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Opinion

Our view: Thompson is best choice for Congress

Our Opinion

Ray Bilger brings one of the more interesting challenges Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson has faced in his 10 campaigns for Congress. Bilge served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force and spent four decades as a foreign affairs analyst, a position that included policy formation and strategy, geopolitics, high-level national security strategy. It’s an interesting background for a candidate running a campaign during a period where foreign entanglements are having an impact on domestic life for many Americans. While we think Bilger is a stronger candidate than many that Thompson has faced ...

Our opinion: State politics come home to Warren

Our Opinion

As we consider the election race between challenger Destiny Howard and Kathy Rapp for the state House of Representatives, the current dynamic in Harrisburg weighs heavily. The state House currently includes 102 Democrats and 101 Republicans. That number is important for rural Pennsylvanians. Even though Republicans don’t have the ability to set the agenda in the House, the slim margin means the House is a proving ground for bills before they get to the state Senate, which Democrats hope to flip in the Nov. 3 election. It’s important for Republicans not to lose any ground in the ...

Readers' Speak

Letters To Editor

Neighborly advice Dear Editor, Lately, I have been thinking about how quickly we have come to see the label before we see the person. Democrat. Republican. Conservative. Liberal. Christian. Nonbeliever. Immigrant. Gay. Straight. We hear a label, see a bumper sticker or read something on social media, and we think we know who that person is. We make assumptions before we ever hear their story. Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that behind every label is a human being. That person has hopes and fears. They have people they love. They have experienced loss, ...

We’re still dumping pollutants on our roads

Local Commentaries

Recently, the Department of Environmental Protection told the PA House Environmental Committee all contaminated water -- brine -- from conventional oil, gas and mineral brine wells contains the same pollutants-- hydrocarbons, salts, heavy metals and other chemicals. These pollutants, DEP said, are potentially harmful to the environment and can threaten drinking water. DEP said studies have shown spreading this contaminated water on roads to reduce dust-- its primary use-- is no more effective than plain water, but with environmental risks. It also chemically destabilizes dirt and ...

Big-barrel costs, few results with Worx

Local Commentaries

Thank you, Warren Times Observer, for your prescient editorial regarding Warren Worx and a previous editorial expressing concern about branding. A city of Warren sanctioned consulting report made clear Warren was not ready for branding. I thought about informing our mayor, but after the WCCBI got their hands deep into the mayor’s back pocket for $100,000, I waited to see how far it would all go. Then the county wrote a check followed by another from the city. All totaled, more than $300,000. WCCBI – “one of our biggest hauls.” In the end, a very lame branding was born, one so ...

Our opinion: Senators’ partnership has some plusses

Our Opinion

As the state and nation gears for the midterm elections, there’s one location where divisiveness between parties is not evident. That is right here in Pennsylvania. U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick “have forged a rare bipartisan partnership,” Spotlight Pa. reported earlier this year. The Republican and Democrat from a politically important state represent one of only three split states by party in the Senate. They have sponsored bills and booked joint media appearances in recent months. “We’re very, very good friends, and we get along, and we always try to find ...