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Housing plan should consider preservation

Letters to the Editor

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 ...

Remember the meaning behind Memorial Day

Editorials

Each year, the Memorial Day federal holiday honors the men and women who died while serving in this country’s armed forces. This year, while honoring those who in past wars lost their lives, the holiday’s 2026 “version” is grasping the unwanted reality of having to honor brave military personnel killed during the current Iran war operations. And, in the days, weeks and months ahead, there is no guarantee that others’ lives will not be claimed during whatever other operations or defenses might be deemed necessary. The lives of many hundreds of thousands of American troops ...

Redistricting ruling a blow to democracy

Letters to the Editor

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

Letters to the Editor

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

Letters to the Editor

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 ...

Prison plans should shift to ‘Go’ status

Editorials

Although the word “contingent” looms large over the proposed Blair County Prison-replacement project, action on May 12 by the county prison board has moved the project a significant step closer to groundbreaking. The word “contingent” is relevant because the land for the new prison, although selected, has yet to be purchased. If the purchase were to “disintegrate,” it would be a setback guaranteeing anyone’s guess as to what would happen next — and when. However, judging from information released by the county, it seems that the purchase is on track for ...