Opinion category, Page 46
Athan Koutsiouroumbas: Draining the swamp, Pennsylvania-style
It’s rare these days to find a proposal out of Washington that checks every box: common sense, bipartisan and pro-worker. That is exactly what Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman have delivered with their bill to relocate the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management...
Ryan Unger: We need more teachers in Pa.
I have Thanksgiving dinner every year with only teachers. My mother, father, sister, brother-in-law, aunt, cousin and grandmother, along with all my great-aunts, have served as educators. While I’m the odd one out professionally, I value their work and service and the path they took to get there. My mother...
Letter to the editor: Speaking out for Palestinians
The article “No kings protesters oppose Trump administrations’ policies” (June 15, TribLive) neglected to mention the large Palestine contingent that was present, including speaker Jacob Blumenstein representing Jewish Voice for Peace. After listening to Blumenstein’s plea to connect the fight against fascism, white supremacy and antisemitism in the U.S. with...
Editorial: Unionizing Uber and Lyft drivers may speed up their robotic replacement
Last week, Tesla unveiled a small fleet of robotaxis in Austin, Texas, marking the first time the EV powerhouse’s driverless vehicles transported paying passengers. For now, Elon Musk’s company is charging a flat fee under $5 for rides. We can’t imagine this price tag will stick around forever, but it...
Letter to the editor: Don’t let ‘catch and kill’ be our norm
“Catch and Kill Bill” is not the title of a new movie sequel. It’s a phrase I made up to illustrate a few bad practices in our society today. “Catch and kill” is a real practice known to our media world and is becoming more common in our nontransparent or...
Editorial cartoons for the week of June 30
Editorial cartoons for the week of June 30....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of June 30
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of June 30....
Letter to the editor: Paper checks ending Sept. 30
As a local tax professional, I want to alert the public — especially senior citizens — about an important change on the horizon. There hasn’t been much publicized about this, but the federal government has announced it will no longer accept or issue paper checks after Sept. 30. This affects...
Letter to the editor: The railroad is a great place to work
The article “Interest in skilled trades surges nearly 14%” (June 18, TribLive) confirms what those of us in the railroad industry are experiencing firsthand. The demand for skilled trade workers — welders, mechanics, electricians, equipment operators, engineers and conductors — for jobs within freight railroads, as well as contractors and...
Editorial: Public participation shouldn’t just happen when convenient for government
We talk a lot about transparency. The free flow of information is important. We want government to be accountable to the people for their actions, their spending and their process. When government does things without telling people what’s happening is when things go wrong. We have critiqued municipalities, school districts,...
Letter to the editor: Time to raise minimum wage in Pa.
It is beyond time to raise the wage in Pennsylvania and move to a livable wage for all workers. It is unacceptable for Pennsylvania to have the lowest minimum wage in the country, lower than every single bordering state, which makes it harder to retain and recruit workers in our...
Letter to the editor: Pay attention to the here and now
I will use my monthly opportunity here today to write a brief retort (noun or verb, look it up) to the letter “Democrats are threat to democracy” (June 23, TribLive). As I read his blather, all I can see in my mind is that his “group” — and I won’t...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: In NY, another wild-card candidate challenges status quo
After last week’s primary election for mayor of New York City, President Donald Trump let loose with one of his trademark tirades on his Truth Social platform. “It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is...
Counterpoint: Trump endangers U.S. by ignoring rule of law
Congressional approval for military engagement still matters. Here’s why. The June 21 strike against Iran was perhaps the most consequential U.S. military action in the Middle East of the past decade. As it stands, early indications suggest the strikes significantly eroded but did not eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, and a...
Point: By striking Iran, Trump made the right decision
President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear capability represents a turning point in modern foreign policy — one that will keep the United States, the American people and Americans abroad safe for years. It sends a signal to our adversaries: America will not tolerate the threat of nuclear-armed rogue...
Letter to the editor: Right vs. left media
The writer of the letter “Mistrust of mainstream media” (June 18, TribLive) has it backwards. He, as are so many who are ensconced in right-wing propaganda, believes the “mainstream news” is slanted to the left. I wonder if his sources have told him that Fox “News” was recently fined $787...
Letter to the editor: More fair reporting needed
The article “Military parade barrels through DC as ‘No Kings’ protesters across U.S. decry Trump” (June 14, TribLive)is an example of news reporting agencies telling us what the news should look like rather than just reporting an event. If nothing else, the Associated Press should be called out for inaccuracy...
Editorial: Cyber charters are the latest kickball in Pennsylvania’s education funding debate
Pennsylvania has struggled with a solution for public education funding for decades. How do we build schools, buy books, pay teachers, fuel buses and more from Pittsburgh to Greensburg to Kiski Township to Fayette County without shortchanging students or overburdening taxpayers? How do we make sure rural areas, suburbs and...
S.E. Cupp: Where is the truth on Iran?
The great American humorist Josh Billings once said, “There are some people so addicted to exaggeration that they can’t tell the truth without lying.” That may be charming in a storyteller, but in a president, that’s truly dangerous. To put it bluntly, in addition to being a serial exaggerator, Donald...
Gordon Tomb: Pa.’s muddled leadership loses to Ohio, W.Va.
Pennsylvania’s nickname of the Keystone State, as variously reported, originates with the deciding vote for independence by a Pennsylvania member of the Continental Congress or in the commonwealth’s central location among the 13 colonies. The state’s prominence continued through the 19th and 20th centuries when its oil, coal and manufacturing...
Dr. Terence S. Dermody: Investing in our children’s health is investing in America’s future
The health of America’s children is in crisis. Nearly 75% of young adults in the United States do not meet the basic health requirements for military service, which is a sobering statistic that reflects the consequences of preventable health problems beginning early in life. Obesity, diabetes, behavioral health disorders and...
Letter to the editor: Congratulations to Special Olympians
Congratulations to Jeff DePalma and Anthony Monstrola for winning gold and silver medals in basketball in the Pennsylvania Special Olympics championship. They, along with team players, were honored at the Terry Ranieri Memorial Golf Outing June 20. The hard work and dedication of the coaches and players paid off. Our...
Letter to the editor: We need a revolution of reason
Although June is recognized as Pride Month in America, an observance has taken place since 1865 on June 19 called Juneteenth. It marks a time when human beings made in the image of God were legally owned as property by rich white Christian men to work for free. In 1865...
Lori Falce: UPMC decision slams door on trans youths
UPMC will not be providing gender-affirming care to those 18 and under after this month. The move comes after President Donald Trump’s executive order in January titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” The wording of the order is no doubt purposeful. Politically, it’s an old favorite of both...
Laurels & lances: Violations & videosVideo
Laurel: To disciplinary action. On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board made 16 people face the consequences of their own actions. The board regularly places individuals who have violated casino regulations on its involuntary exclusion list. There are separate lists that prevent people from gambling at Pennsylvania casinos, visiting online...
