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Editorials

Crackdown on xylazine important

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s decision to classify xylazine as a “Schedule III” drug to tighten regulations on the veterinary tranquilizer is the right decision. The move will allow police and prosecutors to pursue charges against those nefariously trafficking the dangerous drug in our communities. We remain concerned that the federal government has been too slow to recognize the emerging threat posed by this drug. As the Associated Press reported last week, in 2020, there were 800 overdose deaths in which xylazine was detected. In 2021, the number rose to more than 3,000. And yet ...

IRS growing ‘tax gap’ is troubling

In his final message as Internal Revenue Service commissioner, which he delivered on Nov. 10, 2022, Charles P. Rettig predicted “an exciting new era for the IRS, one that is desperately needed to transform the agency to improve taxpayer service and ensure fairness in tax compliance.” However, about a week earlier, Rettig provided what only can be described as a pessimistic assessment of the United States’ overall tax picture. The tax agency reported that when all the “numbers-crunching” for the years 2017 to 2019 has been completed, that information will confirm the ...

Shuster was political maestro for our region

Much like Elias Baker and J. Edgar Thompson, Bud Shuster indelibly left his mark in Blair County history. Because of his vision to connect Altoona via a four-lane highway — which he later named I-99 — Shuster created a lasting legacy, much like Baker’s mansion and iron furnace and Thompson’s Horseshoe Curve. Shuster died Wednesday at his Everett farm at age 91. During his 28-year congressional career, Shuster was a formidable champion for his central Pennsylvania district, never losing sight of his goal and playing the long game to make it happen. Along the way, he stood ...

Election letters due today

Letters concerning the May 16 primary election or candidates running in the election must be received in the Mirror’s newsroom by 4 p.m. today, April 21. There is a limit of one letter per person in each election cycle. To be considered for publication, election-related letters cannot exceed 150 words and must include the author’s name, complete home mailing address and home and daytime telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be submitted online at vnr.altoonamirror.com; mailed to Altoona Mirror letters, P.O. Box 2008, Altoona, PA 16603; emailed to ...

Election letters due Friday

Letters concerning the May 16 primary election or candidates running in the election must be received in the Mirror’s newsroom by 4 p.m. Friday, April 21. There is a limit of one letter per person in each election cycle. To be considered for publication, election-related letters cannot exceed 150 words and must include the author’s name, complete home mailing address and home and daytime telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be submitted online at vnr.altoonamirror.com; mailed to Altoona Mirror letters, P.O. Box 2008, Altoona, PA 16603; emailed to ...

Lakemont’s water park challenging

It is troubling to feel compelled to express a pessimistic viewpoint about anything related to Lakemont Park, which has been such a fun, family oriented fixture of the Altoona area for so long. But a situation at the park has reached the point where being optimistic seems virtually impossible. The situation in question involves the water park complex, which apparently will not be open this summer. This year will mark the fourth consecutive summer season that the park will be without most major elements of the water facility. Unless some positive development of major scope springs ...