The headline to Froma Harrop's commentary in the Jan. 25 edition of the Mirror on the Opinion page states: "It's time to let 18-year-olds drink."She says that 19-year-old veterans are denied being served alcohol in bars in this country when in fact it is legal in Europe.Here again is that inane ...

A recent op-ed article written by Paul Krugman of The New York Times mentioned the fact that President BarackObama's tax increases for the richest people in the country have effectively rolled back the tax cuts that the Reagan and Bush administrations combined gave to the wealthiest ...

We elect our representatives to do the work we, the constituents, believe is required to improve the lives of everyone in our region.This work includes much more than beating the drum or posting to online message boards.The work requires some who actually acts, and I am proud to say our ...

It has now been over six months since the Pennsylvania state government has failed its basic responsibility to pass a budget.This has consequences: Already many state nonprofit organizations, school districts, and others in the state are hurting due to this inaction.However, as Pennsylvania ...

The United States has the world's finest higher education system.Today, however, many students must confront the reality that attending the college of their choice is becoming unaffordable. For others, choice has disappeared, and access to the lowest-cost options is at risk.Nationally, ...

One of the best results of the recent blizzard was to see neighbors coming together to help one another. Americanism is alive and well.Joseph LechmanHollidaysburg

There have been several letters recently unfairly attacking Rep. Bill Shuster.Although people have a right to their opinion, it is vitally important those writing distinguish facts from the false and mudslinging comments spewed by Art Halvorson and his supporters.Talk is cheap, and actions ...

Seriously? That was the best photo of the legendary rocker, Glenn Frey, that you could find?I am referring to the front page of the Mirror dated Jan. 19, 2016.They wouldn't allow a picture that poorly cropped in a junior high school newspaper.It looks like a child cut it out using those old ...

Like many, I'm troubled by what I see happening in Washington and across the world.There are real problems, and Senator Pat Toomey has ignored them.We need a senator who takes his job seriously. We need someone with real foreign policy experience to keep America safe. That someone is Joe ...

Democrat or Republican? It doesn't matter.For eight years, I have sat back and watched the fabric of the American way of life unravel.When President Barack Obama and John Kerry jet off to other countries, they should wear a "kick me" sign on their backs, because other countries know Obama is a ...

Government tells us in order to be kept safe from evil, ill-intentioned and well-armed terrorists, every effort needs to be taken to disarm all the rest of us.If you think that makes no sense, join the crowd."Don't think too much, trust me," says Uncle Sam "to protect you because we will all be ...

Susan Mitchell had an article in the Jan. 19 Mirror, and I agree 100 percent with what she said about comparing Donald Trump to Barack Obama.The Mirror, which is supposed to be an impartial news source, never misses an opportunity to take a shot at the president.Speaking of Trump, the last ...

My two children and I had just arrived from the Outer Banks of N.C. on Friday, Jan. 15, to visit my parents in Altoona when our new puppy escaped out the door and ran off.My mother, father and I were trying to catch him and were so worried he would get hit by a car as he ran on busy Poland ...

The Morrison Cove Republican Club congratulates Blair County Commissioner Diane Meling on her retirement from public service to Blair County.During the past eight years, there has been a significant improvement in the operation and financial condition of Blair County government.Simply put, ...

In a recent story about the state budget, Jeff Sheridan, a spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf, launched personal attacks against the Commonwealth Foundation, while calling factual information we produced "completely false."What is Sheridan disputing?According to the nonpartisan National Association of ...

It's unconscionable how the media has created hatred and lies to malign our young black president, who has prevented our country from going into a depression, and has managed to get health care reform for all citizens.The truth is he isn't for gun control but rather for more background checks ...

The Iran deal is a testament to the power of diplomacy.Today the world can celebrate the release of U.S. prisoners from Iranian jails and the dramatic shrinkage of Iran's nuclear program, preventing the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran and another war in the Middle East.While Iran's quick release ...

I felt compelled to write this letter in order to clear up any remaining confusion about the 2015-16 state budget, which was signed into law on Dec. 29.That's right; we have a budget currently in place.Unfortunately, Gov. Wolf chose to veto certain areas of the budget before he signed it that ...

Before the next avalanche of Rep. Bill Shuster's campaign material begins, voters must remember to check the facts.Two years ago, after being challenged by Art Halvorson, our representative received (unwelcomed, I'm sure) national attention in Huffingtonpost.com's article titled, "The Biggest ...

To the low life person or persons who stole the Christmas tree and train from my dad's grave at Alto Reste, I want you to consider this:Every time you look at that train, know you broke the heart of a daughter who just wanted her dad to enjoy Christmas as he always did.He always had trains ...