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Opinion

Pressure mounts to end gerrymandering

Letters to the Editor

It’s the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence; the revolution isn’t over. Philosophers and evolving historical events to present times have established that liberation is not the mere transfer of power from one oppressor to another but from a fundamental transformation of humanization. Martin Luther King’s words of wisdom, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed,” applies today. The Pennsylvania Legislature has become an oppressor to fair and just governing practices exacerbated by cheating or ...

A message to MAGA

Letters to the Editor

First of all, congratulations on your unwavering commitment to the past. Not everyone has the stamina to be mad about the same things for nearly a decade, and frankly, that level of consistency is impressive. Historians will one day study this era and say, “Wow, they really meant it.” Thank you as well for redefining patriotism. Who knew loving your country meant distrusting elections, courts, scientists, journalists, teachers, librarians, doctors, and occasionally the Constitution itself? It’s a bold rebrand, confusing, yes, but bold. I also admire the flexibility. “Law and ...

Flight counts excellent despite snow

Editorials

The Altoona-Blair County Airport and the facility’s airport authority need offer no excuses or apologies for the facility’s “down” numbers for the month of January. In fact, the numbers recorded were excellent, considering the deplorable weather conditions during virtually the entire month — in a winter-weather time during which well-below-normal, icy-cold temperatures didn’t just visit, but were so persistent that they caused some pessimistic people to fear that they might become permanent. “Cabin Fever” was rampant in some households. The bad weather was ...

Support for HELPER Act urged

Opinion

Every day in Blair County and across Pennsylvania, our first responders and educators show up for their communities. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and teachers serve on the front lines — often quietly, always faithfully. They respond to emergencies, protect our neighborhoods, and shape the next generation. Yet too many of these dedicated public servants cannot afford to live in the very communities they serve. That is why I strongly support the bipartisan HELPER Act (H.R. 2094 / S. 978) — the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act. This ...

Agencies to blame for wetland degradation

Letters to the Editor

Persistent pollution has been degrading Old Crow Wetlands in Huntingdon since construction began at an adjacent site last summer. The DEP improperly issued the permit for this development without thoroughly assessing the site, as demonstrated by sedimentation events occurring repeatedly since construction began. No corrective or punitive action has been taken. Furthermore, PennDOT ignored the threat that the development posed to Old Crow Wetland, which is a PennDOT mitigation site established to compensate for the destruction and degradation of wetlands due to road construction. In ...

Let’s finish the job on term limits

Opinion

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 ...