Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

Wildlife crossings save money, lives

Every April, we celebrate Earth Month by reflecting on our stewardship of the natural world. Yet, for many Pennsylvanians, one of our most frequent interactions with nature is a terrifying one: the “deer in the headlights” moment. We all know that split-second panic when glowing eyes reflect from a darkened road, forcing a choice between a life-altering swerve or a collision costing thousands in repairs and medical bills. Beyond the $8 billion annual drain on our economy, these collisions highlight a deeper environmental issue. Our highways have unintentionally obstructed the ...

Democratic party’s direction questioned

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the current political rhetoric and actions of the national Democratic Party. While the party has accused the president of “lawfare,” the language being used suggests a troubling intent to weaponize the legal system against members of the current administration once they leave office. This approach is reminiscent of political instability seen in developing nations and has no place in our discourse. Furthermore, I am disappointed by the ongoing opposition to the president’s proposal to construct a formal ballroom. A proper venue for ...

Congress fails at doing its job

Dear members of Congress: I write today with heartfelt admiration for our esteemed members of Congress. It takes courage to hand over your constitutional powers to the Executive Branch with such enthusiasm. Why bother with Article 1 when you can simply outsource your job and still collect a paycheck? Inspirational. One must applaud Congress for recognizing that checks and balances are so ... old fashioned in a world filled with streaming services and self-driving cars, who has time for something as outdated as Legislative responsibility? The founders clearly did not anticipate how ...

Government program dependence wrong

I am writing this in response to many of the articles generated regarding government program cutbacks and their disdain with that. I want to start by using the words: “work” and “balance.” I am a retired social worker and worked for 35 plus years at a local hospital and the community. I visited people in their homes and saw their children in schools and in the community as well. During that time frame, I worked with several populations of people. I do feel we have a responsibility to help vulnerable populations like veterans, the elderly, children, etc., with government ...

HASD board made correct decision

Congratulations to the Hollidaysburg School Board for its decision to approve the text recommended by the AP for its AP psychology course. That sounds ironic, doesn’t it — that a school board should be commended for selecting the best tool to be successful in a course, which students will pay to take an exam to earn possible college credits? To have selected a different text than the one specifically created for the course would be tantamount to choosing a drivers’ education text for a different country, then asking the students to be successful on the Pennsylvania driving test. ...

Children should be allowed to explore

I read with interest about the dilemma regarding the “attractive nuisance” posed by the restored Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata. I grew up in Coalport beside an unspeakably polluted creek which we were absolutely forbidden to go near. At age 86, I am here to tell you that no force on Earth will keep children away from water. The country, and even Blair County, must be full of rivers that are longer, swifter, rockier, and more dangerous than the Beaverdam Branch and yet are not fenced. Very little children ought to be supervised. If they are not, a stretch of still water may not ...