Opinion category, Page 31
Point: Another momentous term is in the offing
The Supreme Court’s recent refusal to grant a stay of a lower court decision telling South Carolina it has to allow a transgender girl to use the boys’ bathroom in a public school emphasizes the importance of issues the court will be reviewing when its new term starts Oct. 6....
Letter to the editor: Let’s find a middle ground in honor of Charlie Kirk
We hear over and over to “get involved.” Vice President Vance suggested I write a letter to my local newspaper. So here goes. Our nation had a watershed moment on Sept. 10 with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We could see a Rubicon crossed, and reaction since has been illuminating....
Letter to the editor: Cancel Trump’s Independence Day party
Philadelphia’s mayor and City Council can and should cancel President Trump’s Philadelphia Independence Day party. Legal research shows that Philadelphia could take a stand in favor of our collective history, as opposed to blessing a 250th birthday party now that Trump has indicated an intention to eradicate slavery’s mention at...
Editorial: What is the point of a fight in the Pennsylvania state House?
Every day is a new fight in Harrisburg. Lately, it’s been about the three-months-overdue budget. Discussions on the contentious spending plan are an all-too-familiar battleground. It’s a long-running soap opera that has gotten even more dramatic as the political lines become more deeply etched. Pennsylvania is one of just 12...
Letter to the editor: Pa. can finally catch up on solar
In response to the op-ed by Mandy Steele, Bill McKibben and Joe Morinville, “AI, crypto and Pa.’s war on the little guy” (Sept. 20, TribLive), referring to the inaugural “Sun Day” in Pittsburgh, I attended that event along with dozens of Pittsburghers. Steele (a Democrat representing Fox Chapel) spoke of...
Letter to the editor: Stop the abuse of our natural resources
It was disappointing to read the article “DEP gives preliminary nod to $10B Homer City plant, environmental group sounds alarm” (Sept. 15, TribLive). The plant will rely on the fracking industry for its power. That in itself is a broken promise from an industry that said it would reduce our...
John T. Shaw: Congresswomen unite for immigration reform and show us the statesmanship that’s possible
During this time of fear and division in the United States, it is heartening to see an example of courage and unity, especially as it pertains to one of our most contentious issues: immigration. President Trump seized on fears related to immigration in the 2024 presidential campaign to help win...
Rep. Arvind Venkat: New infrastructure means healthier families, healthier Pa.
As an emergency physician and current state legislator, I’ve spent my career serving Pennsylvanians and supporting them in a lifelong journey to live healthy, fulfilling lives. We know that eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly is important. Practicing good hygiene — brushing your teeth, washing your hands, and keeping clean...
Karen Feridun: Preserve local control on natural gas
The burgeoning data center boom in Pennsylvania is reminiscent of the early days of the fracking boom. No attention was given to the impacts fracking would have on public health or the environment. Unlike New York and Maryland, no studies were done to guide policy decisions about how, or even...
Letter to the editor: Many will benefit from new park in Hempfield
Congratulations to Hempfield Supervisors’ Chairman Doug Weimer and his team for the unveiling of the new park along Route 30 (“Hempfield unveils 1st phase of new $15 million park,” Sept. 27, TribLive). Our community will greatly benefit from this project. Keep up the good work! Mike Rominski Greensburg...
Letter to the editor: We all should think about our political cognitive distortion
When politicians resort to insult and name calling, it is a sign that they have nothing convincing to say. No data, no logic and no insights to support their position. It is a desperate ploy to win by emotional intimidation or threats of physical harm. Referring to President Trump as...
Laurels & lances: Food & fear
Laurel: To more on the menu. Western Pennsylvania shoppers will have more grocery options with Wegmans and Meijer coming in. Despite the ubiquitous presence of Giant Eagle plus Walmart, Shop ’n Save and Aldi locations, the area has “one of the most acute shortages of supermarket chains anywhere in the...
Letter to the editor: We need our comic relief
The Prez, assuming himself the funniest human being in the whole world along with the greatest president ever, apparently never considered that trying to purge someone actually funny from TV-space, Jimmy Kimmel, would have given an early bum’s rush to the deification-of-you-know-who news cycle. Like a hard rain sweeping smoke...
Alexander Ciccone: Congress should not turn a temporary handout into a permanent burden
Pennsylvania families already face some of the steepest health care costs in the nation, with premiums and deductibles eating up bigger chunks of household budgets every year. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has warned that premiums are expected to rise by nearly one-fifth in the year ahead, putting even greater pressure...
Reps. Eric Nelson and Mike Schlossberg: Funding school mental health should be a top priority
Mental health is often discussed in whispers; we all must confront the growing reality that many of our young people are struggling. A recent survey of Pennsylvania youth found that 41.5% of students reported feeling sad or depressed most days in the past year. Students of all ages are struggling...
Jonah Goldberg: Why everyone is rushing to label themselves an ‘independent’
Independents are so hot right now — and will be for the foreseeable future. According to a major survey commissioned by CNN, nearly half of all Americans — 44% — call themselves independents while only 28% and 27%, respectively, identify as Republicans or Democrats. I have a theory as to...
Letter to the editor: Ballot curing ensures all votes count
Contrary to the opinions of Westmoreland County Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew, the county is woefully out of step compared with practices in other Southwestern Pennsylvania counties regarding “ballot curing” — the notification and correction of minor errors on mail-in or absentee ballots before certification (“Westmoreland commissioners decline to...
Letter to the editor: Penn Township must find Rowe Road solution
On Aug. 4, a house fire occurred in Penn Township’s Meadow Wood Plan off Rowe Road (“Girl, dog rescued from fire at Penn Township home,” Aug. 4, TribLive). Firefighters were called and responded in seven minutes. Due to the closure of Rowe Road from Route 130 and the alternate route...
Letter to the editor: Incompetent Pa. leaders
It is said “everyone eventually reaches their level of incompetency in their occupation.” Some of our state representatives have reached that level. They’re like a group of kids that can’t seem to get their act together, holding Pennsylvanians hostage over budget issues. They have no idea how difficult it is...
Editorial: County meetings canceled, latest casualty of Pennsylvania budget battle
The Pennsylvania budget impasse isn’t the gift that keeps on giving. It’s the thief that keeps on taking. The three-month-long delay in a state spending plan is a dammed-up financial river that has rippling repercussions throughout the agencies downstream. Counties are conduits for money from the state to put into...
Greg Fulton: The magic of Three Rivers Stadium and Willie Stargell
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Pirates’ last game in Three Rivers Stadium — Oct. 1, 2000. It would also be the last time the fans would see Pirate great Willie Stargell. The ballpark and Stargell were intertwined, and their time together represented some of the most remarkable years...
Sen. Kim Ward and Pat Halpin-Murphy: Ensuring no-cost diagnostic breast imaging for Pa. women
Two years ago, when Act 1 of 2023 was passed unanimously, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to require insurers to cover supplemental breast cancer screenings such as MRIs and ultrasounds, as well as BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling for high-risk individuals — all at no cost. The...
Letter to the editor: Powerball and government assistance
The Powerball lottery game recently went up to $1.8 billion. Thank goodness; I felt obligated to play it, but only bought three $2 tickets. Only two lucky or maybe unlucky people got all the winning numbers. I wasn’t that surprised or unhappy that I didn’t win. I have a little...
Letter to the editor: Teach kids about good and evil
Charlie Kirk was a good man. I don’t think his assassination was political. I think it was about good vs. evil. People don’t realize we’re in a war between good and evil. Evil can enter our homes through our computers. According to the FBI, the suspect spent a lot of...
Editorial: Efficient, convenient police blood draws are a good tool in fighting DUI
When a police officer pulls over a driver, it can be the start of a process that costs that driver a lot of time and money. What can be missed is how much it costs the law enforcement agency, too. A suspected drunken driving stop takes longer than a simple...
