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Our opinion: State right to hike funding for crisis centers

Rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania will see state funding double under the budget signed last month. These agencies provide services to victims of sexual assault. Pittsburgh Action Against Rape was one of the first in the state and one of the first in the country. It has been a refuge and a helping hand for victims for more than 50 years. It is one of 47 rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania. In 2025, the state budgeted $12 million for them. That can sound like a lot of money until you cut it into 47 pieces and expect it to stretch like a too-small blanket to cover women, men and ...

Editor’s corner: Subpar renewables jolt electric costs

Long before wind turbines and solar panels began engulfing upstate and the Southern Tier, New York had a healthy power supply. It was built upon generating stations that were near the shores of Lake Erie and the New York Power Authority based in Niagara Falls that produces renewable ...

Our opinion: Vaccination website brings mixed results

Proficiency rates from schools across the state are not the only items the public will have access to at the moment. Earlier this month, the state announced it has launched a tool that makes it easier for parents and community members to view annual vaccination rates at individual schools -- not just at the state or county-level like before -- boosting transparency and giving families a clearer picture of how well protected their children's classrooms are. "Knowledge is power, and Pennsylvania parents deserve clear, accessible data about the health of their children's schools," said ...

Our opinion: Time to come up big for children

Warren County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates is looking for a few good advocates. CASA volunteer advocates are appointed by the court to represent the best interests of children involved in abuse and neglect cases, providing consistent support throughout the legal process. The organization currently serves 22 children, with 12 still waiting to be matched with volunteer advocates. At present, CASA has only eight active volunteers. Children who need CASA’s help are children who need someone to speak up on their behalf, something that requires an empathetic ear and an ability ...

Our opinion: State can go further on CDL safety

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed legislation cracking down on unlicensed “CDL mills.” Act 50 of 2026 increases the penalty for running a CDL training center not approved by the state Board of Private Licensed Schools from $2,500 to $25,000. It does not impact private employers that provide CDL training to their own employees at no cost. The bill will help decrease the number of poorly trained commercial driver’s licensees coming from Pennsylvania - a point of contention after a CDL holder issued in Pennsylvania to a migrant from Uzbekistan was involved in an accident and ...

Our opinion: Home care worker charges shocking

Let’s say up front that the charges filed against four direct care workers at a Conewango Township facility still have to be proven in court. But the details included in supporting documents filed by investigators in the case paint a shocking picture of the final days of an area man’s life and should prompt state action to ensure that proper care is being given in such facilities around the state. As sad as it is to say, while the care in Conewango Township is likely a worst-case scenario, we’re not sure state oversight in its current structure is enough. Those who read our ...