Cal Thomas: Hey, America — stop complaining
Whatever the outcome of the “deal, or no deal” scenario with Iran, the public attitude toward the war has been disturbing. Despite President Trump’s constant admonition that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, a majority of those polled oppose the intervention. A side effect of the war has been...
Sheldon H. Jacobson: Are airport perimeter security breaches a problem?
A person breached a security fence at Denver International on May 8, eventually reaching an active runway where he was struck by an airplane that was taking off. This forced the airplane to abort takeoff when one of its engines caught fire, requiring passengers to deplane via the airplane’s emergency...
Nosakhere Griffin-EL: Why PPS school board directors should vote ‘no’ on school closures
“Sometimes you have to laugh to keep yourself from crying.” The old African-American adage captures the distressing humor of the season finale of “Abbott Elementary,” which uses comedy to spotlight one of the pressing problems impacting many children across the country: public school closings. When Abbott’s teachers learn their school...
Reps. Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee: It’s time to clean up mess of ‘zombie mines’
Western Pennsylvania built our nation with the region’s natural resources and dedicated workforce. From coal mining to steelmaking to glass blowing, the Pittsburgh region has a long history of working hard for America’s prosperity. Our regional identity is rooted in the stories of people coming here — from overseas and...
Chad Quinn: Pa.’s energy future must not leave the working class behind
Pennsylvania is entering a new era of digital and economic growth. As data center development accelerates, we are seeing the arrival of infrastructure that will underpin our modern economy. While these “large load” users represent a major investment in the commonwealth’s future, their enormous energy demands require us to be...
Carl P. Leubsdorf: Trump compounds his original sin of pardoning protesters
It was bad enough when President Donald Trump, just hours after his second inauguration, pardoned hundreds of his supporters who had been convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Even worse, his administration now plans to reward them by using a newly created fund for —...
Dwight Boddorf: What Memorial Day still asks of America
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Memorial Day carries a different weight this year. For nearly 2½ centuries, Americans have carried the responsibility of defending, sustaining and rebuilding this country through war, crisis and uncertainty. Some came home; many did not. The ones who did not come home...
Anisah Bagasra: San Diego mosque shooting reflects how online rhetoric, media depictions, political discourse contribute to increased Islamophobia
Many Muslim Americans are fearful following a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three worshipers dead. Investigators reportedly found hate speech and anti-Islamic writing inside the vehicle of the suspected shooters, who killed themselves soon after the attack. The director of the Islamic Center, Taha Hassane,...
Llewellyn King: In the turmoil, challenges for graduates in the class of ’26
Dear graduates of 2026, Welcome to the world you will be taking jobs in and where you will begin building careers, and at times shaping history. It isn’t the world of your parents, and it isn’t the world your college has taught you about because it is changing too fast....
Broc Sleek: Interchange mandates hurt small businesses, credit unions, community banks — and consumers
Small businesses, credit unions, community banks and everyday consumers all rely on a credit card system that is secure, reliable and accessible. But current legislation threatens to undermine that system in ways that would harm the very people it claims to help. The two proposals, House Bill 2090 and Senate...
Allison Schrager: In this job market, women have the upper hand
America is fast becoming a country with two economies: a stagnant one for men and a growing one for women. So far this year, the U.S. has created more than 165,000 private-sector jobs, and 72% of them went to women. To some extent this reflects a structural change in the...
Helen Hawkey: Medicare flaw threatens care in rural nursing facilities
Across rural Pennsylvania, skilled nursing facilities are a lifeline. For many communities, they are the only place where seniors and medically complex patients can receive consistent, post-acute and long-term care close to home. That is why a little-known flaw in Medicare policy demands urgent attention. As federal officials prepare the...
Joshua Schubert: Markets have already solved the minimum wage debate
Raising the minimum wage would have minimal impact on Pennsylvania’s economy. That’s not just my opinion; that’s precisely what the current administration — the very same one pushing for a $15-per-hour minimum wage — admitted. During a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Valerie Arkoosh conceded...
Cal Thomas: Feeding the government pig
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and I don’t mean Christmas. It’s the time when Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) releases its annual “Congressional Pig Book Summary,” exposing some of the most outrageous, ridiculous and in many cases unconstitutional spending one can imagine. I guarantee you won’t...
Matt K. Lewis: ‘Trump 2028’ could be a vote for Ivanka, Eric or Don Jr.
With President Donald Trump continuing to tank in the polls, the parlor game we know as “2028 Republican primary speculation” is back in full swing among the chattering classes. Vice President JD Vance — who would normally be considered the heir apparent, and who just happened to make a campaign...
SpearIt: Digital genocide and disaffection among the religious right
There is a great reckoning occurring in America today. It involves the destruction of Palestine, which in turn, is destroying faith among the religious right — destroying faith in Israel and Christian Zionism. In the last several years there has been a remarkable turn of events that has soured many...
Mikki Washburn: Pa. needs medical aid in dying legislation
My husband, John Washburn, endured months of pain from a rare form of cancer before his death in September 2022. He wanted the option of medical aid in dying, which I have been advocating for and will continue to do so for all the citizens of Pennsylvania. Medical aid in...
Ronald L. Hirsch: Death with dignity — a person’s right to choose life or death
There is much debate around the world regarding physician-assisted dying legislation — often called “Death with Dignity” — and expanding the circumstances in which it is applicable. Eight countries and 19 states already permit it in some form. It is controversial for many reasons. Part of the controversy stems from...
Julie Platt: We must stand up to RFK’s reckless vaccine policies
Over the past year, I’ve witnessed a troubling trend as, under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has spread and fueled confusion and misinformation around vaccines and immunizations. Last month, Kennedy finally faced Congress — and his testimony before the House...
James Weinstein: How the waste in healthcare drives the U.S. debt
Washington treats healthcare spending like a moral obligation and interest payments like an accounting nuisance. They’re linked: Federal spending that is wasted in the healthcare system forces higher taxes or more borrowing, leaving less money for Medicare, defense or anything else. To slow deficit spending and the ballooning costs of...
Kevin Walker: How to save billions in energy bills
Groceries, rent, gas, childcare. Everything costs more these days, leaving many families struggling to pay their bills every month. The surging price of generated electricity is adding to this tremendous financial burden. As Duquesne Light Company is responsible for seeking the lowest-priced power for our more than 600,000 customers in...
Dwight Boddorf: America at 250 — the republic will be won or lost on your street
In 2026, the United States turns 250 years old. Pennsylvania will be at the center of that celebration, as it should be. The ideas that became America were debated here, printed here and defended by ordinary people who believed self-government was worth the risk. But as we celebrate, we should...
Frederic J. Fransen: How the American Revolution created a great trading nation
We think of wars as conflicts between militaries, decided by force. However, as the German military theorist Carl von Clausewitz famously said, “War is … an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.” We see this in the current conflict with Iran. The United States has...
Lisa Jarvis: Psychedelics’ trip to mainstream medicine comes with risk
The White House directive to put psychedelics on a regulatory fast track is at once welcome and worrisome. The attention to psychedelics is overdue, and there’s a real opportunity to build a stronger scientific base for a promising field. Yet this area of medicine also demands extra care — or...
Paul Hardart: The Ted Turner I knew bet on what others missed
Ted Turner died Wednesday at 87, and the world feels a little less interesting, a little less imaginative and a little less fun without him in it — but also a lot better off because he was here. After hearing the news of his passing, one moment came to mind...
