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No room for haste in trail plan

Editorials

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

Letters to the Editor

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 ...

Have some compassion

Letters to the Editor

In light of the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and the aftermath, I am trying to understand how citizens of the greatest country in the world can be so cruel and heartless. Politics aside, this young man was a son, a husband, a father and a human being. Where is the compassion for the family’s loss? Instead, people are actually celebrating his death, writing songs and dancing with joy. I’ve seen videos of people trampling his memorial. Amazon was selling T-shirts depicting the blood stains. How could someone be so depraved to think this behavior is acceptable? Loss of ...

Children, not drivers, have right-of-way

Editorials

Right-thinking people of Pennsylvania have to be wondering whether the study associated with obtaining a driver’s license in this state has begun being regarded as something that doesn’t really matter — that the information presented is part of a lame exercise worthy of being forgotten quickly. Does Pennsylvania really have so many drivers who don’t know what blinking red lights on a school bus mean? Then there’s the obvious follow-up question: Does Pennsylvania really have so many drivers ignorant of the potential costs associated with the illegal practice — in human ...

Teacher has the right to free speech, too

Letters to the Editor

There was an article in the Sept. 12 edition of the Mirror about a teacher in Spring Cove facing backlash after posting a comment on Facebook regarding Charlie Kirk. I, for one, agree with her 100% and defend her right to voice her opinion, no matter who she works for. To start a petition to have her disciplined or removed says more about those signing the petition than they realize. What are they afraid of? Do they think some of the students might see the comment? So keep your kids off Facebook. Believe me, they will see much worse online on any given day. If it’s against ...

RFK Jr.’s vision of CDC should alarm Congress

Editorials

Susan Monarez’s 28-day tenure as the nation’s top public health official was doomed from the start. Her boss, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wanted her to do two things: champion his dubious anti-vaccine agenda and uphold “gold-standard science” at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recognizing the conflict, Monarez chose the latter and was fired last month. Monarez’s departure from the CDC highlights a dilemma that any successor will face: Under Kennedy, no serious scientist can hold the job. The risk this vacuum of expertise could pose to Americans’ health and safety ...