Musical cheers to Dalton Foreaker, a 5-year-old Cranberry kid with a captivating grin, and his new friends in the rock band named fun.

Dalton has autism. There are few medical conditions as frustrating. Symptoms typically include difficulty with communication, imaginative play and other forms of social interaction.

So it was a special moment when Dalton performed solo, mimicking the band’s front man, during a talent show a few weeks ago hosted by his school, Hope Learning Center in Wexford. Usually a nonverbal kid, Dalton sang full sentences and mimicked onstage antics by fun. vocalist Nate Ruess. His mom, Casey, posted a video of the performance on YouTube — if you haven’t seen it, Dalton’s act is worth a look.

A word about the band named is fun. — lowercase f-u-n-period — fun. is a big deal, winning 2013 Grammys for Best Song and Best New Artist of the year. On the Fourth of July, fun. played the White House lawn. The band is currently on a three-continent tour that stopped at Stage AE in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

The band’s manager watched Dalton on YouTube. He was so touched that he invited Dalton’s family to sit front-row during Thursday’s fun. concert.

“My son lacks communication skills,” Casey Foreaker said in an interview, “but singing this song brings out a whole new child.”

That’s the power of music for you.

Jeer A drive-by jeer for the latest perpetuation of a Pennsylvania stereotype: the corrupt public official. It’s the Turnpike Commission this time around.A district judge in Harrisburg ruled Tuesday there’s enough criminal evidence to warrant a jury trial for former state Sen. Bob Mellow; former turnpike Chairman Mitch Rubin; former turnpike Chief Executive Joe Brimmeier; and former Chief Operating Officer George Hatalowich, along with two people who worked for turnpike vendors.The former state officials were accused in March of using “pay to play” schemes for financial and political gain. Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said the defendants’ criminal acts resulted in the misdirection, misuse and theft of millions of dollars of public money. While the defense attorneys argue their clients did nothing wrong, there’s enough evidence, according to District Judge William Wenner of Harrisburg, to look into the allegations.It must have been an elaborate scheme, considering the prosecutors needed four hours for closing arguments — unheard of for a preliminary hearing. What it boils down to is that Mellow, Mitchell and the others are accused of bid rigging, influence peddling as a breach of public trust and improper influence over large contracts.It’s a shame the actions of a few stain the reputation of all. There are honest, dedicated public servants across Pennsylvania — all the more reason to ferret out and convict the corrupt ones.

Cheer A before-the-fact cheer to residents who plan on attending Tuesday night’s Public Utility Commission hearing over a rate hike proposed by Peoples TWP gas company.Tuesday’s hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the Butler County Government Building on West Diamond Street.Peoples TWP has requested increases of 28.4 percent for residential customers and 5.4 percent for commercial customers.Most people, particularly those living on fixed incomes, will feel the impact of that kind of an increase in their gas bill. An increase by nearly one-third on gas bills will hit these residents more severely than recent school tax increases that have raised numerous objections.Peoples TWP last increased rates in 2010, and inflation since then has remained low at just 1 or 2 percent a year. The company says it needs the money to replace aging steel gas lines. Most companies would see that as routine maintenance and build it into pricing and profit models.The PUC is responsible for listening to the public and investigating Peoples TWP’s rate request to ensure it’s warranted. It’s also responsible for assuring costly utilities make a reasonable profit. In this case, the company is seeking a return on equity of 11.25 percent — while most investors in today’s economy would settle for half of that.Tuesday’s hearing presents an opportunity for customers to weigh in on what a reasonable profit should be. They should take advantage of the opportunity.