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Elections signal new era for America

Now that the midterm election results are in, I find myself thinking about what voters have said and what those results might mean for the future of our country, and perhaps even for the future of the Republican Party. Democrats have won control of both the House and the Senate, delivering a significant rebuke to Donald Trump and his administration. While the results are certainly a political victory for Democrats, I believe the meaning of this election reaches beyond one party winning and another losing. A conservative-leaning friend recently suggested that these elections might mark ...

Solutions exist for rural maternal health care

When someone needs prenatal care, the ability to get an appointment should not depend on how many clinicians happen to practice nearby. Yet across Pennsylvania, too many families face that uncertainty. In a statewide maternal health survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, 22% of respondents who needed maternal health care said they had delayed it at least once. Among those who delayed care, half said they could not get an appointment, while 30% said they could not miss work or school. These are not minor inconveniences. Delays in prenatal care can mean missed ...

Is Northeast’s natural-gas bottleneck ending?

Armed with $42 million in funding courtesy of the Defense Production Act, Energy Secretary Chris Wright is hoping to kick-start construction of the long-delayed Constitution Pipeline that would transport natural gas from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale to the energy-starved Northeast. Defense Production Act funds for the pipeline will go toward meeting the energy needs of Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., and other military facilities throughout New England, Wright explained. The pipeline, if constructed, will serve the entire region and enable the Northeast’s ...

Terrifying memories die hard

Halloween 2026 is history, but the spooks are still standing on many front lawns. You know the ones – the 12-foot skeletons that tower over the rhododendrons – and make me anxious, even at this age. At least the bloody ghouls are mostly packed away now. I never liked Halloween. I know, I know. It’s almost unamerican. But it started early and never really went away. I was an outcast on Halloween. As an only child, and the only girl in an all-boy neighborhood, I never had anyone to trick-or-treat with. The boys certainly didn’t want to drag along that “sissy girl.” Back ...

Lack of vaccinations drives state measles outbreak

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 ...

Warren missing out on progress despite promises

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 ...