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Opinion

Now is time to revisit abortion discussion

Local Commentaries

Having lived when abortion was illegal and watched its legalization, I think it’s time to have a hard discussion about the role of abortion in 2026. Abortion is not a new or progressive idea. Throughout human history, both ancient and recent, abortion has been used to end a pregnancy. Pregnant women have had to navigate a lack of the compassion and support now available. Centuries ago, pregnant women could be sent to the workhouse, cast out onto the street or denied medical care, resulting in complications or death. Their children could be forcibly placed in horrific orphanages. ...

Readers' Speak

Letters To Editor

Magic money Dear Editor, Here are just three of the economic goals of the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America). New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants free bus rides and rent control, but bus drivers still must be paid. Buses must be fueled, maintained and insured. Where will that money come from? Mamdani wants the tax burden carried by high earners. But the highest-earning 10% already cover 67% of New York City’s expenses, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rent control sounds kind; some residents are struggling. But landlords have maintenance, taxes and insurance to ...

The mice, St. David, and the knobs

Local Commentaries

The story begins with a cat and a stove. Our Maine Coon, Finian, used to camp in front of the stove at night. It took me a while to realize he was on sentry duty. It was a particularly winter behavior. Although I never actively look for signs of a mouse resident, it finally occurred to me that ...

Our opinion: Voters have options for Election Day

Our Opinion

How did the first Tuesday of November become the traditional Election Day? According to a Campaign Legal Center online article from 2021, Congress in 1845 selected the most convenient day to hold a vote for the greatest number of voters at the time -- farmers. Saturdays and Sundays were religious days and Wednesdays were market days. Since farmers may have needed Monday to travel to a polling location, the first Tuesday after the fall harvest proved to be the most convenient day for most voters. Now, in many states across the nation, early voting is offered. It allows those ...

Our opinion: Loss of skill games is a legislative failure

Our Opinion

We’ve beaten this topic like a drum in recent weeks, but we don’t feel bad for state legislators whose hail mary attempt to keep skill games operating throughout the state was batted down by the state Supreme Court. State lawmakers had more than enough time to drive skill game legislation into the end zone before today’s court-imposed deadline to come up with regulations that comply with a June decision declaring the skill games as casino gaming that should be regulated and taxed by the state. Not only could the legislature not get on the same page to get the regulations ...

Our opinion: Lawmakers stumble on e-bike regulations

Our Opinion

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, too often slow to react and slow to act, is again living up to that dubious, unflattering reputation, this time regarding e-bikes and e-scooters. Rather than already having properly addressed those topics with the best interests of the Keystone State and its residents in mind, the General Assembly continues to stumble along as the injury, death and damage totals tied to the bikes and scooters escalate. But, hey, as a CapitolWire article noted recently, the legislature has delivered the message that it is racing to update the commonwealth's e-bike ...