Breaking News

Columns

Dear Annie: Peace and quiet comes at a price

Dear Annie: I’m 26 and sharing an apartment with two roommates who make my home life miserable. There’s constant noise, passive-aggressive notes and one of them regularly invites people over late on weeknights (plus, they usually make dinner without cleaning up). I work long hours and need a peaceful home to recharge. I’d do anything to come home to silence. I’ve tried addressing it directly; it didn’t stick. I’ve found a studio I love that I can afford on my own, technically. But “afford” means rent, utilities, and groceries — nothing left over. No savings, no ...

How patients with rheumatoid arthritis receive the MMR vaccine

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, you wrote that people who were born before 1957 are likely to have had measles and don’t need to get the measles vaccine. I was born in 1954 and had measles in 1959 (with photographs to prove it). Last year, I had an MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) titer test, which showed that I had sufficient antibodies for mumps and rubella (both of which I had as a child) but insufficient antibodies for measles. I’m concerned because I can’t receive the live measles vaccine unless I suspend my biologic medication for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This would suppress my ...

America was much more of a mess at the bicentennial than it is today

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, America is in a pretty foul mood, and I understand why. For starters, Washington is broken, prices are high and rising, and AI is scaring the stuffing out of people. Understanding, however, is not synonymous with agreement. In other words, some complaints about America in 2026 have more empirical weight than others. Crime may be too high, but it’s been going down for a while. Actually, let’s start there because crime is a good example of how perceptions don’t necessarily reflect reality. Since 2000, ...

Qintel puts Pittsburgh on the map for cyber intelligence

Western Pennsylvania’s leadership in AI, robotics and cyber intelligence companies that work with the Department of War was reinforced recently. Qintel was selected for an $84 million contract with the United States Cyber Command to deliver a threat intelligence solution in support of full-spectrum cyber operations. Qintel also just announced it will be part of the inaugural Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, which Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.) is hosting in July. The two-day conference convenes CEOs, investors and senior military ...

Dear Annie: Fish-sitting favor ends in guilt

Dear Annie: I am 22 and working at my first job out of college. My salary is low and just covers my rent, car payments and basic living expenses. I have no savings yet. Recently, my neighbor, whom I know only to wave at, asked me to feed her fish while she went out of town. I agreed, and she took me into her apartment where she showed me her aquarium. She switched on the tank light and demonstrated how to sprinkle fish food on the water. She didn’t give me her phone number. When I went into her apartment the next day to feed the fish, it was pitch dark, with all her curtains ...

Protecting babies from whooping cough during pregnancy

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve read that there’s a big increase in whooping cough. I am pregnant and want to know the best way to protect my baby. Is it exclusive breastfeeding? Getting the vaccine? Making sure that visitors are vaccinated or wear masks? — D.G. ANSWER: Whooping cough is caused by a species of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. This causes a respiratory infection that can be very serious in infants, with over 80% of the youngest babies needing hospitalization. You are right that there have been massive increases in the risk of this infection during the past two years. An ...