Editorials category, Page 58
Editorial: Wolf’s school book veto was political
Gov. Tom Wolf should put away his veto pen. The governor is getting a little too comfortable killing legislation with his signature. He has used it more than any other Pennsylvania leader in 40 years with 53 notches in his belt and another year in his term. He did it...
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
In September 1897, a letter in the handwriting of a child arrived at The New York Sun. Upon its receipt, the editor summoned Francis P. Church, an editorial writer. “Here,” he said, “take this letter and write a reply to it.” Church, somewhat disgruntled over what he considered to be...
‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’
As we do every year on Christmas Eve, we offer you this gift to share with the ones you love: Clement C. Moore’s classic poem about Santa. ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung...
Editorial: Churchill’s future is in Amazon’s hands
It has taken about a year for Churchill council to make a decision about the future of the former George Westinghouse Research Park. It also took a public hearing that stretched to 14 days and a total of 55 hours of testimony, as passionate locals raised their voices about the...
Editorial: Settling on opioid suit is right thing for Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County is seeing a minor business boom from gambling. That’s great for Live! Casino at the Westmoreland Mall. It’s not what you want to see at the courthouse. That makes the decision Monday to join the settlement with major pharmaceutical companies a good bet. The county is one of...
Editorial: Commissioners have to prove emailed comments are more than junk mail
There are only so many hours in the day, and in a work day, that number is even shorter. Instead of working with 24, you are compressed to just eight. Anyone who has tried to shoehorn one more meeting in between this planning session and that roundtable can attest that...
Editorial: Can UPMC solve the nursing shortage?
Necessity is the mother of invention. It’s a truism because, well, it’s true. You don’t find a new way to do something unless you have a problem that needs to be fixed. Is that what UPMC is doing with its latest announcement? This isn’t a new hospital or a new...
Editorial: GOP shouldn’t overreact to redistricting
The Pennsylvania House Majority Leader may be a bit hyperbolic. Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said he thinks the new preliminary map for redistricting the state House of Representatives is “a danger to our system of government.” That seems like a reach. It’s a map, not a coup d’etat. It’s also...
Editorial: ‘Exemption assistance’ carries tone of political play more than civic responsibility
State Rep. Leslie Rossi, R-Unity, says she is not opposed to covid-19 vaccination, but for constituents who are, she’s offering to help. Her latest newsletter declares “vaccination exemption assistance NOW AVAILABLE!” The newsletter suggests if “you or someone you know (is) being forced to get the covid-19 vaccine,” you can...
Laurels & lances: Winning, losing and history
Laurel: To the schools of winners. Pittsburgh may have a reputation as the City of Champions, but it might have to start sharing that title with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League after the 2021 football season. The Steelers would be lucky to have a run like area teams had...
Editorial: Sheriff’s resolved lawsuit is good news but sad commentary
In Pennsylvania, a sheriff’s office has a mixed bag of responsibilities, but they all come down to one simple role. Whether a deputy is serving a warrant or delivering a subpoena or enforcing an injunction, the job is the same. It is about being the arm of the court. It...
Editorial: Pandemic is no time for polarization
There are certain facts of life that are just so true, it almost seems ridiculous to say them out loud. Water is wet. What goes up must come down. Nothing’s sure but death and taxes. The ever-increasing polarization of politics is another. We almost have no right to be shocked...
Editorial: Why doesn’t PUC monitor more water authorities?
When it comes to how much public services cost in Pennsylvania, the answer can generally be boiled down to one thing: The state is divided into a lot more pots than necessary. The Keystone State has a population of 12.8 million. Illinois’ is close at 12.67 million. But where the...
Editorial: Court ruling addresses mask mandate, not safety
The legal back and forth is over and done. Pennsylvania’s mask mandate for schools is kaput. So now what? Now it is up to school districts to decide whether they are going to keep the kids covered or not. That, after all, is what so many schools and parents were...
Editorial: Get vaccinated to save hospital beds
There are just too many covid patients and not enough care to go around. Hospitals across the state are reporting numbers that are pushing them to the edge. UPMC facilities are reporting that they are at or over capacity. Allegheny Health Network is similarly taxed. Excela is shifting or canceling...
Editorial: Bob Nutting was selling, but sadly it wasn’t the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting should take note of how the public reacts to events. When the news came Wednesday that Nutting was selling three Pennsylvania ski resorts — Seven Springs Mountain Resort near Champion, Hidden Valley Resort near Bakersville and Laurel Mountain Ski Area in Ligonier Township — to...
Laurels & lances: Gifts, goodbyes and lights
Laurel: To new light in a dark corner. On the last day of Hanukkah, the Tree of Life received a special gift. After three years of the synagogue property sitting empty after the October 2018 shooting that claimed the lives of 11 worshippers from the three congregations that called the...
Editorial: Labor shortage affects safety on the road and crossing it
There has been a lot of talk about how the labor shortage — in Pennsylvania and around the country — is hitting different industries hard. It’s changing the hours of shops and restaurants as business owners struggle to find the staff to keep the doors open. It’s creating a pinch...
Editorial: Elected officials donate to drug court, but Doug Chew isn’t one of them
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew seems to be having commitment issues. On Monday, it was revealed that once again Chew has not fulfilled a financial promise to the people. When running for office in 2019, he pledged 60% of his salary to help support and grow the county’s drug court...
Editorial: St. Vladimir the patron saint of rebuilding and faith?
St. Vladimir was not your typical holy figure. Long before the majority of Europe became Christian countries, Vladimir was a prince of what would become the Russian city of Novgorod. He later became Grand Prince of Kiev. The titles — including his moniker of Vladimir the Great — sound majestic....
Editorial: Pennsylvania Society … in New York City?
Since 1899, well-known or well-heeled Pennsylvanians have gathered in December to wine and dine and glad-hand each other in New York City. It has been a way to network and raise money. Think of it as the Keystone State’s own private little convention for schmoozing and getting things done. It...
Editorial: The changing Pennsylvania workforce
The Pennsylvania economy needs more than a jump-start. The October unemployment report shows that the state’s economic engine just doesn’t have the horsepower it did a few years ago. While October’s jobless numbers fell to 5.9% for the first time since April 2020, that doesn’t mean that it is getting...
Editorial: Violent school threats spread like epidemic
Threats can be easily dismissed. A threat, after all, is not the same thing as the act itself. Being threatened with a lawsuit is not the same as being sued. Threatening to call the police is not the same as picking up the phone. A threat’s meaning has been diluted...
Laurels & lances: Holly days, kittens and festive rides
Laurel: To holiday time again. After all of the festivities that have been canceled or gone remote in the last two years, it is with childlike delight that people can see old favorite events returning to their communities. “We’re happy to have things back in person,” said Emily Pasqualino, committee...
Editorial: Freeze out energy costs by controlling your heating bills
Have you turned on that furnace? Cranked up the electric baseboard heaters? Touched the thermostat? Coming off a Thanksgiving weekend during which temperatures dipped into the 30s or below, you probably at least thought about it. But maybe you were among those who are acutely aware of the cost of...
