Breaking News

Other Commentaries

Let’s finish the job on term limits

On Feb. 27, National Term Limits Day, Americans commemorated the 75th anniversary of the 22nd Amendment — the constitutional provision that limits U.S. Presidents to two terms in office. This landmark reform, born out of broad public demand for rotation in office and accountability in our highest office, was a critical step toward restraining the accumulation of power in Washington. And Pennsylvania played a meaningful role in that history. In the aftermath of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented third and fourth presidential terms, momentum built across the country for clear ...

Officials need to think like electrons

Electrons are the lifeblood of modern society — and right now, America is bleeding them. From data centers and electric vehicles to industrial production, our demand for electricity is an ever expanding pie. Yet partisan disagreement and regulatory gearlock have left us short on generation just when we need it most. Have you been shocked by the increase of your electric bill? In Pennsylvania and across the PJM grid, wholesale capacity prices have surged since 2024. It’s not some abstract market shift — this means higher utility bills, jobs at risk and communities struggling to ...

Is Cabinet shake up coming?

Nearly a month into his second year in office, President Trump’s Cabinet has been remarkably stable. No Cabinet member has quit, been fired, pushed out or otherwise left the building. The question is whether that is a good thing. A president does not want to let his political enemies hound his top Cabinet officials out of office. On the other hand, by the end of an administration’s first year, it’s usually clear that one, or two or more of the president’s Cabinet just aren’t working out. That is the issue confronting Trump today. Compare the situation to Trump’s first term. ...

Year of the Horse: Year of assimilation

As we celebrate the Chinese New Year and enter the Year of the Horse, it is worth pausing to reflect on what this moment may quietly offer us. In Chinese culture, the horse represents strength, steadiness, and the courage to move forward even when the path is uncertain. A single horse, however, rarely travels alone. It moves with others, keeping pace and changes when needed so it will not be harmed by dangerous animals. This is essential for social bonding and survival. I write as a Chinese American citizen who has been shaped by both Eastern and Western traditions. In recent ...

End of the road for the diner that could

LIGONIER, Pa. — All that remained of Ruthie’s Diner on Jan. 21 was charred, ice-encased rubble — the aftermath of firefighters’ desperate efforts to extinguish the blaze that ultimately consumed the modest eatery, which for more than 70 years had served locals and the travelers, anglers and hunters heading east along the Lincoln Highway. Several locals pulled into the parking lot and simply stared, at a loss for words as they watched a community mainstay reduced to charred ruins, thin smoke still rising from the ashes. Ruthie’s was the kind of place where everyone felt ...

The language we use says a lot about us

Ancient proverbs can be helpful in adjusting our language and behavior in ways that can benefit every generation. They have become ancient because they work. One example: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger “ (Proverbs 15:1). It means calm, patient and kind words can de-escalate conflict, while harsh, angry responses provoke further rage. Try it sometime when you are in an argument with someone. Display humility, or say “I can see how you feel that way, but may I share my view?” The language we use to communicate with one another can heal or wound, ...