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Prison plans should shift to ‘Go’ status

Although the word “contingent” looms large over the proposed Blair County Prison-replacement project, action on May 12 by the county prison board has moved the project a significant step closer to groundbreaking. The word “contingent” is relevant because the land for the new prison, although selected, has yet to be purchased. If the purchase were to “disintegrate,” it would be a setback guaranteeing anyone’s guess as to what would happen next — and when. However, judging from information released by the county, it seems that the purchase is on track for ...

Congress must care more about the FAA

Most jobs have a level of stress associated with them. That’s a routine part of the work world, no matter what the occupation. However, when measuring and comparing levels of stress, the job of air-traffic controllers stands out as being high up in the degree of most stressful. That’s because of the many lives dependent on flawless, precise performance, even under the most difficult circumstances —and, indeed, almost routinely, there are many difficult situations controllers must navigate on virtually a moment’s notice and with no “window” for second-guessing whatever other ...

Optimism abounds for Gable’s

Sometimes good ideas get lost or postponed indefinitely because those who would be in charge of shepherding them through the various stages of preparation and/or development get sidetracked or distracted by other important or, perhaps, not-so-important, considerations or efforts emerging or already evolving. That’s especially true if, among those other matters, one or more become more time-consuming, complex or generally difficult because of things — such as revisions or new elements — not anticipated previously. Good leadership has the ability to be ready to deal with setbacks ...

Ukraine’s war cannot be just Europe’s war

An article in the April 25-26 edition of the Wall Street Journal began with the headline “The Ukraine War is Europe’s war now.” “With Russia determined to continue its four-year invasion until it dominates its neighbor, and President Trump pulling back from Europe and focused on the Middle East,” the article said, “Ukraine finds itself reliant on the traditionally wary EU (European Union) in its war for survival.” Although some nations and their people see beefed-up EU political and financial support as confirming the main premise of the April article, especially the ...

Losing Spirit is bananas for Latrobe airport

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Gros Michel bananas may have been the perfect fruit. They were not just tasty. They grew in bunches ideal for shipping, with thick skins that protected the creamy white flesh all the way to American tables. Unfortunately, they were not resistant to disease. After decades of dominating the international produce market, they were all but wiped out by fungal blight more than 50 years ago. The bananas on shelves today are the Cavendish variety — still brilliantly yellow but somehow a pale imitation of their more flavorful cousin. The problem was not ...

FISA is not for illegally spying on US citizens

The Washington Post America’s spy programs are complex, but the Fourth Amendment is simple. It says the government cannot collect and search through the private communications of United States citizens without a warrant. Congress is deadlocked on renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and the Fourth Amendment points to a straightforward compromise. That is: Keep up overseas surveillance to protect U.S. national security, but require a warrant whenever the resulting database is used to look through a specific American’s communications. The ...