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Man considers hyperbaric oxygen for post-COVID symptoms

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is considering a hyperbaric chamber to see if it can possibly help him for possible post-COVID symptoms. He contracted COVID this past July, and his atrial fibrillation also started to act up at this time. He spent a week in the hospital and was so weak that he had to use a wheelchair to get home. Two days after arriving home, my husband spent a week or so in a local hospital with continued pneumonia symptoms and sepsis. Then he went to rehab for three weeks to get his strength back. He is now in a research study following the replacement of his aortic valve ...

Why Earth Day matters more than ever

Fifty-seven years ago, Earth Day changed American politics. On April 22, 1970, 20 million American, about 10% of the entire U.S. population, took to the streets, campuses, and town squares in a single day to demand action after 150 years of uncontrolled industrial pollution. The demonstrations were so large and bipartisan that Washington responded almost immediately, probably out of fear but also respect for the intensity and size of the demonstrations. Within just a few years, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress passed 20 landmark laws including the ...

Prioritize healthcare throughout rural Pennsylvania

Every April, Grange chapters from the local to national level celebrate Grange Month. This month is an opportunity to highlight one of the most enduring institutions in rural America and recommit ourselves to the communities we have long served. For generations, the Grange has stood for fellowship, advocacy, and practical support for farm families and rural towns. That mission is just as important today, especially when it comes to health care. Colorectal cancer is one of the greatest examples of why this matters. In Pennsylvania this year, an estimated 6,520 people will be diagnosed ...

Dear Annie: Lost in mixed signals and broken expectations

Dear Annie: About six months ago, I grew close to a woman I had known casually for some time. She had recently come out of a painful breakup, and what began as friendship quickly turned into something much more emotionally intimate. We talked every day, shared deeply personal things and became part of each other’s routine in a way that felt meaningful and serious. Although she kept saying we were “just friends,” our relationship did not feel platonic. We became physically involved, and over time she began making comments that made me believe we were building toward something ...

What is the correct amount of water humans should drink?

DEAR DR. ROACH: Please write about the correct amount of water that people should drink. There’s so much misinformation! — E.N., MD ANSWER: There is so much misinformation since a simple answer, like “more is always better,” is easier than a nuanced answer. It depends on your age, activity level, the temperature and humidity, any medications you might be taking, and whether your kidneys have any issues. However, the simplest answer, which is true for most people, is that your body has a built-in system, called the thirst reflex, to make sure that you are getting enough fluid. ...

Applause, Applause

THANK YOU to the residents and taxpayers who supported the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company on their 61st annual Fishermen’s Pancake Breakfast on April 4, 2026. The Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company has provided excellent and professional service for over a century and is now continuing fire company service to the Bald Eagle Township area and providing mutual aid for other companies. Thank you to all who supported this well equipped Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company. — Friends of the community