Opinion category, Page 140
Bethani Cameron: Bipartisanship closes EV road use tax loophole
Pennsylvania has two important goals when it comes to the future of transportation: maintaining our infrastructure and reducing emissions. But until recently, those two priorities were at odds. Thanks to bipartisan leadership in Harrisburg, a new bill increases funding for roads and transit, while making it easier than ever to...
Dave Breingan, Crystal Jennings-Rivera and Jala Rucker: Addressing Pittsburgh’s affordable housing crisis
Like cities across the country, Pittsburgh is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, as rental expenses have skyrocketed and the prospect of owning a home becomes further out of reach for working families with each passing year. As the city works to respond to this crisis, leaders must...
Letter to the editor: Whose head should be examined?
Donald Trump has said on numerous occasions that Jewish Americans should have their heads examined if they vote Democrat. As a Jewish American, here are some reasons why I vote Democrat and would never support someone like Trump. 1. In 2017, when white supremacists marched on Charlottesville, Va., and chanted,...
Letter to the editor: Casey must remain in the Senate
This November, it’s crucial that we vote for a senator who exemplifies integrity and honesty and has the knowledge of what is imperative for growth and prosperity in Pennsylvania. Sen. Bob Casey is a product of Pennsylvania. His character and beliefs are demonstrated in the number and type of bills...
Letter to the editor: We need to ‘go back’ to Trump’s policies
At her rally announcing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the vice presidential Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris repeatedly declared, “We are not going back!” She bitterly disapproves of the Supreme Court’s decision to leave abortion laws to the states, and has a long record of being soft on crime. While Harris...
Editorial: Time for the campaigns to really speak to Pennsylvanians
In Chicago, the last steps are being taken. With the Democratic National Convention in full swing and the Republican convention a month in the rear view mirror, we are in the last leg of what seems like the longest power struggle in history. And that leg is running right through...
Barnet Sherman: International students will offer boost to U.S. economy this back-to-school season
Of the millions of young adults heading off to college this fall, many will be international students. If trends continue, about 1 million students from around the world will come to the U.S. to pursue higher education this year. These young scholars make a big economic impact. Altogether, they pump...
Nealin Parker: Funders can’t wait until the day after Nov. 5 to act
In three months, voters will cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election with two out of three Americans concerned about a repeat of the unrest that followed the 2020 election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. As we get closer to Election Day, the media, philanthropic institutions and everyday citizens...
Carl P. Leubsdorf: How I cost Democrats the presidency in 1968
As the Democrats prepare to meet this week in Chicago, I thought back to their tumultuous 1968 convention, the third of the 27 I covered. That’s where I cost the Democrats the presidency. At least that’s what the press secretary for that year’s defeated Democratic nominee told me. Let me...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Aug. 19
Editorial cartoons for the week of Aug. 19....
Letter to the editor: Nurses are to care for all, regardless of circumstance
I am so disturbed and disappointed by the political ad featuring Arizona Rep. Julie Willoughby, who is a nurse. Does she not remember the modern rendition of the Nightingale Pledge that includes commitments to dedicate oneself to the welfare of those entrusted to their care, practice the art and science...
Letter to the editor: Lawbreaker lawmakers must be held accountable
Section III of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution states: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State … … as a member of Congress … any...
Editorial: Kyiv hits back against Putin — Ukraine’s taking of Russian territory could be a turning point
About 2½ years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the latter has turned the tables with an incursion into the Russian region of Kursk — once the site of a pivotal WWII battle — that by some estimates has left it with control of more than 1,000 square kilometers. While both...
Letter to the editor: Restrictive gas policies hurt Pa.
As one of the top natural gas producers in the country, Pennsylvania energy plays a huge role in creating jobs, boosting the economy and even providing our European allies with energy in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Unfortunately the Biden administration’s efforts to halt these projects, as seen...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Aug. 19
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Aug. 19....
Tyler Cowen: Maybe legalizing weed wasn’t such a great idea
Depending on where you live and how you want to use it, it is pretty easy to get marijuana in the U.S. At first medical marijuana, which has legitimate palliative uses, achieved widespread acceptance. Over time, however, the requirements for proof of medical use weakened, leading to de facto legalization...
Letter to the editor: Pa. Promise would provide opportunities for all
During the 2024-25 state budget process, elected officials recognized the challenges faced by students, families and businesses. In a bipartisan fashion, they created and funded Grow PA scholarships aimed at attracting and keeping students in Pennsylvania for college, and once they graduate. These goals are vitally important. The commonwealth has...
Editorial: The pollution of our waterways belies their beauty
People are fascinated with finding things that have sunk in water. The wreck of the R.M.S. Titanic in the North Atlantic has been a draw since it sank in 1912, but especially since it was found in 1985. In 2023, billionaires died in an experimental craft trying to see it...
Letter to the editor: Celebrating Steelers’ impact on Westmoreland County
I want to express my deep gratitude to the Pittsburgh Steelers for consistently choosing Latrobe as their training camp site. This annual tradition not only excites our community but also significantly benefits our local economy. A special thank-you goes to Saint Vincent College for its exceptional hospitality. Its commitment to...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Harris vs. Trump, love vs. fear
As the 16th-century political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli said about the nature of political leadership in his treatise “The Prince,” “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” Being both is a tough act for any political leader, so most leaders choose one — love or...
Ken Stringer: Vance’s accusation of stolen valor dishonors himself and all veterans
J.D. Vance has just insulted every veteran who earned and wears an award for valor on their uniform. In saying Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is guilty of “stolen valor” in representing his military career, Vance displays his ignorance of what the term means, and he misappropriates it for personal and...
Colin McNickle: An unflattering portrait of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh compares poorly to a composite of four cities that serve as a performance benchmark, concludes an updated analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “Pittsburgh’s lethargic emergence from the covid-19 pandemic … stood in stark contrast to the impressive recovery and improvement of the benchmark city,” say Eric...
John G. Geer and Jacob Mchangama: Americans love free speech — until they realize everyone else has it, too
Americans’ views on free speech change directions every so often. One of those times was during the protests at U.S. universities about the Israel-Hamas war. As scholars of free speech and public opinion, we set out to find out what happened and why. The Supreme Court itself, as recently as...
Sounding off: Presidential politics
Harris is no moderate We now know the Democrats’ presidential candidate, after they pushed the sitting president, and the only candidate to receive any primary votes, out of the race. Do we really know her? The Kamala Harris campaign, with the help of the mainstream media, is trying to rewrite...
Letter to the editor: Facts about Walz’s military record
I know this is an opinion page and facts don’t really matter to a great many in Westmoreland County … i.e., the Sherry Hamilton legal, financial and procedural mess we are experiencing at the Register of Wills Office. Vote R no matter what! The truth is about performance records. In...
