Opinion category, Page 221
Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski: Children teaching us lessons in kindness
When people think of Mister Rogers, they often remember his famous quote about helpers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” That uplifting anecdote served...
Dan DeBone: Supporting pro-growth tax reform
In 2022, our state Legislature achieved a significant milestone by successfully passing legislation to reduce Pennsylvania’s corporate net income (CNI) tax rate. This reduction is a remarkable achievement, as it lowered our state’s CNI rate from the highest flat rate in the country, 9.99%, to 8.99% as of Jan. 1,...
Alanna Caffas: Honor veterans by giving them access to clinical trials
For more than 95 years, Veteran Administration (VA) Research and Development programs have improved the lives of veterans, and all Americans, through groundbreaking health care discovery and innovation. This work has transformed the medical landscape through critical discoveries including tuberculosis treatment, cardiac pacemakers, nicotine patches, hearing aids, covid-19 vaccinations and...
Letter to the editor: It’s time to start respecting life again
Over the many gratefully embraced years of my life, I have seen a dramatic change in how America perceives the tremendous gift of life, the value of a single life, of all lives. I grew up learning that all lives are precious, that we are all interconnected through a bond,...
Letter to the editor: We need action on gun laws
Lewiston, Uvalde, Squirrel Hill … the list goes on. Some of our Pennsylvania legislators do nothing to help prevent mass shootings. This year there have been more than 400 mass shootings. Sen. Lisa Baker, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has had two pieces of legislation, which were passed in...
Letter to the editor: Jury of peers?
I could cite case law from my days as a law school student, but suffice it to say that a jury of one’s peers is central in criminal justice to determine guilt or innocence. My grandson was called for jury duty recently. What most impressed him was the age of...
Lori Falce: Rick Santorum and the secret sauce of democracy
On Wednesday, after the dust had settled on the 2023 general election and people were analyzing the ups and downs and wins and losses, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania went on Newsmax to discuss his disappointment. Republican Rick Santorum once was a leading voice in the party and had...
Laurels & lances: Election edition
Laurel: To doing your duty. Off-year elections are often sluggish things with little interest or involvement, but not this time. On Tuesday, voters stepped up and did their part. They made choices and cast ballots in ways that had real impact statewide, in both Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, in school...
Letter to the editor: U.S. complicit in crimes against humanity
More than 10,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and nearly half of those are children. UNICEF warns that Israel’s attack on Gaza is killing or wounding 420 children a day. Israel has wiped out entire families in Gaza. No one is denying that the attack by Hamas was terrible,...
Paul Kengor: Western Pa.’s other football teams
Football is in the bloodstream of Western Pennsylvania. We bleed black and gold for our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. Steelers mania starts early summer with training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe and typically runs into January with a team that makes the playoffs more than just about any other....
Mandy Simons: What does it mean to be pro-Israel?
“Pro-Israel.” That’s a standard term in American discourse about the Middle East, and now more than ever. We hear of confrontations between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters. Praise and blame are handed out to those seen as adequately or inadequately pro-Israel; the political lobbying organization AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee),...
Peter Morici: ‘Bidenomics’ is a bust, and even Democrats don’t want him to run again
The economy is improving, but President Biden doesn’t get much credit. Now it appears that could be enough to cost him his job. In contrast to last summer, most economists put the likelihood of a recession at less than half. Although the National Bureau of Economic Research considers several variables,...
Letter to the editor: Thanks to all emergency personnel
Recently I retired my EMS status with Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, after providing more than 45 years of service to our communities. I worked alongside other EMS personnel, Greensburg police, Pennsylvania State Police and fire departments throughout the area. There are many agencies that get involved behind the scenes when...
Letter to the editor: No need for big, beautiful schools in Latrobe
Regarding the article “Greater Latrobe’s multimillion dollar revitalization plan raises taxes through 2039” (Sept. 22, TribLIVE): Federal, state and local government continually have their hands deep in Pennsylvania residents’ pockets and around our throats. Local school boards add to the financial burden. After completing the new Latrobe Elementary School building,...
Letter to the editor: Hydrogen key to clean energy future
Regarding the article “Pittsburgh- based plan passed over as hydrogen hub selections draw statewide praise” (Oct. 13, TribLIVE): Building a lower carbon future means ensuring the success of the Department of Energy’s new hydrogen hubs. The hubs are networks of clean hydrogen producers, consumers and connective infrastructure working together to kick-start...
Editorial: Pennsylvania teachers should be able to wear their faith
For 74 years, Pennsylvania public school teachers could be penalized for wearing a cross or a crucifix, a Star of David or a crescent moon hanging from a necklace. There could be no symbols for any religion on clothing or jewelry because of a law passed in 1949. That will...
Letter to the editor: Kiski’s values will never change
Kiski Prep, moving beyond its all-male student body, is changing in a way that reflects the realities of America today. This is not some shrouded attempt for Kiski to become “woke.” Kiski needed to adapt and change to reflect important financial and social realities. While this change has caused an...
Jonah Goldberg: China has a role in making the whole world talk about Israel
While the whole world is talking about Israel, let’s take a moment to talk about China. Why? Well for starters, one of the reasons the whole world is talking about Israel, is that’s the way China wants it. In the wake of Hamas’ barbaric anti-Jewish pogrom on Oct. 7, anti-Jewish...
Ron Klink: Protecting the earned income tax credit for families
Over 81% of Pennsylvanians receive the earned income tax credit, the federal government’s refundable tax credit to low and moderate-income families. This tax credit saves our state $2 billion annually — an average of $1,874 per household. Unfortunately, the IRS is now taking action that can jeopardize this windfall tax...
Letter to the editor: We need Trump back in office
I am not a Jew and do not practice the Jewish religion, but I am literally sick to my stomach after the horrible tragedy in Israel. Because of the stupid policies of the radical left, evil is not afraid of America and feels free to distribute agonizing pain and suffering...
Letter to the editor: Innocent until proven guilty
In reference to the article “Release of suspect in $1.6M drug case ignites political firestorm in Allegheny County” (Sept. 20, TribLIVE) and letters discussing it, I would like to ask what happened to the old mantra “innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”? Apparently, any official who actually...
Editorial: John Fetterman, Summer Lee and the Israel-Hamas war
You might not think a war almost 6,000 miles away could have much of an effect on politicians in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Then again, politics is stitched into the fabric of everything these days. You cannot drink a beer, read a book or watch a football game without making a partisan...
Letter to the editor: No more car washes in North Huntingdon
The Trib has run several articles about companies wanting to build car washes on Route 30 in North Huntingdon and Irwin (“5th car wash proposed for North Huntingdon area,” Aug. 30, TribLIVE). This is just what everyone needs, another car wash. Here is a real stupid idea, which I’m surprised...
Laura Washington: Nikki Haley is on the rise. Can she take on Donald Trump?
“‘The rise is real’: Haley’s breakout is jolting 2024′s undercard race,” an Oct. 29 Politico report was headlined. That is Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina legislator and governor, United Nations ambassador and now the Republican presidential candidate to watch. Haley is surging in the 2024 GOP primary sweepstakes; in...
Darrell Owens: Veterans need VA’s community care program
For veterans transitioning from military to civilian life, the lack of support for the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has been a point of contention for years, with delays in care and unwarranted denials for service members. This November we celebrate Veterans Day and those who served in uniform —...
