Breaking News

Opinion

Save integrity of Reiser House

Letters to the Editor

On March 12, Hollidaysburg Borough Council temporarily tabled a proposal by the mayor to convert the Reiser House canal-era museum into a Slinky exhibit. I share the concerns expressed by the many constituents who protested his proposition. As an academic historian, I support new museums and do not object to a Slinky tribute. However, I adamantly oppose replacing canal displays. If the James family — the originators of the toy — or Just Play Products wish to create such an attraction, they are financially well suited to repurpose a vacant downtown building to achieve that aim. ...

State falls short for residents, facilities

Letters to the Editor

Moving a parent, grandparent, or loved one into a long-term care facility is one of the most difficult decisions a loved one can make. It’s often fraught with emotion, worry and uncertainty. But it should never be “icky,” as described in an Associated Press article. After all, every aging adult deserves to spend their golden years being treated with the respect they deserve. And every long-term care facility should aim to deliver just that. But that doesn’t mean we don’t face challenges in delivering that level of quality care. You know what’s really “icky?” ...

Editorials

The Altoona Water Authority’s decision to hire a company to help obtain grants for authority capital projects is a decision built on good intentions. It’s in the best interests of all authority customers for that company — Delta Development Group of Camp Hill, Cumberland County — to succeed in the money search. However, that being said, AWA customers would do well to consider a reasonable question, since some of their water-usage revenue, no doubt, will be spent for Delta’s service and expertise. That reasonable question revolves around Blair and adjacent counties’ ...

Planting trees can help keep us safe

Letters to the Editor

Altoona has always had hot summers, but with the last two summers, those temperatures have only gotten worse and more dangerous. The forest fires smoke in Canada has blazed to central PA, which causes air quality to decline. That creates risks for many people in our community, especially children and elderly. Children breathe faster than adults, which means they inhale more polluted air. Temperatures combined with poor air quality trigger asthma attacks and other breathing issues. According to the Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment, “projected increases in asthma-related ...

Politicians involved in FDA raise red flags

Editorials

It was just one man’s opinion but it’s concerning nonetheless — for the long term as well as the short term. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, an interview about which the newspaper reported on Feb. 17, Dr. Richard Pazdur alleged that fast-track drug approvals had been politicized in a manner in which he never had experienced in his 26 years at the federal Food and Drug Administration. Pazdur was a top federal drug regulator at the time of his abrupt departure from the FDA in December. Pazdur, who is an oncologist, had “scrutinized applications for cancer ...

We can’t be held hostage by oil

Letters to the Editor

Among the many lessons learned from the Iran war, the most significant should be our need for energy independence. Oil is a powerful weapon. Any country able to disrupt its supply and delivery is at a strategic advantage against even the most powerful foe. Imagine a scenario where Iran sees defeat imminent and says it will destroy its oil facilities, eliminating the planet’s third-largest reserves. The mere threat would bring the world to its knees. We can no longer afford to be held hostage by oil. Most recently, presidents Biden and Obama started us down paths to energy ...