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Pennsylvania transportation system crumbling

Opinion

As someone who has worked in Pennsylvania’s highway construction industry my entire life, I’ve seen firsthand what strong infrastructure funding can accomplish. I’ve also seen what happens when that funding falls short, and we can’t meet basic needs. Pennsylvania has seen a 41% drop in asphalt tonnage placed on state roads. Let’s throw out the COVID years, and back up to years 2016-19, when PennDOT was placing 6.9 million tons of asphalt annually. Now, from 2022-25, that number has dropped to an annual average of 4.2 million asphalt tons placed. What this means is that ...

Legislators can help protect themselves

Letters to the Editor

​I support the general premise of state Rep. Gregg Scott’s proposals to help protect legislator’s safety. In my opinion, and many people I know from both parties, our elected officials could greatly increase their personal safety with one simple change: Take a long look in the mirror and just do your job. Reach across the aisle, find consensus and improve life for all. Your posturing, entrenched rhetoric, unwillingness to compromise, and efforts for reelection (I don’t support Scott’s proposal to let incumbent lawmakers get a free pass on getting signed petitions for ...

Significance of Labor Day remembered

Editorials

As this year’s Labor Day observance approaches, America’s workers, traditionally part of the “cement” that holds this country together, are concerned increasingly about what effects robots and Artificial Intelligence will have on their work lives – and lives in general – going forward. And, that worry is destined to continue, although “people in the know” remain certain that humans’ important places in businesses and industries will continue – albeit, in many cases, in different capacities. For now, though, Jorgen Pedersen, CEO of the Advanced Robotics for ...

Not all power belongs to president

Letters to the Editor

Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the Constitution states: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators. State authority to regulate the times, places, and manner of holding congressional elections has been described by the Supreme Court as the ability “to enact the numerous requirements as to procedure and safeguards which experience shows are necessary in order to ...

Democracy at stake in latest ballot issue

Letters to the Editor

President Donald Trump put one more nail in the coffin of Democracy when he issued his move to do away with mail-in and machine voting. The move once again supports the belief that Trump wants to be a dictator. Every policy and executive order he issues advances his role as a dictator. This move to end mail-in voting is unconstitutional and is just another one of Trump’s beliefs that he has the right to control everything in this country. According to the Constitution, election decisions are left to the states, not the federal government and certainly not to a dictatorial-seeking ...

Amtran plan shows ongoing commitment

Editorials

Units of local-level government and municipal-related entities know that, when seeking federal or state grants or loans, having a proposed project “shovel-ready” is advantageous when competing against others for the money. Amtran, Altoona’s bus service, obviously is aware of that, judging from the way it is pursuing its proposed $5.7 million project, the centerpiece of which is a new bus storage garage. Rather than waiting for the state or federal government “bearing a financial gift,” it is being proactive in trying to put the project in the right position for obtaining ...