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Our opinion: Water investments are critical

For weeks the 626 residents of Tidioute have lived under a boil water order. An advisory was originally issued March 18 and later reissued on April 6 after conditions within the system failed to stabilize. At the center of the advisory is a reported loss of positive water pressure, caused by low levels in a municipal storage tank. The problem stems from a combination of system leaks and filtration challenges. Leaks can reduce pressure and strain the system, while filtration issues may contribute to periods of cloudy water, known as high turbidity. Elevated turbidity can interfere ...

Our opinion: Local foundation fills a niche

The White Cane Foundation’s partnership with Global Vision 2020 won’t help everyone with vision issues in Warren County. But we are certain that the new program will fill a niche in our community - and commend the foundation’s board for their work doing so. Global Vision 2020 is training local members and volunteers of the White Cane Foundation to provide basic vision screenings and low-cost custom reading glasses within the community. Recently area residents had the opportunity to receive a basic vision screening and, if appropriate, be fitted for custom reading glasses ...

Our opinion: Natural gas still piece of puzzle

As often as we’ve editorialized about the interconnectedness between affordable energy and the successes and opportunities American families may enjoy, world events unfortunately can bring that interconnectedness into sharper focus. “Global instability is a stark reminder that energy security is national security,” Pat Henderson, vice president of communications and government affairs at the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said. “America, and Pennsylvania in particular, is uniquely positioned to lead with abundant, responsibly produced natural gas that keeps energy reliable and ...

Our opinion: Enough with sales-tax holidays

Last week, we made note of 19 bills sponsored by state House Republicans proposing sales tax holidays on everything from gas to soccer gear. We didn’t disagree with the idea of a gas tax holiday, in part because Warren County’s gas prices were already too high compared to the rest of the state even before the war on Iran sent gas prices skyrocketing. That particular sales tax holiday can help millions of Pennsylvania residents and should, in our opinion, be seriously considered by lawmakers from both parties. But many of the other sales tax holidays proposed are too narrow, and ...

Other voices: Voter list is an overreaction

Can the President order the U.S. Postal Service not to deliver mail he doesn’t like? Add this to the list of, er, innovative questions that President Trump is posing to the courts. On (March 31) he signed an executive action to create a federal list of people pre-approved to vote by mail, while telling the USPS to refuse to deliver ballots from anybody who isn’t on it. Democrats have already filed lawsuits, saying Mr. Trump’s plan tramples on the authority over elections that the Constitution gives to the 50 states. The USPS is an independent agency, and the Postmaster General is ...

Our opinion: Unhealthy behavior not illegal

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, isn’t wrong for wanting to stop people from smoking when children under the age of 12 are in a car. No study has found that cigarette smoke or e-cigarette vapor are good for anyone, much less young children. But there is a line between actions being unhealthy and actions being illegal that Yaw’s proposal ignores - to its detriment. To be fair, we haven’t seen legislative language yet, simply a co-sponsorship memorandum. But we have a hard time believing that Yaw’s proposal can be enforced at all. We don’t have enough police officers ...