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Misplaced priorities in opioid crisis funding

Letters to the Editor

Blair County recently approved spending $92,300 to train 142 law enforcement officers for opioid-related emergencies — paying some officers overtime to do a job they swore an oath to perform. Meanwhile, individuals entering the SUD (substance use disorder) counseling field often pay out-of-pocket for their education and training. First, why are we paying another state to train our officers when local, cost-effective options exist? The LETI program — offered free through the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office — was brought to the District Attorney’s attention in 2023 at a ...

Trump’s bill doesn’t care about the poor

Letters to the Editor

Donald Trump does not care about helping anyone who is not a billionaire. The proof of this is in his wanting to limit and eliminate various parts of SNAP benefits, Medicaid, Social Security and the American Care Act. He has no feelings for the poor, the elderly, the disabled and sick citizens of our country. He only cares about giving to the very rich. How did so many Republicans ignore the fact that he is a criminal and a liar? Also he lied about how he truly felt about abortion to get Christians to vote for him. In 1999, he was pro abortion. Trump just wants to be a king and ...

Hoping rail merger benefits Altoona

Letters to the Editor

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced an $85B merger. Pending all approvals, the deal is expected to close in early 2027. The big question is what does that mean to the Altoona, Enola and Conway rail yards and the Juniata repair shops? I seem to recall much anxiousness when Norfolk Southern bought Conrail. Let’s hope this is a favorable outcome for everyone. John Pierce Cocoa Beach, Fla., formerly of Bellwood

HASD missing a key point: Transparency

Editorials

Hollidaysburg Area School District officials are now paying the price for their lack of initial transparency regarding the proposal to house an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth program. That lack of transparency — or the minimum amount of it — has spawned concerns and fears on the part of parents of students of the district’s regular student body — the students who show up for classes to receive a good education, not to disrupt educational proceedings. Parents and other well-meaning district taxpayers have a right to question, and express opposition to, how the issue ...

Kennedy Center renaming would tarnish jewel

Editorials

Arose by any other name would smell as sweet, said Shakespeare, but the Orwellian name games played by our current president and his congressional lackeys truly stink. The latest: A Missouri congressman has filed legislation to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after Dear Leader, er, President Donald Trump. The Kennedy Center, long a jewel of Washington, D.C., culture, has become an odd obsession of Trump’s lately. After breaking with tradition by refusing during his first term to even attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors awards ceremony, Trump in this term ...

Accountability is needed now

Letters to the Editor

Accountability likely strikes fear in the Trump administration. This fear is showing up in lots of places. In Texas, a mid-census Gerrymander is set to take place to provide up to 5 additional Republican seats in the U.S. House. Anti-voting legislation and actions are taking place across the country to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters. All targeting the 2026 mid-terms to prevent loss of power and accountability. Why are they so afraid of voters? If their policies are so good, then let everyone vote on them. Encourage voting. It’s obvious that Trump has no intention ...