Editorials category, Page 56

In Pennsylvania, a sheriff’s office has a mixed bag of responsibilities, but they all come down to one simple role. Whether a deputy is serving a warrant or delivering a subpoena or enforcing an injunction, the job is the same. It is about being the arm of the court. It...

There are certain facts of life that are just so true, it almost seems ridiculous to say them out loud. Water is wet. What goes up must come down. Nothing’s sure but death and taxes. The ever-increasing polarization of politics is another. We almost have no right to be shocked...

When it comes to how much public services cost in Pennsylvania, the answer can generally be boiled down to one thing: The state is divided into a lot more pots than necessary. The Keystone State has a population of 12.8 million. Illinois’ is close at 12.67 million. But where the...

The legal back and forth is over and done. Pennsylvania’s mask mandate for schools is kaput. So now what? Now it is up to school districts to decide whether they are going to keep the kids covered or not. That, after all, is what so many schools and parents were...

There are just too many covid patients and not enough care to go around. Hospitals across the state are reporting numbers that are pushing them to the edge. UPMC facilities are reporting that they are at or over capacity. Allegheny Health Network is similarly taxed. Excela is shifting or canceling...

Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting should take note of how the public reacts to events. When the news came Wednesday that Nutting was selling three Pennsylvania ski resorts — Seven Springs Mountain Resort near Champion, Hidden Valley Resort near Bakersville and Laurel Mountain Ski Area in Ligo­nier Township — to...

Laurel: To new light in a dark corner. On the last day of Hanukkah, the Tree of Life received a special gift. After three years of the synagogue property sitting empty after the October 2018 shooting that claimed the lives of 11 worshippers from the three congregations that called the...

There has been a lot of talk about how the labor shortage — in Pennsylvania and around the country — is hitting different industries hard. It’s changing the hours of shops and restaurants as business owners struggle to find the staff to keep the doors open. It’s creating a pinch...

Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew seems to be having commitment issues. On Monday, it was revealed that once again Chew has not fulfilled a financial promise to the people. When running for office in 2019, he pledged 60% of his salary to help support and grow the county’s drug court...

St. Vladimir was not your typical holy figure. Long before the majority of Europe became Christian countries, Vladimir was a prince of what would become the Russian city of Novgorod. He later became Grand Prince of Kiev. The titles — including his moniker of Vladimir the Great — sound majestic....

Since 1899, well-known or well-heeled Pennsylvanians have gathered in December to wine and dine and glad-hand each other in New York City. It has been a way to network and raise money. Think of it as the Keystone State’s own private little convention for schmoozing and getting things done. It...

The Pennsylvania economy needs more than a jump-start. The October unemployment report shows that the state’s economic engine just doesn’t have the horsepower it did a few years ago. While October’s jobless numbers fell to 5.9% for the first time since April 2020, that doesn’t mean that it is getting...

Threats can be easily dismissed. A threat, after all, is not the same thing as the act itself. Being threatened with a lawsuit is not the same as being sued. Threatening to call the police is not the same as picking up the phone. A threat’s meaning has been diluted...

Laurel: To holiday time again. After all of the festivities that have been canceled or gone remote in the last two years, it is with childlike delight that people can see old favorite events returning to their communities. “We’re happy to have things back in person,” said Emily Pasqualino, committee...

Have you turned on that furnace? Cranked up the electric baseboard heaters? Touched the thermostat? Coming off a Thanksgiving weekend during which temperatures dipped into the 30s or below, you probably at least thought about it. But maybe you were among those who are acutely aware of the cost of...

OK, now it’s official. Fenway Sports Group is buying the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a price tag some are putting at around $900 million. The Boston-based company announced Monday that, yes, the rumors are true and the Penguins will be added to its stable of teams that spans sports such as...

Colleges like to compare themselves to each other. Pitt measures itself against its state-related siblings Penn State and Temple and its neighbors like Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon. They all pay attention to where they fall against their peers on other lists. Which is ranked highest in U.S. News and...

With great power comes great responsibility. That’s more than just a good life lesson from the pages of a comic book. It’s an undeniable truth. The more power we hold in our hands, the more responsible we are for what we do with it. Drive a car, and you have...

In 2022, many people will be hoping for an increase in salary, but it won’t be a guarantee. Unless you happen to be a Pennsylvania lawmaker. Or judge. Or high-ranking government official. For someone falling into one of these categories, 2022 not only will come with a raise, but it...

The proper response to a request for information about public money is not “It’s taken care of. Trust us.” That should go without saying. The purpose of laws regarding open records is to make sure what public officials say can be proven or disproven because, sadly, sometimes people aren’t entirely...

Laurel: To looking for answers. For years, Pennsylvania communities have suffered from a problem called “brain drain.” It’s the unfortunate tendency of state students to graduate from high school and go to Pitt or Penn State or another local college and learn valuable skills only to move away and take...

Despite what the Norman Rockwell images have taught us, the fourth Thursday in November is not about perfectly roasted turkeys and gathering around a perfectly set table laid out with white linens and pristine porcelain. It is not about football. Not about Christmas music. Not about dog shows or parades...

If kids need to get covid-19 vaccines, they will not be getting them at Franklin Regional locations. The school board Monday voted to prohibit the use of the district’s property for vaccine clinics. “We’re not a medical facility,” board member Deb Wohlin said. “Why would we want to take this...

An out-of-state consulting firm will be receiving $270,000 over the next six months as part of a review of the 2020 election. Envoy Sage of Dubuque, Iowa, is a crisis and risk management company that has been in business since August 2020. It will be working with Pennsylvania Senate Republicans...

The Westmoreland County commissioners have a preliminary budget on the table. The proposed $365.5 million spending plan for 2022 does not raise property taxes above the 21.49 mills where they stand now. That can be a good thing. What isn’t? A disturbing trend of spending money the county isn’t making....