Laurel: To breaking news. We like to be the first to give our readers the important headlines, but in this instance, we are willing to give credit where credit is due.
Point Park University has a great journalism program. It showed just how great when it uncovered a story in the school’s own Lawrence Hall dining facility.
The student-run newspaper, The Globe, published a story last week showing unsanitary conditions like an apparently moldy red pepper in the salad bar and a “black substance which appears to be mold” on some bread. Others showed what appeared to be bugs on potatoes and hair on banana bread.
CulinArt Group is the university’s food service provider. They responded to TribLive with a statement about a “strong track record with health inspections.”
However, on the same day the story ran, Allegheny County Health Department did an inspection that found multiple violations. Two were deemed to be high risk, involving cross-contamination and cleaning and sanitation.
Good journalism doesn’t have to tell big stories. It just needs to bring problems to light.
Lance: To a bad working relationship. Freeport Mayor Zack Gent says he will be stepping down at the end of the year.
Part of the reason is a new job that will have him traveling more. But there is another reason. He says he is having trouble working with council.
“He doesn’t want me involved,” Gent said of council President Rick Fennell.
Gent has butted heads with council members over issues like transitioning from elected auditors to professional services. This year the audit was overdue, with the three elected auditors resigning a month before the audit’s deadline. A professional accountant was hired just last month.
Fennell didn’t respond to requests for comment but did thank Gent for his service at a recent meeting and afterward gave the mayor credit for listening to diverse resident feedback.
It’s important that members of local government listen to each other. These aren’t ceremonial jobs. If federal and state government aren’t going to show cooperation and open communication, then municipalities should model it for them.
