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Editor’s note: This column was written for National Newspaper Week, which ends today. I was on the radio recently, rapping with friend Keith Hodkinson as he graciously invited me to his Fostoria studio to be part of his afternoon show. Between classic rock hits and discussion about some of our favorite artists, we dug deep about news and its place in our society now and into the future. It was a variation of a conversation I have often — people are genuinely fascinated with our industry and also have a working knowledge that things are tougher in the news biz than they once ...

Trust in your local newspaper

A new statewide survey reveals strong support for public notices, Right-to-Know expansion as America marks National Newspaper Week. Local newspapers are at the heart of communities across the commonwealth. Why? They are trusted sources for news Pennsylvanians cannot get anywhere else. It really is that simple. Long established on Main Streets in the boroughs, townships, counties and cities they serve, local newspapers report on tax hikes and business closings, new restaurants and farmland conservation, high school sports and fall apple festivals. They announce graduations, ...

Address crime, violence through smart justice

Rising crime rates, led by spikes in violent crime, have been ravaging Pennsylvania’s major cities and is now spilling over into suburban and rural communities. As we have continued to witness tragic news story after tragic news story of young lives ended too soon or businesses being forced to close or relocate due to preventable incidents of crime, the members of the House Republican Caucus have been working to respond with smart legislation designed to marshal state and local resources to keep Pennsylvanians safe and ensure criminals are off our streets. Our efforts began in ...

Fall reading includes classics

For the fall, I’m planning on reading The Classics. Just what The Classics are depends on who you ask. According to Penguin Publishers UK. who have a list of the 100 Must-Read classics, the No. 1 Must-Read classic is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (published in 1813). Some of the books on the list, like I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (published in 1948), I’ve never heard of. But The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (published in 1950) is No. 16 and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (published in 1964) is No. 47. However, the Classic that I want ...

What does it mean when a book is banned from a library?

You may have recently read or heard about books being banned from libraries across the United States of America. It’s important to know the basic facts regarding this topic. A book ban is when a person or group requests a specific book at a specific library, such as at a school or public library, be removed altogether from that library’s collection. Books can also be “challenged,” resulting in the book remaining in the library’s collection but moved to another section of the library. If, for example, a book is banned or challenged at a specific library in Idaho, the outcome ...

With a little help from our friends

Those words, recorded by the Beatles, lead vocals provided by drummer Ringo Starr, from the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, have been a recurring theme in my life this week. The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation have partnered to host bi-monthly entrepreneurial meetups over the last few years. They were designed to be a safe place where local entrepreneurs of all ages and levels of expertise can come together to talk about common issues. We have consistently seen groups of 20 or 30 individuals. This ...