Breaking News

We will not be silenced or canceled

This is the “Turning Point” — which side do you choose? The one that is doing evil to the other side or the one that will not be silenced or canceled. The pure evil side is the one that just assassinated beloved Charlie Kirk in cold blood; attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump not once but twice; gravely injured GOP house leader Steve Scalise; severely injured GOP Sen. Rand Paul; attacked and stabbed Rand Paul’s staffer, Phillip Todd; attacked and violently beat Trump administration DOGE staffer Edward Coristine and many more. After career criminal George Floyd’s ...

Extremism is not welcome

As a child, I was taught that we shouldn’t attack those we disagreed with and that a basic level of respect must rule any interaction. Clearly, many parents don’t subscribe to this position anymore or their kids have been indoctrinated by their obtuse professors to hate anyone outside of their particular political party. If you think it’s OK to kill those who speak from a point of view that you don’t agree with, you are an extremist. If you are an educator and insist that your students parrot your own political beliefs, you are part of the problem. If you are a ...

As predicted, Old Crow degraded

I am writing to express my deep concern over the degradation of the Old Crow wetland in Huntingdon; a place once teeming with salamanders, turtles, frogs, insects and native plants. Recent sediment pollution from the Rutter’s construction has already begun to choke this fragile ecosystem — an outcome many of us predicted when the truck stop project adjacent to the wetland was first proposed. Despite the clear risks, permits were hastily approved and planning corners cut, leaving this invaluable natural area vulnerable. Wetlands are not wastelands; they are living systems that ...

WPSU plans a loss for the community

Is anyone else upset by the news that WPSU’s TV and radio will “cease operations next year?” This decision comes after government cuts to funding public TV and radio, and a decision by Penn State’s Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee. The university had considered transferring ownership and assets of WPSU to WHYY, a public media organization based in Philadelphia. But apparently this was not a viable alternative in the board’s view. Board Chair David Kleppinger’s comment that “this is a deeply disappointing outcome” is an understatement. We, and many ...

No room for haste in trail plan

The future holds the answer of how the issue of a proposed trail network on Altoona Water Authority land in the Sugar Run Road area will shake out. The only thing certain at this time is that much discussion should be accorded the idea before a final decision is rendered. The threat of a lawsuit has been issued by a landowner in that area regarding the prospect of noise emanating from the trail, although there could be other concerns as well. Meanwhile, existing support for the trail idea includes the argument that the proposal would be for the best, but in what ways merits further ...

Week celebrates APP profession

National Advanced Practice Providers Week is being celebrated Sept. 22-26. This year’s theme “Racing Toward the Future: Celebrating APPs” underscores the forward momentum of the APP profession and its pivotal role in advancing care, improving access to care and driving innovation in clinical practice. It is a week set aside to celebrate, honor and recognize the invaluable contributions and pivotal role APPs play in our health care system. The UPMC Altoona Advanced Practice Provider Committee in coordination with UPMC Altoona would like to recognize the outstanding care and ...