Had COVID-19 unleashed its full fury on every region of the United States at once, the situation now would be nearly unmanageable — and much more deadly than we hope will be the case. Fortunately, the disease is progressing at different stages in different places. Large cities such as New ...

Where most of us see tragedy, a few scum see opportunity. Their newest crime is preying on people who expect federal payments to help them get through the COVID-19 outbreak. Needless to say, senior citizens are the preferred targets. Some are receiving calls offering to help them register for ...

While all the world around us is in a state of chaos and health peril, one of our most basic needs — food — is being met, despite challenges. Food production remains safe, accessible and reliable, according to Russell Redding, state agriculture secretary. And a trip to any of the ...

This week will be a brutal one for Americans. As President Donald Trump put it during the weekend, “There will be a lot of death, unfortunately.” By Monday, 330,891 Americans had been diagnosed with COVID-19. More than 8,900 had succumbed to the disease. In Pennsylvania, the state ...

No doubt some members of Congress had to hold their noses while they were voting for the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. CARES includes a ton of money for initiatives that have nothing to do with COVID-19. Why on Earth did anyone think it was important to cough ...

“Transparency builds trust, especially in times of crisis.” That is the message from Erik Arneson, executive director of the state Office of Open Records, to government leaders at all levels — cities, boroughs, townships and school districts included. As business has ground to a ...

Dear reader, The past few weeks have been full of uncertainty for all of us here in north central Pennsylvania when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted today to provide you with an update on how we have been covering the crisis here at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and the resources ...

For millions of students here and nationwide, public schools have been closed since mid-March. School has been wherever a quiet place could be found in the home. For most, class starts when they and their parents decide it will. That simply will not work for many children. There is a reason ...

Most of us have had to be on the defensive against COVID-19. We practice social distancing and good personal hygiene to defend ourselves and our loved ones. Wouldn’t it be nice to go on the offensive — to save someone’s life? We can. Every day, throughout our country, men, women and ...

“Please stop the spread of rumors.” That’s the plea that recently accompanied confirmation of the first positive test for the COVID-19 virus of a person living in Lycoming County. It was made by Jeffrey L. Hutchins, director of the county Department of Public Safety, who said: “We ...

Today we count. Today our numbers matter. Today is the day of the decennial census of America’s population. Every state and community depends on an accurate population count. Figures that come from the Census are used in calculating the distribution of government resources to states. ...

It is difficult, frankly, to view people refusing to join the rest of us in attempting to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus as anything but spoiled brats. The vast majority of them appear to be young. We see some particularly disturbing and infuriating news coming from abroad. In Germany, ...

A significant number of colleges and universities in the United States were coping with financial challenges, some severe, before COVID-19 reared its ugly head. Now, with many forced to suspend operations and send students home, these institutions of higher learning may be in existential ...

There is a reason “Yankee ingenuity” is recognized throughout the world. We Americans have a reputation for identifying challenges and devising ways to overcome them. Use your head if you decide to come up a home remedy, a way to stretch supplies such as those of food — or any other ...

Sources ranging from the CIA to the Census Bureau disagree on how reliant we Americans are on drugs and medical equipment imported from China. Extend that to international agencies and the variances are even greater. For example, some sources place China far down on the list of countries ...

We Americans are renowned for our compassionate generosity. When we learn of a need, we rush to fill it. It is time to double-down on that attitude of helping others. Throughout the nation, tens of thousands of non-profit organizations — some big national ones, others strictly local — are ...

Millions of dollars in stock transactions on behalf of five U.S. senators have raised serious questions about their ethics — and whether they broke laws against insider trading. Clearly, the matter needs to be investigated, but not as a witch hunt with the preconceived notion that someone ...

Grocery stores and other retailers selling essential goods have adapted their practices in keeping with the social distancing prescription that is a big part of fighting the coronavirus public health crisis. But they cannot do it alone. The shopping public must be big participants in this ...

Most of the news about government’s response to COVID-19 has been released at the state and federal levels. But as the epidemic spreads, local governments will become more and more critical. Some municipal and county officials in our area already have begun planning for that time. Those who ...

Many local business people — and their employees — will get through the COVID-19 epidemic with their physical health intact but their finances ravaged. For those involved with restaurants and bars, the damage already is severe because of closure orders. Restaurants are permitted to serve ...