Featured Commentary category, Page 12

Vital toward reindustrializing the country, where our factory towns are revitalized, our ports are making new ships and the skylines of our cities grow higher, President Trump is seeking to correct President Joe Biden’s ill-sighted decision to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel. The idea has been in the...

In recent weeks, there has been growing conversation around potential legislation that would consolidate smaller, rural transit systems — such as our own Westmoreland County Transit Authority — into Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). While no formal bill has been introduced, the concept alone is already drawing attention across Southwestern Pennsylvania....

The tallest building between New York and Chicago, the U.S. Steel Tower stands as a monument to Pittsburgh’s industrial past — and a reminder of what the future could be if our nation’s leaders step up for our manufacturing sector. Once the world’s largest steelmaker, U.S. Steel’s presence remains vital...

Last week, President Trump announced the establishment of a White House Faith Office. Its purpose, as described in a White House announcement, is to “… empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities.” Don’t they already have access to a higher power? There...

Imagine being told there’s a drug that might save your life — but your insurance won’t cover it for 18 months. That’s the reality for patients under a new policy from Independence Blue Cross, a Philadelphia-based insurer. The insurer announced earlier this year that it will delay coverage of therapies...

People are every nation’s greatest natural resource. Growing and investing in that treasure ought to be every leader’s priority. Globally, the United States is in 131st place in terms of population growth (0.67% growth rate, according to CIA.gov). It is anticipated that we will be in negative territory by 2042,...

Americans are finding “nice work if you can get it” an increasingly unlikely scenario. Whether down on the farm or high atop the skyscraper, manufacturing goods or providing services, at Fortune 500 corporations or mom-and-pop stores, employing college graduates or tradespeople, Americans feel completely exhausted, unfairly compensated and totally expendable....

Editor’s note: The following is portions of an interview conducted by Gemma Ware, host of The Conversation Weekly podcast, about what it’s like to be a scientist whose funding has been cut by the Trump administration with Brady Thomas West, a research professor of survey and data science at the...

As demonstrators gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Charters...

The 30 pieces of silver have already changed hands. Pilate has washed his palms, pretending neutrality. And the die has been cast. That’s what it feels like as a Pennsylvanian watching Penn State turn its back on the very communities that built it, funded it and depended on it. I’m...

Ronald Reagan was wrong. The nine most terrifying words in the English language are not “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” They are: “The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice.” This is a pretty phrase that was invented by a good person, Theodore Parker, and...

AI companions programmed to forge emotional bonds are no longer confined to movie scripts. They are here, operating in a regulatory Wild West. One app, Botify AI, recently drew scrutiny for featuring avatars of young actors sharing “hot photos” in sexually charged chats. The dating app Grindr, meanwhile, is developing...

Is there such a thing as a “real America”? A battle now rages over this simple question. Some Democratic Party operatives claim the real America are so-called “Trump voters,” who they say they need to better “study” in order to win future elections. Many Republican voices argue the real America...

Imagine Pittsburgh without Mister Rogers. Without public television, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” would not exist. There would be no Mister Rogers exhibit at the Heinz History Center or annual sweater drive at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. No statue overlooking the city on the banks of the Allegheny. No trolley ride...

A developer wants to rezone a public park to allow high-density housing. The local school board weighs a plan to close an elementary school. City council considers selling the sewer system to a private party. Knowing in advance public officials are considering matters like these gives the public an opportunity...

The prevalence and financial burden of chronic disease continue to rise. We spend $1 trillion each year in the United States treating preventable illnesses such as diabetes, cancer and hypertension, which affect more Americans now than ever before. Globally, the spiraling rates of incidence and cost are even more stark:...

On Nov. 5, President Donald J. Trump won back the White House in dominating fashion. His 312 electoral votes vastly dwarfed Vice President Kamala Harris’ total of 226. The key state in his victory? Unquestionably, our commonwealth with its 19 electoral votes. Driven by his messages of prosperity, safety, and...

Republican Sens. Mike Lee and Tommy Tuberville recently introduced the Abolish TSA Act of 2025, effectively calling for the privatization of airport security. Against the backdrop of DOGE and the elimination of longstanding institutions like the Department of Education and the U.S. Postal Service, it appears that if ever there...

The federal SAVE Act would impose barriers to voting that could effectively disenfranchise millions, particularly married women, and disproportionately Black and brown people across the country. The anti-voter bill, teetering on a poll tax, has already passed in the U.S. House. Now we await the U.S. Senate’s vote to determine...

Most tomatoes from Mexico will face a 21% tariff effective July 14, the U.S. Department of Commerce said recently. Ironically, the “love apple” may be the perfect illustration of how trade contributes to economic prosperity — and of the folly of President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies. First and foremost, the...

As Pittsburgh’s mayoral race heats up, a growing divide is surfacing — not just between candidates, but between neighbors, friends and even longtime community collaborators. We’re witnessing respected leaders fall out, meaningful partnerships dissolve and years of trust unravel over political affiliation. This isn’t new. We’ve seen it before —...

When I started my career in law enforcement, I took an oath to serve and protect my community. Now I see that oath being lived by my fellow law enforcement colleagues throughout Pennsylvania. Members of the Pennsylvana Chiefs of Police Association represent every type of community throughout the commonwealth —...

President Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office have been a whirlwind of action and change not seen in Washington in decades. The president won a decisive Electoral College victory in November to carry out his campaign promises of securing our southern border, repairing our economy and ending the...

As we quickly approach the 100-day mark of the second Donald Trump presidency, let us look at what has happened. A lawless authoritarian blitz is a good summary. Maybe a MAGA mess? Let’s review some of the lowlights by checking in on some predictions and questions I asked after Trump’s...

Last month, hundreds of members of Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association (PSCOA) descended on Harrisburg to fight for the future of SCI-Rockview, SCI-Quehanna and the community corrections centers (CCC) of Progress and Wernersville — all of which are being targeted for closure by the Shapiro administration. The state Department of...