Breaking News

Editorials

Superloads frustrating for drivers

The moving of windmill “superloads” on area roadways to their destination near Patton in Cambria County in coming weeks will necessitate much more than a modicum of patience and understanding by motorists who encounter them during their travels — to work, for medical and dental appointments, for recreational intentions, for household reasons, whatever. Perhaps too much is being asked of those motorists who encounter them, and we’ll explain why later in this editorial. For now, suffice to say that the size and length of superload caravans will not be conducive to traditional ...

Americans deserve probe of Biden’s health

Former president Joe Biden’s onetime personal physician, Kevin O’Connor, announced on Wednesday that he would plead the Fifth before the House Oversight Committee rather than discuss Biden’s fitness while in office. Republicans claimed this was evidence of a “cover-up.” Democrats dismissed the House probe entirely, insisting that Biden’s health issues were overblown. Both are getting this wrong. Congress should thoroughly investigate whether Biden was physically and mentally capable of carrying out his duties — not just to sate understandable public curiosity. Biden’s ...

Are black bears finally returning to woods of Ohio?

Since the mid-19th century, Ohio has been a relatively bear-free state. Humans drove out the black bears 150 or so years ago, and they’ve been considered rare and an endangered species here ever since. That might be changing; however, as researchers are beginning to see black bears naturally expand their range back into the Buckeye State. Recently, a female black bear was captured and fitted with a GPS collar in Ashtabula County in northeast Ohio at the Pennsylvania border. It will be the first time such study is possible for a female, according to the Ohio Department of Natural ...

U.S. support for Israel remains strong

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and first lady Sara Netanyahu hosted a high-profile diplomatic reception Wednesday evening at the historic Blair House in Washington, D.C. The event, titled “A Reception in Appreciation of the Enduring Bond Between the United States and Israel,” was convened to honor the strategic, moral and longstanding partnership between the United States and Israel. Before the prime minister spoke, I asked him whether he was concerned that the United States was heading in the same direction as Europe, where antisemitism has risen as a result of ...

Why scientists are helping hellbenders

When I first heard about eastern hellbenders, I thought they sounded like a motorcycle gang, not large salamanders the color of river rocks. I also had no idea they were important ecosystem indicators for clean water. The story goes that the amphibian got its name from early settlers who thought the thing was so ugly it must be a creature from the underworld, “hell bent” on returning. But, as I stared at one in southern Indiana, I did not think it ugly. I watched it crawl around the bottom of a plastic transport container filled with water. It walked like an alligator and had long ...

State needs to resist efforts to increase spending

In a perfect world — or even just a better world — Pennsylvania’s state budget would be both completed on time and would be a plan in which Pennsylvania’s taxpayers could place their faith. We unfortunately do not live in that perfect world, and yet again our state budget has missed its deadline. We appreciate that Williamsport’s legislator, state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, is declining his paychecks until the matter is resolved. Flick’s choice is an excellent example of leading by example. However, when contemplating our state budget, we do not want to ...