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Right now, Washington, D.C. is a disgrace

At its best, Washington, D.C., is a city of timeless grandeur, of iconic monuments and world-historical centers of power. At its worst, it’s a harrowing place where a remorseless 14-year-old could steal your car. The confluence of these two Washingtons in the terrible early-morning beating of the DOGE employee Edward Coristine, known by his sobriquet “Big Balls,” has prompted President Trump to federalize the D.C. police and deploy the National Guard. The software engineer played a significant role in the frenetic push to reform the federal government that dominated the ...

Gas remains ‘keystone’ to state for future economic growth

We agree with Marcellus Shale Coalition President Jim Welty’s optimism — and we hope lawmakers across Pennsylvania can recognize the opportunities with which our state has been blessed. In an op-ed column in this past weekend’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Welty detailed how northern Pennsylvania is well-positioned to be at the center of new technologies and industries. While we still have some reservations about the potential uses and effectiveness of artificial intelligence — or AI — we believe that in time we, as a nation and a society, can find the best ...

Volunteerism, sportsmanship not a laughing matter

As we have editorialized over the years, we believe our communities should appreciate what a blessing the Little League World Series is for our region and appreciate the men and women whose hard work makes this event possible — especially the volunteers. We’ve also frequently noted how the young players in the Little League World Series exemplify the best of sportsmanship. We believe the families throughout our region are honored to share the thrill of victories and the commiseration of defeats with them. And so we were disappointed last Thursday when one of our duly elected ...

What to do if you encounter a bear

A wayward black bear has been spotted roaming around Canonsburg neighborhoods this week, prompting borough police to take to social media to urge people to use caution if they encounter the wild animal. As an addendum to that message, we urge those who feel compelled to take a selfie with the bear to consider their safety. The bear is not interested in mugging for a photo but rather locating its next meal and, if it’s a mama bear, keeping watch over her offspring. Far too many instances of people attempting to capture pictures with a wild animal have ended badly, some ...

Readers' opinions

Fayette Community Carnival Committee thanks all To the Editor: On behalf of the Fayette Community Carnival Committee, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s carnival a tremendous success. From our dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors to every family who came out to enjoy the festivities, your support, time, and enthusiasm were truly the heartbeat of the event. Whether you helped set up, donated items, worked at a booth, or simply showed up with a smile, you played an important role in bringing much joy and togetherness to ...

Video a reminder of difficulties police face

Video released in late July by state Attorney General Letitia James of an officer-involved shooting in Mina earlier this year is graphic, disturbing and not for the faint of heart. It’s also an unfortunately real depiction of police work here in Chautauqua County, particularly when officers are responding to domestic incidents that are all too prevalent here. James released footage from two body-worn cameras that her office obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of 66-year-old Mark Bemis, who died on June 18 following an encounter with members of the ...