A dozen years ago, as our economy began to heal from the depths of the Great Recession, natural gas development lifted our region’s economy, creating good-paying jobs, filling union halls, and getting Western Pennsylvanians working again. Today, as we begin our gradual pandemic recovery, nat…

Once again, Washington County businesses and residents should be proud. Our continued commitment to the stay-at-home guidelines, practicing social distancing and personal safety protection to prevent COVID-19’s spread has yielded the result we have all worked for – Governor Wolf’s announceme…

When we think about rights that the U.S. Constitution grants us as citizens, the first ones to come to mind are generally the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to religion, or even the right to peaceably assemble. And the thought of infringing on any of these stirs up g…

When I was growing up in the 1970s, my friends and I called her Marge. Marge was never her name. But it sounded about right. She acted a lot older than she was. You know. Out of touch. Uptight. Controlling. A know-it-all.

Here’s a question all of the two million unemployed Pennsylvanians, their families, people about to lose jobs, homes, businesses and most of the rest of us are interested in: When does an emergency cease to be an emergency? It might continue to be a problem, even a serious one, but at some p…

Opening up state economies is proving to be more problematic and politically charged than shutting them down and staying in place. This fact has fostered a lively debate over the role of government-directed public health in a democracy.

The federal government’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP) has become a lifeline for businesses struggling to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The $670 billion program was created to help businesses remain open, keep their workers employed, and cover some overhead costs by providing forgivable …

In his recent articles on the 1918 influenza pandemic, Tom Milhollan has shown us how remarkably similar this current crisis is to the one that caused so much pain here a century ago. That we have been compelled to stay at home, shutter our businesses, forego entertainment, socially distance…

During a recent news conference, Gov. Tom Wolf described his response to the pandemic as a war against COVID-19. Although almost none of us has experienced fighting a pandemic, fighting in a war is something that I am familiar with. In 2005, I was deployed to Afghanistan as an airborne infan…

I’m wearing my favorite and most comfortable T-shirt as I write this. It’s a super-soft, bright blue short-sleever with red letters that say “Reagan/Bush 1984” on the front. Rarely in my 50 years have I looked back upon past eras or administrations and wished we could return to the “good old…

Many of us are looking for a path forward in our political leadership, work lives and long-term health. We are in the middle of a highly charged partisan presidential election year, which just happens to be occurring during the worst economic and medical disaster in over a hundred years.

Washington County businesses and residents should be proud. After weeks of committing to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s stay-at-home guidelines, practicing social distancing and utilizing masks and other personal safety protection to prevent COVID-19’s spread, our dedication has pai…

“I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Ronald Reagan called these nine words the most terrifying in the English language. During this pandemic, we have continuously heard these words, and Reagan’s suspicion has been confirmed. At the state level, we have seen failures of dramatic pr…

Increasingly, our government, at all levels, forgets the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg when he spoke of our government as being a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

In all my years in public service, there has not been a crisis that has had such wide-ranging effects. What started as a disease in a foreign land has now advanced throughout our great nation. With the spread of COVID-19 has come disbelief and fear which has grown into frustration and anger.

If the word hypocrisy did not exist, there would be no context in which to speak of Democratic behavioral standards.

There has been much talk recently about the financial issues surrounding the U.S. Postal Service. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought economic uncertainty to many businesses, and the USPS has not been immune. While many of us are ordering more online, the use of first-class and media mail has …

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted daily life for everyone here in the commonwealth but it is encouraging to see that regulators for essential and life-sustaining industries are doing their part to maximize the well-being of Pennsylvanians.

I remember riding the bus home from middle school when two popular girls sitting cross-armed in the back row decided to take aim at me. Cynthia and Sue. Those were their names. Cynthia was blonde and mean with a pebbly complexion and angry eyebrows. Sue was her taller sidekick with dry, stri…

President Trump is fond of referring to the COVID-19 pandemic as the plague. Like many of his science-related pronouncements, this is a misstatement. Plague is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus.

Here’s a question all of the two million unemployed Pennsylvanians, their families, people about to lose jobs, homes, businesses and most of the rest of us are interested in: When does an emergency cease to be an emergency? It might continue to be a problem, even a serious one, but at some p…

Opening up state economies is proving to be more problematic and politically charged than shutting them down and staying in place. This fact has fostered a lively debate over the role of government-directed public health in a democracy.

The federal government’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP) has become a lifeline for businesses struggling to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The $670 billion program was created to help businesses remain open, keep their workers employed, and cover some overhead costs by providing forgivable …

In his recent articles on the 1918 influenza pandemic, Tom Milhollan has shown us how remarkably similar this current crisis is to the one that caused so much pain here a century ago. That we have been compelled to stay at home, shutter our businesses, forego entertainment, socially distance…

During a recent news conference, Gov. Tom Wolf described his response to the pandemic as a war against COVID-19. Although almost none of us has experienced fighting a pandemic, fighting in a war is something that I am familiar with. In 2005, I was deployed to Afghanistan as an airborne infan…

I’m wearing my favorite and most comfortable T-shirt as I write this. It’s a super-soft, bright blue short-sleever with red letters that say “Reagan/Bush 1984” on the front. Rarely in my 50 years have I looked back upon past eras or administrations and wished we could return to the “good old…

Many of us are looking for a path forward in our political leadership, work lives and long-term health. We are in the middle of a highly charged partisan presidential election year, which just happens to be occurring during the worst economic and medical disaster in over a hundred years.

Washington County businesses and residents should be proud. After weeks of committing to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s stay-at-home guidelines, practicing social distancing and utilizing masks and other personal safety protection to prevent COVID-19’s spread, our dedication has pai…

“I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Ronald Reagan called these nine words the most terrifying in the English language. During this pandemic, we have continuously heard these words, and Reagan’s suspicion has been confirmed. At the state level, we have seen failures of dramatic pr…

Increasingly, our government, at all levels, forgets the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg when he spoke of our government as being a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

In all my years in public service, there has not been a crisis that has had such wide-ranging effects. What started as a disease in a foreign land has now advanced throughout our great nation. With the spread of COVID-19 has come disbelief and fear which has grown into frustration and anger.

If the word hypocrisy did not exist, there would be no context in which to speak of Democratic behavioral standards.

There has been much talk recently about the financial issues surrounding the U.S. Postal Service. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought economic uncertainty to many businesses, and the USPS has not been immune. While many of us are ordering more online, the use of first-class and media mail has …

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted daily life for everyone here in the commonwealth but it is encouraging to see that regulators for essential and life-sustaining industries are doing their part to maximize the well-being of Pennsylvanians.

I remember riding the bus home from middle school when two popular girls sitting cross-armed in the back row decided to take aim at me. Cynthia and Sue. Those were their names. Cynthia was blonde and mean with a pebbly complexion and angry eyebrows. Sue was her taller sidekick with dry, stri…

President Trump is fond of referring to the COVID-19 pandemic as the plague. Like many of his science-related pronouncements, this is a misstatement. Plague is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus.

Become part of the solution

Just be patient. That’s what we’re being told. Just be patient.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, that was passed by Congress in late March was designed to help individuals, businesses, and even governments get access to stimulus money with the goal of keeping them solvent, and their people working, during the COVID-19 …

Local governments are in the weeds, making day-to-day decisions that directly impact the lives of everyday Americans. That is why, now more than ever, we need the federal government to step up and help local governments. This is especially true, due to the effects caused by COVID-19 and the …

Gov. Tom Wolf and his allies in the House of Representatives have made it a point to vigorously oppose allowing certain industries to return to work while the shelter-in-place order is active. This past week, and the week before, and the week before that, House Republicans have been advocati…

People are scared, which is to be expected in these trying times. But what people are specifically scared about differs greatly among the populace. Of course, the novel coronavirus sits at the top of the list. It is the most deadly virus to plague the world in over a century, which is fright…

From coast to coast, people who are injured or living with chronic conditions are delaying care because they are fearful about contracting COVID-19 in health care settings. The independent community health systems in Washington County want you to know that it is completely safe for you to se…

People are scared, which is to be expected in these trying times. But what people are specifically scared about differs greatly among the populace. Of course, the coronavirus sits at the top of the list. It is the most deadly virus to plague the world in over a century, which is frightening.…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on all of us across the commonwealth. In the midst of this crisis, it has been inspiring to see so many front-line defenders step up to confront this threat every day – our doctors, nurses, first responders, and all others in public health w…

This will not be news to anyone outside of the city of Harrisburg, but the natives are restless. Very restless.

A crisis can bring clarity and lend perspective. So it is the case with the COVID-19 pandemic, which is shining a light on a great many things about our society, our communities, and ourselves.

The year 2020 promised to be a really good year for the people of Washington County. Then, in mid-January, serious health concerns arose in China. What was a localized problem metastasized and, at the end of January, the president formed the COVID-19 Task Force to develop plans to protect the U.S.

At what point is the cure worse that the disease? That’s a tough question regarding the coronavirus, but I suspect we are approaching the point of finding out.

A rough estimate of coronavirus-related unemployment levels can be made for the Pittsburgh metro area based on data through the end of March. And it’s quite the sobering picture that’s certain to grow worse, says a scholar at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.

Every person who has ever been involved in helping with a political campaign has spoken with someone they are trying to persuade to vote and has been told some form of “I don’t vote” and “I don’t pay attention to politics because it doesn’t affect me.” That person may have even been you. Now…

As this frightening pandemic affects every facet of our lives, more and more citizens are doing what they can to keep safe by staying at home, practicing social distancing and keeping in touch with others as remotely as possible.

In Washington County, we produce natural gas and coal. We produce a lot of it, and we produce it very efficiently. As a result, in Southwest Pennsylvania we have a reliable and inexpensive supply of electricity. Because we have reliable and inexpensive power, we have a strong economy and a h…

The coronavirus pandemic will long be remembered as a time that upended people’s lives and livelihoods and caused too many family tragedies to count. Each day, there is more depressing news about more cases and more deaths. It creates a shadow of doom over our society and world.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvania workers, health care providers, and students and families are faced with unprecedented obstacles that demand action from Harrisburg.

It is difficult to write about our new virus-driven dystopian life as the reality changes by the hour. The fear-guided daily routine now revolves around staying at home with our families, watching our investments bleed away as the paper losses cascade downward and listening to the media talk…

During these difficult times, the last thing the people of Pennsylvania need are individuals, retailers, or wholesalers taking advantage of them. Gouging prices of household essentials or scamming people out of money for “at home” coronavirus kits that don’t exist isn’t just a disgusting pra…

Despite the rapid expansion of modern science and the new technologies of the information age, our nation remains subject to events that are unpredictable and catastrophic. These events can destroy decades of economic, political and social advancement with little warning and devastating resu…

Dear Washington County, don’t do what we did. By “we,” I mean my current residence of Montgomery County, Maryland. As a Washington County native, I’ve been watching the spread of COVID-19 into Western Pennsylvania. Maryland was hit several weeks ago but has only just now taken serious measur…

For over 20 years now, Washington County has benefitted from the growth of the natural gas industry. New companies have moved into our area, local businesses have new customers, new people have located into our towns and new, high wage jobs have been created for our local workers and trade u…

As the political season continues, progressives are trying to sell the false narrative that Democratic Socialism is not really socialism. It is somehow different and better. That is subterfuge and demonstrably not true.

It’s like a recurring bad dream. A new year, a new turnpike toll hike. Now, driving the length of the highway costs upwards of $65.70 – not counting the return trip. Only, this nightmare is real.

After winning the most votes in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, and winning the Nevada caucuses decisively, Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, is the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president. This has caused some Democratic strategi…

The once-crowded Democratic primary field now appears to have two clear leaders: Sen. Bernie Sanders and billionaire Michael Bloomberg, both 78.

Problems continue to grow worse for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). And there remains little doubt that dramatic changes are needed at several of the universities in the 14-school system, says a scholar at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.

The 2020 election promises to be a wild affair, with many Americans becoming more entrenched in their political bunkers than ever before. The one political ideology that will receive the most abuse is the much-maligned concept of democratic socialism. I will offer a brief defense.

I see the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump similar to watching the movie Godfather III. The official entertainment is in the Senate chamber, much like the stage of the Sicilian opera house, surrounded by pomp and circumstance. The outcome on the stage is not in doubt. However, the…

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced it is lifting its ban on the release of new permits for segments of a number of energy infrastructure projects, including the Mariner East pipeline, which runs through Washington County and Southwestern Pennsylv…

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive” was the admonition of Sir Walter Scott in his 1808 poem “Marmion.”

Much of the angst and legal wrangling over property assessments in Allegheny County and statewide could be eliminated by instituting mandatory regular reassessments that incorporate standardized norms, concludes an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.