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What other newspapers are saying: Economic goal might be too vague

Editorials

After weeks of debate and discussion, points and counterpoints, the Chautauqua County Legislature has decided that the number one economic development goal for county government is sustainable disposable income growth. It sounds like a good goal. No one is against the idea of increasing disposable income for county residents. Certainly no one would say they are against such a goal in an election year. The problem is few know what the heck the legislature means with this goal. Wouldn’t it be simpler to use household income growth as the goal rather than disposable income growth? ...

Was Orwell’s Animal Farm fiction?

Other Commentaries

I was very young when my sister gave me George Orwell’s Animal Farm to read. The book was about animals on a farm who were mistreated by the mean, nasty, and cruel farmer. They revolted. The animals got rid of the farmer and put the pigs in charge. Well, as it turned out, the pigs were worse overlords than the farmer had ever been. When I read Animal Farm, I had no idea that it was a parody of the Russian Revolution. I knew there was something strange about the book and the theme, but it took my fifth grade teacher to explain to me what I had read and its meaning. Following my ...

Our goal is to continue fairly covering local government

Editorials

Some recent discussion has attempted to claim that our newspaper is negligent in our coverage of the condition of the City Hall building at 245 W. Fourth St. The truth of the matter is the Williamsport Sun-Gazette has, in its hundreds of articles about local government in the past five ...

The illusion of Marcellus Shale gas’ economic benefits

Other Commentaries

In a recent story titled, “Marcellus Shale Coalition President Assesses State of Gas Industry”, The Sun-Gazette reported that, “While the MSC is based in Pittsburgh its ties and economic benefits for the county and its operators are unquestionable.” Actually, the economic benefits Lycoming County derives from the shale gas industry aren’t just questionable, they are at best meager and may not even offset the damage the industry does done to quality of life in the county. The only measure by which Lycoming County is prospering since the start of the shale gas boom is that ...

Which states are leading on wage growth?

Other Commentaries

Newly released data shows that two out of the top three states for average hourly wage growth in the nation are in our region. This is good news for consumers when considering regional purchasing power. Montana came in with the second-highest increase in the country, just behind Kentucky. In 2024, the Treasure State had an average wage of $27.96, and in 2025, that number rose to $29.27. Its top private sector industries include health care, retail trade, and construction. Companies are continuing to make the move from states with high regulatory burdens to states like Montana that ...

Energy development still needed

Editorials

“In any business, you need to understand the rules of the road and what is expected so you can develop a business plan,” an industry leader told the Sun-Gazette, as reported in Monday’s edition. We believe that James D. Welty, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, is correct to be concerned about changes or revisions to the regulations that provide oversight to the natural gas industry fueling uncertainty and discouraging investment. As we have editorialized frequently, we believe the United States and the world need energy development here in Pennsylvania — including ...