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Our opinion: Lawmaker’s ARD fix needs OK

Pennsylvania courts have been pretty consistent over the past five years when it comes to whether or not an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition counts as a first DUI offense. It doesn’t, in their view, because the ARD case doesn’t result in a conviction. That doesn’t mean the DUI offense didn’t happen, but in the eyes of the law the driver hasn’t been convicted of a DUI either by plea or a jury. Under the law that means the driver can’t be held to a more strict sentence if the driver is later convicted in a second drunk driving incident. The court decisions have left ...

Editor's corner: State GOP engagement keeps pressure on Dems

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s re-election campaign more than a year away already appears to be navigating in troubled waters. After proposing a $51.5 billion spending plan that had revenues exceeding expenses by $4.5 billion, Senate Republicans rejected the proposal, seeking an option ...

Other voices: Nixing survey won’t end hunger

President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is anything but for the nation’s poorest families. Among the numerous cruel elements to the new spending plan are food-program cuts that are expected to increase “food insecurity” — also known as hunger — for millions of Americans, including children. What terrible optics going into the midterm election season. But no worries. Trump’s administration this month announced how it intends to address the politically inconvenient specter of coddling billionaires at the expense of impoverished Americans who will go hungry: It’s ...

Rounding Third: A lifelong love for golden smiles

A giant of the film industry died just recently, and his passing brought back a flood of memories. As I explored those moments, I realized that in a small, eye-opening way, Robert Redford changed my life. But first, a little history. Four years before I saw Redford, a date invited me to my first theater evening. I was seventeen. And thrilled. So sophisticated! The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Mass. was a summer destination for professional touring shows. I think the circular stage within a tent was the reason it was dubbed a “circus.” That first musical was Showboat and ...

Our opinion: Youths, not motorists, have right of way

Right-thinking people of Pennsylvania have to be wondering whether the study associated with obtaining a driver’s license in this state has begun being regarded as something that doesn’t really matter — that the information presented is part of a lame exercise worthy of being forgotten quickly. Does Pennsylvania really have so many drivers who don’t know what blinking red lights on a school bus mean? Then there’s the obvious follow-up question: Does Pennsylvania really have so many drivers ignorant of the potential costs associated with the illegal practice — in human ...

Our opinion: Lack of interest unsurprising

We would like to say we’re surprised there isn’t much interest in the former Hudson development property at 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. W. The property was returned to the Redevelopment Authority in October 2024 after the Eagles Crest development fell apart amidst community opposition and lawsuits challenging funding approvals for the project. City officials said last year they hoped to see a new developer step forward with a new project, but despite efforts by many local officials to market the site that hasn’t happened. More recently the city has chosen to list the property ...