Tracy Davidson

The Lower Merion School District, embroiled in lawsuits over laptop cameras and redistricting, faces the possibility of a substantial tax increase for next school year.
The current budget contained the largest tax-rate percentage increase in the region. The preliminary $201.5 million proposal for next year calls for a 4.39 percent tax hike. If that passes in [...]

Tuition at many public colleges and universities is skyrocketing, thanks to state budget deficits that have choked off funding for higher education.
The University of California, for instance, estimates a 30% increase in the 2010-2011 year. “California’s $20 billion deficit will make it hard for the [state's] legislature to provide funding to the schools,” said Patrick [...]

For decades the standard question at U.S. grocery store check-out counters has been “Paper or Plastic?” But since January, consumers in the U.S. capital have faced a different question: “Will you pay 5 cents for a bag?”
Europeans have long accepted the idea of providing their own baskets, bags or nets to carry their purchases, or [...]

A batch of new restrictions aimed at curbing the most egregious credit card practices kick in Monday, but business owners will need to stay alert — the new rules don’t cover cards used for corporate purposes.
The bill Congress passed in May reforms the Truth in Lending Act, which governs only consumer credit. The measure fulfills [...]

Colleges are rapidly adding new majors and minors in green studies, and students are filling them fast.
Nationwide, more than 100 majors, minors or certificates were created this year in energy and sustainability-focused programs at colleges big and small, says the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. That’s up from just three programs [...]

Busy cooks need to take time to prepare their offerings not only with taste and appearance in mind but also with safety and care in order to prevent food-borne illnesses.
Most food-borne illnesses cause flu-like symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting and only last a few days. But depending on the health of the person and [...]

Towerstream Corp. has launched a high-speed wireless service for professional firms and small businesses in Center City, one of several companies investing in the wireless sector in Philadelphia.
AT&T Inc. recently expanded its wireless phone network into Philadelphia’s subway system for daily riders, and Sprint Nextel, Clearwire, and Comcast Corp. began selling next-generation wireless Internet service [...]

This month, the Federal Trade Commission unveiled You Are Here, a virtual mall where kids can learn to avoid online scams, spot misleading ads, and learn good habits to be smart consumers.
From the FTC’s release:
“ At the FTC’s online mall, visitors play games, watch short animated films, and interact with customers and store owners. They [...]