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Pennsylvania infrastructure must improve

For months, but what to most Americans might seem like years, the word “infrastructure” has been running a close second to “COVID-19” and its horrible toll of sickness and death. Now that President Joe Biden has signed into law the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, much center-stage attention has begun giving way to the president’s roughly $2 trillion healthcare, education and climate-change package that remains some distance away from final resolution and a presidential signature. But, like it or hate it, what has transpired on the infrastructure front, ...

Government transparency paramount

We appreciate both that state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Lycoming, takes transparency and the public’s right to know seriously and that he is working to improve laws regarding state and local government’s disclosures of information to the public they serve. In a subcommittee hearing, Liz Wagenseller, executive director of the state’s Office of Open Records, said there was a 41% increase in appeals to the office when municipal governments and state offices decline to release requested information. Wheeland fears this increase reflects that government officials are stalling and using ...

Taunting incident mars school district

Some people might believe that what is to follow in this editorial would be positioned better on a sports page rather than an opinion page. After all, the editorial deals with a sports-related incident. But not so. While the foundation of the editorial is an incident that occurred at a high school ice hockey game, the bigger point of this writing is about the respect and decency all parents should strive to instill in their children, from their early years until the time they leave home to pursue their hopes and dreams. Respect and decency were in short supply during an Oct. 28 game ...

Veterans should be saluted

Today, like a year ago, COVID-19 will have a negative impact on some Veterans Day activities. Some people still are fearful about gathering in group settings, even outside, such as along parade routes. Some veterans, especially those who are up in age, might be reluctant to attend free meals that some restaurants will be offering, because of fears about contracting the virus. All considered, those concerns are understandable. This region still is experiencing a troubling level of new infections almost on a daily basis. Despite all of that, the importance of Veterans Day cannot be ...

Libraries serve as backbones of communities

The Altoona Area Public Library identifies its mission as striving to provide friendly, interactive, informative and dynamic patron experiences. Over the past half-century, as a leader in the community, it has been very successful in meeting and exceeding those mission objectives, as well as the daily individual expectations of patrons young and old. It consistently lives up to its vision statement centering on “engaging and connecting generations through responsive programing, innovative partnerships and progressive services.” Its resources include more than 125,000 books, ...

Election: No such thing as ‘off year’

We are living in an era where the word “election” has become a relevant component of daily life, not only in the weeks leading up to balloting, but virtually year-round. But in the days leading up to “off-year” elections — the years when most statewide and federal offices are not on the ballots — the importance of balloting for local-level municipal offices seldom receives the kind of attention that really is warranted. Sure, there are signs promoting various candidates, but the vital nature of such elections in general is not accorded the kind of emphasis that they ought ...