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Our opinion: We waited months for this budget?

Our Opinion

Perhaps the best thing about Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 budget process is that it is, finally, over. The $50.8 billion budget is balanced, ended up roughly $3 billion under the initial budget proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in February and includes priorities for both sides - including a continuation of increases in K-12 education funding following a landmark 2023 court ruling and continued funding of tax credits for businesses that donate money for scholarships to allow children to attend private schools. It also left untouched the state’s $7.7 billion “Rainy Day Fund,” which was a ...

Letters to the editor

Letters To Editor

Dear Editor, Whatever the future holds for skill games doesn’t change the current reality for Pennsylvania charities. As we watch the continued skill games debate in Pennsylvania, something must be made clear: whatever the future holds for skill games doesn’t change the current reality for charitable clubs. Our Moose lodges were already struggling, and more than ever we need immediate, reliable relief and an infusion of revenue to continue serving our communities. Electronic pull tabs (e-tabs) and the meaningful modernization of Pennsylvania’s small games of chance law is the ...

Socialists write checks that reality can’t cash

Local Commentaries

Socialists have a long history of writing checks that Socialism cannot cash, and the platform of the Democrat(ic) Socialists of America (DSA) continues that tradition. Socialism is Socialism, whether or not proclaimed “Democratic” for political convenience. There is no difference between Socialism and Communism except that Communists are honest about their intentions to subjugate the population to totalitarian rule, whereas Democrat Socialists try to sneak Communism through the back door. The Democrat Socialist platform promises to reduce the work week to 32 hours while keeping ...

Voters are still waiting for a vision

Local Commentaries

After years of watching our political conversations become more divided and more focused on personalities, I find myself asking a simple question: When are we going to spend less time talking about who we oppose and more time talking about what we are building? As someone who lives in Warren County, I know people are tired of the constant political fighting. They are tired of being told who to fear. They want leaders who will listen, understand their struggles, and offer real solutions. Let me be clear: accountability matters. It should not matter whether someone has a “D” or an ...

Other voices: World loses when U.S., Iran overplay hands

Our Opinion

The cycle’s familiarity should not obscure the gravity of the consequences as the US and Iran return to threats, strikes and a futile search for an exit from war via escalation. On Sunday, Tehran said that it had closed the strait of Hormuz again. The World Food Program is already feeding 1.5 million fewer people this year owing to the illegal war launched by the US and Israel. Vulnerable countries are suffering most as existing crises are compounded: an extra 2.5 million people in Somalia and 2.3 million in Afghanistan are struggling to meet basic food needs. Even de-escalation ...

Two tummies full of childhood

Local Commentaries

Dear Richard loves those huge beefsteak tomatoes that arrive late in July. Last week he went looking for the first giants of the season for BLTs – and came home with two. Obviously not local tomatoes, they were nevertheless a great season opener. As I was slicing up the first big boy, I ...