State News-Friday, Jan. 19th

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's tavern owners are likely to oppose Governor Ed Rendell's call to ban smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars. Rendell's broad "Prescription for Pennsylvania" proposal to reduce health-care costs and make insurance more affordable also includes a proposed statewide smoking ban. It's one of several measures included in the plan to promote healthy lifestyles. Amy Christie of the Pennsylvania Tavern Association, says here group opposes a smoking ban that's completely restrictive on bars and restaurants. But the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association has a different view. The association's board voted last June to support a comprehensive statewide smoking ban, citing concerns about the
effect of secondhand smoke on employees. Executive director Patrick Conway says a statewide ban is fair to all establishments.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino says 15 parochial schools in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties - including all six high schools - will close at the end of the school year as part of a restructuring. Martino says declining enrollment forced the closures. In Luzerne County, Bishop Hafey High School, Bishop Hoban High School, Bishop O'Reilly High School, and Seton Catholic High School are all slated to close. They will be replaced by a single high school at the Hoban site in Wilkes-Barre. Six elementary schools in the county also will close. In Lackawanna County, Bishop Hannan High School and Bishop O'Hara High School will merge, and three elementary schools are to be shuttered.

EASTON, Pa. (AP) - The nation's best-known crayon maker is taking the name of its iconic product, Crayola. The change from the obscure Binney and Smith name, effective January first, was celebrated today. C-E-O Mark Schwab unveiled a new sign at the company's headquarters plant where 13-point-five (m) million crayons are churned out every day. Schwab is tickled pink - or is it magenta? - about the change. He says the move helps the company be recognized for who they are, a brand that children, moms, parents and teachers know.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State University is getting a new law school building. School officials broke ground for the building yesterday. When completed in 2009, the new building will house the State College facilities for the Dickinson School of Law. It is part of a 110 (m) million dollar project that connects the school's University Park campus and the Dickinson campus in Carlisle. The building has been named after New Jersey businessman and Dickinson graduate Lewis Katz, who donated 15 (m) million dollars, which Penn State said was one of the single largest gifts in school history. An addition on the Carlisle campus will also be named Lewis Katz Hall.