PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS

News on Economics & Finance from The Patriot-News

• Seeking solutions
Alice Yoder had a pointed question after listening to a panel that gathered Wednesday to push for solutions to the nation's health care crisis.

• IN THE NEWS
Joan L. Pitcher, who has held high-ranking positions in cancer care in Massachusetts and Texas, has been appointed chief operating officer at Penn State Cancer Institute in Derry Twp.

• Complex to reorganize under Chapter 11 filing
A good place to unwind with friends is difficult to come by, say Margorie Jones and Steven Hiller. That's why the thought of something happening to the Coliseum complex in Hampden Twp. was so unsettling.

• IN COMPARISON UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
HARRISBURG 4.5%3.5% LEBANON 4.0%3.4% LANCASTER 4.1%3.3% YORK 4.6%3.7% PENNSYLVANIA5.4%4.3% U.S. 5.7%4.6%

• Jobless rate rises 1 point in year
The Harrisburg area's unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in July, a full percentage point higher than a year ago.

• On a budget
If you're a kid heading back to school, you might want everything to be new and fresh -- the hot styles, a new backpack or sparkling clean sneakers. If you're a parent, you might be wondering how you're going to pay for it all.

• STILL ON A ROLL
People who wanted to play the quarter slots might not have had to stand in line on a recent Tuesday afternoon at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, but the place wasn't exactly empty.

• BUSINESS CALENDAR
TUESDAY The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC will hold a business solutions meeting 7-9 a.m. at Klucko Building (formerly Reider's Hardware), 11 S. Union St. Middletown. Cost: $15 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Information: 232-4099.

• TRADE TALK
Dr. Christopher J. DeFlitch was appointed Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center's first chief medical information officer. He will guide clinical information technology enhancement across the medical center. DeFlitch has been a full-time faculty member at the medical center since 1998.

• AirTran's arrival has HIA soaring
Midstate residents for years have been pushing Harrisburg International Airport to land a low-cost discount airline such as Southwest or AirTran.

• To buy or to rent?
Buying a home has always been a nerve-wracking experience, but stress levels have gone through the roof lately.

• Hard times + valuables = cash
At Wray Music House in Lemoyne, manager Mike Washkevich has heard some sad stories lately.

• TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR ITEMS
Get appraisals. Explore sales options, including tag sales, auctions or live Internet catalog auctions.

• Bon-Ton expects bigger sales drop
The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. lowered its sales and earnings guidance for the year, citing the difficult economic environment that is affecting many retailers.

• FLYING LOW
Flight attendants, whose work places them between the struggling airlines and an increasingly angry flying public, might just have the worst job around these days.