Opinion category, Page 13
Point: U.S. needs a Strategic Minerals Reserve
Five decades after the creation of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the wake of the Arab oil embargo, the United States is facing a new threat to its economic, energy and national security that calls for similarly decisive action: the weaponization of mineral supply chains by China. The time has...
Counterpoint: With mineral stockpile, oversight and innovation are critical, not stock ownership
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced plans to expand the national stockpile of minerals such as lithium and rare earths needed in the production of renewable energy technologies and military weapons. This is nothing new; the U.S. government has stockpiled minerals for decades. What is new is that the government...
Letter to the editor: Tomlin and coordinators should hit the road
I think it is past time for Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin to hit the road and to take the offensive and defensive coordinators with him. I think they have no clue what they are doing. They make no adjustments throughout the games and just let us get burned all day...
Letter to the editor: Are you OK with tearing families apart?
At 18, Fidel Rivera left Mexico because he couldn’t find work and wanted a better life. His crime? At 18, not knowing or finding out the legal process to citizenship. But he learned English, became a hard-working electrician, paid taxes, found love with a U.S. citizen schoolteacher, got married and...
Editorial: Courthouse settlement shows high price of denying reality
The long saga of the Westmoreland County Courthouse renovations has reached its conclusion. Perhaps you thought it was already at an end. After all, the parking garage reopened in July 2023 and the plaza and front entrance were in use a month later. The issue was that was far later...
Letter to the editor: Helping businesses weather economic uncertainty
Across Pennsylvania and here in Westmoreland County, businesses are working hard to navigate an uncertain economy marked by high interest rates, a prolonged federal government shutdown and the absence of a finalized state budget. This uncertainty makes it increasingly difficult for small businesses to secure loans, for larger employers to...
Editorial: NBA scandal was predictable
Everyone saw this coming except the NBA. It seemed obvious: An industry built on winning money instead of earning it will attract those willing to break the rules to make a buck. And yet, when news broke last week about FBI arrests, including a current NBA head coach and player,...
S.E. Cupp: Donald Trump isn’t joking about a third term
Believe him. Almost a year ago to the day, The New York Times ran a special editorial just before Donald Trump would win the presidency again. They used a full page to print out in giant, boldface, all-caps the following missive: “Donald Trump says he will prosecute his enemies, order...
Kenneth Zagacki and Richard Cherwitz: The challenges of presidential Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speeches
Having brokered what appears to be a groundbreaking ceasefire leading to a longer-term Middle East peace settlement, supporters of President Donald Trump, and the president himself, are lobbying the Nobel committee to bestow a 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Trump. Whether next year’s committee honors him may depend less on...
Meredith Sumpter: Election reform turns down the temperature of our politics
Politics isn’t working for most Americans. Our government can’t keep the lights on. The cost of living continues to rise. Our nation is reeling from recent acts of political violence. Seventy percent of voters say the U.S. is in a political crisis, and 64% say our political system is too...
Letter to the editor: Steps to take against Trump
For those of you who are dismayed by the direction of our government, here are some steps to take as recommended by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich: • Attend peaceful rallies and demonstrations. • Call, email or write to your elected government officials daily and let them know where...
Letter to the editor: Reelect dedicated board members in Plum
As vice president of the Plum School Board, I am proud to share several accomplishments that reflect our ongoing commitment to educational excellence, fiscal responsibility and student safety. We continue to enhance our educational programs, with a current focus on strengthening the math curriculum. We’ve hired several key personnel, including...
Lori Falce: I was on SNAP. The real problem is how we judge those who need it
This summer, my son ran a leadership project for his school’s National Honor Society chapter. He targeted food that would help feed children — things kids would like and that they could access without a grown-up. He posted his list on Amazon and shared the information on social media. Friends,...
Laurels & lances: Helping in times of need
Laurel: To being in the right place at the right time. Arnold police Chief Rob Haus is used to being in the thick of an emergency. He’s not just a law enforcement officer. He’s also a trained EMT. His wife, Crystal, is also no stranger to a life-or-death situation. She’s...
Letter to the editor: Dems not putting US citizens first
Affordable Care Act subsidies seem to be the main sticking point between the political parties and causing the government shutdown, with Democrats claiming no subsidies are going to illegal immigrants. I think this is only true by the Democrats’ definition of illegal. During the Biden administration, and the last years...
Wanda Wilson and Reps. Arvind Venkat and Mandy Steele: Why solar power makes sense for Pittsburgh area schools
The school year is well underway here in Pittsburgh, and students are learning new things every day. But one thing remains the same: the rising cost of electricity here and all across Pennsylvania. This could leave some school districts facing tough decisions on how to prioritize expenses and looking for...
Letter to the editor: Show appreciation for veterans on Nov. 11
I often wonder how much is spent for all the garish and elaborate Halloween decorations around our region. As a veteran I wonder if the same gusto for decorating will be put forth on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. I urge the citizens to display the stars and stripes to...
Letter to the editor: Dems must stay strong and fight for our health care
So much for the Republicans not touching Medicare in the “Big Beautiful Bill.” They gave seniors a $6,000 tax deduction instead of not taxing Social Security Income. For most people this results in an extra $600 back on your tax return. However, if you have regular Medicare coverage (not sure...
Editorial: Narduzzi advice is better than NCAA rules on gambling
Coaches — no matter the sport or the discipline — help make people better at what they do. Voice coaches help turn good singers into stars. Dialect coaches can be the difference between a wannabe and an Oscar winner. A good defensive line coach could turn a struggling team around...
Letter to the editor: Where are you, Congressman Reschenthaler?
Congressman Reschenthaler, It has been a few months since my last message, and still, you are nowhere to be found. You have become one of the only elected officials in our region who seems unwilling to face the public or the press. The media can’t reach you for comment on...
Jonah Goldberg: Donald Trump isn’t a dictator, but his goal may actually be worse
Julius Caesar still casts a long shadow. We have a 12-month calendar — and leap year — thanks to Julius. July is named after him (though the salad isn’t). The words czar and kaiser, now mostly out of use, simply meant “Caesar.” We also can thank Julius Caesar for the...
Robin Abcarian: Virginia Giuffre spent half her life fighting for justice against Epstein
If there’s one takeaway from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, it’s that the unrepentant child trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s partner in crime, should never, ever be considered for the pardon or commutation that President Trump has hinted at. This is not to downplay the importance of the moving story Giuffre...
Letter to the editor: Democrats’ silence over Jay Jones’ text shows complicity
Democrat candidate Jay Jones in Virginia wished death on his opponent and his children. Not only that the children die, but that they do so “in their mother’s arms.” Not a single Democrat has called on this grotesque ghoul to drop out, proving again that the Democratic Party is one...
Letter to the editor: ‘Fire’ the incumbents
When those we elect fail to complete, on time, their sworn-to tasks of our state and federal Constitutions, it is a sure sign that we have selected the wrong representatives. Their performance is surely not because they are not adequately compensated; I would argue otherwise. In the real world such...
Letter to the editor: Sheridan, Kurimsky best picks for Franklin Regional School Board
Everyone in the Franklin Regional School District should want a qualified school board to make decisions about how our tax dollars are being spent. A well-performing school is important to real estate values. Amy Sheridan and Kevin Kurimsky are candidates I will be voting for. Both work in changing environments...
