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Opinion

American history should never be whitewashed

Editorials

A recent editorial was accompanied by a photo of a formerly enslaved man in Louisiana displaying whipping scars on his back during the Civil War. Made in May 1863 and widely published two months later, it presented gruesome evidence of slavery’s inhumanity for countless Americans who didn’t necessarily comprehend it before. It has been credited with helping coalesce support for the defeat of the Confederacy and ultimately ending slavery. More than 160 years later, the Trump administration doesn’t want you to see it. Bowing to President Donald Trump’s pernicious campaign to ...

Employers should be open to ‘fair chance’

Editorials

It is reasonable to conclude that virtually all companies and all supervisory employees, at one time or another, have run into employees who wanted a job but didn’t really want to work — who wanted the pay but didn’t really want to put forth the effort to earn it. Such employees undermine their company’s overall performance and, thus, often erode the company’s bottom line. In this competitive business world, that truly must be characterized as unsustainable and must be addressed quickly. Enough of that, though, because this editorial will be focusing on a resource that ...

It’s a good idea to cut drug costs

Editorials

The White House has proposed good and bad ideas to reduce drug costs. Among the better ones is a reform of the obscure 340B drug program, which enriches large hospitals at the expense of patients. Cue the protests from the hospital lobby. The 340B program is a classic example of a well-intended policy that has caused unintended harm. Congress established the program in 1992 to help hospitals that disproportionately serve Medicaid and low-income patients. Such hospitals are allowed to buy outpatient drugs at steeply discounted rates, on average about 45% of a drug’s list ...

Let Charlie Kirk’s fate motivate you

Letters to the Editor

As a young person who got into politics to make a difference in my community, I know that everything I accomplished would not be even remotely possible without the sacrifices of the late Charlie Kirk. Kirk was such an inspiration to me and countless others, and I can only imagine the pain his family felt in his absence. Every young person involved in politics knows they are standing on the shoulders of giants, and Kirk is perhaps the largest of all of them. We need unity, but we also need justice. Moving forward without understanding how we got to this point would be a grave ...

Performance would please Isaac Mishler

Letters to the Editor

I would like to thank all who were involved with the presentation of “Cinderella.” I need to thank all the actors, the stage crew, all who were involved with preparing all the props, and the very talented musicians. The Altoona Community Theatre can be very proud of their presentation of “Cinderella.” Also need to thank the Mishler Theater staff. You make Isaac Mishler proud. Duane Ehredt, Sr. Altoona

HASD should focus on real issues

Letters to the Editor

The Hollidaysburg Area School Board recently voted unanimously to change the language in Personnel Policy 321. One change states “Staff members/volunteers or third-party contractors shall not display any flag, banner, poster, sign, sticker, pin, button, insignia, paraphernalia, photograph, or other similar material that advocates concerning any partisan, political, religious, or social policy issue including sexual orientation or gender identity.” A quick Google search of ‘top social policy issues today’ includes the very broad categories of the social safety net, health ...