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Will president’s trip be mischief in the Middle East?

President Joe Biden is jetting off to the Middle East but, the question is, for what purpose? The President is to touch down in Israel amid upcoming elections in that nation. Israel is currently under the stewardship of an interim Prime Minister who, naturally, is not in a position to make any deals. Is it the President’s intention to pressure or support one political party or another in Israel? It sounds absurd, but Joe Biden would not be the first president to attempt such officious intermeddling. President Obama famously defended the use of American money to support anti-Prime ...

To test or not to test

My brother recently flew in from Florida to visit the family. During the flight he wore a mask, not only to protect himself from COVID but also from airborne allergens. When he arrived here in “sinus valley” he believed his slight congestion was allergy and sinus related. As the day moved on his congestion became worse and he felt tired, which he attributed to having been up since four that morning. So before we headed out for a long awaited, highly anticipated outing, we decided it was “best to test” to be sure COVID was not the cause. Although he felt he was ok — no ...

Candidates should listen to senior voters

As the candidates for governor and U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania hit the campaign trail this summer, it would be wise for them to pay closer attention to voters 50+. Why? Because all indications point to Pennsylvania voters 50+ being 61% of the likely voting electorate, and that means they could be the deciders come November 8. New research by AARP in partnership with pollsters Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research shows that the candidates are neck and neck. State Senator Doug Mastriano (R) and Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) are essentially tied in the governor’s race among likely ...

Families of those with severe COVID-19 cases struggle with fear, missed memories

I was fortunate that my parents could fund my college tuition, that our health insurance covered most hospital expenses, that my dad made it home alive, and that my family is finally together again. Despite all this I don’t always feel that ‘fortune.’ Many things went on behind the scenes that most didn’t know about, like the new responsibilities I didn’t want that forced me to grow up all too quickly. When my dad first tested positive for COVID, my most pressing problem was that I wouldn’t be able to participate in my high school musical due to being quarantined. I cried ...

Chief Justice Roberts: a profile in courage

Chief Justice John Roberts is a profile in courage who would easily make it into John F. Kennedy’s famous work on politicians who sometimes take the path less traveled. Roberts, was nominated by George W. Bush on September 29, 2005. He had formerly served on the District of Columbia Circuit Court. He was defined by President Bush’s enemies as a man who would ruin the Court and return it to prehistoric days. Instead, Roberts has stood out as a courageous and honorable justice. Much has already been written about Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health, decided by the Supreme Court in ...

Vaccines for children under 5

• Does my child actually need the vaccine? Yes. There is a tremendous burden of disease in this age group. Thankfully the rate of severe disease is lower compared to adults, but this is an inherently flawed comparison because kids don’t die as often as adults. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 442 children aged 0-4 years old have died from COVID-19. If we compare to other vaccine preventable diseases among children, deaths due to COVID19 are highest. We cannot become numb to these deaths. In terms of hospitalization, children, and specifically those under age 5, did not fare ...