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Rush to legalize recreational marijuana ignores real public health and safety concerns

There has been a lot of news surrounding the recent Senate Law and Justice Committee hearings regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana, and as a member of that committee, I am concerned about the discussions that have taken place. The hearings have seemed one-sided, and the topics covered have been used to advance recreational marijuana legislation rather than provide a thorough vetting of all aspects of this controversial issue. Marijuana is not as harmless as some who favor legalization claim, and the science is clear. The National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Clinic, ...

There never was a good war or a bad peace

I, like many of you, have been watching the senseless war unfold in Ukraine and have been surprised at the emotions rising within me. They range from anger at the violence and death of innocent Ukrainians, to sadness as I witness the tearful good-byes as fathers hold their children, and wives and mothers cling to their loved ones, knowing it could be for the last time. I cannot begin to imagine their pain. We see them flashing across our screens, the faces, the tears, the hopelessness and fear in their eyes. What if those were my sons, my daughter, my loved ones? What must it feel like ...

Pennsylvania can substantively marginalize Putin’s global influence

The ongoing unprovoked atrocity on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime against the people and government of Ukraine has shocked the conscience of the world. The daily news clips of women and children huddled in subway tunnels turned into makeshift underground shelters, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky courageously leading his people, and so many families trying to protect their homes and loved ones is a daily reminder of the unnecessary evil being committed against innocent people. Like all Americans who believe in the sovereignty of nations and the right ...

US energy exports critical to lowering costs, deterring Putin

Amidst the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, President Joe Biden recently promised to supply energy to our European allies, with the aim of reducing the region’s dependence on Russian natural gas. I agree that American energy should fuel our nation and our allies. After all, the United States produces energy more cleanly and efficiently than any other nation on Earth. And Pennsylvania would stand to benefit as we are home to some of the largest deposits of natural gas globally. Unfortunately, the president’s anti-energy policies run counter to this promise. From cancelling pipelines ...

My ‘Leave It to Beaver’ weekend

I recently spent some time performing Nana duties. My son and his wife went away for the weekend, and I moved in with my poodle Murphy and my labradoodle Finley, to watch my 1-year-old grandson and my 2-year-old granddaughter. No big deal, right? Wrong! I had a very “Leave it to Beaver,” (for those of you who weren’t around in the 1950s and 1960s, this was a television sitcom which featured an idealistic, all-American family) blissful vision of how this weekend would go, and Friday went off without a hitch. I was thinking to myself, this is going to be a breeze, but then came ...

My favorite winter story for children

Recently, I was asked what my favorite winter story is for children. This got me thinking about some really great ones I have read over the years, but I had to answer with my most favorite winter story, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This is a story about a boy who wakes up to find that it has snowed overnight and that snow has covered everything (Every child’s wish, right?). After having breakfast the little boy bundles up and heads out to spend a day in the snow. The snow makes crunching noises beneath his feet and he can see his footprints of where he has walked. He ...