Stay alert to utility scams before they hit home

January 24, 2026

Scammers never take a day off, and this winter they have turned their sights toward Pennsylvania’s utility customers. The state Attorney General’s Office is warning residents to be wary of fake websites, misleading ads, and fraudulent phone numbers pretending to represent legitimate utility companies. It’s a reminder anyone can be a target, especially when the bill is due, and the fear of losing heat or lights makes people act fast. Attorney General Dave Sunday said his office has seen a rise in impersonation scams that prey on urgency and confusion. “We are hearing of ...

Can we talk? Colleges invest in civil discourse

January 23, 2026

Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh are spending nearly $5 million to teach students how to talk to one another. IUP received a $2.29 million federal grant to create a Center for Dialogue and Civic Life. Pitt was awarded about $2.7 million to build a regional model for civil discourse and civic leadership. Both efforts are multiyear and staff-heavy. Faculty say they are responding to a growing problem: Students increasingly avoid disagreement, not because they lack opinions, but because they fear engaging at all. Those investments may be smart. They ...

Businesses deserve clarity in regulations

January 21, 2026

In Wednesday’s edition, we addressed the contrary approaches or tones taken by our federal and state governments regarding environmental policy. As has historically been the case, we reiterated our belief that responsible development of domestic energy sources — including natural gas and oil — is a key factor in delivering the affordable energy needed to reduce the pressure on families’ budgets and to allow enterprises — businesses, school districts, local governments and more — to devote fewer resources to their own utility bills and more resources to investing in their ...

Sensible changes improve nutrition policy

January 20, 2026

The Trump administration has flipped the national food pyramid as part of its campaign to “Make America Healthy Again,” and once again the new dietary guidelines recommend Americans change their food habits. The main takeaway: don’t get take-away. Eat more protein and fats. Scale back on breads and pastas. “We are ending the war on saturated fats,” said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The villains of the new food pyramid are “highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.” The ...

The beep that saves lives: Replace smoke detector batteries

January 17, 2026

The first time most people hear the quiet chirp of a smoke detector in the dead of winter, it feels like a minor nuisance. It’s easy to press a finger to the base, silence the sound and carry on. But each missed beep, every dead battery, and every outdated device represents more than a momentary irritation. It’s a warning sign about life and loss in our homes, especially during the months when cold and dark settle early, and the risk of fire rises with it. Winter is a season of warmth and comfort. But it’s also a season when residents run heaters, use space heaters, light candles ...

State — and nation — need affordable energy

January 16, 2026

A Center Square article in last Wednesday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette examine the potential conflict between the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Trump Administration over environmental policy. We have made no secret of our support for developing domestic energy sources — affordable energy is a cornerstone of prosperity for not only employers but the families they employ as well. We support wind and solar projects. We support drilling for natural gas and oil — and believe wholeheartedly that it can be done responsibly, minimizing its environmental impact. We believe ...