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Religious freedom

Letters

As the semiquincentennial of our Nation approaches, I have been paying more attention to what people think America is or stands for. For example, letters of opinion published herein have claimed the original U.S. Constitutional Republic was formed as a Christian Nation to be governed by Christian principles. I attended a series of four lectures by Christopher Pearl Ph.D. associate professor of history at Lycoming College on the American Revolution. This was a deep dive into the sentiments and events leading to the independence of the colonies along with local history and lore which ...

Crack down on grooming

Letters

Often referenced in today’s headlines but still widely misunderstood, “grooming” describes the behaviors used by child predators to build trust and normalize inappropriate interactions, often disguising exploitation as affection or mentorship. These behaviors most commonly occur when an adult holds a position of authority over a child, such as a teacher, clergy member, or youth group leader. Grooming gradually desensitizes children through boundary testing conversations, physical contact, or inappropriate emotional dependence. Yet in Pennsylvania, there is no statute that ...

What other newspapers are saying: Rural county promotes agriculture

Editorials

When the average city dweller thinks of agriculture and farm life, they likely conjure up a bucolic, timeless scene of the farmer toiling in the fields using tools invented long ago. But in Frederick County, when you think of agriculture, you really should be thinking about innovation and experimentation. That is the reality of farm life in the 21st century here. The county government is aware of the change, and it is making the speed of change even faster, by offering cash grants to farmers seeking to innovate. It is a successful program, at minimal cost to the taxpayers. The ...

Reflect on those who help communities

Editorials

While we are blessed that the majority of our neighbors are secure and comfortable, every community has families and men and women who struggle. The work of volunteers to provide the assistance struggling people need is a vital part of our community — of how it meets these challenges and of its values and principles. All of these organizations need our support so that they, in turn, can continue to help our communities. The Sun-Gazette reported on one such organization, Sojourner Truth Ministries on High Street, in Tuesday’s edition and on upgrades the ministries’ facility ...

FBI director, senator team up to fight fentanyl in Pennsylvania

Other Commentaries

FBI Director Kash Patel joined a roundtable hosted by Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.) earlier this month to discuss the work the Trump administration, Congress, local law enforcement and area prosecutors have done to curb the fentanyl trade in Pennsylvania over the past 13 months. McCormick led the packed event at the Edward N. Chan Federal Building and said that while the state’s death rate due to fentanyl overdoses has significantly decreased over the past year and a half, there was still work to be done. The senator said that fentanyl killed 4,000 Pennsylvanians per year between 2020 ...

Population shifts — voting with feet

Other Commentaries

The latest Census migration data tell a clear and consistent story: people are voting with their feet. In King County, Washington’s largest population center and economic hub, domestic migration has been negative for years. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the county lost 12,501 residents to other parts of the United States. The following year, another 9,079 left. Since 2020, the cumulative loss has reached more than 95,000 people. This is not a one-year anomaly. It is a sustained pattern. At the same time, Idaho’s largest counties are experiencing the opposite trend. Ada County, ...