For more than five years, families in my neighborhood have lived with a reality no one should accept: Our water is contaminated with PFAS—“forever chemicals” linked to serious health risks—and the source has been traced to the Penn State University Airport.
Penn State publicly presents itself as a “good neighbor” and responsible community steward. For those of us living with contaminated water, that claim rings hollow.
Despite years passing, our families have received no meaningful relief, no permanent solution and no accountability. Instead, we endure quarterly water testing, each round filled with anxiety. At the same time, our largest financial investments—our homes—are being devalued because we must disclose contaminated water on our property deeds.
Who will buy a home knowing the water is unsafe? Who will lend against it? Through no fault of our own, our homes have become liabilities.
This is not speculation. We have documented water test results, contamination maps and Pennsylvania DEP findings clearly showing the extent of PFAS impact in our community. The harm is real, and the plume continues to expand, potentially affecting more residents.
This is not just an environmental issue—it is a human one. Families who did everything right have had their lives disrupted while a powerful institution delays and deflects.
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for responsibility, action and answers. After more than five years, the community deserves justice—and Penn State must be held accountable by action, not slogans.
C. Bartram
Benner Township
SAVE America Act Affects the Right to Vote
Whether you’re pleased or upset about government, vote May 19, and Nov. 3! Voting is a valuable right; it decides all others.
Unfortunately, the proposed SAVE America Act will eliminate or complicate millions of citizens’ voting.
The act requires citizens register in person at government offices with certified birth certificates or passports (not PA Real IDs). No options exist for online registration. This creates barriers for rural, elderly, disabled, student, military and low-income voters. A birth certificate costs $30 and three weeks. U.S. passports, $165, six weeks. You move, you re-register. Your current photo ID must match your proof of citizenship. 69 million married women changed names; they’d require additional documentation.
The Senate votes soon and the president will sign, so states would immediately have to implement this unfunded mandate. The act criminalizes local election workers who mistakenly allow non-citizen voting. Anyone could accuse poll workers.
This act is presented as voter ID, securing elections by preventing non-citizens voting. Voter ID is a tiny part of this anti-voter law. Non-citizen voting is already illegal. States have investigated this — Idaho has 1 million plus voters, and found 36 non-citizens voted.
Sometimes a “fix” creates bigger problems. The SAVE America Act will eventually impact almost all voters. TODAY, please call your senators and ask friends and family to do so as well.
The easiest way to lose your right to vote is to stay home and not vote. See you at the polls May 19 and Nov. 3!
Kathleen O’Connell, of Lemont, is president of the non-partisan League of Women Voters of Centre County that works to educate, empower and encourage all eligible citizens to vote.
Tax Changes Make Gambling Losses Even Worse
Most people who gamble hope to win more than they lose. An impression that “everyone is a winner” exists because people focus on the few who win a jackpot, rather than on the multitudes who must lose to make those jackpots possible. Jackpot winners are exceedingly rare. The more a person gambles, the more they should expect to lose.
A tax law change that went into effect at the start of the year promises to make the impact of gambling losses dramatically worse. Prior to 2026, the federal government required taxpayers who itemize to pay taxes on their net gambling winnings – that is, on 100% of gambling winnings minus 100% of gambling losses. Under the new law, taxpayers who itemize must pay taxes on 100% of their gambling winnings minus only 90% of their gambling losses.
Suppose a person sets up a $1,000 annual gambling fund and gambles with only these funds and any gambling winnings. If this person puts his $1,000 into “loose” slot machines with 96% Return to Player (RTP), he might “win” $960 (i.e. a $40 net loss). If he gambles this $960 again, he might “win” $921.60 (i.e. a net loss of $38.40 more). If our gambler continues recycling his “winnings” through the slot machines until his gambling fund is fully depleted – which many people can do in a single night – he will eventually have “won” a total of about $24,000, while having gambled and lost about $25,000.
Our gambler will now owe federal taxes on an amount equal to his total gambling winnings minus 90% of his gambling losses – that is, on $24,000 – ($25,000 x 0.90) = $1,500 of “phantom income.” Not only has our gambler lost his $1,000 that he budgeted for gambling, but he now owes taxes on an amount of “phantom income” greater than the amount that he lost gambling! Estimated tax payments on this “phantom income” may also be due – and if these are not promptly paid, additional penalties and interest may be added.
If our gambler does not itemize, his situation is far worse. Gambling losses cannot be deducted by taxpayers who do not itemize, so our gambler’s entire $24,000 of gambling “winnings” would be taxable as income if he takes the standard deduction instead of itemizing. For many people, such an increase in “earnings” could jeopardize their government health care subsidies and other benefits.
If our gambler was “lucky” and experienced better than 96% RTP, he would have gambled for longer and generated significantly more “phantom income” before depleting his gambling fund. Heavy gamblers can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars of “phantom income” every year. There is no limit to the amount of gambling-derived “phantom income” on which a person can owe taxes.
This information is not intended to serve as tax advice but is only presented as a general analysis. You should consult with a tax professional to evaluate your own personal situation.
Or better yet, avoid the extra accountant fees and taxes entirely by not gambling.
Andrew Shaffer
State College
