Opinion category, Page 11
Letter to the editor: A new life for Penn State New Kensington
Two years from now, the Penn State New Kensington campus will be shuttered. No suggestions for its conversion have been made public, but one that recognizes demographic reality and requires no drastic structural change does exist. In 1975, Burrell and Valley graduated nearly 900 students combined. The combined 2025 graduating...
Editorial: The curse of cross-filing
Do you even remember a judicial election? In all the time you’ve been a voter — making choices and casting ballots — do you ever recall a campaign for a Pennsylvania judge at any level? Probably not. In Pennsylvania, judicial elections typically have been the blunt side of partisanship. Presidential,...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Trump continues to play hunger games
The international community, at least since World War II and most recently in a 2018 U.N. resolution, has condemned using food as a weapon in conflicts. But that has not stopped President Donald Trump from effectively denying SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Trump posted on Truth Social this past...
Rev. Richard Cizik: Good Christians can disagree with Trump
“If I am not for myself, then who will be there for me? And if I am for myself only, who am I? And if not now, when?” These words from the famous Rabbi Hillel the Elder guided Jewish life at the time of King Herod. Now, they represent a...
Sheldon H. Jacobson: NBA quality players on a college team are not sufficient to make noise in the NCAA Tournament
A new college basketball season is beginning. For every team, their 30-plus schedule of games is certain to produce some surprises. Yet every fan hopes their team will have what it takes to make some noise in March. Rankings are certainly informative. But is there a more reliable way to...
Christine Flowers: Malala’s message should echo to the White House
There are a few people in the world who are instantly recognizable with just one name: Madonna, Beyonce and Rihanna come to mind, as do fellow performers Cher, Elvis, Prince, Bono and Sting. The same is true for Malala. I have known about this brave young woman from the moment...
Martin Schram: Dick Cheney — reflecting on the unseen
The president’s chief of staff was talking with aides outside his president’s waiting motorcade when he spotted me — and immediately began walking purposefully toward me for what figured to be one of those tough, and probably angry, confrontations. Reporters know we can expect that when what we have written...
Letter to the editor: Pittsburgh nonprofits should help city with emergency vehicles
I have a suggestion for the new mayor of Pittsburgh: There are a number of large nonprofit organizations in the city of Pittsburgh, with UPMC and AGH being two of the largest. I saw on the local news the deplorable conditions of Pittsburgh emergency vehicles, including police vehicles and ambulances,...
Letter to the editor: Maduro bounty not justice
The United States offers a $15 million bounty for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture, claiming we want him to face justice for drug trafficking. But this bounty reveals a troubling contradiction: It can’t be collected through legitimate law enforcement. Maduro won’t voluntarily travel to countries that would extradite him. He’s...
Letter to the editor: Democrats have nothing but attacking Trump
Seeking election to a public office? Looking for political credibility? Are you a Democrat? No problem: Attack the Orange Monster! Health care for illegal immigrants? Insist that President Trump is against affordable health care. ICE deportation of migrant criminals? Insist that Trump’s Gestapo is rounding up “fathers, husbands and hard-working...
Editorial: Voters chose confidence in election machines
The voters of Westmoreland County were clear when they showed up at the polls. They picked a side. They made a choice. They went with the voting machines. In September, the county’s Republican commissioners approved a $40,000 plan to add optional paper ballots for the November election, citing a 2024...
Letter to the editor: Trump’s actions show who he is
President Trump likes to say he is a law-and-order president. It justifies his militarizing our streets, sending federal law enforcement to cities that don’t want or need those troops, and spending about $28 billion annually on ICE agents who act like thugs and terrorize our fellow citizens and human beings....
Letter to the editor: No pay for Congress during shutdown
The resolution introduced Oct. 29 by Sen. Lindsay Graham should be brought before committee and voted on immediately. The resolution proposes “an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring Members of Congress to forfeit their compensation during Government shutdowns.” This is a critical piece of legislation because it...
S.E. Cupp: Zohran Mamdani’s rise from nowhere to City Hall
One of the wildest and most dramatic New York City mayoral elections in modern history finished with the flare of a presidential race and with the national attention to match. “Hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through...
Rep. Greg Vitali: Don’t trade away climate regulations
Canceling regulations to enter Pennsylvania in the Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI) is now under consideration in commonwealth budget negotiations. Participation in RGGI is the most important thing Pennsylvania can do right now to combat climate change. Gov. Josh Shipiro and Pennsylvania House Democratic leaders should refuse to support...
Letter to the editor: Republicans and Democratics?
Since we refer to supporters of the Republican Party as “Republicans,” shouldn’t we style Democratic supporters “Democratics”? Alternatively, call them Republics and Democrats. Pick one style or the other. I don’t care which style you choose, but be consistent. This is America! Let’s get our ducks in a row. Some...
Letter to the editor: Families need utility relief
With the federal government shutdown threatening SNAP benefits, delayed LIHEAP opening and inflation on the rise, families are facing compounded hardship challenging both food security and access to essential utilities. There’s an often overlooked option available that can help residents stretch their budgets even further: saving money on utility bills....
Letter to the editor: A beautiful day to Race for Grace
The 17th annual Race For Grace was a beautiful day to gather with 1,825 registrants, 322 volunteers and several hundred spectators to commemorate the life and love of Grace Elizabeth Ekis. It was a beautiful day to celebrate an amazing milestone of collectively raising $2.1 million in 17 races, with...
Lori Falce: Charity begins at home. It cannot end there
Charity begins at home. It’s a familiar saying many people erroneously believe comes from the Bible instead of from 17th-century British writer Sir Thomas Browne. But what does Browne’s famous proverb mean? Like beauty, the phrase may be in the eye of the beholder. For some, it’s an encouragement to...
Paul Kengor: ‘President Fetterman’? The commendably independent Pa. senator
David Catron is a seasoned, astute political analyst. He has an impressive if not uncanny record picking the most unlikely presidential winners, including Donald Trump in 2016. Thus, Catron had my full attention with his recent column, “Is John Fetterman Running for President?” “Decidedly to the displeasure of his Senate...
Laurels & lances: Preparing & polling
Laurel: To giving shelter. People across the region are bracing for temperatures that continue to fall — and for the first snow of the season. While no one looks forward to the shift from wearing sweaters to paying heating bills, some have no home to heat. That’s a dangerous place...
David Williams: Pennsylvania lawmakers should reject ill-advised online gaming tax increase
Pennsylvania recently surpassed stalwarts like Nevada and New Jersey to become the national leader in online gaming. But now, Keystone State lawmakers are proposing a tax increase that could reverse that growth and drive the industry underground into the black market. With tax rates of 36% for sports betting and...
Letter to the editor: Don’t pay, or reelect, legislators involved in shutdown
Kudos to the writer of the letter ”Shutdown would end if legislators’ pay stopped” (Nov. 2, TribLive), which eloquently stated a solution to the shutdown. Also, remember these congressional members when elections roll around, and boot them out. Monica Yuhas Smock...
Letter to the editor: Immigration the right way
I recently completed nine weeks of hospitality service at the Texas/Mexico border. I learned this. Immigration “the right way”: Open our hearts. Pray for the suffering. Do what we can! In the early 1900s, immigration was a paperless system. Buy a ticket and get on a boat. At Ellis Island,...
Editorial: High turnout shows Pennsylvania voters are engaged
It isn’t really a surprise when people don’t turn out for an election the year after a president is selected. Especially in Pennsylvania. As a perennial swing state, Pennsylvania is lobbied hard during a presidential year. The ads are everywhere — on TV, on the radio, online and in mailboxes,...
