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AI not yet ready for the courtroom

Editorials

“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 to hire someone to do the job. There are obvious problems with this. Lawyers go to school for years to learn the ins and outs of the court system. Law school can have a high bar of entry to start. The education is a combination of grueling memorization, precise writing and creative problem solving. Even after all ...

Youthful flair of The Graystones takes Internet by storm

Local Columns

Can a group of musically-talented 12-year-olds hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, who covers classic hits in a living room full of amps with a whole lot of heart, really be considered a throwback? Absolutely, when it comes the phenomenon called The Graystones, a kid-powered rock band which has taken social media platforms by storm. Blending rock, pop and blues influences, the middle-school rockers have brought a fresh energy to beloved songs while crafting a sound that’s entirely their own. Their videos are racking up millions of hits and legendary artists are even taking ...

Term-limits ordinance should respect principles

Editorials

To understand where Williamsport is today, it may be helpful to reflect on where America was nearly 75 years ago. When the 22nd Amendment was passed to limit future presidents to two terms, President Harry S. Truman had not yet decided whether he would seek a third term. Nobody doubted he had the right to, or pretended he didn’t, because of what was then a deeply engrained principle of our democratic republic. Laws should not be applied retroactively. Attempting to entrap somebody who was engaged in an activity or behavior that had been legal should be recognized as an ...

My sister’s confidence boosted my self-assurance

Editorials

I would not make the trip by myself, but I also would not pass up the opportunity. I texted my sister Erica, who lives on the West Coast, “How do you feel about Montana?” Let me back up. When I started writing about conservationists protecting our American landscapes, I knew travel was part of the package. I enjoyed walk-and-talk interviews in the woods, but Montana was different. This was no three-hour excursion but a weeklong scouting trip in America’s Serengeti. It included camping in the middle of nowhere without cell reception and setting up a tent on a platform so bison ...

Louvre heist encapsulates a culture that will not defend itself

Editorials

I write from a quiet, mountainous part of Central Europe. The scenery is idyllic, and the fall air is crisp. But much as the case has been in my other recent trips to the European continent, the sights I see and the conversations I hear are all underscored by a similar haunting concern: Will there even be a Europe, in any cognizable sense of the term, a century from now? All across the continent, fertility rates have plummeted, and the Christianity that defined the civilization for two millennia is viewed as a quaint relic of a bygone era. The combination of modern European Union ...

Finding beauty in a broken world in Alaska

Local Columns

This August, my wife and I enjoyed a much-anticipated trip to Alaska for our 40th anniversary. As we sailed from Seattle, we saw Mount Rainier from our cruise ship balcony. Like many things of beauty, though, there were challenges. Weather prevented us from sailing around the Endicott Glacier. In Juneau we went to Tongass National Park and saw the stunning views of the Mendenhall Glacier and hiked in the refreshing coolness of the rain forest. The next day, it was closed because of flooding, a symbol of life filled with beauty and splendor, countered by disappointments, frustrations, and ...