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Amtran growth encouraging

Altoona’s Amtran bus service has goals described as longer-term that include expansion to industrial centers in Morrisons Cove and Claysburg. That would be a logical step for the not-too-distant future, now that expansion of service to the north is proving successful. As many readers might recall, the Mirror reported on March 21 that Amtran envisions expanding its current Tyrone service to six days a week from three days, based on the level of ridership that has evolved since last August, when three-day service replaced a pilot program of Saturdays-only service. The coming ...

On Easter, let Christ’s message never grow old

Easter should be a time of great joy, fulfillment and celebration, consumed by the knowledge and appreciation of Christ’s victory over death. Unfortunately, this year, Easter seems destined to be somewhat less than that, when there is reflection and contemplation regarding this planet’s big picture. As in other years, on Easter morning, it is true that most faithful will flock to services inside churches in the spirit of love and hope, while others will attend Easter sunrise worship services outdoors amid the same spirit, if weather permits. Regardless of where a ...

Firefighters’ training paying off

Volunteer firefighters’ training activities usually go unnoticed, but in reality their training goes on practically nonstop every time they enter their fire station, even for routine chores. That is why when they were looking virtually in the eye an inferno like they encountered last Monday at the U.S. Lumber Distribution Center in Claysburg, they knew immediately what they needed to do to launch their battle against the flames and, while the fight was being waged, protect themselves and their firefighting comrades from injury or worse. All 20-plus fire departments called to battle ...

City should keep fight vs. blight

As most people who closely follow Altoona- and Blair County-related news reports know, blight is an on-again, off-again topic. The topic will surface and stay in the spotlight for days or weeks, then retreat while some other issue or issues take center stage. But the topic’s eventual re-emergence from a hibernation-like existence usually delivers the message that the issue really has not been forgotten or ignored — that it has been undergoing another thought process, despite no further official action having been voted upon. Again, the challenge involves moving the issue ...

IRS transparency needed to keep public’s trust

Last weekend’s Mirror editorial focused on one plausible reason why many American taxpayers still are awaiting processing of their amended tax returns that they filed on Internal Revenue Service Form 1040-X — some more than two years ago. That plausible reason: Despite the end of the pandemic, perhaps more than 50 percent of IRS tax-return processors still are working from home, outside of the controls and productivity of a formal work environment. It is estimated that more than a million amended returns still haven’t been processed. The IRS has not formally announced ...

IRS needs stronger rules to govern itself

“IRS agents shouldn’t work from home” was the headline of an opinion article written by U.S. Rep. Ron Estes and published in the March 4 edition of the Wall Street Journal. Estes, a Republican representing Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, hit the proverbial nail on the head when he wrote, “Some might argue that teleworking, with reduced overhead, offers a tax-saving benefit, but that’s realized only if the agency is providing adequate customer service. The IRS isn’t.” Anyone who doubts the accuracy or honesty of Estes’ statement needs only to talk with some of ...