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COVID-19 vaccines — what you should know

There’s good news about COVID-19. It is no longer among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. But it’s still in the top 15. COVID was the primary cause of 31,000 American deaths in 2024 and contributed to about 14,000 more. Positive COVID test rates and hospitalizations were very low earlier this year but increased, as expected, with the late-summer surge, when U.S. deaths rose above 300 per week in late August and early September. Severe disease and deaths were lower than in previous surges thanks to immunity from vaccinations and previous infections, but wastewater ...

Term limits limit representation

In a recent move, City Council has decided to unanimously consider approving term limits on local elected positions. While there is a certain amount of prestige in the Mayor’s Office and Council, one could argue that the minor positions of Controller and Treasurer do not have the same public attention nor do they come with the same power. Their duties consisting of day-to-day tasks required to keep taxpayer funds safe and collect taxes equally necessitate that there is a strong moral compass and a drive to operate efficiently. Where these positions sit in terms of their compensation, ...

Who, and under what circumstances, should someone have a choice?

We all have experienced moments in our lives we’ll remember forever. For me one such moment occurred when my aunt was in the hospital, saying she couldn’t bear it anymore and if she had the physical strength, she’d jump out of the window. I so much wanted to help her jump. She died of cancer, and when she was dead, I felt deep sadness. But I also felt something else: happiness and relief - because she finally didn’t have to suffer anymore. Less than two years later her mother - my grandmother - died of cancer too. My grandmother never suffered loudly, never complained about ...

Campus antisemitism and the choice between honey, vinegar

A worn expression claims that, “You get more with honey than with vinegar.” There are more exceptions to that rule than, to use an old-fashioned saying, “Carter has little liver Pills.” College antisemitism is, unquestionably, a major problem and one largely left unaddressed. Attending various college events, one cannot help but be impressed with the outright fear expressed by many Jewish college students. Sometimes that fear turns into anger and other times the Jewish student merely runs for cover. As a result of the toxic environment on many college campuses, students have ...

Costly obstacles for broadband

Pennsylvania needs more broadband. Connecting underserved communities to affordable, high-speed internet will help rural communities prosper. Unfortunately, one misguided Pennsylvania policy makes the process needlessly expensive and ostensibly blocks internet access. This year, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) will award almost $800 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants, once fully approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Sadly, Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage designations will limit how ...

Tenants’ rights include protections to live safely

I get asked a lot of questions from people renting in the city about what landlords are legally required to provide tenants in residential dwellings and apartments. Landlords must abide by certain rules and laws to safely have tenants. Having safe and healthy living spaces is your legal right ...