Joe Hainthaler is a New Era copy editor who spent five years working in Washington and more than two years covering Harrisburg -- confirming his mistrust of government and adding to his amusement when officials in either of the two capitals promise to help us.

New Era assistant sports editor Jason Guarente provides news, insight and commentary about Lancaster's favorite team.

Mike Gross has been a sportswriter for the Sunday News since 1997. He previously worked at the Harrisburg Patriot-News and Lebanon Daily News. He lives in Lebanon with his wife, two sons and a dog.

Dave Pidgeon, political correspondent for the Intelligencer Journal, provides news, analysis and more about what's happening on the campaign trails and in the hallowed halls of the state Capitol.

Tom Murse, who covers government and politics for the Lancaster New Era newspaper, serves up your daily fix of news, insight and hilarity from the campaign trail in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Dave O'Connor has been a reporter at the Lancaster New Era since 1988. A Christian music buff, his favorite bands and singers range from Kutless and Third Day to Casting Crowns, Caedmon's Call and Sara Groves (throw in some Stellar Kart, too!). A Pittsburgh native, he grew up loving popular music, and immediately grew to love the diversity and talent of Christian music since making his own commitment of faith in 1993. He plays bass and sings as part of a Lancaster-area three-man worship band.

Jon Ferguson first heard the Beatles when he was 9 years old and things were never quite the same. Though most people grow up and leave their childhood passions behind, Ferguson never did. He continues to listen to rock music, mostly the kind made by old geezers like himself, and write about it.

Bernard Harris is a writer for the Lancaster New Era and a regular recreational bicycle rider on the backroads of Lancaster County, commuter and sometime racer.

"The fact that The Lancaster News allows a guy like that to write a column is disturbing as well as ridiculous" - Bill O'Reilly

Elizabeth Patton writes about art and music around Lancaster County. She is a copy editor for the Lancaster New Era and also edits This Weekend, the New Era's guide to weekend entertainment.

In Teen Weekend's blog, Diana Le, a graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School, and Brandon Frese, a graduate of Cocalico High School, share their musings on a variety of subjects. Both are now Penn State freshmen.

Are you a Lancaster-Lebanon League sports fan? New Era sports writer Jeffrey Reinhart gives the inside scoop on all of your favorite local high school sports teams and personalities.

Helen Colwell Adams, a Sunday News staff writer, is lay leader of Pearl Street United Methodist Church in Lancaster. She covers political and religion stories for the Sunday News. She is also student at Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, working toward a masters of divinity degree. She is a graduate of Point Park College, Pittsburgh. She is married and has an 11-year-old daughter.

Chip Smedley is a washed-up hockey player who has 23 years of experience in the teaching field. He recently returned to his professional roots in journalism and is now a reporter for the Sunday News. Guided by the general philosophy of "All the News that Fits" he takes shots at providing notes, analysis and commentary about local goings-on that wouldn't fit into print editions.