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Letters to the Editor

Lawmakers should clarify data center regs

Taylor Township residents deserve a clear answer about who can say no to a data center. Solicitor Patrick Fanelli says municipalities cannot simply ban a legal use. The governor's spokeswoman says his executive order ties state permits to local support. Those are different explanations of the same approval process. Residents should not have to hire a lawyer to work out what their participation can change. Harrisburg should put that process into plain language: which decisions belong to the municipality, which belong to the state, and what happens when a project meets technical ...

Serving the public means serving people

Public service is defined as service provided by the government to the people within its jurisdiction. Simple enough, but perhaps our elected officials, on every level, need a reminder especially during election season. Public office was never intended to be a lifelong career focused on personal gain or self-serving agendas. Our founding fathers envisioned citizens with a patriotic spirit serving their communities before returning to their own livelihoods. Public service should mean putting people first, listening to concerns and finding solutions. Unfortunately, the Franks­town ...

A note for officials

Dear nonincumbents running for office: I’m going to give you the magic victory formula. Something never before done or considered in the history of American politics. Tell the public you don’t care about what has gone on since the last election. Tell us SPECIFICALLY what you’re going to do to make things better when you get elected. That’s it. Not complicated. No tired worn out phrases about job growth and killing inflation. If you’re an elected official, you spend every day telling everyone things are bad because of the person who held the seat before you. If ...

Christian nationalism hypocrisy

There is something almost admirable about the flexibility of Christian nationalism. Its principles are presented as absolute until those principles become inconvenient for the political cause of the moment. We are told America must return to its Christian roots. Yet the teachings of Jesus about loving our neighbors, caring for the poor, welcoming strangers and showing mercy seem to get misplaced whenever they conflict with a political agenda. Apparently, “Christian values” now require government involvement in people’s private lives, but compassion for struggling families is ...

Enthusiasm for voting info appreciated

To all the people from the area, other parts of the state and even our country — thank you for stopping by our tables at Hollidaysburg’s Pumpkin Fest. Your encouragement, kind words and excitement for the November election were very much appreciated and uplifting. To the lady from Ukraine, who was thrilled to see us, and the lady who is a brand new citizen of the USA and hails from England, voting was especially important to her. If you have applied for a mail-in ballot, please get it to the election office as soon as it is received or, if you prefer, get to the polls and vote on ...

Healthcare crisis coming Oct. 22

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a dangerous new rule beginning Oct. 22 that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” will effectively end Americans’ ability to personally import their prescription medicines. Importing prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacies is the only lifeline for seniors on limited incomes, people with high-deductible health plans, and the uninsured. That’s why CBP and the FDA have allowed it for decades. Due to the much lower cost of ...