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Blood Crisis

Letters to the editor

Sherry Nealon-Shrive Wilkes-Barre The American Red Cross is facing only the second national blood crisis in its history — and donors are urgently needed now to help ensure hospitals have the blood products patients depend on every day. While thousands have stepped up since the emergency blood and platelet shortage was announced, the blood supply remains vulnerable. Additional donors are needed now to help protect patient care. Seasonal challenges in the weeks ahead could place additional strain on the blood supply. End-of-summer travel and back-to-school activities can ...

Man wants to treat arthritis with GAE, rather than knee surgery

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 74-year-old male who’s in otherwise excellent health. However, I have severe arthritis in my knees to the point where it keeps me up at night. I keep reading about this treatment called GAE (genicular artery embolization), and since I only have about a good 10 years or so left on this planet, I wanted to know your thoughts on this treatment. A full knee replacement requires a year of physical therapy, so I’d rather not do one. — P.C. ANSWER: GAE uses biologically inert material (absorbable gelatin microspheres) to block specific abnormal blood vessels ...

Vote Republican for one-man rule

Letters to the editor

Tim Mannello Williamsport In November, vote Republican if you are fine with: Policies that make groceries, rent, homes and medicine harder to afford every year. Tariffs that raise prices and crush small businesses. An administration pushing rapid, unchecked growth of massive data centers. A war that drags on long after leaders promised it wouldn’t. Foreign policy that creates more enemies than solutions. Energy spikes brushed off while Americans pay the price at the pump. Funding freezes, staff cuts and FEMA shake ups that weaken disaster response, food safety and ...

When privilege turns against America

Columns

There is a question increasingly worth asking: Why do some of America’s most privileged young people seem to have become among its harshest critics, not merely challenging policies but speaking as though America itself is fundamentally corrupt, oppressive or unworthy of their loyalty? This is certainly not true of every young white American. Millions love their country, serve in the military, volunteer in their communities, build businesses, raise families and appreciate the opportunities America has afforded them. Nor is criticism inherently anti-American. Some of our greatest ...

Why is Governor Shapiro playing ball with Public Safety

Letters to the editor

Vicki Adams Mill Hall On March 26, the State Supreme Court gave Governor Josh Shapiro and the legislature a 120 day stay to pass a constitutional remedy involving automatic life-without parole sentences in Second-Degree murder cases violated the state’s constitution, (referencing one case, Commonwealth vs. Lee) of the nearly 1,200 cases in Pennsylvania. You would think and hope this Supreme Court request meant something to Governor Shapiro, but it didn’t, he was too busy trying to recruit NBA All-Star LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers! The Pennsylvania State Senate ...

The Constitution belongs to us all

Letters to the editor

Doug Keith State College Most Americans don’t wake up thinking about constitutional law or the separation of powers. They worry about paying the mortgage, buying groceries, affording health care and putting gas in the car. They voted hoping life would become more affordable and secure. Instead, many are facing rising costs, growing uncertainty and a government increasingly focused on consolidating power rather than solving everyday problems. Throughout history, democracy has rarely disappeared overnight. It erodes when leaders weaken independent institutions, demand personal ...