Just-departed Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Anthony Hamlet promised “good things” when he was hired as head of the outlandishly expensive and academically struggling city school district in 2016.

National Newspaper Week presents an opportunity to reflect on the value of journalism: an American treasure essential to our way of life.

President Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled Congress are intent on getting legislation passed before their political support evaporates following the 2022 midterm elections. Democrats have reason to worry because their congressional majorities are slim, and typically, the party in powe…

As congressional Democrats walked a legislative minefield this week, at least one Pennsylvania member pushed a far-fetched fix that could defuse one of their biggest threats.

With Pennsylvania’s lawmakers in Washington sharply divided, the Senate is set for a showdown that could end in an unprecedented debt default or a government shutdown.

One of the most wasteful exercises of government is proposing solutions in search of problems. Washington County Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan and Larry Maggi have done exactly that in their politically motivated proposal for a government study commission to examine the governmental struc…

The pandemic has changed how and where we do business. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have accelerated online shopping trends. This has challenged traditional brick and mortar retailers to adapt to new delivery options for their customers and reduced the need for physical retail s…

At the risk of sounding like Dr. Seuss, it’s the pipe dream that refuses to die. But given the facts, the question has to remain “Why?”

State officials are talking up the prospect of new passenger train lines and expanded service across the state, citing billions of dollars in expected economic benefits.

Washington County citizens have reason to be overwhelmed by the flurry of initiatives launched by the commissioners in recent months. The three major projects are unique but easy to confuse. First, an election referendum to adopt a Government Study Commission; second, an expansion of human s…

With the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on 9/11, and with the last U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan, it is important that we learn from our experience. The main lesson is that there are limits to American power, and the ability of our armed forces to overwhelm any enemy they meet in…

With lawmakers preparing for an early return and the U.S. Supreme Court allowing a restrictive new Texas abortion law to take effect, Pennsylvania’s abortion rights activists are steeling themselves for new fights.

When Republicans are prepared to challenge every decision made by President Joe Biden, often before he announces a course of action, this thinking process is irrational. To a lesser extent, when Democrats support the president before thinking through the ramifications, this is not a rational…

From suburban school board meetings to the state Capitol, opponents of Gov. Tom Wolf’s student mask mandate are gathering their forces.

The Afghanistan pullout calamity has provided critics of President Biden with powerful ammunition. The mess that has been created places in doubt the ability of the Democrats to retain political dominance in the 2022 and 2024 elections. I can place no positive spin on this debacle in defense…

With a single tie-breaking vote last week, former Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg accomplished what years of legislation couldn’t: ending so-called “prison gerrymandering” in Pennsylvania, at least for now.

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – William Shakespeare

As congressional Democrats walked a legislative minefield this week, at least one Pennsylvania member pushed a far-fetched fix that could defuse one of their biggest threats.

With Pennsylvania’s lawmakers in Washington sharply divided, the Senate is set for a showdown that could end in an unprecedented debt default or a government shutdown.

One of the most wasteful exercises of government is proposing solutions in search of problems. Washington County Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan and Larry Maggi have done exactly that in their politically motivated proposal for a government study commission to examine the governmental struc…

The pandemic has changed how and where we do business. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have accelerated online shopping trends. This has challenged traditional brick and mortar retailers to adapt to new delivery options for their customers and reduced the need for physical retail s…

At the risk of sounding like Dr. Seuss, it’s the pipe dream that refuses to die. But given the facts, the question has to remain “Why?”

State officials are talking up the prospect of new passenger train lines and expanded service across the state, citing billions of dollars in expected economic benefits.

Washington County citizens have reason to be overwhelmed by the flurry of initiatives launched by the commissioners in recent months. The three major projects are unique but easy to confuse. First, an election referendum to adopt a Government Study Commission; second, an expansion of human s…

With the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on 9/11, and with the last U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan, it is important that we learn from our experience. The main lesson is that there are limits to American power, and the ability of our armed forces to overwhelm any enemy they meet in…

With lawmakers preparing for an early return and the U.S. Supreme Court allowing a restrictive new Texas abortion law to take effect, Pennsylvania’s abortion rights activists are steeling themselves for new fights.

When Republicans are prepared to challenge every decision made by President Joe Biden, often before he announces a course of action, this thinking process is irrational. To a lesser extent, when Democrats support the president before thinking through the ramifications, this is not a rational…

From suburban school board meetings to the state Capitol, opponents of Gov. Tom Wolf’s student mask mandate are gathering their forces.

The Afghanistan pullout calamity has provided critics of President Biden with powerful ammunition. The mess that has been created places in doubt the ability of the Democrats to retain political dominance in the 2022 and 2024 elections. I can place no positive spin on this debacle in defense…

With a single tie-breaking vote last week, former Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg accomplished what years of legislation couldn’t: ending so-called “prison gerrymandering” in Pennsylvania, at least for now.

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – William Shakespeare

Gov. Tom Wolf failed last week in a push to extend the state’s opioid disaster declaration, while prosecutors ramped up pressure to ensure drug companies can be punished for their role in the crisis.

States with Right-to-Work (RTW) laws continue to fare much better in their job recovery statistics following COVID-19 lockdowns than states without such laws, concludes an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.

Gov. Tom Wolf failed last week in a push to extend the state’s opioid disaster declaration, while prosecutors ramped up pressure to ensure drug companies can be punished for their role in the crisis.

Summer is a great time in Washington County, and this year the season is even more exciting as we welcome back the fairs, festivals and events that make our county unique. We have welcomed back already the American Junior Golf Association, the Whiskey Rebellion Festival, Duncan Miller Antiqu…

Social trust is defined as trusting strangers we encounter in our day-to-day lives to follow certain social norms or fundamental moral expectations. With experience, we come to believe that others will perform their appointed tasks with integrity and will not steal from us, not lie to us and…

A push to audit Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results seems to have hit a wall, while similar efforts elsewhere shed supporters and raise concerns.

Washington County Commission Chairman Diana Irey Vaughan is to be commended for working with vice chairman Larry Maggi in placing the important issue to adopt a government study commission before county voters on Nov. 2. Her decision demonstrates leadership beyond partisan politics. In addit…

Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal this week to add nursing home care hours comes just days before workers at 21 Pennsylvania facilities prepare to strike.

At the July 14 Washington County commissioners meeting, it was announced that a special virtual meeting will be held July 23 to pass an ordinance authorizing a question to appear on the fall general election ballot to create an 11-member government study commission to study our form of count…

Since taking the office of chairman in January 2020, I have made it my priority to rigorously review all functions of county government. Under my direction, we have formed an elections review committee, a public safety task force, a human services committee, and are exploring the development…

In the July 15 article, “Commissioners consider creating board to study county government’s structure,” the Washington County commissioners have set their plans for more power and control into action. In true Washington County form, a “special virtual” meeting has been set for 10 a.m. July 2…

To be a moderate in today’s political playground is difficult. Anyone who attempts to begin reasonable dialogue while playing in the partisan sandbox is likely to be attacked by bullies from both right-wing Trump nativists and left-wing cultural warriors. It is safer to stay at home (away fr…

A sweeping $3.5 trillion Senate infrastructure proposal could include key changes for aging states like Pennsylvania, according to lawmakers and aides.

Joe Manchin, the Democratic senator from West Virginia, is in a position of power that is rare for a senator from a small state. As the 50th vote for the Democrats, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to break the tie, Manchin can make or break the Democratic agenda. The most important is…

Over the past several months, there’s been a considerable amount of discussion about a proposal put forth by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to consolidate six of its 14 universities. According to the proposal, three universities in the western part of the state – Californi…

News that a state senator is launching an attempted audit of the state’s 2020 election results might have Pennsylvanians wondering: What would an election audit look like?

Don’t feel badly if you’ve never heard of Lai Chee-Ying. Neither had I until recently. You might know him by his other name, Jimmie Lai, but, even there, chances of recognition aren’t much better.

In 2016, the Stanford University historian, Walter Scheidel, published a lengthy and somber book. His central thesis was that throughout recorded history the most horrendous historic shocks resulted in the most powerful transformations to society, including income leveling. Scheidel’s work t…

Pennsylvania lawmakers in Washington have signed on to reverse a federal eviction moratorium, just as the Supreme Court allows one more month before a potential wave of evictions begins.

As president of the State College & University Professional Association (SCUPA), I am deeply concerned with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) proposal to consolidate six of our 14 state universities.

Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of natural gas in the country and our ongoing production has made the United States the largest producer of this vital commodity in the world. But while the “power to prosper is right under our feet” with our abundant natural gas resources, it prov…

Agriculture is essential to Pennsylvania – to our economy, our rural and urban communities, our history, and our future. Farm work is tough, with long hours and extreme conditions. During the coronavirus pandemic, this work only picked up as farmers and ranchers were deemed essential to ensu…