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Our view: Rising rates keep shocking customers

Across Pennsylvania, rising rates for electricity are creating problems for numerous households. This week, the Altoona Mirror reported, a progressive new campaign, dubbed Building a Brighter PA, brought a call for protections to lower consumer electric bills while generating more power from renewable energy sources. "Electric generation rates have also increased between 18%-52%, depending on where you live in the state," said Elizabeth Marx, executive director of the Public Utility Law Project. "The combined impact is severe, with roughly one in four state families reporting difficulty ...

Our opinion: An important animal message

Another slate of animal abuse charges in Warren County will, we hope, send a needed message to those who own animals not to get in over their heads. Last week, two Youngsville residents were each charged with seven third-degree felony charges related to the late June seizure: one count of each of aggravated cruelty to animals – torture and six counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals – causing serious bodily injury or death. They also each face 31 counts of third-degree misdemeanor neglect of animals – vet care and citations for application dog licenses/fees, penalties, ...

Our opinion: Game wardens’ job just got harder

We’re honestly a bit surprised that the state Supreme Court has overturned nearly 100 years of precedent by ruling Fourth Amendment protections apply to all private property no matter the distance away from a private home. Previous case law had created what was known as the Open Fields Doctrine, which authorized searches of private property not immediately surrounding a private home. Game wardens used the rule, which was reaffirmed as recently as 2007 in Russo v. Commonwealth, a case in which the state Supreme Court held that the state Game Commission could enter open fields in ...

Our opinion: Why did solar decommissioning bill take four years to pass?

Four years ago, a freshman at Warren Area High School may have read an editorial in this space supporting legislation to require decommissioning plans and bonding requirements for commercial solar projects. That freshman and the legislation we were supporting ended up graduating from their respective institutions at the same time - give or take a couple of months. We can’t say Senate Bill 349, which requires decommissioning plans for commercial solar projects, was particularly controversial. We supported the bill four years ago when it was originally sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw, ...

Our opinion: Uphill battle continues for Garrity

Current state Treasurer Stacy Garrity faces an uphill battle. Despite a warm welcome in Warren County in June, the Republican candidate governor is the underdog in the race for the state’s top spot. According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll that surveyed 895 self-identified registered voters in Pennsylvania from July 9-13, 53% support Gov. Josh Shapiro’s bid for a second term as governor, while 40% support Garrity. Both candidates have commanding numbers among registered voters in their respective parties, while Shapiro holds a strong advantage among independents. In ...

Our opinion: Let competition set gas prices

It’s hard to believe there will be many state lawmakers who will oppose a proposal by Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Paoli, to prevent gas station operators from using artificial intelligence to help set gas prices. Shusterman is drafting the legislation in response to a federal lawsuit filed by California residents alleging gas station companies including BP, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Circle K, Walmart, and Albertsons.of violating California’s antitrust law through Kalibrate, a fuel-pricing software system used across the world. The plaintiffs allege Kalibrate's AI software pools ...