End of the road for the diner that could

January 31, 2026

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

January 31, 2026

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, ...

Midterms a moment of truth

January 27, 2026

Donald Trump has called 2025 “the greatest first year” of any president, but a majority of Americans strongly disagree: In the latest CNN poll, 58% describe that year as a “failure.” The single biggest reason Trump won a second term was economic discontent with the Biden administration, and it’s the single biggest reason so many voters are now disillusioned. In the CNN survey, 55% say Trump’s policies have actually made things worse and almost two-thirds say he has not done enough to reduce their cost of living. Even among Republicans, reports the AP, only 16% say Trump has ...

America has fallen from its founding

January 27, 2026

Last Tuesday, the full, 17-judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard consolidated oral arguments in a crucial case that is all but guaranteed to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The predictable controversy surrounding the litigation, which involves similar but distinct mandatory Ten Commandments display laws arising out of Texas and Louisiana, is revealing as to just how far America has fallen from its Founders’ vision. In 2024, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law a bill requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom — from ...

Trump policies help lower-income families

January 6, 2026

During President Donald Trump’s first term (Trump 1.0), his economic policies set the stage for higher wages and more job opportunities for working people, especially low- and middle-income families. Here is a quick review. First, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 cut the Federal Income Taxes of low- and middle-income families by about $2,000. (Data source: public statement from former Congressman Bill Shuster). Second, the legislation reduced the Corporate Income Tax rate from 34% to 21%. The lost tax revenue was small but had a large silver lining – it provided a strong ...

The danger of Fuentes’ ideology

January 5, 2026

Nick Fuentes is often described as dangerous not because he is merely provocative but because his rhetoric and worldview actively undermine the moral foundations of a pluralistic democracy and the credibility of any political movement that tolerates him. His record of racist, antisemitic and misogynistic statements — particularly when aimed at the families or identities of public figures — reveals a pattern that goes beyond shock value into ideological extremism. When Fuentes says that he does not want to live around Black people because “it would be irresponsible if (he) had ...