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Our opinion: Louisiana official embarrasses

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., could not have proved two points more handily last week if he had tried. First, he proved the spreading of vicious lies about an immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio, has indeed led to the kind of hostility that puts those people (and their entire community) in danger. Second, he proved even those we should be able to hold to our highest standards are willing to once again publicly shout their racism and hate. They believe they have been freed of the shame of doing so. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, Higgins was facing calls for ...

Our opinion: Keep an eye on state jail data

Commonwealth residents should get ready for a public safety debate - because we can guarantee one is coming. In our opinion, a bill proposed by Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Merion Station, is a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Daley does, indeed, want to see how many people are being held in local jails on minor charges and how much time they are spending in jail, but we have a feeling this is the start not of data collection but a push to remake Pennsylvania’s bail system following a model used in New York state. As we noted recently, New York’s bail reform fiasco began with data ...

Our opinion: Parents must regulate social media, too

Pennsylvania is poised to join other states implementing new limits on social media membership for children. One reason, though, that states are stepping in is too many parents are not. House Bill 2553, sponsored by Rep. Robert Mercuri, R-Wexford, would limit social media platform membership to those ages 14 and older. Social media companies would also have to require users to have an account to use the platform and certify that users are at least 14 years old by verifying the account holder’s driver’s license or other photo identification. Parents would be able to request a ...

Our opinion: Embrace past, future of Sheffield

It is good to see Sheffield students and coaches making the best of a rough situation. Melissa Bullock, varsity cheerleading coach, and Mike Barr, football coach, are working to make homecoming special this year in case it is the last before the high school students possibly transition to Warren Area High School. A spirit week with a list of special events, a community parade and bonfire were part of the efforts to recognize alumni who attended Saturday’s homecoming football game. Kudos to all those involved in creating these events that touched the community. As we give kudos to ...

Our opinion: Economics, learning tied to closings

School consolidation simply has to happen. The real question is which high school in the Warren County School District will be closed. Last week’s school board meeting featured supporters of Youngsville High School arguing to keep that school open and to close Eisenhower instead. There is a good case for keeping Youngsville High School open - it’s more centrally located in the county, there is more in Youngsville than there is in the area surrounding Eisenhower and faster emergency response times. But there is one key argument against keeping Youngsville that didn’t come ...

Editor’s corner: City mayors have hands full with adversity

Securing election to the highest-ranking post for three city mayors in two counties may have been the easiest part of the job. Since taking office, it is hard to ignore the troubles that have faced Warren’s Dave Wortman, Jamestown’s Kim Ecklund and Dunkirk’s Kate Wdowiasz, all of whom ...