EDITORIAL: Cheers and Jeers

Apr. 11—Cheers to news that a special investigative team from the state police will review the mysterious death of Laurie Merritt. The 51-year-old Postal Service employee was found dead in her Wilkes-Barre home seven years ago in what a fire marshal ruled was a case of arson, despite a coroner's ruling that her death was accidental.

Jeers to a sagging recycling market forcing municipalities to consider either raising rates, stopping comingling of items or, in some cases, eliminating collection of some items altogether. Local towns can't fix this problem. It will take a concerted effort by industry and pressure from consumers to reform our wasteful, throwaway packaging culture.

Cheers to Cathy Payne, named last week by the Wilkes-Barre City Council to serve as chief clerk, the first woman to hold the post. Payne has been working at City Hall for 29 years, most recently as assistant clerk under Jim Ryan, who recently retired. Congratulations.

Jeers to anti-vaccination forces spreading alarm on social media and elsewhere about COVID shots, which have been given to millions without serious issue. As vaccines become more widely available, it's imperative for everybody's health that anti-vaxxers' misinformation is challenged and debunked.