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Editorials

Carbon capture bill a step in right direction

State Sen. Gene Yaw’s legislation for state oversight of “carbon capture” technology is an important step in the right direction. As Yaw said, according to a report in Monday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette, “it’s a pragmatic solution to a problem we all want to solve — reducing our carbon emissions without crippling the reliability of our existing power grid.” We acknowledge that much work must be done for carbon capture and sequestration to be viable. Technologies need to be further developed and improved. But, as our editorial board has noted often, the same can be ...

Cuts to backlog a good first step — but more needs done

We are glad the state Department of Environmental Protection has significantly cut its backlog of applicants awaiting permits. We also believe more needs to be done. As The Center Square’s Anthony Hennen reported in Thursday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette, from December of 2023 to the end of June, DEP reduced the number of cases awaiting permits from about 2,000 to 970. “It was our goal early in 2024 to reduce that backlog by 10% each month. We’re hovering very close to that, but we still have a long way to go,” John Ryder, deputy secretary for DEP field operations said, ...

Allegations against railroad troubling

The National Transportation Safety Board’s allegation that Norfolk Southern repeatedly tried to interfere with the investigation of the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk derailment on the outskirts of East Palestine, Ohio, near Ohio’s border with Pennsylvania, is the latest development in the rail company’s roller-coaster-like experience since the accident. The railroad’s image was dealt a huge blow — immediately and understandably — the moment the derailment occurred and during the days, weeks and months afterward regarding some decisions that were made about how to respond to it and ...

Ciccolini shines light on Lewistown, Mifflin County

Last weekend former Mifflin County student and current Missouri javelin thrower Skylar Ciccolini placed 10th at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Let that sink in for a moment — a local athlete that we had the privilege of following since she was in high school — was in the finals at the Olympic trials! How amazing! In fact, she is the second local athlete this year to compete at the Olympic trials, with fellow former Husky Trent Hidaly placing 3rd in Freestyle Wrestling. Locals can be very proud of these top level athletes. Ciccolini is from Lewistown and is a graduate ...

Come together this Fourth of July

We write this ahead of the Fourth of July holiday — our Independence Day, to quote both our founding fathers and also Bill Pullman. Wry humor aside, Independence Day is many things to many people. It can be a party with family and friends, a somber moment of reflection, or just an opportunity to see borderline military-grade pyrotechnics. We would suggest that it can be all three. This year, more than most, Americans are divided and scared. We still haven’t recovered, emotionally if nothing else, from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the fabric of our ...

Practice safety on Independence Day

July 4 is synonymous with summer barbecues, kayaking and fireworks. It’s a time for families to get together, be care free and enjoy the outdoors. But, there’s a difference between being carefree and careless. While much of the Juniata River Valley will come out with family and friends to see fireworks in Lewistown or Milroy, we know some of you like to build your own displays. We remind everyone to exercise caution when handling fireworks. June is Fireworks Safety Month — a time for agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission to reiterate measures that should be ...