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Credit due to those who aid homeless

Blair County has experienced numerous worse winters than the one currently upon us — much worse. However, what is most important now is not statistics comparing this winter with ones from the near or distant past; it is whether resources in Altoona and Blair County beyond are prepared to address needs stemming from the current challenging conditions. Another important consideration and concern must be whether the flexibility exists to respond properly to quickly changing needs, and whether the manpower is in place — available — to step forward at virtually a moment’s notice ...

Early education vital to building academic base

One thing even today’s senior citizens still can recall from their early days in a school classroom was their teacher telling them to put on their “thinking caps.” They might chuckle about that recollection now, but those two words made an impression that they still might pass on to their grandchildren when the opportunity is appropriate. But let’s deviate from those recipients of that message and apply the message elsewhere — to teachers, principals and other school leaders and officials. There is a good reason for that recommendation — the reason being that ...

MLK message cannot be overstated

On this national holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., some people might be wondering what can be said about him that has not already been said. That’s a fair, logical question, considering how King’s life, speeches, leadership and the goals and causes he promoted have been dissected time and time again, especially since his assassination on April 4, 1968, on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tenn. However, since Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023, a book published on May 16 of last year has provided another round of comprehensive insight into the life of the civil rights ...

Cancer research should not have restrictive limits

It is difficult for the average person to understand what parameters might be in play when the words “preliminary research” are used in connection with the battle against cancer. Unfortunately, on the issue of trying to determine the right time to stop cancer immunotherapy, medical researchers and doctors might be compelled to continue using those two words for a much longer time than they formerly anticipated. What is forcing the existence of that situation is an inadequate number of cancer patients willing to participate in supervised testing in question. Meanwhile, drug ...

Local agency downfall is disturbing

All considered, the Blair County Community Action Program probably will be better off under the eventual control of the Everett-based Center for Community Action than as it currently exists. The bulk of Blair residents probably have been unaware of how much the local agency’s problems have worsened. Mirror readers who read all of reporter William Kibler’s Jan. 6-7 article now have a better perspective of to what extent the Blair agency has devolved. Those who have recognized the local agency’s value over the years might have felt shaken by some of what they read last weekend, ...

Seeing both sides of IRS Christmas gift

In the days leading up to Christmas, without referring to it as such, the Internal Revenue Service revealed that it would be giving a “Christmas present” to roughly 4.6 million Americans who owe back taxes for the tax years 2020 and 2021, as an incentive for those taxpayers to pay up their past-due amounts. That “gift” involves waiving nearly $1 billion in late-payment penalties. By law, interest tied to that overdue money cannot be forgiven by the IRS – and continues to accumulate. If the newly announced gesture achieves its desired result – bringing the ...