Laurels & lances: Grants, pants and lanternflies

Laurel: To investing in people. The best thing to boom an economy is a good pool of people to do the jobs that keep the gears of any industry turning. That is why an investment in developing that pool is good news.

Penn State is receiving a $1.5 million federal grant to grow and shape workforce education programs at the New Kensington campus in Upper Burrell and its Digital Foundry in downtown New Kensington.

The program — called “Growing and Reskilling Our Workforce in Pennsylvania” or GROW PA — will be open to all manner of workers, from those just stepping into the job market to those dislocated by layoffs or closures, veterans and those changing careers. It will also allow local businesses to explore new technology and training.

Lance: To a courthouse drama. When a situation escalates in a courthouse, it is usually in a courtroom, but on Wednesday it was an interaction at an Allegheny County Courthouse entrance that blew up.

Pittsburgh attorney Jeffrey Pollock set off the metal detectors while on his way to a hearing. It wasn’t the first time it happened, and like previous encounters, the culprit was his suspenders. It happened repeatedly, making things more frustrating until finally Pollock unhooked his suspenders and took off his pants.

It’s a story that begs for laughter. A lawyer standing in courthouse in his underwear? But it’s not funny.

Pollock admits he should have handled the situation better — probably because he was charged with disorderly conduct. But clearly the security staff could have done better, too. Why wasn’t a metal detecting wand used, especially as it was a regular occurrence?

This also all unfolded in the Family Division rotunda, where children can be attending custody proceedings and probably don’t need an already stressful day to include seeing a 59-year-old man in his underwear in public because of a battle of wills with security. Everyone could have done better.

Lance: To a real pest. For years, people have been warning about lanternflies, and the situation isn’t getting better.

“The only good spotted lanternfly is a dead one,” said Amy K. Korman, an entomologist and horticulture extension educator with the Penn State Extension.

Entomologists generally see the best in all bugs. They are part of the ecosystem, and as such, entomologists find a place in their hearts for all manner of things that bite and sting and devour. For an entomologist to write off an insect this way tells you a lot about how detrimental the invasive pest is.

So take Korman’s advice. If you see a lanternfly, kill it. See the egg sacs? Destroy them. See a bunch? Call a professional.