Inner Nature: COVID-19 and what you need to know
By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times
News of the novel coronavirus outbreak has exposed our vulnerability to two things: fear and contagion. I have had conversations with people, admittedly not science-aware types, who think that countries should be providing antibiotics prophylactically, or frustrated a vaccine is taking so long to make. I have heard people conflating the virus that causes COVID-19,...
The stark truth: Sanders will lose Chester County, Pa. and nationally
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Until Saturday, the early state voters in the Democratic primary had spoken: “Four More Years of Trump!”
While Joe Biden’s strong win in South Carolina gave hope to his campaign, the fact remains that he is underfunded and a strong underdog on Super Tuesday. At this point, there are no other viable candidates to take on Sen. Bernie Sanders.
This fact —...
Letter: Pa. needs more tax breaks for strained communities
To The Editor,
On Tuesday night, I joined millions of Americans and watched the latest Democratic debate. Despite the mudslinging, I heard something I liked. When asked about how to help minority communities, Vice President Joe Biden said he favors a First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit. That was a relief. In Chester County, with its coveted schools, clean air, and preserved green spaces, housing is...
Letter: Avondale can’t afford Borough Hall upgrades
To The Editor,
At a recent Avondale Borough council meeting, I learned that some council members are moving forward with a proposal to renovate and add on to the borough building.
As a taxpaying resident of the borough, I am in disagreement with this decision and wish to make other borough residents aware of the situation and how Avondale Borough’s money is being spent.
Op/Ed: We must stop human trafficking
By Kristine Howard, Special To The Times
State Rep. Kristine Howard
For many, the phrase human trafficking conjures images of elsewhere. They may have heard that the U.S. Department of State estimates some 12 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. But not here, surely. Not in my backyard.
Yet sadly, terrifyingly, it is here.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape estimates over 100,000...
Op/Ed: Tying Restore PA to fracking is a bad idea
By Ginny Kerslake, Special To The Times
Ginny Kerslake
Gov. Tom Wolf’s Restore PA is back! It’s an infrastructure plan that would provide funding for critical projects such as stormwater mitigation, high speed internet access for communities without it, superfund cleanup and combating blight. It is paid for with a severance tax placed on drillers for the amount of gas they extract. What’s...
Iowa? New Hampshire? How about Pennsylvania being first for a change?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
So….does anyone know the outcome of the Iowa Caucus?
In truth, does it actually matter?
Which leads to this point: it’s time for Iowa and, frankly, New Hampshire, to take a back seat on this first-in the nation primary/caucus crap.
Truthfully, a state that often finds itself with a meaningless primary should really be first.
Pennsylvania.
Hey, it is where...
Op/Ed: What do American farmers and asylum detainees have in common? Suicide.
By Sandra Malamed R.N., M.S., Special To The Times
Sandra Malamed R.N., M.S.
Deaths of despair do not discriminate. Rising numbers of deaths by suicide have been reported in American farmers. The prevalence of suicide deaths of migrants in detention is equally troubling. Commonalities of suicide risk factors are easily found in the two groups.
According to the CDC, suicide rates in American...
We The People are We The Jury when it comes to impeachment
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Today, for just the third time in U.S. history, an impeachment trial of the President of the United States begins.
While the pundits will go on endlessly about the 100 U.S. Senators who will decide President Donald J. Trump’s fate, there is a greater truth.
We — the American people — are the jury. You have a duty to watch if possible, catch up and stay informed...
The joy (not) of paying the GOP tax
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Say what you will about Donald Trump, but a lot of what either thrills or angers folks is decades in the making. Essentially, Republicans being Republicans.
For me, personally, that means grabbing money from me and my family and cheerfully reassigning it to wealthy people and corporations. Until I recently did the math, though, I had no idea how bad those numbers...
