Breaking News

Opinion

Why does Pa. have a budget deadline?

Editorials

Here we are again. July. The annual observance is upon us. No. Not Independence Day. Less celebratory, possibly just as explosive. Pennsylvania once more has seen the yearly state budget deadline — and blown past it like a reckless driver. Did anyone expect anything else? Hoped, sure, but expected? Doubtful. This is the fifth consecutive budget to miss deadline and the 15th in the past 23 years. That means the state is consistently delinquent in its obligations: to its residents, to county and local governments and to its own agencies. In 2025, the budget was 135 days late. ...

Mamdani's rent freeze threatens everyone who owns anything

Editorials

Tenants' groups and leftwing activists are cheering New York City's newly announced multiyear rent freeze. But Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rent scheme is headed for a judicial smackdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2023 and twice in 2024, a hesitant Supreme Court declined to hear challenges by building owners to New York state's rent regulations. Lower courts had ruled that the regulations diminished the value of rental properties, but the state had good reasons to balance the rights of owners with the need to protect tenants. At that time, Justice Clarence Thomas said the ...

Some laws kill more than they help

Editorials

Car accidents kill 100 Americans every day. But now an amazing solution is available: self-driving cars. Robotaxis like Google-owned Waymo, for example. Passengers who try them, like them. Wherever robotaxis are allowed, ridership increases fast. Two years ago, there were 50,000 trips per week -- today 500,000. "The car did a better job than if somebody was driving!" says a passenger in my new video. Waymo claims its cars are "10 times safer" than human-driven ones. I wouldn't believe that if insurance companies, with their own money at stake, didn't agree. ...

Vandalism at park can prove very Costly to community

Editorials

Vandalism at Hollidaysburg’s Canal Basin Park was of a deeply troubling category and scope. Unfortunately, it was of a category witnessed too often at other locales across America — over many decades of this nation’s history, not just in the year 2026. One thing is certain about the Canal Basin Park vandalism, nevertheless: It demands a community soul-searching, as well as ongoing reflection about whether there are local elements that would take great pride and pleasure in continuing to undermine everything that’s good about the county seat community. Or, was what occurred ...

America’s history woven into the fabric of family

Local Columns

In 1976, during our nation’s Bicentennial year, my brother and I were newspaper carriers for the Lewistown Sentinel. Our route covered both sides of West Fourth Street in Lewistown, from the 500 block near what is now the auto parts store through the 800 block, where Hess’s gas station once stood. One of my favorite memories from that year was the summer tip we received from one of our customers: Bicentennial Kennedy half-dollar coins. Those silver-colored 50-cent pieces are still special to me today—not because of their monetary value, which is only about face value, but because ...

The World Cup reminds us of America’s beauty

Local Columns

Our country has spent far too long focused on what divides us. We have become so accustomed to hearing what is wrong with America that sometimes we forget to notice what is right. Who would have guessed it would take the FIFA World Cup to stitch us back together? I recently heard someone sum it up perfectly: “Who knew all the USA needed to begin healing was inviting other countries over for a giant sleepover to watch their favorite movie: soccer.” It made me smile because, in many ways, it feels true. Like so many others, I have enjoyed not only watching the World Cup matches but ...