Opinion

Terrifying memories die hard

Local Commentaries November 12, 2026

Halloween 2026 is history, but the spooks are still standing on many front lawns. You know the ones – the 12-foot skeletons that tower over the rhododendrons – and make me anxious, even at this age. At least the bloody ghouls are mostly packed away now. I never liked Halloween. I know, I know. It’s almost unamerican. But it started early and never really went away. I was an outcast on Halloween. As an only child, and the only girl in an all-boy neighborhood, I never had anyone to trick-or-treat with. The boys certainly didn’t want to drag along that “sissy girl.” Back ...

Our opinion: Camera debate creates murky picture

Our Opinion November 12, 2026

There is a common theme across the nation when it comes to Flock cameras. Americans do not want to have something consistently looking over their shoulder. According to Pew Research Center, the automated license plate readers are high-speed camera systems that automatically photograph every license plate that passes them. When networked together and paired with specialized software, they can reconstruct where a vehicle has been over a period of days or weeks. Flock Safety is the leading automated plate reader vendor, Pew Research Center noted. The company estimates its cameras were ...

Our opinion: Thanking those who served for freedom

Our Opinion November 10, 2026

They've never asked for thanks, but they've earned it a thousand times over. Every parade, every flag raised, every quiet moment of freedom enjoyed on a Monday morning exists because, somewhere, someone once stood between danger and home. Veterans Day isn't a gift to them; it's a reminder to the rest of us. Across the region, you'll find them everywhere--men and women who wore the uniform and came home to build lives, families, and towns that still depend on their quiet strength. They don't ask for recognition. They don't boast about their service. But the stories are written in their ...

Our opinion: Strangulation legislation should be approved

Our Opinion November 9, 2026

A woman’s 2022 strangulation in Philadelphia by a stranger is the inspiration for legislation that, in our opinion, should be approved by the state Legislature this year. Rep. Donna Scheuren has introduced a package of bills (HB 2517, HB 2518 and HB 2519) that would apply to the way strangulation cases are handled. The most significant change comes in HB 2517, which would change the grading of stranger-on-stranger strangulation, increasing the severity of the offense from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony in cases where the victim and defendant had no prior ...

Warren missing out on progress despite promises

Local Commentaries November 7, 2026

At some point, Warren needs to stop confusing the preservation of an old building with economic development. The endless debate over 231–237 Pennsylvania Avenue West is a perfect example. This property has sat vacant for years. The city's redevelopment documents indicate that the building lacks water, electricity and heat, and requires roof repairs or replacement. Demolition specifications also call for asbestos abatement. Walk past the glass door, and you can still see the outline of a former state representative's office decal. That faded reminder says plenty about how long this ...

Our Opinion November 7, 2026

Rare is the moment when New York’s senior U.S. senator is critical of any type of picture taking. A longstanding political joke notes “the most dangerous place in Washington is between Chuck Schumer and a television camera.” That phrase offers a nod to Schumer’s longtime tradition of ...