It will not be an economic catastrophe if neither the Altoona area nor the area close to Johnstown lands a mini casino as the result of an auction to be conducted by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board around Sept. 4. Pennsylvania is saturated with gambling options, and some people rightly ...
With the arrival of the latest Altoona Area School District tax bill, I can’t help but think back to Superintendent’s Charles Prijatelj speech that the tax increase will only be about $21 per home. Maybe $21 isn’t much to someone who is making a six-figure income off of the taxpayers’ ...
Now, a half-century after America’s victory in the race to the moon, many people in this country might be lamenting that much greater space achievements have not been forthcoming over the five decades since that great accomplishment. Sure, there were additional moon landings, the subsequent ...
President Donald Trump has led the American people to believe that he is a hugely successful businessman. Yet he is unwilling to disclose his tax returns, something every president and presidential candidate for nearly 50 years has done. Trump has told us that he is a “really smart ...
One reason the governor signed the no snow days bill into law was because it means no school makeup days in the spring. The downside is the fact that students without broadband access will still miss days of school since they cannot do assignments if teachers assign online homework during ...
It has been pointed out that President Donald Trump’s attack on four Democratic congresswomen may have been calculated for political reasons. That is, Trump may have hoped outrage over his tweet would show his base that moderate Democrats have more in common with their party’s radicals ...
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, claiming 3,166 lives in 2017 and causing many more life-threatening injuries. Texting while driving is the most alarming and growing driver distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Recently, our community ...
Gov. Tom Wolf is opting for “Plan B” to help counties pay 60 percent of their costs tied to acquiring new voting machines with voter-verifiable paper systems. It’s unfortunate that the General Assembly and governor haven’t been able to achieve an accord through the preferable ...
If you are in your mid-70s, you can remember when TV sets started showing up in our living rooms. We had two channels, WFBG in Altoona and WJAC in Johnstown (WFBG later became WTAJ). We used antennas to get reception. This was when we were kids 70 years ago. Since then, we have never had a ...
I’m incredibly impressed with the commitment Congressman John Joyce has shown to Altoona during his first few months on the job. Since he was sworn into office, he has been a consistent visitor to our area and, when he comes to town, he constantly makes himself available to his ...
I wonder how many people are aware of the wonderful service we have in the Blair Senior Service van. For as low as a dollar each way, (sometimes a little more) they pick you up at the door and drop you off at the door. Every driver — male or female — is extremely nice, helpful and ...
Recently, Americans were shown the terribly sad pictures of a father and child who died trying to enter the United States illegally. Based on past activity, it is estimated that this year over 700,000 American children will die at the border. The facts are shocking and something must be ...
In the U.S. today, we hear vile criticism by many of our politicians, and from nameless individuals on the internet of those others who have different ideas. Yet, we hear little of their ideas or a logical argument to convince others of their opinions. They continue to criticize and call ...
Pennsylvania has kicked the proverbial can down the road on the issue of single-use plastics, unlike what has been happening in numerous other states. For example, Vermont and Maine have just imposed statewide bans on plastic bags while Palo Alto, Calif., and Orlando, Fla., last month passed ...
When the new fireworks law was passed, were they being considerate of all the military personnel living in Pennsylvania with post-traumatic stress disorder? I would say a definite “No!” The veterans gave of themselves for this country so the lawmakers could be where they are in ...
Recently some of the members of our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, helped in doing some upkeep at the Oakridge Cemetery. When we arrived, already working at the cemetery was a work crew of inmates from the Blair County Prison. We worked side by side with them. They ...
Trust that Roman Catholic Church officials will do the right thing about allegations of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy is in question in many countries, not just the United States. What Pope Francis and others in the Catholic hierarchy do about the matter is watched closely ...
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein may yet spend an appropriate amount of time in a federal prison. He should have been sent away years ago. Why that did not happen needs to be explained. Epstein, 66, has been arrested by federal authorities in New York, on charges of sex trafficking involving ...
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a bill eliminating straight-party voting. The measure was forwarded to Gov. Tom Wolf who on Friday vetoed the it. Unfortunately, the Legislature ignored what would have been a better way to deal with the question of whether to remove the Keystone State ...
How well Dr. Nancy Kenney’s in-depth article explained the invaluable role of hospitalists and this specialty (since 1996) to the patients and to the primary care physicians. The hospitalist is well-trained, on site, available, knowledgeable, responsive and comforting to the patient and ...