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Your politics won’t protect you from the surveillance state

Local Commentaries

The newly appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Erica Schwartz, made federal priorities clear during her recent confirmation hearing: “Abortion surveillance is absolutely a critical component of what the CDC is currently doing.” She assured members of Congress she would ensure that states weren’t “hiding abortions” under the auspices of “emergency care.” Abortion defenders were quick to condemn Schwartz’s comments, while others pointed out that the post-Roe v. Wade landscape affects not only elective abortions but also women facing ...

Our opinion: 25 years later, nation has not forgotten

Our Opinion

But if we ask where you were 20 years ago at 8:47 a.m., chances are you will remember the moment as if it were yesterday. Sept. 11, 2001, was, without question, one of the most horrific in the history of the United States of America. At 8:47 a.m., the lives of all Americans changed when American Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center. Fifteen minutes later, United Flight 175 hit the second tower. An hour later, American Flight 77 hit the Pentagon in Washington. And, in a heroic twist, passengers derailed an effort by hijackers to again strike the District of Columbia. United ...

Our opinion: Cheering on the nearby NFL teams

Our Opinion

Are you ready for some football? For the first time in history, the season opener took place on a Wednesday evening between the New England Patriots and Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Another game, from Australia, takes place tonight between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Make no mistake, the National Football League has become an international brand. Closer to home, many are glued to teams within a 90-minute to two-hour drive. According to last week’s online poll, the Pittsburgh Steelers rule the roost with readers. In answering the question: “What is ...

After 25 years, we still remember

Local Commentaries

President George Bush was seated in a second-grade classroom in Sarasota, Florida when it happened. His chief of staff, Andrew Card, suddenly approached, bent down, and said, “A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack.” I looked up that statement after seeing a ...

Our opinion: Regular reassessment cycle makes sense

Our Opinion

Property reassessments will never be a popular idea in Pennsylvania, which is why we won’t be surprised if legislation in the state House and Senate don’t move forward quickly. But Democrats’ idea to require regular property reassessments is one that should, in our opinion, move forward even though it won’t be popular. State Reps. Emily Kinkead, D-Bellevue, and Jen Mazzocco, D-Mt. Lebanon, said recently they will introduce legislation in the state House of Representatives to require regular reassessments. Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, has already introduced legislation ...

Our opinion: Teacher shortage is no joke

Our Opinion

There were times during talks to close Sheffield and Youngsville high schools that it felt the community didn’t believe Warren County School District administrators when they said there was a teacher shortage. Here we are, one year after the merger, struggling to find Spanish teachers. The Warren County School District is turning to online instruction and long-term substitutes to address a shortage of Spanish teachers at Eisenhower High School. Gary Weber, district superintendent, said the administration would have preferred to move a teacher between the schools if the schedules ...