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How to stay safe on Central Pennsylvania’s winter roads

Snow fell again across the area this week. The season’s first coating of white has a way of reminding us how quickly a routine drive can turn risky. And most of us will still head out to work, to school, etc., because staying home isn’t always an option. That might be a mistake. Last winter, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) logged 8,329 crashes on snowy, icy or slushy roads. That stretch of misfortune included 29 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries for people statewide. We know what winter driving looks like around here. We’ve seen cars fishtailing or unable ...

Holiday shopping season arrives

This past weekend brought Small Business Saturday and the start of 2025’s holiday shopping season. We understand the impulse to decry the consumerism of the season — to search for something more authentic or more meaningful. And we believe there certainly should be days and moments ahead of the holidays for reflection on the season’s meaning. But we also must defend consumerism. Our economy — and our society supported by that economy — is built on certain precepts — our towns, our neighborhoods, our families are able to grow, to chase their dreams and to enjoy their ...

Uncommon sense from United Nations

Maybe the United Nations isn’t as useless as it so often shows. A little over a week ago the Security Council endorsed President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, ratifying for the first time the requirements that Hamas disarm and Gaza be demilitarized. The resolution passed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining. It’s a setback for the terrorists. Many had worried that the U.S. jaunt to the Security Council would come at the price of bending the peace plan’s terms for Hamas or adding anti-Israel terms. Would France’s Emmanuel Macron elbow his way into the deal’s ...

Waiting periods will not reduce crime

Legislation before both the state House and state Senate would set a 72-hour waiting period before law-abiding Pennsylvanians could complete a purchase of a firearm. Similar bills have been considered — and failed to secure passage — before. We are skeptical this measure warrants the time and effort for debate and voting. Supporters have given no indication that the additional time is necessary or valuable in conducting background checks. Assurances that a waiting period is constitutional hinge on how reasonable the length of the mandated wait is — and considering the aversion ...

Addressing tuition costs should be priority

Though a well-trained, well-educated and skilled workforce is more important than ever, students seeking a higher education to prepare them for their careers are having a harder time being able to afford it. Sure, many people still believe having a college degree will translate to higher earnings, but students are increasingly challenged to decide whether the expense of that education (or the long-term debt they may incur) is worth the risk. According to WalletHub, the cost of attending a four-year public college has risen by an average of 30% over the past 20 years. And that cost ...

Bipartisan legislation should become law

While the acronym might have been a bit of a stretch, the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) for Veterans Act is still a long-overdue piece of legislation, introduced last week by U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Given all this country — and particularly our region — has been through because of the substance abuse epidemic, it is a bit of a surprise no one has worked toward such a measure for those who have served. This one would expand veteran access to non-opioid alternatives by creating pathways for Food and Drug ...