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Editorials

IRS needs stronger oversight

“IRS agents shouldn’t work from home” was the headline of an opinion article written by the U.S. Rep. Ron Estes and published in the March 4 edition of the Wall Street Journal. Estes, a Republican representing Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, hit the proverbial nail on the head when he wrote, “Some might argue that teleworking, with reduced overhead, offers a tax-saving benefit, but that’s realized only if the agency is providing adequate customer service. The IRS isn’t.” Anyone who doubts the accuracy or honesty of Estes’ statement needs only to talk with some ...

Child care and taxes are challenging issue

We do not envy our state legislators as they attempt to resolve one of the most difficult problems confronting Pennsylvania’s workforce — the shortage and expense of child care. The state House Finance Committee met recently, according to a report by The Center Square in Tuesday’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, to discuss the feasibility of employer tax credits to offer employees child care benefits. We understand and sympathize with the desire to incentivize child care benefits. A system that shares the costs will allow workplaces to hire and promote more completely ...

Locate, save historic buildings for community

What is historic, and worth saving, varies with the eye of the beholder, but some definition is urgent. Simply put, “historic” means “old and worth the trouble.” It applies to a building that’s part of a community’s tangible past. And though it might surprise cynics, old buildings can offer opportunities for a community’s future. Preserving these structures, like the Miller Cinemas and Embassy Theatre in Lewistown, are beneficial not only for a community’s culture, but also for its local economy. On April 1, the Miller Cinemas celebrates its 75th anniversary. It has ...

Biden is talking tough with Iran, but is he?

Two days after reissuing a $10 billion Iran sanctions waiver, the Biden administration on Friday threatened coordinated Group of Seven sanctions against Iran if it delivers ballistic missiles to Russia. The policy signal these two moves send is incoherence. G-7 leaders are talking tough. “Were Iran to proceed with providing ballistic missiles or related technology to Russia,” they write, “we are prepared to respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner including with new and signifi- cant measures against Iran.” Russia has benefited greatly from Iranian drones in its ...

No reason to risk measles

If you’re of a certain age — about 70 and beyond — it’s entirely fine to be nostalgic about some things from your childhood, like hula hoops, Davy Cockett coonskin caps, Elvis or “Gunsmoke.” One thing you shouldn’t be nostalgic about, though, is the measles. Before a vaccine became available in 1963, measles was commonplace in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there were 500,000 cases every year, mostly striking children, though the number could have actually been higher. Of those 500,000 cases, about 500 were ...

Easter festivities kick off

The annual Downtown Discover Egg Hunt kicked off this week, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to get out with youngsters, enjoy the fresh spring breeze and get to know Lewistown. The contest kicked off Friday and challenges children ages 3 to 11 to find 36 decorated cardboard eggs that are displayed in storefronts. While Easter is just around the corner, that’s not the only purpose of this scavenger egg hunt — we hope parents will use this opportunity to teach their kids about the unique area we live in and maybe meet local shop owners that have made Lewistown their ...