U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, should heed the advice of the House ethics committee and temper his questionable behavior. He not only is becoming an embarrassment for fellow GOP lawmakers, but for the House in general.

Twice within a week, DeLay was admonished by the committee. The first instance involved DeLay's alleged offer to endorse the House candidacy of a House member's son in exchange for the member's favorable vote on a Medicare prescription drug bill. The most recent warning stemmed from DeLay creating an appearance of giving donors special access on pending energy legislation and using the Federal Aviation Administration to intervene in a Texas political dispute.

The committee's publicly issued findings constituted the committee's mildest punishment. It spared DeLay, one of the nation's most partisan political leaders, from a lengthy investigation.

Meanwhile, the committee, which comprises five Republicans and five Democrats, delayed action on an allegation that DeLay violated Texas campaign finance laws. A Texas grand jury investigation has so far produced indictments of three DeLay associates and eight corporations.

It's troubling that such a powerful national legislative leader is the focus of such committee actions and troubling allegations.

DeLay should rethink the way he conducts himself in carrying out the important duties with which he is entrusted.

Republicans in the state Senate merit praise for attempting to resolve some of the troubling issues within the state's new gambling law.One of the most notable items deserving of praise is the GOP's push to significantly broaden the attorney general's oversight authority regarding the slot machine gambling law, which aims at installing up to 61,000 machines at 14 different venues.Astonishing from a negative perspective is that the gambling law, as enacted, keeps the attorney general, for the most part, out of the oversight process. That aspect of the law is foolhardy.If the prospect exists for this proposed provision to become bogged down within other changes that the Senate GOP seeks, the attorney general's oversight issue should be separated from the other proposals to ensure its quicker passage.Having the attorney general as a key player in ensuring that crime and other negatives do not filter into the gambling process should be a bipartisan goal worthy of a quick OK.The proposed measure would require the attorney general to approve the legality of leases, contracts and regulations passed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and would establish an investigative division within the attorney general's office to address gambling-related criminal activity.The proposal would require House concurrence and Gov. Ed Rendell's signature.From a bipartisan view, having the attorney general as a key player in ensuring that the gambling law not be undermined by illegal elements should have been regarded as indispensable from the start.

The Country Fall Festival, in progress this weekend in Zelienople and Harmony, is testimony to the communities' resolve to move ahead, despite the flooding spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan.The festival, sponsored by the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association, will include museum tours, live music, crafters, antique collectibles, food vendors, produce and pumpkins, as well as Mountain Men encampments and demonstrations. There also will be a number of activities geared toward children, including face painting, a petting zoo and pony rides.The two-day event will provide people who were adversely affected by Ivan's wrath a respite from the work and challenges with which they are faced. No doubt, amid the festivities, there will be much reflection among residents and visitors about what the communities encountered.The two communities merit plaudits for their determination that the festival not also become an Ivan victim.