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Birthright citizenship debate puts America’s melting pot on trial again

As a Black American who is old enough to remember the last days of legal Jim Crow racial segregation, I pay special attention whenever I hear signs that in many American minds the Civil War never really ended. So does President Trump. That may help to explain why he took the extraordinary step on Wednesday of appearing in person in the grand chamber of the U.S. Supreme Court, apparently the first president to do so, as his solicitor general made the case against “birthright citizenship” before the high court justices. The issue, one of the most important Supreme Court rulings ...

Pope Leo’s flawed war doctrine

Pope Leo XIV used part of his Palm Sunday message to castigate the United States for attempting to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power and threatening the world with mass destruction. In doing so, the “American Pope” confused the real enemy in the war. Addressing thousands in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope claimed that God rejects the prayers of leaders who wage war. He called the Iran war “atrocious” violence that cannot be justified by faith. He further said that God doesn’t hear the prayers of people whose “hands (are) full of blood.” Does he not include Iran’s ...

Dear Annie: Standing firm when family is divided

Dear Annie: Hopefully you can help me. I’ve read your column for years. My two kids are adults and have kids of their own, and they have always gotten along. However, last Thanksgiving, my son and his family decided not to stay when they found out my granddaughter was there. My granddaughter is gay and was recently married last fall to her partner. My son isn’t religious at all, but he follows his wife’s lead, and she is very Catholic. Both of them think that if they spend time with gay people, it will somehow hurt their children. They don’t want to expose their kids to my ...

Getting vaccinated is most effective to ‘scare away’ viruses

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 82 years old and in very good health. I have no major medical issues so far, but I work on my health as I believe in prevention. During the past eight months, I’ve had three colds, plus COVID-19 for the first time this past November. I remember the old days when we used to wear camphor necklaces every winter in order to “scare away” viruses. Before I order one, I want your advice on it. — N.G. ANSWER: Camphor is a waxy substance that is derived from the camphor laurel tree. It is often used topically to relieve pain, but some people use it as a skin rub ...

Economic development 101: The Williamsport Lumber Yards

Economic development is truly the process by which communities are transformed. Nowhere is this more evident than in Williamsport’s Lumber Yards project, set to host its first tournament this coming weekend. The facility features six lighted synthetic turf fields for youth baseball and girls’ and women’s softball, a convertible collegiate-size field, concessions and a hospitality hub. The story of the Lumber Yards begins with the acquisition of the former Susquehanna Supply site, a neglected brownfield that the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber ...

Veterans are leading the way in healing – again

By any honest measure, veterans have long been unintended pioneers in the advancement of medicine. The unique realities of war and military service have forced innovation that later benefits civilians for generations. Modern triage systems emerged from battlefields where medical personnel had to decide, in seconds, who could be saved. Medevac transportation by helicopter increased survival rates in conflicts like Vietnam and later became a staple of civilian emergency medicine. Advances in trauma surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation medicine and even treatments for post-traumatic ...