Opinion category, Page 16
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...
Letter to the editor: Trump must help stop Putin’s land grab
President Trump’s suggestion to Ukraine and Russia to “stop where you are” is a huge mistake. If this were to occur, Russia will have gained and Ukraine will have lost. Ukraine would lose land and Putin would have what he wanted, another piece of Ukraine. Furthermore, this would give him...
Editorial: Courtrooms aren’t ready for AI
“Pro se” is a legal phrase that speaks to how an individual is represented in court. It is Latin, meaning “for self.” It refers to a party acting as his or her own advocate in a legal proceeding. While a lawyer may be the smart move, a person isn’t obligated...
Letter to the editor: The power of group dynamics
Groups are powerful forces. Positive ones — churches, sobriety groups, grief counseling circles — remind us that we’re not alone. They nurture connection, honesty and healing, offering spaces where people can share struggles and recover their faith in others. These communities show the joy and courage of humanity: open, compassionate...
Robert T. Smith: Pennsylvania deer management?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is spreading in the state’s deer herd. There are now potentially too few hunters to control a deer herd that is always looking to expand naturally, and with this expansion goes the disease. Who will help keep the spread in check? CWD is a contagious, always-fatal...
Letter to the editor: Let’s see Democrats produce their perfect candidate
I am soooo tired of the bashing of President Trump over the last 10 or more years but even more so since this last election. Can you Trump bashers honestly say that you would prefer Kamala Harris in the White House? If you say yes, I am going to think...
Letter to the editor: Protests will prod politicians to get back to work
I would like to see more protests at the county seat and state capital … for real! All the furloughed and laid-off state and county workers should spend their newly acquired time (no job to go to) rallying to get the budget passed. And how about seeing work stoppages? That...
Letter to the editor: What the Trump investigation produced
I was dismayed when I read your editorial “Ultimately Comey case will rise or fall on the evidence” (Oct. 6, TribLive). It stated, “The ensuing special counsel probe by Robert Mueller found scant evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.” That is not true. The investigation produced 37 indictments, seven...
Letter to the editor: We’ve seen this Steelers story before
After watching the Steelers get toasted by the Bengals Oct. 16, I think it’s time to introduce the Steelers’ “crying towel” to replace the Terrible Towel. Fire Matt Canada. Teryl Austin gotta go, Najee Harris is too slow, Cam Heyward is too old, so many more we heard over and...
