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Opinion

Filling city hub more than empty gesture

Editorials

When hundreds of thousands of people descend on Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft in April, they should be greeted by a spruced-up Steel City. The landmark fountain at Point State Park has recently undergone a $3.4 million upgrade. Market Square is in the midst of a $15 million face-lift. And Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers, is getting improvements of its own. In downtown Pittsburgh, eyes are turning to empty storefronts. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, a nonprofit focused on community and economic development, is stepping up efforts to fill vacant retail spaces. It would be ...

Poll shows gap between haves and have-nots

Letters to the Editor

The results of the altoonamirror.com Web Poll that appeared in the Jan. 10-11, 2026 edition of the Mirror caught my attention with particular reference to the word “affordability.” Affordability, as mentioned in the poll, was used to describe the economy and rising prices with the question as to whether people are able to easily pay their monthly expenses. Operative word being “easily.” Before examining the results of the poll, keep in mind that Donald Trump recently referred to the term affordability as a “con job,” a “false narrative” and a “hoax,” especially by ...

America has fallen from its founding

Opinion

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 ...

Midterms a moment of truth

Opinion

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 ...

When do billionaires share with all of us?

Letters to the Editor

Marco Rubio said on an ABC interview that U.S. oil companies will take over and run Venezuelan oil fields. He claimed that the oil revenues will be shared with the Venezuelan people instead of going to a handful of billionaires. It is so nice to live in America where our billionaires share their money with the people. All US citizens benefit from the bountiful generosity of our billionaires. How stupid does Rubio think we are? George Christ Loretto

Republicans should vote in special election

Letters to the Editor

Since the composition of the current State House district system in 1968, the 79th District has never held a special election. This year, on March 17, voters residing in the 79th (formerly held by Lou Schmitt) will face an historic opportunity to vote in a special election. While unfamiliar, this process will unfold similarly to a general election, where any registered voter can vote. It is of paramount importance that we rally behind our Republican nominee for the March 17 special election, Andrea Verobish, to ensure that the people of the 79th have representation to fulfill the ...