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Our opinion: Thanking those who served for freedom

Our Opinion

They've never asked for thanks, but they've earned it a thousand times over. Every parade, every flag raised, every quiet moment of freedom enjoyed on a Monday morning exists because, somewhere, someone once stood between danger and home. Veterans Day isn't a gift to them; it's a reminder to the rest of us. Across the region, you'll find them everywhere--men and women who wore the uniform and came home to build lives, families, and towns that still depend on their quiet strength. They don't ask for recognition. They don't boast about their service. But the stories are written in their ...

Our opinion: Strangulation legislation should be approved

Our Opinion

A woman’s 2022 strangulation in Philadelphia by a stranger is the inspiration for legislation that, in our opinion, should be approved by the state Legislature this year. Rep. Donna Scheuren has introduced a package of bills (HB 2517, HB 2518 and HB 2519) that would apply to the way strangulation cases are handled. The most significant change comes in HB 2517, which would change the grading of stranger-on-stranger strangulation, increasing the severity of the offense from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony in cases where the victim and defendant had no prior ...

Warren missing out on progress despite promises

Local Commentaries

At some point, Warren needs to stop confusing the preservation of an old building with economic development. The endless debate over 231–237 Pennsylvania Avenue West is a perfect example. This property has sat vacant for years. The city's redevelopment documents indicate that the building lacks water, electricity and heat, and requires roof repairs or replacement. Demolition specifications also call for asbestos abatement. Walk past the glass door, and you can still see the outline of a former state representative's office decal. That faded reminder says plenty about how long this ...

Editor’s corner: In age of sharing, privacy picture blurs

Our Opinion

Rare is the moment when New York’s senior U.S. senator is critical of any type of picture taking. A longstanding political joke notes “the most dangerous place in Washington is between Chuck Schumer and a television camera.” That phrase offers a nod to Schumer’s longtime tradition of ...

Lack of vaccinations drives state measles outbreak

Local Commentaries

My medical training didn’t prepare me for this moment. I grew up in Warren but now live in Buffalo and work as a hospitalist, meaning If you become a patient at the hospital and have to stay overnight or are not going straight to surgery, I am often one of the doctors taking care of you. I recently went to speak at a conference in Lancaster, Pa., at the center of the current largest U.S. outbreak of measles, which claimed its sixth death this past week. As I prepared for that trip, I found myself pondering how to reduce my exposure. I worried, not for myself, but for my beloved ...

Veterans power U.S. economy, deserve assistance

Local Commentaries

After serving in their nation’s military, they’re now serving in America’s economy. There are nearly 8 million veterans in the U.S. workforce, and they have a lower unemployment rate than the population as a whole. Veteran-owned businesses generate $1.3 trillion in annual sales and employ approximately 4 million workers. But as Veterans Day approaches, leaders of veterans service organizations say some of the men and women behind that economic success are still struggling to find stable housing, get mental health care or translate military experience into a civilian ...