Free Republic

HERSHEY, Pa. - Hershey Foods Corp. workers, residents and government officials rallied yesterday to protest the possible sale of the nation's largest chocolate-maker, saying it would devastate the company and the community. "We look at this ultimatum and say 'nuts,' " U.S. Rep. George Gekas (R., Pa.) of Dauphin County said at the lunchtime rally, which drew hundreds of people to Hershey's Chocolate Town Square. "I can't believe they're thinking of selling it," Sandy Farmer, a local real estate agent, said. The Hershey Trust Co., which controls 77 percent of Hershey Foods' voting shares, announced last week that it was...

PHILADELPHIA, April 17 — In what is believed to be the largest experiment in privatization mounted by an American school district, a state panel charged with improving the Philadelphia public school system voted tonight to transfer control of 42 failing city schools to seven outside managers, including Edison Schools Inc. and two universities. The three members of the School Reform Commission appointed by Gov. Mark Schweiker voted for the plan, while the two members appointed by Mayor John F. Street voted against it. The vote capped a fiery three-hour meeting in which the two sides had split over whether Edison,...