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Opinion

NFL Draft exposes crisis of homelessness

Editorials

In preparation for the vast crowds expected to flood Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft, proactive steps are being taken. Businesses are allowing — or encouraging — employees to work from home. Pittsburgh Public Schools will have students attend remotely. Allegheny County courtrooms won’t close down, but they won’t be working at full capacity either. The message is clear: With up to 700,000 football fans descending on the Steel City, locals who don’t need to be in the mix should stay home. But what if you don’t have a home? The area is nearing the end of months of effort to ...

The world is filled with war and wonder

Opinion

Watching the Artemis II space flight has filled my days with awe and wonder. From pilot Victor Glover’s poignant Easter message and mission specialist Christina Koch’s “space plumber” story to the crew naming a moon crater for commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. Artemis II really shows us what humanity is capable of. All of this took place with the backdrop of war in Iran and horrid threats spewed from President Donald Trump on Truth Social. It all serves as a great reminder that on any given day, we simultaneously exist in a world of tragedy and wonder. The good news is ...

Eulogy for a canine we held so dear

Opinion

My sister-in-law’s dog, Molly, died recently. She was a sweet, graying Portuguese water dog, one of the gentlest pups I’ve ever met. She displayed a propensity for stealing food off the counter, refused to walk in heat, rain or cold and had an unhealthy obsession with eating dirt, but otherwise, she was an excellent pooch. My kids also grew up with her. They don’t remember a time before Molly was born. And though she didn’t live with us, they somehow felt as if she were also a little bit “their” dog. During the pandemic, my sister-in-law, who lived across the street from ...

Congress, IRS, feds to blame for tax woes

Editorials

“Overtime-tax claims top expectations” was the headline of an April 6 Wall Street Journal article, followed by the message “Some payers may be claiming deductions beyond law limits, preparers suggest.” But who is to blame for all that? That’s easy. It’s Congress, the Internal Revenue Service and the federal government in general. It’s the same culprits who failed to calculate the terrible impact on certain casino employees nationwide who are being hit hard this year — and presumably will be hit hard beyond this year — because of Congress’ shortsighted action ...

Iran conflict not comparable to past

Letters to the Editor

A recent letter published in the Mirror letter stated that U.S. engagement with Iran, while unpopular, is necessary. The letter writer offers the American Revolution and WWII as keen examples of this phenomenon: namely, that American engagement in these conflicts, while necessary, was not initially popular. But these examples are incomparable to the current situation in the Middle East. The American Revolution’s historical origins differ significantly from the U.S.-Iran conflict. The Revolution emerged from a disagreement among colonists over whether British rule or self-rule could ...

SAVE Act won’t cause issues for women

Letters to the Editor

Producing a photo ID is dangerous to women? Really? A letter titled “The SAVE Act is dangerous to women” railed against the SAVE Act and President Trump, but I noticed no mention that Real ID itself was dangerous to women. Or that any “photo identification proving citizenship” was dangerous to women. It also mentioned the need to “scrounge up marriage certificates, divorce decrees and other proofs.” I’m sure women needed to provide these documents before now, which anyone should have available, for any other service or privilege. I’m sure that the SAVE Act is the only ...