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Veterans, volunteers should be proud of contributions

We suspect the same character traits that led Merrill Shaffer to serve his nation in the U.S. Navy led him to volunteer at area hospitals in their Vet-to-Vet program: A sense of community service, a desire to aid others facing difficult times and a strong work ethic. As the Sun-Gazette ...

What other newspapers are saying: Settlement a starting point

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will change its platforms to better protect teenagers from addictive social media behavior, under a legal settlement the tech company reached with 47 states, including Massachusetts, as well as Washington, D.C., and several US territories on Aug. 26. But those positive steps shouldn’t stop Massachusetts’ Legislature from passing its own bill to protect young people from harmful social media features. Both the House and Senate have passed bills to regulate social media for minors, and a conference committee of lawmakers is ...

Arts programs deserve appreciation

We congratulate St. John’s School of the Arts on its 30-year anniversary — and are grateful for the school and all the programs in our region that help introduce youngsters and the public to the value of the arts. The anniversary celebration, held recently, was featured in Thursday’s ...

Renaming Nashville airport a fitting tribute

In news from around the nation, the Associated Press and Williamsport Sun-Gazette reported last weekend on bipartisan efforts in Tennessee to rename Nashville’s international airport after musician Dolly Parton. While we can understand and appreciate skepticism about naming airports or ...

What other newspapers are saying: Federal Reserve’s independence key question

President Donald Trump’s preferred monetary policy is simple. Is the economy sluggish? Cut interest rates. Is it heating up? Also cut interest rates. Now there’s a new addendum: If his handpicked Federal Reserve chair won’t play ball, hold the economy hostage. At least, that’s what Trump threatened on Friday on Truth Social. He wrote that if the Fed doesn’t “get smart” and lower rates, he will halt trade entirely with any country that maintains a trade deficit with the United States. That would include China, Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, South Korea and dozens of others — ...

Organizers of Sept. 11 remembrances deserve thanks

While we addressed this solemn occasion in Friday’s and Saturday’s editorials, we also want to take a moment and acknowledge the hard work of volunteers throughout our region every year to ensure this important moment does not go unheeded. Planning the 9/11 Memorial Ride is work that ...