BELLEFONTE — A troubled rural water company under investigation by state regulators now faces additional legal action from its own lawyers, who want it to be taken over by a municipal authority.
Months after Rock Spring Water Company owner J. Roy Campbell told a judge he would rather sell his business and avoid a lengthy process by state regulators to force an acquisition, his attorneys have asked a Centre County court to hand over interim operations to the nearby State College Borough Water Authority.
Attorneys James Bryant and Carolyn Larrabee were hired by Campbell last fall after the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, an independent division within the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, launched a review of the privately owned company.
A June Spotlight PA investigation found that years of neglect have resulted in crumbling infrastructure that causes low water pressure, outages, and boil water advisories for the 1,000 customers who rely on the 20-mile system for service.
A 2022 engineering report estimated that the current system needs $13.5 million in repairs.
The company has also racked up regulatory violations and tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid civil penalties as part of an ongoing legal battle with the Department of Environmental Protection over excessive water loss.
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The move bans oil and gas drilling, mining and other industrial activities on vast swaths of public land in California.
The Red Canyon area, seen in the foreground, and the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR) is in the distance in the western portion of the proposed Chuckwalla Mountains National Monument in April, near Chiriaco Summit, California. (David McNew/Getty Images)
President Joe Biden on Tuesday established two massive new national monuments in California and highlighted his environmental initiatives as some of the defining achievements of a presidency that will end in less than a week.
“We’ve been carrying out the most aggressive climate agenda in the history of the world,” Biden told nearly 300 people gathered in the White House’s East Room. Without directly mentioning President-elect Donald Trump and his allies, he added: “We don’t have to choose between the environment and the economy or between conservation and clean energy — we can do both at the same time.”
Biden signed proclamations at the event designating the roughly 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument and the roughly 224,000-acre Sáttítla Highlands National Monument. The move bars oil and gas drilling, mining and other industrial activity on vast swaths of public land that several Native American tribes have considered sacred for thousands of years.
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From the beginning of the ongoing crisis that has claimed the lives of 34, the L.A. Times has made its wildfire coverage free. The newspaper saw record-breaking readership with traffic to the website peaking on Wednesday, Jan. 8 — the day after the fires began, a Times spokesperson confirmed. Overall, traffic was up 800% from the past 30-day average and new subscriptions were up over 259% compared to that same period.
The L.A. Times entered the new year with about 650,000 paid readers — a figure that combines print, digital, and third-party platforms like Apple News — including 275,000 direct digital subscribers. (An estimated 20,000 subscribers canceled over its decision to not endorse in the 2024 presidential race.) L.A. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong announced in December that getting 400,000 direct digital subscriptions — representing about 1% of California’s 40 million residents — is a primary goal for the newsroom.
The Times had its “most subscriber visits ever” on January 8. And readers stuck around. Site recirculation — when readers come to the L.A. Times site for one story and then stay to read other coverage — was up 1,500% compared to the previous month-long average. Video coverage, in particular, did well with video plays up by 1,800% compared to the previous month.
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By Insider NJ | January 13, 2025, 12:33 pm | in Caucus Room
As the 119th Congress begins, Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) announced the members of her senior staff team who will help lead the office in delivering for the people of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District.
“I am proud to welcome this group of talented and dedicated public servants to Team McIver,” said Rep. McIver. “They each bring a unique passion and skill set to our diverse team. I look forward to working together to create real change for the people at home in NJ-10.”
The senior staff appointments are:
Noelle Rosellini, Chief of Staff
Rosellini brings nearly a decade of experience in communications, management, and political advance to her role as chief of staff. An alum of presidential and high-profile Senate and House races across the country, Rosellini has also served progressive leaders on Capitol Hill, helping launch Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s communications operation in her first term and advising Rep. Jimmy Gomez as deputy chief of staff. Originally from State College, Pennsylvania, she is excited to serve the people of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District.
Imani Hamm, District Director
Hamm is a seasoned political professional with over seven years of experience in government, political strategy, and public affairs. Hamm began her career in Governor Phil Murphy’s office and later served as the Essex County political director in his second gubernatorial campaign. Following her work with Governor Murphy, Imani spent three years working in government affairs, advocating for key policy issues at the state level. Most recently, she served as the deputy campaign manager for McIver. A Montclair, New Jersey native, she earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Layla A. Brooks, Legislative Director
Brooks is a proud HBCU alumna and George Washington University graduate. She is an experienced congressional staffer and policy expert with five years of diverse experience on Capitol Hill. Her holistic view to policy combines bicameral committee and personal office experience to build on many big wins in the legislative space. Previously, she served on the legislative teams of Reps. Troy A. Carter, Sr., Nikema Williams, Senate Environment and Public Works, Senate Rules and Administration, and House Homeland Security Committee, and she is an alumna of the UNCF Walton Family Foundation K-12 Education Fellowship.
Taylor Deacon, Communications Director
Deacon is an experienced congressional staffer and media aficionado. Her dynamic approach to communications combines public relations best practices and veteran hill strategies to build a brand and deliver results. She previously served on the communications teams of Reps. Don Davis, Dean Phillips, and Julia Brownley. Before her work on Capitol Hill, she was with ROKK Solutions and the North Carolina Democratic Party.
McIver was sworn into the U.S. House on September 23, 2024, following a special election. This new 119th Congress will be her first full term in federal office. In 2018, she was elected as the youngest woman ever to the Newark City Council where she proudly served as council president for seven years. She is a member of the House Small Business and Homeland Security Committees.
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The Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Bill Kibler as the new Executive Director effective January 6, 2025.
GDWA Exec. Director Bill Kibler
Kibler brings over 25 years of experience in environmental conservation, most recently serving as Director of Policy at Raritan Headwaters Association. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the South Branch Watershed Association From 2005 until Raritan Headwaters Association was created in 2011.
“Bill has a stellar reputation in the environmental non-profit community,” said David Naidu, Board Chair. “His expertise in policy, conservation, and management will be instrumental in guiding the organization into the future.”
A long-time environmental advocate, Kibler has a BS in Environmental Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as a Corps of Engineers Officer in Alaska where he worked on the clean-up of the Exxon Valdez disaster and in the Persian Gulf War. After graduating from the Syracuse University College of Law, he specialized in environmental, land use, and international law.
“I’m passionate about the mission of the Great Swamp Watershed Association,” stated Kibler. “GSWA has a storied history as an advocate for the Great Swamp and its communities and I’m excited and incredibly proud to join this talented team.”
Kibler is an avid fly fisher and enjoys kayaking and hiking. He is a long-time volunteer firefighter and EMT and serves his community as chief of the Califon Fire Company.
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This news follows an impressive 2024 for GSWA. A highlight of the year in May was the launch of a groundbreaking new initiative, the Climate Change Learning Collaborative, in partnership with Ramapo College through a grant from the Department of Education. GSWA staff conducted extensive research and developed a series of innovative professional development workshops. These teacher education sessions for K-12 educators utilized both swamp, river, and classroom. It was built on GSWA’s water quality and biodiversity-focused mission to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to effectively integrate climate change science and education across all subjects. From August to December, nearly 200 teachers and 200 students throughout northern New Jersey participated in these content-based workshops and field experiences. GSWA is currently planning for an even more impactful second year of the grant.
GSWA would also like to acknowledge the departure of Sally Rubin, who served as Executive Director for the past 17 years, and made the decision to transition. “Sally Rubin leaves a lasting legacy of significant accomplishments such as preserving 155 acres within Great Swamp watershed,” said Naidu. “We thank her for her service for GSWA and wish her well in her future endeavors.”
WASHINGTON — For years, President-elect Donald Trump has furiously criticized renewable energy sources, including offshore wind farms.
To freeze the offshore wind industry, Trump asked Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) to draft an executive order — something presidents issue without action from Congress — on the topic, Van Drew said.
“I’ve spoken with the president about the wind turbines, and he told me to have my people draw up an executive order. We got it done in forty-eight hours,” Van Drew said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News last week. His office, Van Drew said, passed the text on to officials within the Trump transition team including Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick for Interior Department secretary.
The executive order would halt offshore wind activities for six months as the federal government reviewed the industry, Van Drew said.
“They liked it a lot, at an initial glance,” Van Drew said. “I expect an executive order in the first couple of months.”
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