Local/Regional

Contractors going door to door during the spring season looking for work should serve as a red flag to homeowners.  Bucks County Director of Consumer Protection. Mike Bannon urges homeowners to simply check them out before handing over cash.

“We always see a bit of it. You know, a person knocks on your door saying your roof may need a little extra work, we noticed some old shingles up their. Some times we run in to work that landscapers provide. You have to do your homework and check out anyone who is going to do work on your home.”

Bannon adds, you can check out contractors through the State Attorney Generals website and the Bucks County Consumer Protection Website. Bannon say very often, contractors will perform part of the work and never return to finish the job. In most cases, a homeowner has already paid part or all of the money to the contractor. Bannon was a guest Tuesday morning on WNPV's New AM-Edition with Darryl Berger.

The economy continues to be the focus of concern and subject of conversation. V.P. of Investments at Univest, Bill Van Sant says, while home and car sales are heading in the right direction, one issue could possibly impact the growth of the economy.

“What will happen with sequestration. What will be the outcome with some of the tax increases and health care costs. How is that going to drag the economy down, if it does.”

Van Sant adds, job growth needs to improve on a monthly basis to between 330 and 350-thousand jobs. He says, those kind of numbers would help the economy grow and expand. Van Sant was a Guest on WNPV’S Comment Please By Univest Program on Thursday.

Souderton Police Chief Jim Leary is warning parents of the danger lurking in their own medicine cabinet.

“Pharm party occur when young people, generally 15 to 21, raid moms or dads medicine chest, and very often raid grand moms and grand dads medicine chest, find medicines that they think will be of interest. They bring those other medicines of interest to a gathering of other likeminded people and they share pharmaceuticals, hence the term “pharm party”. This kids have no idea what they’re taking.”

Souderton and many other police departments in Montgomery and Bucks Counties will take part in this Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Giveback Program. A complete list of Police Departments involved is available at the website Justice.Gov

The C.E.O. of The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce says 4 out of 5 jobs being created in the region are in manufacturing. Ron Wonderling says lower energy cost are the reason why.

“Being driven, first, as its always been driven is by the great location of the Philadelphia region. Great transportation access from railroads to key parts of the Delaware River, but the real shift has occurred due to the low cost of natural gas.”

Much higher energy costs in Europe are driving some companies to shift operations here.