News briefs June 21

Posted 6/20/18

Bishop statement on immigration SCRANTON, PA — In conjunction with the visit to Scranton by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on June 15 and his recent statements about persons seeking asylum …

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News briefs June 21

Posted

Bishop statement on immigration

SCRANTON, PA — In conjunction with the visit to Scranton by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on June 15 and his recent statements about persons seeking asylum in the United States, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera has issued the following statement:

“The development of a sound immigration policy that respects both the concerns of our nation and the needs of those individuals seeking asylum in our country for themselves and their children is a challenging task.

“Sadly, current immigration policies have reached a critical point, with children and families with children who are seeking asylum being separated from one another.

“These individuals are fleeing violence and chaos in their homelands, only to face policies that are destroying their families and unduly burdening their children.

“While our borders must be protected and we must support the rule of law, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has asserted that ‘at its core, asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life.’ Separating children from their parents is an affront to the right to life. We must do all that we can to preserve and respect this right.”

Students invited to climate summit

CLARYVILLE, NY — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County is currently accepting applications from students in grades seven through 12 and teachers in the Catskill region to attend the 2018 Catskills Youth Climate Summit. This free overnight summit will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, October 9 and 10 at Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville.

The summit gives students an opportunity to attend presentations and workshops on climate change and sustainability. Attendees are also invited to participate in group discussions and activities that are designed to challenge perceptions, brainstorm solutions and discover new ways to live more sustainable lifestyles.

Schools are required to provide their own transportation to and from Frost Valley. The number of participants may be limited based on funding.

For more information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County at 607/865-6531 or email jmd30@cornell.edu.

New York Times endorses Rhodes

NEW YORK CITY, NY — The New York Times on June 17 endorsed candidate Gareth Rhodes in the race to become the Democratic candidate to in New York’s 19th Congressional District. The winner of the June 26 primary election will run against Republican incumbent John Faso in November.

The Times wrote, “Mr. Rhodes is a charismatic former press aide for Gov. Andrew Cuomo who grew up on a farm in the district. Motoring around the district in a small Winnebago, he has visited all 163 towns. He has listened closely to the woes of dairy farmers in dire straits, to families who have had to travel hundreds of miles to the closest maternity ward, to students struggling to pay off student loans.

“Mr. Rhodes backs Medicare for all, a health-care reform meant to bring Americans closer to the kind of universal system enjoyed in all other industrialized nations. Details matter, and there are several Democratic-backed proposals on the table, but Mr. Rhodes sees the conversation as a way to jump-start negotiations on health-care fixes.”

There are seven candidates in the primary race, and they all support universal healthcare in one form or another.

Poll showing Wolf, Casey leading opponents

HARRISBURG, PA — A poll from Franklin & Marshall College released on June 14 showed Democrat Tom Wolf well ahead of Republican Scott Wagner in the race for the governor’s office, 48 to 29%, and Democrat Senator Bob Casey well ahead of his Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, 47 to 24%. A large number of voters are still undecided.

According to the authors of the poll, the two Republican candidates are closely tied to President Donald Trump, which, statewide, does not seem to be helpful at this point. The authors wrote, “More than two in five (45%) registered voters in Pennsylvania believe Gov. Wolf is doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ job as governor, which is similar to our March survey. Two in five (42%) registered voters believe Sen. Casey is doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ job as the state’s U.S. Senator, which is a bit higher than his ratings in the March survey. About one in three (35%) registered voters in Pennsylvania believes President Trump is doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ job as president, which is higher than his ratings in the March survey.

scranton, Claryville, new york city, harrisburg

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