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Opinion

More threats to the freedom of speech

Columns

The freedom of speech and of the press is not a gift bestowed by a president, Congress or a federal agency. It is a natural right of all persons. The First Amendment does not create that right; it prohibits the government from infringing upon it. The ability to think, speak, write, criticize, ridicule, persuade, offend, dissent and challenge those in government is among the most fundamental preconditions of the exercise of human liberty. It is also indispensable to personal happiness. A person who cannot speak his mind, question authority, express unpopular ideas or tell the government ...

Bit yourself in the butt

Letters to the editor

Jim Hironimus White Hall Darn, isn’t it funny that fuel prices are at an all time high and winter is very near? That programs that helped the poor and middle class have been taken away and food prices and all other prices are at an all time high! Now we can have coal fired electricity generated and pollute the air, but not use solar and wind turbines — which the rest of the world has proven beyond any doubt is far cheaper and does not pollute the earth’s environment! Where are the cheaper fuel prices and food prices and all the other promises that were made by Mr. Trump? ...

The war in Ukraine is becoming very inconvenient for Trump

Columns

One of the challenges with writing about the war in — and on — Ukraine is that so little changes. I don’t mean the fighting on the ground, though even there, when viewed from a distance, it doesn’t look as though much has shifted in a long while. Russia has gained very little territory in the last year (even as it has suffered an estimated half-million Russian casualties over the last 12 months). All of that to gain 0.3% of Ukrainian territory (and net zero gains in the last six months). Though distance can be deceiving, the fighting on the ground has actually been far more ...

A pinched ulnar nerve causes intense pain and tingling

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m an active 76-year-old retired accountant who likely spent too many hours at a computer. Now I’m paying for it with a painful condition. My general physician says that I have a pinched or compressed ulnar nerve, which likely starts in the neck shoulder area but shoots pain down my right arm and elbow, all the way to my pinkie and ring fingers. These fingers tingle and, at times, prickle so intensely that it feels like my hand’s on fire. I use ice on my shoulder, neck and elbow. I take 25 mg of pregabalin on a prolonged step-up process that I augment with ...

Spring Township Supervisor resigns

Letters to the editor

Korena DeFurio Spring Township It is with heartfelt emotions that I am writing to let you know that I chose to resign as Township Supervisor effective 8/4/2026 due to my strong ethics, morals, values, and high level of involvement and commitment in doing what I felt was the right thing for the employees and residents of the Township not being on the same page as others in reaching these goals. Constant internal resistance and opposition to change makes it very difficult to create a fair, equal and ethical atmosphere for the employees and residents of the Township. I feel having ...

Dear Annie: Going for gold in grief

Columns

Dear Annie: I have two sisters, and one of them, “Joanie,” tragically passed away from cancer last year. It’s obviously been hard, but what’s making it harder is my remaining sister. She has always been competitive. And she has somehow turned even grief into a competition. For example, a few weeks ago I mentioned I hadn’t slept the night before out of sadness, and she shot back, “I haven’t slept at all since Joanie died.” I know she’s sad, but I also know this isn’t true. It was the same at the funeral. She insisted on speaking longest and loudest, then collapsed ...