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Editorials

Jan. 6 probe should be must-see TV

The U.S. House select committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol will take its investigation to prime time on Thursday, after having issued more than 100 subpoenas, after having conducted more than 1,000 interviews and after having collected more than 100,000 documents. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, opinions and loyalties being harbored, or conclusions already rooted for debate or argument, every American who loves this free country should deem it important — indeed, vital — to open oneself to the information that will be made ...

Legislators’ perks: It makes sense to look deeper at legislators’ perks

A Spotlight PA article printed in Wednesday’s Mirror — “Gift ban, other changes stall in Pa. legislature” — should have been an eye-opener to residents of this region and residents beyond. However, what the independent watchdog’s article did not do is devote “equal time” to some of the relevant issues that lawmakers are ignoring while they are pretending to be interested in passing measures targeting their generous perks — legislation that they know either House or Senate inaction will ultimately block. Taxpayers do not fathom the amount of their dollars being spent ...

Teachers react fast in crisis

Shining rays of sun on some good news: Two local school teachers are being credited with helping to save a man confined to a wheelchair from a potentially hazardous fire. Jess Zorger and Joy Finochio were dropping off their children at local care centers when Zorger’s daughter, Anna, noticed smoke coming from a home on Byron Avenue in Altoona. Zorger and Finochio knew each other. As they quickly approached the home, they saw two wheelchairs on fire and a roof over the porch melting. They hollered inside, and a man, Jason Muro, answered, “I’m handicapped, and I can’t get ...

A sad pall over this Memorial Day

America should have awakened this Memorial Day morning not only remembering what this national holiday is about, but also with some sense of hope regarding a peaceful, enjoyable, carefree summer ahead. Instead, for many people of Blair County and places beyond, Memorial Day 2022 began with continuing sadness over what happened Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas, and anxiety about what might lie ahead on many fronts — local, state, national and around the world. This is a fragile time when anything might happen, and many people — the powerful and not-so-powerful — have an unfortunate hand ...

America’s children deserve so much better

Children should be off-limits to the many bad things of life, although they should grow up knowing bad things exist and they must have a sense of caution when they encounter things that don’t seem right. Meanwhile, children should be able to grow without experiencing violence in the home, for whatever reason. In their homes, children should not have to be exposed directly or second-hand to drug use by others, including the smoking of substances that turn what should be a protective environment into an unconscionable, illegal fog. Children should not be exposed to uneasiness or ...

City should accept offer on McCrory’s

Unless the Altoona Redevelopment Authority is in possession of some important last-minute information that it so far has not divulged to the public, the authority needs to rethink its decision to table the one official proposal it has received for renovation and revitalization of the former McCrory’s building on 11th Avenue. That one official proposal, from local developer Christopher Cook, is offering the city an exit from the anxiety, frustration and uncertainty — and the worsening deterioration — that have besieged the formerly proud and vibrant building, once a key to the ...