Investigating NEPA

                              KIDS FOR CASH TURNS 5   The fifth anniversary of the indictments of the Kids for Cash scandal took place this week, and I was honored to be part of WNEP’s coverage with Jon Meyer, Scott Shaffer, Sarah Buynovsky (who in the last five years did by far the best stories of any TV reporter in the area), Peggy Lee, and Lara Greenberg.   I had a story on the reforms made in the wake of the scandal, and how juvenile courts in Pennsylvania are very different places.   At heart, I’m a numbers guy, and used numbers to show the incredible difference in how many kids were sent to prison when Mark Ciavarella ran juvenile court, versus now.   You can find the story . Kids for Cash: Are Reforms Working? here.   I especially like the comment from US Attorney Peter Smith who supervised the prosecution of Ciavarella and former President Judge Michael Conahan, both ex-judges are now in federal prison where they belong.   I’m even prouder of the special website fo

          Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that the state legislature has done nothing about freezing pensions for those indicted for public corruption crimes.   I bring this up in the wake of the eighth delay in the past three plus years to bring former State Senator Raphael Musto of Luzerne County to trial on Federal corruption charges.   On January 6, US District Court Judge Richard Caputo ruled Musto was physically able to stand trial, but mentally incompetent to do so.   I am not an expert on medical diagnosis, so I don’t have the expertise to question the ruling, or the diagnosis of the expert who testified Musto is confused, dizzy, and unaware of his surroundings and cannot assist in his own defense.   But I can tell you about the numbers, and why the suspicion that the delays sought by Musto’s lawyers is justified.           Musto makes   $10,586.05 per month, or $127,032.60 per year in his pension money, if you are him, or a member of his family, is that enough to de