Breaking News

Opinion

Dear Annie: Spring break planning has me feeling broken

Columns

Dear Annie: Spring break is coming, and instead of feeling excited, I feel like I’m bracing for impact. We have school-aged kids, and every year this week turns into a mix of pressure, money stress and hurt feelings. Some families we know are doing big trips — skiing, the Caribbean, Disney, you name it. My kids hear about it at school and come home with that look that says, “Why aren’t we doing something like that?” I try to stay upbeat, but it stings, especially because I work hard and still feel like I’m coming up short. Here’s the bigger issue: My spouse and I ...

WHYY/WPSU advancing

Letters to the editor

Kelly Hastings Mill Hall As a member of a group working to preserve public media for our region, I want to address some concerns that have been raised about the proposed partnership that would result in WHYY in Philadelphia acquiring our local WPSU stations. The planned transfer of the WPSU broadcast license to WHYY is still happening. Pending the completion of the asset transfer and transitional services agreements, the broadcast license transfer requests of the FCC will be filed. Successful outcomes to all of these steps will trigger final closing of the acquisition. WPSU’s ...

Man with very low kidney function chooses to avoid dialysis

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: A loved one of mine has had kidney problems for his whole life. He’s now on the transplant list, and his kidney function is very low. But he continues to avoid dialysis, saying that he’s not ready for it. Surprisingly, his heart health, cholesterol and blood pressure are always great when tested. He sometimes has swelling if he’s on his feet for too long, but this can be reduced by going on medication for a few days. He also has uncontrolled diabetes. At one point, his A1C level was over 11%, but now it is closer to 6% or 7%. In addition, he’s on a biologic due ...

So you want to be a plumber

Columns

The skilled trades have become hot of late. That has many young people dropping plans to attend college. Meanwhile, some desk-bound professionals are said to gaze longingly at nearby construction sites. They daydream about trading spreadsheets for tool belts. They imagine becoming plumbers, electricians or carpenters — welders, riggers or crane operators. The list of hands-on jobs that require real training is long. Why the change of hearts? Three reasons: 1. Artificial intelligence will soon do the thinking required for many of these office occupations. 2. The realization that ...

At war against everything that moves

Letters to the editor

Kimball Shinkoskey Woods Cross President Trump is at war with the entire globe, either by means of tariffs, or by means of missiles and bombs. Unpopular autocrats like himself go to war primarily to keep themselves in power. War brings out an attraction to evil and to illegitimate power. That is why Benjamin Netanyahu won’t stop warring against Muslims and why Muslim theocrats won’t stop warring against Israel. That is why Vladimir Putin won’t quit war against Ukraine. Trump is made for staying in power, so he is made for war. He is made for life-long war against women who ...

Rich Wykoff

Letters to the editor

MICHAEL RENDOS Lock Haven Kudos to the selection of Rich Wykoff to fill the Region VIII position on the KCSD School Board. Mr. Wykoff is a seasoned former educator, with extensive experience in both the classroom and administrative side of the educational process, and will make a seamless transition to the function of board policy. He is a soft spoken individual, but I suspect his voice will ring loud and clear when it comes to what he believes is best for the kids sitting in the classroom seats. Mr. Wykoff is a man of solid conviction who truly believes in the overall picture of KCSD.