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Privatizing postal service a bad idea

As we Americans celebrate the 250th birthday of our country this year, we ought to take a minute to appreciate an often maligned organization that has helped tie the nation together throughout its history. That organization is the United States Postal Service. Even in the age of email, the Postal Service has a key role in helping Americans communicate and do business. We ought to keep it that way. Privatizing the Postal Service would be a mistake that would result in less service and higher costs for citizens. Unfortunately, the concept of privatizing it has come up a couple of times ...

Government shouldn’t work in the dark

When government acts on behalf of the people, it is supposed to be clear. That’s why meetings are open. It’s why records are searchable. It’s why the Sixth Amendment guarantees a public trial. So why is Armstrong County conducting business in the dark? Niki’s Quick Six in Parks Township closed suddenly on May 15, about three weeks after a fatal shooting. The sheriff arrived, papers were served and the bar closed, all while TribLive staff was on the scene for an interview. Documents being served and a law enforcement presence in the wake of a violent incident is not unusual. ...

Natural gas still piece of puzzle

As often as we’ve editorialized about the interconnectedness between affordable energy and the successes and opportunities American families may enjoy, world events unfortunately can bring that interconnectedness into sharper focus. “Global instability is a stark reminder that energy security is national security,” Pat Henderson, vice president of communications and government affairs at the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said. “America, and Pennsylvania in particular, is uniquely positioned to lead with abundant, responsibly produced natural gas that keeps energy reliable and ...

School start times a local decision — and needs parents’ input

Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Export, is pushing pretty hard to get high schools to start their day later in the morning. It’s a topic that has been researched for decades, with experts at two virtual Rested and Ready forums convened by Cooper recently speaking about the possible benefits of a later start time for schools and how Cooper’s House Bill 2152 could help schools begin to move their start times. Cooper proposes state grants to schools that move their start times later into the day. There are several studies that show too many adolescents aren’t getting enough sleep, with that ...

Information doesn’t make a bot a doc

Doctors go to school for a long time. They spend four years in college and four more in medical school. That’s followed by as many as seven years in residency programs. There can be more training for fellowships and board certifications in specific specialties. It is not just about assimilating information. It’s about developing the discernment to connect the dots in a diagnosis. A medical license is more than just a list of credits accumulated. It is an indication of knowledge and experience. Artificial intelligence has access to vast amounts of data. One app on a phone can ...

‘The Quiet Man’ leaves visible legacy

Thomas Tull is walking along the old wooden brick floor of what began as the Pittsburgh Reduction Co. and later became Alcoa, a place where researchers and manufacturers created a hub of foundational aluminum manufacturing for nearly a century. In truth, this was the center of innovation and manufacturing in America. And after lying dormant for decades, Tull took his vision for remaking and rethinking U.S. manufacturing from an idea and ethos into reality two years ago. For exactly 80 years, the people who stood along these wooden floors fueled America’s leadership and industrial ...