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Opinion

Shapiro’s utility crackdown won’t fix power shortage

Local Commentaries

Electricity bills keep going up, and Pennsylvania consumers are feeling the pain. For example, in Pittsburgh last year, many residents saw bills skyrocket 15% in June and more than 10% in December. Instead of embracing reforms that could lower prices, the state’s elected leaders are engaging in petty political games. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s recent letter to utilities, urging them to halt rate increases, does more to score political points and generate headlines than to deliver meaningful relief to Pennsylvanians struggling to pay the bills. The governor has called on 24 ...

The beast finally settles in

Local Commentaries

Last July I wrote about Finian, our Maine Coon cat, and his stubborn need to be outside. For some reason he is well-behaved at the front door – as long as visitors don’t stand chatting with the storm door open. I mean, give the furry kid a break. A 10-minute open door is temptation even a ...

Our opinion: Showing frustrations with fuel prices

Our Opinion

There is some good news to report when it comes to the summer travel season. AAA East Central notes fuel prices are eight cents lower in our region than they were a week ago. That is still not good enough for too many of us. Nationally, the average for a gallon of regular gasoline is down 16 cents since last week to $4.16. This marks the second straight week of decline. Pump prices are cooling off as the price of crude oil remains below $100 per barrel. But uncertainty lingers over when the Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen and resume traffic. According to new data from the ...

Our opinion: School cell phone ban is coming

Our Opinion

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced June 1 that both the House and Senate have come together on a cell phone ban in schools while signaling that he will sign the legislation. Parents should get ready now for the changes they will likely see when school reopens in the fall, because for some students and parents there will be an adjustment period as they get used to new limits on the use of cell phones in school. But the state’s action will be just that - an adjustment, not the end of the world. Both Democrats and Republicans have taken up the cause, reflecting a growing consensus that ...

Our opinion: Ethics fine raises troubling questions

Our Opinion

A state ethics panel’s levy of a fine against Sheffield’s former constable who also served as a code enforcement officer in Glade and Pleasant townships is concerning on several levels. The state Ethics Commission issued a decision recently fining Shawn Young $87,900 in a treble penalty as well as two additional $1,000 fines for not filling out required Statement of Financial Interest forms for 2021 and 2022 as constable; for 2020-2023 for his position as Sheffield and Pleasant code enforcement officer; and 2022-2024 for his position as Glade Township code enforcement officer. He ...