“Schools that teach” sounded great as Gov. Wolf’s campaign slogan in 2014 and 2018. But two years into Wolf’s second term, many parents are just wishing for “schools that open.”

Washington County has a vibrant history of charitable nonprofit and service organizations that promote underserved residents and important civic events. From the disabled and mentally ill to our libraries, the Whiskey Rebellion Festival and the Washington Symphony, the array of activities su…

It is remarkable that an elected official like President Joe Biden can serve in public life for over 50 years and yet remain so misunderstood by most Americans. The Trump wing of the Republican Party and many other conservatives have labeled him as a far-left progressive, ready to take the c…

Note: In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 212th birthday today, I offer a look at the life of the 16th president of the United States. I began doing Lincoln impersonations while teaching at Mt. Lebanon High School beginning in 2001. I have also presented Mr. Lincoln at senior citizen centers, chur…

The coronavirus pandemic hammered Pennsylvania’s economy in 2020. But the key to economic recovery – once a more predictable regimen of vaccinations is firmly in place and COVID-19 begins to abate – must be a careful study in what government should and should not do, stress researchers at th…

These hardly are halcyon days for Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Its operations have been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. And there’s great uncertainty ahead, what with the discombobulated vaccination regimen and new COVID-19 mutations being reported on a regular basis.

In challenging times, it is important that we look for positives, and Washington County received some encouraging news concerning our tourism industry from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED). In their most recently released annual report, the Economic …

In 2020 the United States was stress-tested to its limits by the pandemic, social unrest, the chaotic White House and the disruptive presidential election. It is not too early to look ahead, with some optimism, to what the economic, social and political recovery might look like later in 2021.

The Trump-rally-turned-invasion of the Capitol on Jan. 6 provides an opportunity to examine the role of public protest in a democracy. First, it is important to recognize that incompetence and their clear lack of a coherent plan should not reduce the threat these “protesters” posed; were it …

Since the beginning of the pandemic, policymakers that govern the collection of mortgage payments, whether they were from the Federal Housing Finance Administration, which governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, the Veterans Administration for VA loans, the Federal Housing Administration f…

Jesus once told a story of a man beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road. After some religious people passed by without helping, the man now known as the Good Samaritan chose to stop and get the victim medical help.

President Trump’s first inaugural address, given during his first few weeks in office, was a bizarre description of America as a “hellscape.” After hearing it, former President George W. Bush observed, “well that was some weird s---.” Little did we know that Donald Trump was not describing A…

The events of Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C., were reprehensible and repugnant. But these repulsive deeds began hours before rioters stormed our U.S. Capitol building. The United States Senate and House of Representatives met earlier to begin certifying the results of the Electoral College and c…

Awash in rising debt because of dubious public policies and struggling to overcome the financial effects of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) could find its very ability to operate in jeopardy, finds an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Pub…

As I begin this commentary, there is an insurrection taking place at the U.S. Capitol. A riot has ensued following a speech by President Trump. He has urged his armed and surly supporters gathered in front of the White House to take matters into their own hands. The doors of the Capitol have…

The prayer on Sunday, Jan. 3, that opened the 117th Session of Congress has created quite a stir. The representative offering the prayer, the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, created unintended headlines with some interesting word choices. He has been criticized by many, and has since offered his own e…

Pennsylvania has always been an energy powerhouse. The first domestic oil well was drilled in Titusville in 1859. Our coal deposits helped us win world wars, forge iron into steel and power an economic transformation that continues to lead the world economy. Our state remains a national lead…

In great times of need, people rely on the good deeds of others. Small acts of kindness, like giving someone a ride to a job interview, bringing coffee to your co-workers, or just being there for someone who needs a shoulder to cry on, are prevalent around us, and these gifts cannot be more …

Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman explained in a Dec. 19 op-ed the decision by the two Republican commissioners to purchase the Crossroads Center building for $10 million. In my view, his commentary was fraught with inaccuracies and omissions that requires a response. This review w…

The coronavirus pandemic hammered Pennsylvania’s economy in 2020. But the key to economic recovery – once a more predictable regimen of vaccinations is firmly in place and COVID-19 begins to abate – must be a careful study in what government should and should not do, stress researchers at th…

These hardly are halcyon days for Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Its operations have been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. And there’s great uncertainty ahead, what with the discombobulated vaccination regimen and new COVID-19 mutations being reported on a regular basis.

In challenging times, it is important that we look for positives, and Washington County received some encouraging news concerning our tourism industry from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED). In their most recently released annual report, the Economic …

In 2020 the United States was stress-tested to its limits by the pandemic, social unrest, the chaotic White House and the disruptive presidential election. It is not too early to look ahead, with some optimism, to what the economic, social and political recovery might look like later in 2021.

The Trump-rally-turned-invasion of the Capitol on Jan. 6 provides an opportunity to examine the role of public protest in a democracy. First, it is important to recognize that incompetence and their clear lack of a coherent plan should not reduce the threat these “protesters” posed; were it …

Since the beginning of the pandemic, policymakers that govern the collection of mortgage payments, whether they were from the Federal Housing Finance Administration, which governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, the Veterans Administration for VA loans, the Federal Housing Administration f…

Jesus once told a story of a man beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road. After some religious people passed by without helping, the man now known as the Good Samaritan chose to stop and get the victim medical help.

President Trump’s first inaugural address, given during his first few weeks in office, was a bizarre description of America as a “hellscape.” After hearing it, former President George W. Bush observed, “well that was some weird s---.” Little did we know that Donald Trump was not describing A…

The events of Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C., were reprehensible and repugnant. But these repulsive deeds began hours before rioters stormed our U.S. Capitol building. The United States Senate and House of Representatives met earlier to begin certifying the results of the Electoral College and c…

Awash in rising debt because of dubious public policies and struggling to overcome the financial effects of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) could find its very ability to operate in jeopardy, finds an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Pub…

As I begin this commentary, there is an insurrection taking place at the U.S. Capitol. A riot has ensued following a speech by President Trump. He has urged his armed and surly supporters gathered in front of the White House to take matters into their own hands. The doors of the Capitol have…

The prayer on Sunday, Jan. 3, that opened the 117th Session of Congress has created quite a stir. The representative offering the prayer, the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, created unintended headlines with some interesting word choices. He has been criticized by many, and has since offered his own e…

Pennsylvania has always been an energy powerhouse. The first domestic oil well was drilled in Titusville in 1859. Our coal deposits helped us win world wars, forge iron into steel and power an economic transformation that continues to lead the world economy. Our state remains a national lead…

In great times of need, people rely on the good deeds of others. Small acts of kindness, like giving someone a ride to a job interview, bringing coffee to your co-workers, or just being there for someone who needs a shoulder to cry on, are prevalent around us, and these gifts cannot be more …

Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman explained in a Dec. 19 op-ed the decision by the two Republican commissioners to purchase the Crossroads Center building for $10 million. In my view, his commentary was fraught with inaccuracies and omissions that requires a response. This review w…

Although I don’t know who said it, an aphorism I find to be true is: “How you win shows some of your character; how you lose, shows all of it.” It is easy to be magnanimous in victory; it is much harder to be gracious in defeat.

The greatest crime in history was committed during the past election.

In the midst of a national pandemic, without regard to the potential impact on individuals, children and families, Greater Washington County Food Bank (GWCFB) closed the doors of 14 local food pantries in nine months. Hundreds of kids, seniors, veterans and families no longer had the support…

There is good news for those looking for some non-partisan scholarly research on what is wrong with our American experiment in constitutional representative government along with recommendations on how to make needed repairs. The American Academy of Arts & Sciences recently published a d…

When it comes to presidential elections, Pennsylvania has become a crucial swing state, and 2020 was no exception. The presidential candidates, followed by the herds of media attending to them, spent more time in Pennsylvania in the waning weeks of the campaign than in any other state.

“Connection is why we are here.” – Brené Brown

Democratic strategists were wrong to assume that large numbers of voters would turn away from Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Forty eight percent of the electorate remains firmly behind the president. Trump’s brand of divisive politics and his decision to ignore the greatest health threat…

The unkickable football, the skimpy (but meaningful) Christmas tree and the Great Pumpkin are all reminders of Charlie Brown.

The Observer-Reporter recently published an important story with the headline, “A Good Process.” In the article, both Democratic and Republican Party leaders from across our area praised the transparency and openness of our voting process. The story went on to show how officials from both pa…

For many years prior to the change of the board of commissioners in 2020, concerns were raised about the rapid deterioration of the Washington County parking garage, which is the foundation of our Courthouse Square Building. More than eight years ago, we began placing temporary shelters in o…

First, thank God the voting is over. U.S. presidential elections are too long. The problem with long election seasons is they suck up too much oxygen, and distract from governing, which should be the primary role of government. The “permanent campaign” may be good for cable news ratings, but…

Saturday, Nov. 28, will mark the 11th annual edition of the shopping holiday known as Small Business Saturday. Inserted between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the effort to “shop small” has grown into a national phenomenon, and businesses all over Washington County are poised to take advanta…

It must be wonderful to live in a reality-free world. A world where everything is apparently going to suddenly be all milk and honey come Jan. 20. The post-election slogan Gary Stout noted in his Nov. 8 op-ed in the Observer-Reporter were, “With All Americans Pulling Together, We Can Accompl…

It is Friday morning following the election. I now feel confident calling Joe Biden our next president, notwithstanding the frivolous legal challenges. America was on the ballot, and we won. Citizens have voted in greater numbers than at any time in our history despite the pandemic It is tim…

A massive hike in the cost of new shale gas well permits raises serious questions about the operations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and could imperil the very industry that has contributed so much to the Keystone State economy, says a scholar at the Allegh…

Most Americans are ready for this election to be over. But it’s likely that we will need to wait longer than normal for the results. Thousands of elections officials, our fellow citizens and community members need time to count every ballot with strong dedication to a fair and impartial proc…

Patients who rely on a high-quality skilled nursing facility to provide ventilator care due to an injury or illness may soon face even greater challenges in getting the care they need.