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Labor Day outlook brighter

Today’s Labor Day observance carries with it many mixed emotions. While the work situation is better this year in the United States than it was in September 2021, the coronavirus pandemic, this nation’s and other countries’ shaky economic conditions and the numerous uncertainties, anxieties and political strife dogging America and the world make it easy to understand that much could be better — much better. Still, today’s Labor Day national holiday, with its numerous reasons for feeling somewhat downbeat, cannot erase the observance’s important, primary purpose. That is ...

COVID caution fine, but don’t go overboard

Under the headline “Some still isolate as COVID-19 cases decline,” the Wall Street Journal Tuesday reported that “with imperfect insight into the risks of infection as the virus mutates and immunity shifts, people are setting their own boundaries for safe behavior.” Obviously, the more people with responsible attitudes — boundaries — regarding the coronavirus, the better. Still, dangers can exist in becoming too consumed about trying to “escape” the virus. At the foundation of the fight against COVID, much discomfort and suffering can be avoided — as well as deaths ...

COVID caution fine, but don’t go overboard

Under the headline “Some still isolate as COVID-19 cases decline,” the Wall Street Journal Tuesday reported that “with imperfect insight into the risks of infection as the virus mutates and immunity shifts, people are setting their own boundaries for safe behavior.” Obviously, the more people with responsible attitudes — boundaries — regarding the coronavirus, the better. Still, dangers can exist in becoming too consumed about trying to “escape” the virus. At the foundation of the fight against COVID, much discomfort and suffering can be avoided — as well as ...

Mental health in schools remain priority

The Associated Press report “Mental health worries schools,” published in the Mirror’s Aug. 20-21 edition, merited categorization as a must-read for anyone having a child or children enrolled in elementary or secondary education. Whether or not a parent agrees or disagrees with the premise that schools should be delving into students’ mental health, parents need to be cognizant of opinions and concerns on both sides of the issue and be open-minded about the fact that there are reasonable arguments on both sides of the debate. This is a tough issue, one not likely to go away ...

Replacement plates are public service

Other areas across Pennsylvania, including some in this region, should strive to imitate what will be happening next month in Cambria County’s Richland Township regarding worn-out vehicle license plates. State Rep. Jim Rigby of Johns­town will be working in cooperation with Richland’s police department to get deteriorated or damaged plates off the roads — as they should be, for a number of reasons — by offering motorists a way to get replacement plates free of charge. Normally, a vehicle owner seeking a replacement plate would have to pay a $7.50 replacement fee to the ...

Legislature raises stakes on gambling

There never has been much doubt that the introduction — and continuing growth in numbers — of skill games in taverns and small shops across Pennsylvania would impact negatively some segments of the commonwealth’s “gambling infrastructure.” Even now, with one major analysis for the Pennsylvania Lottery having been completed, the full skill-games impact probably is not known. Meanwhile, what the future might hold is uncertain in a troubling way. At the same time, it is reasonable to speculate that the analysis’ chief finding might have ignored one significant, relevant ...