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Don’t mourn the falling SNAP rolls in nation

When Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) last summer, more than 42 million, or one in eight, Americans were on the food stamp program. Since then, that number has fallen by 5 million. Is this trend “incredibly alarming” and “unconscionable,” as Democratic lawmakers have claimed? Only if you assume that fewer people receiving food stamps is inherently a bad thing. Much of SNAP’s enrollment decline reflects states unwinding pandemic-era waivers and eligibility rules that kept caseloads elevated. It can also mean that people capable of work are finding jobs, or ...

Is that nasty smell really a skunk?

An attentive reader of The Post-Journal responded to my column about the nighttime marauders on our deck — the nocturnal animals. I mentioned that some friends in Russell, Pennsylvania, were being overwhelmed by skunks, and entire neighborhoods there reeked. Whoa — I had never noticed that ...

Spelling out grades, school costs

From what I've heard and read, the 2026 graduations went well. Graduation gowns were a neutral color. The cords bore the colors of each senior's original high school. So Youngsville and Sheffield were honored along with Eisenhower and Warren. From a distance, as a school district retiree, I understand there was an overall welcoming view of the transferring students. Congratulations to the students, parents and school staff for dealing with this challenging merger. May there be increased success in the coming school year. At the same time, caution is fitting. Superintendent Gary ...

Growing up alongside the tube

Recently, a friend mentioned that as a kid she watched Howdy Doody. When she laughed and sang the musical intro, “It’s Howdy Doody time,” I stunned myself by singing every word to the show’s opening song. Where did that come from? That night I reminisced about Howdy and some of my ...

Warren needs to let go of decaying site

Last week, I stopped at 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. I walked back and forth along the sidewalk. I walked around the back of the building. I crossed the street and looked at it from a different perspective. As I stood there, my heart was stirring. I thought about the history that happened inside ...

County should be open to data centers

Data Centers are coming. Why not in Warren County? We have lots of water for cooling and electricity and gas for power. If we could get a head of the ball and properly regulate the medium size one here we could benefit from the property taxes and jobs the centers would generate. How are we going to make up for the tax revenue we are losing as the appeals are being approved? There are many potential sites. How about the coal fly ash dump next to the former PennElec power plant in Starbrick? If a center was built on this site it would cap the dump and prevent further water pollution. ...