Breaking News

Columns

Dear Annie: Vaping vice might be a dealbreaker

Dear Annie: My dad died of lung cancer a few years ago, and because of that, I abhor smoking in all its forms. The problem is I just discovered my boyfriend, who is a nurse, has been secretly vaping behind my back. I was shocked and upset not so much that he did it (which is bad enough) but that he went through great pains to hide it from me. Plus, he works in the medical field and should know better! He promised to discontinue when I confronted him and that he did it only because of the immense pressure he is under. Recently, I found newly bought vaping pens in his apartment. The ...

Man underestimates chewing tobacco’s influence on his health

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has neuropathy in his feet. He is otherwise healthy, exercises daily, maintains his weight, and eats healthy. My concern is that he uses chewing tobacco. He insists that it doesn’t have a negative influence on his condition, but I disagree. What’s your medical opinion? He is fully aware of other health complications that chewing tobacco can cause, but he doesn’t make an effort to quit. I’m frustrated and worried about his future. He is 63. — A.C.W. ANSWER: There are many causes of neuropathy. Diabetes is a major one, but I get many letters from ...

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson disagreed about the American Revolution’s meaning even as they lay dying

Like Americans today, the people living in the United States in 1826 were preparing to celebrate a milestone for their country. July Fourth of that year marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As what was known as the “Jubilee” of American independence approached, Americans realized that the founding generation was dying off. They wanted to take advantage of the founders’ insight while they still could. This meant soliciting memories and advice from the signers of the Declaration, only three of whom were still alive. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were ...

How Pennsylvania’s new paid leave bill leaves the sandwich generation behind

The number of family caregivers has grown from 53 million Americans in 2020 to 63 million as of 2025. This number is expected to increase as the baby boomer generation ages and faces the limitations of our current health and social services systems. A family caregiver is an unpaid individual who provides assistance to a family member who needs support due to illness, disability or aging. The population of metro Pittsburgh is one of the oldest in the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. This means an increasing proportion of the local population will require care from family ...

Feeding the government pig

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and I don’t mean Christmas. It’s the time when Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) releases its annual “Congressional Pig Book Summary,” exposing some of the most outrageous, ridiculous and in many cases unconstitutional spending one can imagine. I guarantee you won’t be able to imagine most of it. Why should you when it’s not their money they are spending and borrowing, which has driven the debt to unprecedented and dangerous levels. According to CAGW, the number of earmarks, which is spending that avoids going through ...

Dear Annie: How honest is too honest?

Dear Annie: My husband “Jack” has become so angry with me lately, and I don’t understand why. We have been married for 10 years, have two beautiful girls, ages 6 and 4, and he’s a great dad. However, with me, he is short-tempered and does not want to spend any “alone” time with me when I suggest we have date nights. Jack refuses to discuss what’s wrong when I ask him why the sudden change in his temperament towards me. I am a stay-at-home mom and consider myself a good wife and mother, and don’t deserve to be made to feel badly about myself with his outbursts of anger, ...