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Our Opinion

Our opinion: Virtual Academy brings hope

For all of the consternation and discussion we have heard over the years, there are really only two ways for the Warren County School District to solve its budget problems - cut expenses to live within its means or grow its revenue to pay for its expenses. We’ve heard a lot about cuts, and we know how many county residents feel about the idea of closing school buildings. Growth is harder to imagine as our county population continues shrinking. Could the Virtual Academy be an area where the district can grow its revenues and perhaps bring the school district’s revenues closer to ...

Our opinion: Explanation needed on Medicare

At the time when Congress launched the Medicare Advantage program concept several decades ago, the theory in place was insurers would make Medicare more efficient, have an incentive to keep patients healthier and probably save money for the government in the process. Those at the forefront of promoting the concept at that time probably never in their wildest dreams anticipated that one day a major, well-respected national newspaper would have on its front page the headline “Medicare paid $50 billion to insurers for untreated ills.” Yet that was the headline in the July 9 edition ...

Our opinion: Finding energy at the market

Warren’s downtown farmer’s market is off to a flying start. Market organizers say it’s about to get even better. Twenty-eight vendors signed up for the farmer’s market a couple of weeks ago, with board members expecting more to sign up in coming weeks as the planting season turns to the harvest. That means more fresh fruits and vegetables to go along with the market’s selection of craft vendors, potted plants, baked goods, flowers, honey, maple syrup and Gary Lester’s “trashidermy” and live music. The Midtown lot is becoming a popular place from 8 a.m. to noon on ...

Our opinion: A proper pace on environment

Most Americans would agree with initiatives to help the environment. Here in Pennsylvania, we are surrounded by natural wonders. But going too fast has some pitfalls as can be seen in neighboring New York state. So we’re urging caution after last week’s announcement by Gov.Josh Shapiro. He was joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley, President of the Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council Darrin Kelly and local elected leaders to celebrate the Shapiro ...

Our opinion: Cutting DEP backlog is only the first step

We are glad the state Department of Environmental Protection has significantly cut its backlog of applicants awaiting permits. We also believe more needs to be done. As The Center Square’s Anthony Hennen reported recently, from December of 2023 to the end of June, DEP reduced the number of cases awaiting permits from about 2,000 to 970. “It was our goal early in 2024 to reduce that backlog by 10% each month. We’re hovering very close to that, but we still have a long way to go,” John Ryder, deputy secretary for DEP field operations said, according to the Center Square ...

Our opinion: Carbon capture bill a smart step

State Sen. Gene Yaw’s legislation for state oversight of “carbon capture” technology is an important step in the right direction. As Yaw said, “it’s a pragmatic solution to a problem we all want to solve — reducing our carbon emissions without crippling the reliability of our existing power grid.” We acknowledge that much work must be done for carbon capture and sequestration to be viable. Technologies need to be further developed and improved. But, as this newspaper has noted often, the same can be said of reliance on renewable energy. For solar and wind power to ...