Who holds Trump accountable?

May 27, 2026

Donald Trump promised to avoid foreign entanglements and improve life for everyday Americans. So why won’t Congressional Republicans push back as he breaks those promises and pursues policies many Americans oppose? An unnecessary and potentially open-ended conflict with Iran risks American lives, strains military readiness, depletes weapons stockpiles and adds billions to our already staggering national debt. Meanwhile, families struggling with gas, groceries and health care costs are told to accept cuts and sacrifices while huge tax breaks once again flow disproportionately to the ...

Proposed mega merger will hurt farmers

May 25, 2026

The Cambria County Farm Bureau echoes the opposition of our parent organization, the American Farm Bureau Federation, to the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern mega merger: farmers will bear the costs if this goes through. My Brother Rick and I are sixth-generation beef cattle and grain farmers. The homestead has been in my family since 1839, so I understand the risks this merger poses to families across the state. Getting crops from Pennsylvania farms to market depends on a freight rail system that farmers can count on and afford. More than 5,000 miles of track move tens of millions of ...

Housing plan should consider preservation

May 24, 2026

I commend the City Council and Redevelopment Authority for their comprehensive plan to improve housing and neighborhoods, but they should augment it to include historic preservation. Rebuilding Altoona’s tax base should include a Historic Preservation Board; provide tax breaks for the restoration of properties; educate the community about federal tax credits and deductions; and partner with a nonprofit, such as The Blair County Historical Society, to accept historic easements. Are you tired of seeing historic properties bastardized? Beautiful old homes and businesses wrapped in ...

Redistricting ruling a blow to democracy

May 22, 2026

The announcement of the Supreme Court’s redistricting is a blow to our democracy. All that stands between us and tyranny are our laws and courts behaving in a non-partisan way to uphold these laws. This is a Supreme Court dominated by reactionary ideologues who allow their personal views to turn back time to a shameful period in our history when African American citizen’s right to vote was suppressed or denied. Passing the Voting Rights Act was a watershed moment, a cashing of our promissory note to fulfill the inalienable rights guaranteed to our citizens in the Declaration of ...

Climate movement needs your help

May 20, 2026

So, you are concerned about the Climate Crisis and are sure what to do about it. Know that you are not alone. Also know that the Climate Movement needs you, it needs everyone, to do everything we can to address this crisis. Here are some ideas: — Learn more about how our world is warming; the causes, consequences and actions that need to be taken to stop it. Start by visiting NASA’s website on climate. https://climate.nasa.gov — Talk about it, a lot, with friends, family, neighbors, everybody and anybody. — Get involved; join a climate group or two. Ask how you can help. ...

Dispose of all nuclear arsenals

May 19, 2026

According to my research, currently nine countries are in possession of nuclear weapons. These countries are Russia, U.S., China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. But the U.S. and Israel are determined that Iran will never have one. The obvious reason, of course, is that they would use it against Israel. The common sense, fair solution to Iran is for all nine countries to give up their nuclear arsenal, thus making the entire world a much safer place. To expect Iran not to have a nuclear weapon, when nine other countries have them, would seem to leave ...