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Editorials

What other newspapers are saying: Risky mine conditions must be investigated

Recently, two West Virginia communities suffered losses that have become much rarer — thank goodness — but still are thought of as something to be accepted as a risk taken by those who work in our coal industry. Two coal miners died within a 24-hour stretch late last week — Thursday evening in Raleigh County and Friday morning in Marshall County. Shuttle car operator Aaron Warrix of Chapmanville was hit by a piece of rock at the Alpha Metallurgical Resources Panther Eagle Horse Creek Mine in Raleigh County. Miner Darin Reece is believed to have been crushed between two pieces ...

Lawmakers need to hold firm on spending

About 10 weeks ago, Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his 2026-27 state budget proposal. The budget is due June 30 — about 11 weeks away. As close to the mid-point as we are, we hope our lawmakers are making substantive progress on deciding what the state budget should look like. We can ...

Past vital to understanding future

A week ago, on front pages of both the weekend edition and the Monday edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, we published stories about our history, as perhaps the launch of our observance of the United States’ 250th anniversary. It is difficult to affix a label or phrase that this ...

What other newspapers are saying: Drones the future of warfare

There is nothing quite like war to shine a light on a nation’s strengths — and weaknesses. Take the American war on Iran. The astonishing reach and dominance of US airpower is on display almost daily, as American (and Israeli) fighter jets strike Iranian military targets, manufacturing plants, and government leaders. (An American F-15E downed on Friday was the first US plane to be lost over Iran in the month-long campaign.) That they have significantly undermined Tehran’s military is unquestioned. And yet the limits of brute American force are also all too apparent, as two of ...

State’s maternal care plan underwhelming

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Healthy Moms, Vibrant Futures’ Maternal Health Strategic Action Plan sounds like a real step forward in helping expectant mothers in rural areas. Perhaps it’s unfair to expect a problem that has metastasized over the past two decades to be fixed quickly, but in our view Shapiro’s plan doesn’t seem likely to accomplish much in its first year. And that’s too bad, because there are hundreds of soon-to-be mothers in rural counties across our state who we think deserve better. The plan has several components, but given the closures of labor and delivery ...

Natural gas remains important part of economic puzzle

As often as we’ve editorialized about the interconnectedness between affordable energy and the successes and opportunities American families may enjoy, world events unfortunately can bring that interconnectedness into sharper focus. An article in Thursday’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette in which an official with the Marcellus Shale Coalition demonstrated that. “Global instability is a stark reminder that energy security is national security,” Pat Henderson, vice president of communications and government affairs at the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said. “America, ...