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Security a priority as how we spend changes

As we march ever closer toward a cashless society — and regardless of how any apprehensions we may have about that — the time is now to ramp up security at the checkout. Credit card fraud is on the rise and the most common form of identity theft. The statistics are staggering – and somewhat surprising: – 63% of U.S. credit card holders have been victimized by fraud; 51% were hit multiple times. – 62 million Americans reported fraudulent card purchases last year. – Losses surpassed $12.5 billion in 2024 alone. Odds are pretty good that you or someone you know has ...

Congress must prioritize FAA

Most jobs have a level of stress associated with them. That’s a routine part of the work world, no matter what the occupation. However, when measuring and comparing levels of stress, the job of air-traffic controllers stands out as being high up in the degree of most stressful. That’s because of the many lives dependent on flawless, precise performance, even under the most difficult circumstances -and, indeed, almost routinely, there are many difficult situations controllers must navigate on virtually a moment’s notice and with no “window” for second-guessing whatever other ...

Maryland school district’s flag policy invites discord

The Frederick County Board of Education is setting up teachers, principals and administrators up for a lot of unnecessary headaches. The board, in a split vote, agreed to allow so-called alternative flags to hang in classrooms. The policy under consideration would allow such flags, but only if they’re not disruptive. Flags such as the gay pride flag or a Confederate flag are meant to show support for a particular point of view. By their nature, they are disruptive if there is any disagreement on the topic. Sometimes, people want to show such flags to provoke the opposite side of ...

Fishing platform a matter of leadership

“An important step in creating new opportunities for anglers of all ability levels and ... a model for communities across the Commonwealth.” These are the words Cindy Adams Dunn, state Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources, used to describe a new fishing platform at the Tomb Run Campground on the Pine Creek in Wednesday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette. We agree. We’ve long argued that one of our region’s most notable blessings is the abundance of beauty and of opportunity nature brings. We’ve long extolled the value of recreation in our region’s outdoors for ...

Turnpike must consider users, weather in plan

The two sides in the debate about whether the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission should construct a new section of roadway atop Allegheny Mountain and eliminate the existing Allegheny Mountain Tunnel might not be giving enough attention to what should be the most relevant consideration regarding the project proposal. That consideration is this: If the project were to be pursued by way of the commission’s preference to build new roadway and eliminate the tunnel, would the traveling public and the commercial drivers who use the toll road be subjected suddenly to a winter-weather ...

Trying to preserve humanity amid AI revolution

Artificial intelligence seems to have found its way into almost everything. Schools are trying to balance using it in some areas while weeding it out in others. Some universities are returning to handwritten blue book exams to ensure original thought. Others are using artificial intelligence to screen assignments for signs they were generated by artificial intelligence. Employers face similar questions about where technology should assist workers and where it should replace them. For Catholic colleges in Western Pennsylvania, however, the debate recently gained another voice. Pope ...