The Butler Soapbox

Parnell doing the good work…

MAGAZINE: On March 17, 2025, newly appointed chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell opened his first briefing with a grandiose pledge of transparency.

“In line with the secretary’s vision to make this the most transparent Department of Defense in history, I gave you my personal commitment to make these briefings more routine,” Parnell said on behalf of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “So today, it is the first of many.”

It was, in fact, the first of many promises of openness and accountability that would prove to be, to put it politely, “inoperative.”

MORE: https://tinyurl.com/8ryzac5j

Beating expectations again!

July jobs report reveals unexpected loss of 23,000 jobs, missing economist forecasts

Think there was 2 or 3 wrecked tractor trailers over the berm at one time on the stretch from 19 to the Ohio border this spring/summer.

Wrecks continue to mount on I-80 with 4 new accidents Saturday through Monday saw four wrecks in Interstate 80 construction zones, which a fire chief blamed on speeding drivers.

Another reason why Butler should consider a home rule charter once it moves up in class as a county- voters can draft ordinances and get them on the ballot by collecting signatures.

Anti-insider trading petitions get over 40k signatures, issue moves to November ballot Insider trading has become a hot topic in NEPA and a petition has been making the rounds the last couple months to ban luzerne and Lackawanna county officials f

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler County has left a long shadow on the community.

Even two years later, Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy said the events of July 13, 2024 still cloud his efforts to improve the town of about 13,000 people.

“I’m trying to work on things like, how do I feed the people of my community? How do I make sure they’re safe? How do I make sure they have affordable housing? And this keeps getting in the way,” Dandoy said.

The shooting, which occurred during an outdoor campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds technically happened outside Dandoy’s jurisdiction — he governs the city of Butler and the grounds are beyond city limits – but in the hours, days and years that have followed, he became the de facto spokesperson for the event.

Read more at the link in our comments.⬇️

Republican Scott Timko and Democrat Brandon Dukes will face each other in the special election before a rematch in the November general election. https://buff.ly/dgv2TBA

You know your proposal is great for the community when you have to bring your own hired security for a meeting in a school gymnasium…

Brooklyn-based Cornell Realty Management’s attorneys introduced motions Tuesday requesting that council members no longer participate in proceedings related to the 14 data centers proposed across 570-plus mountainside acres.

Daryl Metcalfe is rolling over in whatever Florida condo he spent most of the past decade living in…

The candidates find themselves in a district that Republicans have dominated for some time, but the area has seen a growing population, changing demographics and a few strong Democratic performances. https://buff.ly/To2W5iX

Didn’t have that one on the local politics bingo card…

“I’m excited about what’s to come and the opportunity to meet and work with each and every one of you,” Chris Frye said when he introduced himself to township residents. https://buff.ly/KX9FsWH

DJT Gas Log / Chapter 2 / Week 28 - Abridged and Tardy

Sorry folks it has been a very busy week so far at Soapbox HQ and the Gas Log fell victim to other priorities and some procrastination. So this entry will be brief with maybe more detail added after the fact.

The price remains the same at our benchmark station outside of Butler, PA compared to last week- $4.29.

Generally speaking prices have been in a downward trend regionally and statewide while maintaining levels higher than last month and significantly higher than last year.

We are now (8/5) 3 consecutive weeks with the PA average back above $4. Add that to the 90+ days earlier in the spring and summer and we are within a little over a month from matching the total days above $4 in 2022.