Rust-belt Chautauqua and Warren counties are both no strangers to the disappointment that comes with the annual U.S. Census information. Since 1970, the two entities have combined to see a reduction of 32,524 residents from the region. From 2020 to 2023, Chautauqua County declined from ...
We are grateful for the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict in National Rifle Association v. Vullo — a case that cut to the heart of freedom of speech. New York state officials targeted the NRA specifically because they found the NRA’s message objectionable, and pressured private enterprises to “blacklist” or refuse to conduct business with the organization. “Today’s decision confirms that government officials have no business using their regulatory authority to blacklist disfavored political groups,” David Cole of the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued on ...
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s “Great American Getaway” branding initiative should benefit Warren County. Our region’s options for outdoor recreation fit perfectly with Shapiro’s campaign, one reason it was gratifying to see Shapiro come in for a hike and a video showcasing Warren County recently. Partnering with the state can only help all of the tourism businesses that count on visitors coming to Warren County to spend their money. State officials are using your state tax dollars to showcase Pennsylvania’s status as a weekend getaway destination that is a stone’s throw away ...
It’s telling that only 28% of local governments in Pennsylvania feel they have the capacity to deal with blight. We’re willing to bet Warren County, even with a new surcharge aimed at raising money to fund the county’s land bank, falls within the 72% of local governments struggling to deal with blighted properties. Blight is a constant struggle and, in our opinion, it’s time for the state to get more involved. Many of the issues Pennsylvania faces are the same issues faced by communities around the country. Educating property owners on local codes is a struggle because most ...
It should be obvious, after reading a recent Center Square report, that state lawmakers have to do something about human services program spending in the commonwealth. In 2000, Pennsylvania had 760,000 residents getting food stamps. Now, almost 2 million receive them. Growth in Medicaid has been similar: The state spent $10.7 billion on 1.3 million residents in 2000, but now, the state spends almost $47 billion to provide Medicaid benefits to 3.3 million residents. Welfare expansion has outpaced population growth: Pennsylvania has only gained 700,000 residents since 2000. But the ...
Congratulations to Chief Justice John Roberts, who responded to importuning Senators by letting Justice Samuel Alito respond for himself. Justice Alito’s reply on Wednesday: He has “an obligation to sit” on cases under the Supreme Court’s code of conduct. Sens. Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, the bully boys of the Judiciary Committee, wrote the Chief Justice last week demanding a meeting and that Justice Alito recuse himself from hearing cases related to the 2020 election or Donald Trump. As the Senators know, the Court’s code stipulates that individual Justices make ...
