Letter to the editor: Trump right to act in Iran
Even though I’ve been a constant critic of President Trump, I support his attack on Iran. For decades, Iran has been the “cancer” of the Middle East. They’ve been the funder and catalyst for terrorist groups such as Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in...
David M. Sanko: Real transparency means meeting people where they are
Every year, Pennsylvania’s townships celebrate “Sunshine Week” to highlight the vital importance of open government. But as we observe this week from March 15-21, we must ask ourselves a difficult question: Is the “sunshine” actually reaching the people, or is it being blocked by outdated laws? In Pennsylvania, true transparency...
Panini A. Chowdhury: Pittsburgh can’t attract families without healthy food access
For more than 40 years the Shop ‘n Save on Brownsville Road was more than a business. It was a community fabric for the Carrick neighborhood. When Shop ‘n Save announced its closure, Carrick tipped toward being a food desert, joining roughly one-quarter of Pittsburgh neighborhoods already struggling with access....
Diana Vahabzadeh: Legislators must help bring down skyrocketing utility bills
Nothing in my life is going up except bills. My rent, car insurance, cellphone and cable bills have all gotten more expensive recently. At 74 years old, I can’t enjoy my golden years, and must work as a private caregiver in order to cover the exploding costs of living. Unfortunately,...
Jennifer Bertetto: The high cost of a secret — why real transparency still requires a newspaper
There is an old saying in the news business: “Democracy dies in darkness.” But in the modern halls of government, darkness doesn’t always come from a closed door; sometimes, it comes from a quiet, obscure government website that no one visits. On March 24, the Pennsylvania House will consider House...
Letter to the editor: Affordability and accountability
The buzzword for this year’s elections is affordability. The word choice is directly connected to pocketbooks. I suggest those seeking office shouldn’t forget another important word: accountability. These two can be easily linked. Those who made the decisions leading to affordability or remained silent at the time should be held...
Editorial: Opening primaries isn’t simple, but it deserves debate
Pennsylvanians are accustomed to a primary that might not reveal how they feel. After all, Pennsylvania may be a critical state in presidential elections, yet its primary falls late in the season. That means that by the time Democrats and Republicans head to the polls for a presidential primary every...
Letter to the editor: AI is the beast
George Washington said, “The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they pass unobserved.” In the Bible’s Book of Revelation, there is a beast and a beast system prophesied. Much speculation is afforded the meaning...
Farrah Hassen: ICE’s warehouse scheme draws bipartisan protests
Warehouses are for storing goods. ICE wants to use them to store people. As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ramps up arrests, the Trump administration is seeking to spend $38 billion to expand its detention capacity to 92,600 people, according to agency documents. At least 73,000 people — a record...
Elizabeth Soltan: After decades of trying, Pa. needs to pass a state False Claims Act
Gov. Josh Shapiro urged Pennsylvania to pass a state False Claims Act (FCA) in his 2026 budget address. There is bipartisan support for House Bill 1697, which would create a state FCA modeled after the federal FCA, one of the government’s best fraud-fighting tools. The FCA encourages whistleblowers to come...
Leonard Greene: Thousands dead over war in Iran — biggest casualty is compassion
War is ugly. So is hubris. The next time President Donald Trump tells you how well the war is going, remember that U.S. missile strikes have killed more than 1,400 people in Iran, including 168 children who perished at an elementary school. Remember, too, that the average price of gas...
Letter to the editor: Nonprofits need to step up to help Pittsburgh
There are several nonprofits that have not stepped up to donate to the city of Pittsburgh emergency vehicles (“UPMC gives $10M to Pittsburgh for ambulances, freeing up money for snowplows,” Jan. 29, TribLive). Examples would be new protective gear and tools for the fire department. The Public Works department, I...
Letter to the editor: Questionable church values
I am wondering why protesters would storm the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn. I’m sure most of us would agree that a place of worship is not the time or place to hold a protest. There is a statement on this church’s website that says: “We are a community...
Editorial: The cure for congressional pork
Ham is pork cured in a brine of water, salt and sugar. The process was meant to preserve the meat and make it last longer. But it also made it taste better. What about a different kind of pork? “Pork barrel” spending takes its name from those same preserved provisions....
Letter to the editor: Albert right to cooperate with ICE
Regarding the article “Westmoreland commissioner calls sheriff’s partnership with ICE invalid” (Feb. 12, TribLive): Five minutes of personal checking clearly identifies there is no question Sheriff James Albert is fully within his purview to set his department’s policies and sign a letter of agreement with ICE. As an elected official...
Luke Bernstein: Pennsylvania energy helps stabilize a volatile world
A widening conflict in the Middle East is once again injecting instability into global energy markets. Earlier this month, attacks on infrastructure in the Gulf forced Qatar to pause operations at major LNG export facilities, tightening supply almost overnight. With tanker traffic disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical...
James Stavridis: 3 targets for U.S. boots on the ground in Iran
As President Donald Trump’s administration wrestles with options in the war with Iran, it continues to consider “boots on the ground.” While the Pentagon has been doing a good job with the massive air and sea assaults against Iranian targets, there are several dangerous missions that ultimately would require U.S....
Chris Heck: While Washington huddles, Pa. makes its AI play
Just before the 2026 NFL Draft descends upon Pittsburgh in April, sports, technology and capital investment will collide in the Steel City at Powering the Future of Sport: A Draft Week Showcase. Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, this high-profile event will see cutting-edge companies deploy artificial intelligence in real-world scenarios...
Letter to the editor: Administration not protecting all citizens
Regarding the letter “Do Democrats care more about illegal immigrants?” (March 10, TribLive): Why didn’t the Democrats stand when the president
declaimed “the first obligation of the American government is to protect American citizens”? Because his government has killed and unlawfully arrested and detained them. John W. Connelly Sharpsburg...
Letter to the editor: Take responsibility for Pittsburgh’s trash
According to the article “Pittsburghers asked to pick up litter ahead of NFL Draft” (March 6, TribLive): “As Pittsburgh prepares to host the NFL Draft, Pennsylvania officials are asking residents to lend a hand in cleaning up litter in and around the city. Despite ongoing cleanup efforts by PennDOT, Secretary...
Editorial: Why do Americans think their neighbors are ‘bad’ people?
We Americans are a proud bunch. We are a nation founded on the principles of freedom and the rule of law, and our commitment to these values has propelled us to new heights and made us the leader of the free world. But in recent years, as our politics and...
Letter to the editor: Pa. needs a gift ban
Pennsylvania lawmakers receive the third-highest salaries in the nation, but still legally take what amounts to bribes from wealthy special interests. Citizens are clearly unhappy with this situation (“Senate needs to give Pennsylvanians a gift ban,”
Nov. 6, 2022, TribLive, and “Why won’t lawmakers consider a gift ban?” Nov. 20,...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of March 16
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of March 16....
Editorial cartoons for the week of March 16
Editorial cartoons for the week of March 16....
Carl P. Leubsdorf: Getting out of wars is harder than getting in
Some years after the most successful U.S. war of recent decades — the 1991 rout of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait — Gen. Colin Powell articulated the principles that guided the Bush administration’s strategy. “Decide what you are trying to achieve politically and, if it can’t be achieved...
