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People with autism need understanding

Opinion

I am an autistic adult who also has ADHD and I would like to say something about the remarks that our president has made about autism and the use of Tylenol by pregnant women. Whenever my mom was pregnant with me, she did not use Tylenol nor any over the counter medication. Nor did she smoke or drink alcohol or do any sort of drugs while pregnant with me. Autism is older than Tylenol. It is thought that people such as Sir Isaac Newton and Mozart had autism long before Tylenol existed. I do not hate President Trump. I respect and admire him very much. I think that he really ...

Embracing expanded rail service

Editorials

A great opportunity awaits industries and other business entities and interests in the six-county Southern Alleghenies region. If most embrace the opportunity, hopefully expanded Amtrak passenger train service will be the result. If they don’t, it is possible that such expanded service could be doomed for many years, perhaps forever. The latter should not be allowed to come to pass. Transportation resources are vital for any region to move forward; the counties of Blair, Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Huntingdon and Fulton, which make up the Southern Alleghenies region, are no ...

Bigelow-Cherry shows commitment

Letters to the Editor

I am endorsing Attorney Suzanne Bigelow-Cherry for our next magisterial district judge in Northern Blair County. Not only is she the most qualified candidate for the position due to her 30 years of experience as a practicing attorney, she is the only candidate that has demonstrated a deep commitment to community service. Bigelow-Cherry has been involved in scouting as a volunteer and leader, participated in sports booster clubs, was the president of the Tyrone Women’s Club, and serves in various roles in her church. She also volunteers as a coach for Bellwood Area School ...

Pharma can keep you on hook for life

Opinion

Only two countries on earth let drug companies pitch their products directly to you and me: New Zealand and the United States. Canada dabbled in these direct-to-consumer ads but quickly tightened up their rules. The European Union, back in 2008, took one look and said, “Nope — not here.” Here, however, the Food and Drug Administration requires the companies to list the risks and side effects. Consequently, pharma produces ads that are built around a warm Hallmark Movie family scene while a voiceover lays out a death march of side effects. It’s like watching a gentle ...

Cricket Knoll: Staying open about plans

Editorials

Anyone who did not read the entire Sept. 24 Mirror article “Altoona officials meet with Cricket Knoll residents” might have missed what possibly were the two most important paragraphs of that article. Parts of those paragraphs are as follows: — “When the plan is finished, there will be additional meetings with residents.” — “We’ll keep the conversation going.” It was Altoona City Manager Christopher McGuire who made those comments, spoken during a meeting with more than a dozen Cricket Knoll residents. Also attending that meeting was City Councilman Jesse ...

Allegheny Township deserves Imler

Letters to the Editor

Fred Imler has been the definition of stability for Allegheny Township for 24 years. He has represented the township and its constituents with professionalism, candor and integrity as a conservative leader in the community. Imler has consistently proven to be straightforward and honest is his decisions for the betterment of the entire township, not just one department. The voters in Allegheny Township deserve his leadership and should not settle for anything less. Jordan Settle Altoona