The news that two Butler County men have been charged with drunken hunting should send a chill through all hunters who would not give a second thought to engaging in such dangerous, irresponsible conduct.

People found guilty of such a violation should have their hunting privilege revoked for a long time, if not permanently.

Adding to the troubling story of the two men's arrest is the fact that they also are accused of firing their guns during a confrontation with other deer hunters.

Deer hunting is a sport that many thousands of Pennsylvania residents engage in responsibly and abhor illegal, unsafe conduct.

Even now, just having been charged, the two men are an embarrassment to the sport.

Last month's news that the state Capitol's ground-floor cafeteria was found to have widespread rodent infestation was bad enough.But the latest news that the cafeteria hadn't been inspected for four years, despite a law requiring annual inspections, should make any right-thinking Pennsylvania resident — not just Gov. Ed Rendell, lawmakers and other state workers who routinely ate there — wonder how such an inspection lapse began.The cafeteria, currently closed, is expected to reopen this month.Eye-opening in addition to the inspection disclosure is the fact that a House-passed bill paving the way for new food safety regulations has been bottled up in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee since June.State residents are justified in wondering why the committee is procrastinating.It's another example of the General Assembly's lack of productivity in terms of moving bills through the legislative process.An inspection report released Dec. 22 by the state Department of Agriculture regarding the cafeteria in question said rodent droppings were just about everywhere. The department said rodent droppings were excessive and on food-preparation equipment, in cabinets, in utensil bins and elsewhere.An audit in 2005 by Attorney General Jack Wagner's office found that thousands of Pennsylvania restaurants were being licensed without the required annual inspections for sanitation and health, and that penalties for failing inspections had been rare and insignificant.Perhaps the inspection finding regarding the Capitol cafeteria will eventually spur action on a new food safety law.Unfortunately, at least for now, no one seems to be in any great hurry to pass one.

Despite operating with a reduced budget due in part to state budget cuts, Butler's sixth annual Ring in the Arts celebration offered a good time to all who attended.That the New Year's Eve event provided popular attractions was evident at The Arts Center on South Main Street, where volunteers scrambled for more chairs to accommodate those who came to hear the Harold Betters Quartet.Meanwhile, there was an upbeat mood in the grand ballroom at Cornerstone Commons, where the Tornado Big Band and Karma Acoustic entertained a crowd.Other examples of the activities were a pork and sauerkraut dinner at Grace @ Calvary Church and a chili cook-off at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.Considering that the New Year's Eve event operated with a budget of less than $5,000, when in the past the event had a budget of more than $10,000, event planners put on a good show for all who joined in the celebration. It is to be hoped that the seventh annual event next Dec. 31 is not beset with such a money challenge.Even if financial support from the state is not as great as in past years, corporate sponsors during previous events who didn't join in for Thursday's event hopefully will decide to renew their important role.In addition, those who worked in the planning of the latest celebration no doubt would appreciate some additional manpower when planning begins for this year's event.Ring in the Arts is a positive community experience. It should continue and be allowed to expand, rather than be a scaled-back version of what the city experienced prior to the latest event.