Breaking News

Our Opinion

Our opinion: Legislature dropped the ball on skill games

So-called skill games in Pennsylvania walk, talk and look like a slot machine. Only in Pennsylvania would a court need to clarify that the machines are, in fact, slot machines in the eyes of state law. Only in Pennsylvania does something that looks like a duck, acts like a duck and quacks like a duck be considered a fish for decades. Now, that the state Supreme Court has finally settled that the duck is, in fact, a duck by ruling skill games are slot machines and must adhere to Pennsylvania’s crime and gambling statutes, the state Legislature must pick up the ball it dropped years ...

Our opinion: It’s time to end political parlor tricks

There’s an old axiom that comes up every so often that we tend to put a lot of stock in. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. But, in our view, the reverse is also true - what’s bad for the goose is bad for the gander. And in our opinion Republicans are reaping what they’ve sown during their time as the majority party in the state House of Representatives. It wasn’t uncommon for bills that House Republicans didn’t want to come up for a vote to be set aside with House rules tricks like transferring them from committee to committee to postpone a potential vote ...

Our opinion: Take advantage facade program

Warren County business owners looking to improve their storefront facade could get a helping hand from the PA Route 6 Alliance. The alliance has received a $200,000 Main Street Matters grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Those interested in potentially applying have an opportunity to learn more in a week at a pair of public meetings in Warren County. Both Warren County meetings will be held Monday, July 6, with the first at 10 a.m. in the Youngsville borough building, 40 Railroad St., Youngville, followed by a 5:30 p.m. meeting in the Warren County ...

Editor’s corner: Unpredictable Iran keeps U.S. on defensive

Nothing is ever a certainty when dealing with Iran. Despite more than a week of waiting for an agreement with the Middle East power and nemesis, President Donald Trump’s team led by Vice President JD Vance, were in gridlock earlier this week. Iran is a master of deception. Even when it ...

Our opinion: Grads stay ‘strong’ in a year of transition

Maybe it was Nate Leamon who said it best. In delivering the closing remarks at the Eisenhower graduation earlier this month, he acknowledged the challenges this group of seniors faced. With Youngsville High School closing, it brought potential rivals together. “Nothing great happens when you stay in your comfort zone,” he said. “... This class is full of strong, capable, determined individuals and I truly believe that every single one of us has what it takes to be successful.” It was far from perfect, but it had to happen. The closing of Sheffield and Youngsville high ...

Our opinion: City cannot repeat RDA mistakes

There was a laundry list of issues with the most recent Warren Redevelopment Authority meeting that the city should make sure are remedied. It's well within the city's right to call a special meeting at any time it wants. While as much notice as possible should be given for those who aren't living and dying with legal notices in the Times Observer or watching the city's website with a hawk's eye to know when meetings are taking place, we think the city provided enough notice of the meeting. But, if the city is going to deviate from its regular meeting schedule it is incumbent on the ...