What are they thinking at the Transportation Security Administration?

The announcement Tuesday that the TSA plans to allow airline passengers to bring small knives on planes has most people shaking their head in disbelief.

Airline passengers have learned and adapted to restrictions on what can or cannot be brought onto planes in the 12 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. There were some adjustments to the rules — such as a relaxation of the early ban on fingernail clippers — that made sense. This idea does not.

The TSA says folding knives with blades no longer than 2.36 inches will be allowed through security checkpoints. To clarify the new rule, which is supposed to take effect April 25, the TSA says allowable knives cannot have blades wider than half an inch and cannot have a fixed or locking blade.

In addition to small knives, the TSA plans to allow passengers to carry on small bats, plastic bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and up to two golf clubs.

Why?

Passengers have gotten used to not carrying those items into the cabin of an airliner. There is no good reason for this change.

The TSA argues that with locked and reinforced cockpit doors, small knives are no longer a threat to the pilots. What about other people on planes?

No doubt, airline passengers will still have to remove their shoes at the security checkpoints and will not be able to have a shampoo bottle with more than three ounces of liquid in their carry-on luggage. But, soon they will be able to carry small knives, hockey sticks and golf clubs.

How many meetings were held by TSA officials to decide on allowing knives — and how did they decide that blades longer than 2.36 inches are a danger but shorter blades pose no threat?

Not surprisingly, flight attendants, pilots and federal air marshals have spoken out against the proposed rule change.

Allowing knives of any length on commercial airplanes is unnecessary. The TSA, once again, demonstrates a lack of intelligence — or a federal bureaucracy with too much time on its hands.

Communities need to be thinking about improvements all year long.Judging from the annual State of the Union luncheon of the Zelienople-Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce, winter is no time for rest for officials of the two boroughs and Jackson Township.The reports presented at the luncheon last month demonstrate a vibrant spirit and vision about the future.From infrastructure improvements in Zelienople to business revitalization efforts in Harmony to a capital-projects fund in Jackson, the efforts demonstrate a desire for growth, including making the municipalities more attractive to residents and businesses.And it's not only elected or appointed officials who are or will be working on the efforts.Regarding Jackson's preparation of a new comprehensive plan, Chris Rearick, township manager, said officials will be encouraging township businesses to contribute input.Meanwhile, Historic Harmony's efforts are built around commendable volunteer serv-ice to promote tourism in the community.An attraction new to Harmony will be the North America Unicycling Convention and Competition, which is set for July 20 to 27. No doubt the benefits from that event will spill out beyond the three municipalities, including Butler, where, from time to time, a unicyclist can be seen traveling city streets.To the delight of Zelienople and nearby residents, the borough's parks, according to Don Pepe, borough manager, “have really blossomed.”The town's new amphitheater is completed and will be available in June.Much of the focus in southwestern Butler County usually is on Cranberry Township and its ongoing growth. But people who visit that part of the county should also see what's going on in nearby Zelienople, Harmony and Jackson as well.Doing so will provide further proof that progress can be contagious.

The fact that the Butler Police Department launched a Facebook page on Oct. 31 wasn’t news meriting a banner headline.But since then, the Facebook page has helped city police make arrests. It’s become a valuable resource.An article in the March 6 Butler Eagle reported on one of the department’s Facebook successes.After the department posted a surveillance image of an unknown man on its Facebook page in connection with a vehicle break-in and the subsequent illegal use of bank debit cards stolen during that break-in, a tipster called police with a name.With a name in hand, the police were able to access the suspect’s own Facebook page, which contained a picture of him wearing the same jacket and hat he was wearing when he attempted to access money from a convenience store ATM using the stolen cards.The store’s security camera caught the attempted theft on video.According to police Capt. David Dalcamo, social media have helped the Butler department make up to 20 arrests.People who want to help the local police should routinely check out the department’s Facebook page. There might be a day when they’ll be surprised and have knowledge about the evidence being sought — knowledge that they can convey to the police, anonymously if they choose.