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Election influencing a concern

Editorials

Pennsylvania’s judicial-retention balloting last year was an eye-opener, but not because of which candidates’ retention bids were successful. Rather, what was remarkable — and troubling to many people of this commonwealth — was the total amount in cash and the value of other support dumped into the campaigns on behalf of those seeking the voters’ ballot-box approval. According to a Spotlight PA article published in the Mirror’s Dec. 29 edition, at least $18.7 million was poured into the state Supreme Court election, and the Keystone State’s 2025 retention races were ...

Where does the fraud stop

Letters to the Editor

Democrats are stubbornly defending rampant fraud in Minnesota. Why is Governor Tim Walz insisting on handling the “investigations” internally? The answer, as it usually is with Democrats, is simple: it has everything to do with political self-interest. Across the country, Somali-run child care centers, adult care facilities, and social service organizations have received massive public funding through programs beleaguered by fraud. In a vast majority of the politicians who enabled these programs — and turned a blind eye to fraud warning signs — benefited enormously. A prime ...

Taking from Peter to pay Paul

Letters to the Editor

Before Christmas, President Donald Trump announced a one-time $1,776 payment to the men and women of our all-voluntary active-duty military. This gift lands somewhere between a good and great idea. Because the payment was issued quickly, the administration chose to fund it by redirecting roughly $2.6 billion from an existing military program, the Basic Allowance for Housing. There were certainly other ways to finance this bonus. Which brings us to a more troubling example of robbing Peter to pay Paul. In this case, the Peter is the American taxpayer, and the Paul is Paul Walczak, a ...

Richland School District praised

Letters to the Editor

I would like to express many thanks to the Richland School District. Richland hosted the District Chorus festival on Friday, Jan. 9. They hosted 182 students from 34 different school districts. Richland can be very proud of their staff that provided a wonderful experience for these young adults. I must also say Blair County can be very proud of your students. The future for these young adults is very bright. Duane Ehredt Sr. Altoona

Considering risks, police pay still low

Editorials

All considered, especially that they put their lives at risk every time they report for work to protect and serve, police officers never really are compensated adequately for their work. No doubt, there are residents of Allegheny Township who believe their municipality’s police starting wage of $80,000 is grossly excessive. Some Hollidaysburg Borough residents might feel likewise about that municipality’s police starting wage of $74,000. According to a Jan. 9 Mirror article, police officers of Logan Township have an annual wage of $84,500 after three years of ...

The tale of two countries

Letters to the Editor

Over the weekend of Dec. 13, 2025, Australia and the United States experienced mass shootings. For Australia, the Bondi Island shooting was the third such event since 1996. The National Gun Archives reported Brown University was the 391st mass shooting in the U.S. in 2025. In the past 10 years, the United States has had over 5,700 mass shootings which killed or injured more than 19,000 people. Australia allows its citizens to own guns. However, after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, the Australian government established strict uniform gun control laws across the country, which included ...