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Letters to the Editor

Praise, support for Operation Our Town

This short letter will try to get residents to support Operation Our Town. This group has been instrumental in investigating, arresting and prosecuting individuals who sell poison here in Blair County. There are a few ways to help in this effort, including attending fundraisers and by direct donation. Explain to your children and grandchildren how Operation Our Town is there for them. I personally thank the board members and District Attorney Pete Weeks and Blair County judges and all area district justices for their attention in the prosecution process. David Servello Sr. Altoona

A call for red, white and blue

I would love to see everyone who can fly an American flag in honor of our country’s 250th birthday. No political sign, not Republican or Democrat sign: just a symbol of our country and a sign of respect. Every business, every church and every home. Fly our flag. Let’s make it red, white and blue everywhere. Blessings to all. Marti Shiffler Altoona

Women, girls deserves support

Members of the Pennsylvania House Health Committee voted on June 15 along party lines to re-refer Senate Bill 9 (SB9) to the Judicial Committee for consideration. Sen. Judy Ward is the prime sponsor of SB9, also called the Save Women’s Sports Act. The Act prohibits transgender girls and women from participating in female athletics. SB9 passed the PA Senate over a year ago on a bipartisan basis and has not yet been brought up for a vote on the House floor. In fact, in the past year, SB9 has been re-referred to another committee for consideration five times. One might ask why ...

Gun violence affects everyone

June is both National Gun Violence Awareness and Gay Pride month. One way the two are connected is the amount of gun violence inflicted on the LGBQT community. On a per capita basis, LGBQT+ individuals are targeted for violent hate crimes at a higher rate than other minorities. Research indicates that LGBQT+ people are roughly nine times more likely to be victims of hate crimes than non-LGBQT+ individuals. According to the Trevor Project, 40% of LGBQT+ youth reported having a firearm in their home, and the odds of committing suicide were about 17% higher than those who did not have ...

Clock keeps ticking

Clock keeps ticking In Manhattan, on a wall not far from Times Square, the debt clock ticks higher and higher. After climbing for so many years with no obvious economic fallout, it’s easy to ignore. Indeed, the clock was moved from its location on a busy street corner to a quiet passageway. The reality is that we really don’t have a “debt ceiling.” It’s a political creation with no fundamental economic meaning. No other country has one. But we do need a political solution, and many politicians have been concerned about our growing debt for a long time. They thought they had ...

Gabbard doing job by releasing reports

DNI Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as director of national intelligence at the end of June, but the radical left had better be fearful of what will occur in her final weeks. Gabbard announced her resignation after her husband, Abraham, was diagnosed with what she described as “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.” She said she must “step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” Gabbard devoted her time at ODNI to wage a full-frontal assault on the entrenched intelligence bureaucracy, and she’s performed exquisitely. Before ...