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Disappearance of Phylicia Thomas to be featured in ‘Crime Watch Daily’ multi-episodic special

Celiac Support Group to meet

Make a ruckus that can be heard from here to Harrisburg.Let the state&#8217;s elected officials know you will not stand for public schools in Pittston and elsewhere to prematurely close &#8211; tossing students&#8217; and staffers&#8217; lives into turmoil &#8211; because the political parties have so far failed to agree on a Pennsylvania budget. Call your lawmaker, or write, and demand a speedy resolution.Likewise, register your dissatisfaction that the inexcusably long budget stalemate also threatens to shut down Penn State University&#8217;s agricultural extension programs, such as <a href="http://extension.psu.edu/luzerne" target="_blank">the one based in West Pittston</a>.Farmers are fed up. School officials flabbergasted. (&#8220;Every superintendent is in panic mode,&#8221; Pittston Area Superintendent Kevin Booth told an audience Tuesday night). Parents are becoming perturbed. Certain graduating seniors understandably grow anxious.About the only place in which people seemingly lack a sense of urgency about settling this matter appears to be under the Capitol dome. Gov. Tom Wolf hinted Wednesday at another possible release of limited funding, a second stopgap measure since December to keep programs operating.That&#8217;s insufficient. Pennsylvania needs an approved spending plan. The irony isn&#8217;t lost on taxpayers that even as they prepare to meet an April 18 state tax-filing deadline, their elected officials have failed to meet their deadline &#8211; of June 30 last summer &#8211; for returning tax dollars to counties, public schools and other state-reliant programs that serve the people.We surveyed online readers at <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/" target="_blank">timesleader.com</a> regarding how lawmakers &#8220;should solve Pennsylvania&#8217;s prolonged budget standoff.&#8221; Thirty-nine percent of respondents chose this response: &#8220;Approving a mix of both tax hikes and cost-cutting.&#8221;Translation: Compromise.Use the information supplied here to connect with Gov. Wolf and the region&#8217;s contingent of state lawmakers. Let them clearly hear how you feel.&#8226; Gov. Tom Wolf717-787-2500 or <a href="https://governor.pa.gov/contact/" target="_blank">governor.pa.gov/contact/Pages/contact.aspx</a>&#8226; Sen. Lisa Baker717-787-7428 or <a href="http://www.senatorbaker.com/contact-me-2/" target="_blank">senatorbaker.com/contact-me-2/</a>&#8226; Sen. John Blake717-787-6481 or <a href="http://www.senatorblake.com/contact/" target="_blank">senatorblake.com/contact/</a>&#8226; Sen. John R. Gordner717-787-8928 or <a href="http://www.senatorgordner.com/contact-me/" target="_blank">senatorgordner.com/contact-me/</a>&#8226; Sen. John Yudichak717-787-7105 or <a href="http://www.senatoryudichak.com/contact/" target="_blank">senatoryudichak.com/contact/</a>&#8226; Rep. Karen Boback717-787-1117 or <a href="http://www.repboback.com/" target="_blank">repboback.com/Contact.aspx</a>&#8226; Rep. Mike Carroll717-787-3589 or pahouse.com/carroll&#8226; Rep. Aaron Kaufer717-787-3798 or <a href="http://www.repkaufer.com/contact.aspx" target="_blank">repkaufer.com/contact.aspx</a>&#8226; Rep. Gerald J. Mullery717-783-4893 or pahouse.com/mullery&#8226; Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski717-783-0686 or <a href="http://www.eddiedaypashinski.com/contact/" target="_blank">eddiedaypashinski.com/contact/</a>&#8226; Rep. Tarah Toohil717-260-6136 or <a href="http://www.reptoohil.com/Contact.aspx" target="_blank">reptoohil.com/Contact.aspx</a>

Our Opinion: Sound off to Harrisburg; tell lawmakers that school closures and other disruptions are unacceptable