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Our opinion: Showing off strength of Pa. farms

Anticipation builds across Pennsylvania as Harrisburg prepares to host the 2025 PA Farm Show through Saturday. The event transforms the city into a vibrant hub of agricultural innovation and community pride, showcasing the strength and depth of Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector. The PA Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the nation, presents a diverse array of exhibits and activities. Attendees will experience everything from livestock competitions to cooking demonstrations, each offering a glimpse into the dedication of local farmers and ...

Our opinion: Finding savings for energy costs

We can’t criticize Gov. Josh Shapiro for filing a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against PJM Interconnection. Pennsylvania residents can’t afford the possibility of $20 billion more in electricity costs if PJM Interconnection’s capacity auction ends up imposing new costs on consumers. Shapiro argues that PJM is not currently allowing new power plants to request connection to its grid, which means its capacity auctions are leading to record-high costs without safeguarding reliability of the power grid. Over the last several years, demand for energy has ...

Our opinion: Carter led throughout his life

President Jimmy Carter was an honorable man whose second act in life — after one term in the White House — has served as an example for us all for more than 40 years. It remains to be seen if some of his followers as POTUS will live up to Carter’s post-political career and life. Can you imagine George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump or Joe Biden teaching Sunday school or rolling up their sleeves to build homes for Habitat for Humanity? Neither can we. But Carter did just that after Ronald Reagan’s decisive victory in 1980 made the Plains, Georgia, native a one-term ...

Our opinion: Low margins in rural health care

The sudden closure of the Pine Grove Ambulatory Surgery Center came as a shock - until, that is, one looks at the spending and expenses for the facility. According to state data, the Pine Grove Ambulatory Surgery Center had 2,778 total visits in 2023, though no other data was given related to the age of those using the facility. According to state data, patient revenue at the Pine Grove Ambulatory Center had increased over the past three years from $2,583,000 to $3,508,000 in 2023, though spending had also gone up from $2,591,000 to $3,587,000 in 2023. Essentially, the facility was ...

Our opinion: Welcoming a new beginning

Here we are, at the dawn of a new year, a time to put the year 2024 behind while we look forward to the joys and challenges of the coming 365 days. Though the kids may not be thrilled that their return to school is fast-approaching, there is excitement in the air as we wonder what will come after the symbolic reset we experience each time we start the new year. Some were ready to leave 2024 behind. Others may be looking forward to letting the good times continue to roll after experiencing a year of plenty for themselves and their families. All of us are hoping for that happy and ...

Our opinion: Skerda leaves a void on the bench

For decades, Judge Maureen Skerda has been a steady presence in the 37th Judicial District. The former area lawyer was elected as the first female judge in the district in 2006 and became president judge in the district in 2010. Though she is not seeking retention, Skerda said in a news release she will serve out the rest of her term before retiring. Skerda has been an institution in the legal community here even before being elected as a judge in the district, practicing law at Northwest Legal Services, serving as an assistant district attorney and a court hearing officer. Many ...