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Analysis: Democrats must work hard to reach needed unity to defeat Trump

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Luzerne County zoning office is cracking down on occupancy permits

<p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to competitors in the <a href="https://runsignup.com/Register/?raceId=22807" target="_blank">Valley&#8217;s Fastest Man (and Woman) Mile Series</a>. Featuring three one-mile races, this year&#8217;s edition of the series got underway this week at Misericordia University&#8217;s track near Dallas. The top male finisher covered the distance in a blistering 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Marina Orrson, who has earned the title of fastest woman in the series for three consecutive years, continued her dominance, taking first place in the female division during Wednesday&#8217;s first leg of the challenge. The remaining races will be held at Church Street Park in Kingston (Aug. 11) and the Giants Despair Hill Climb course in Laurel Run (Aug. 24). Both races begin at 7 p.m. If you plan to watch, get to the sites on time. The action is over lickety-split.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to the state Department of Labor and Industry for stonewalling. Two men died at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in Wilkes-Barre this month, reportedly because an elevator&#8217;s doors gave way when the pair slammed into it during a scuffle. A correctional officer and an inmate fell 59 feet down the elevator&#8217;s shaft, investigators said. A state inspection of the elevator had been conducted in April. However, officials with the department maintain that the inspection report is not a public record. Regardless of whether the legal rationale for that decision is solid, the moral one certainly seems flimsy.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to Northeastern Pennsylvania&#8217;s great-tasting festivals. At the first <a href="http://www.nepabeerfest.com/" target="_blank">NEPA Beer Festival</a>, to be held this weekend at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township, adults can sample suds from among dozens of craft brewers, including two local favorites: Pittston&#8217;s Susquehanna Brewing Co. and Carbondale&#8217;s 3 Guys &amp; A Beer&#8217;d Brewing Co. The flavorful event runs from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. If you go, it&#8217;ll probably whet your appetite for August&#8217;s fast-approaching food festivals, such as Plymouth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1681027645478806/" target="_blank">Kielbasa Festival</a> (Aug. 12 and 13) and Pittston&#8217;s <a href="http://www.pittstontomatofestival.com/" target="_blank">Tomato Festival</a> (Aug. 18-21). Before summer&#8217;s over, savor every last bite!</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to people who overdo it at the Pennsylvania 400, the Sprint Cup Series event set for Sunday afternoon at Pocono Raceway near Long Pond. Go easy on the adult beverages, especially in this heat. Likewise, go easy on the accelerator as you travel to and from the race; you&#8217;re a NASCAR fan, not a NASCAR driver.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to girls who don&#8217;t shy from science. Young women from 21 area schools participated this week in Wilkes University&#8217;s Women Empowered By Science camp, known as WEBS. The seventh- and eighth-graders delved into topics such as DNA extraction and medical diagnoses. They toyed with robotics. They even handled bugs. Fostering a girl&#8217;s curiosity in science potentially can result in all kinds of good outcomes later in life, from success in high school, to expanded career options, to general confidence. Who knows; maybe one of this year&#8217;s WEBS attendees will leave the camp believing she can grow up to one day become, well &#8230;</p><style>
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Our Opinion: Mile runners set the pace in Wyoming Valley with ‘Fastest Man/Woman’ challenge