, though, Midwest refineries haven't…

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Casey, Toomey Comment on IRS Hearing

Wednesday's Senate hearings on the IRS 'Tea Party' scandal included Pennsylvania's Sen. Pat Toomey and Sen. Bob Casey, who both released statements after the event.

Pennsylvania's Sen. Bob Casey (D) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R) both participated in Wednesday's hearings about IRS scrutinty of conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. Both men released statements regarding the event. Witnesses before the Senate Finance Committee were: Casey, chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, said:  “Pennsylvanians and Americans across the country deserve to know that the IRS and all government agencies do their jobs without prejudice or political agenda.  I intend to hold accountable those responsible for any breach of the taxpayer’s trust.  Today, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I directly questioned top IRS officials about what took place, who was …

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Trevose Firefighters Awarded Medals of Valor

Firefighters from Trevose and Bristol were awarded by the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association Monday night for their acts of bravery during two incidents last December.

Trevose Fire Chief Ron Doster received what he calls "the best Christmas gift ever" last December when he found out his sons, Tim and Chris Doster, along with fellow Trevose firefighter Brian Armstrong, survived a successful rescue attempt from a house fire on Orchard Lane in Feasterville. "I didn't know until later that day that they were the ones that went inside," said Chief Doster. "Tim and Chris are fourth generation firefighters, they were raised right." For their rescue of a trapped man from the second floor of the burning home, Tim Doster, Chris Doster and Brian Armstrong were awarded the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association's inaugural Medals of Valor during the group's monthly meeting Monday night at the Trevose …

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New Homes For Sale in Lower Southampton This Week

Find homes for sale in Lower Southampton on this page every week, from our partners at Zillow.

More Lower Southampton Real Estate Listings >>

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'Just Painters' Share Camaraderie, Art Tips

Area painters meet at an Ivyland art teacher's studio for weekly sessions.

They watch each other. They laugh and learn. They critique. But, mostly they paint.  Once a week 20 area artists–from Bristol, Newtown, Washington Crossing, Elkins Park, Huntingdon Valley and beyond–crowd into Miriam Warfield's Ivyland studio to learn from their master, share ideas and take each other's feedback as they take paintbrush to canvas. The informal "Just Painters" group was born about a decade ago after Warfield's then-regular class at The Painters Nest in Upper Southampton was forced to take a hiatus after the studio's closure.  "It's a nice class," the semi-retired Warfield said during one of her two weekly classes. "I love it and they've become good friends." But, even friends critique one another to ensure that fellow …

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