Letters to the Editor
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Letter: Casino’s Long-Term Success Increasingly Questionable
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As Happy Valley Casino moves beyond the excitement of its grand opening, the public deserves an honest discussion about whether the project is meeting the expectations presented to Centre County residents. The casino was developed by Ira Lubert, who continues to hold a significant 40% ownership interest in the property. Another investor, Richard “Rick” Sokolov,…
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Letter: Why State College Needs an Ordinance Prohibiting Cooperation With ICE
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In July, the State College Borough Council is set to consider an ordinance (local law) that would prohibit the State College Police Department from signing a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and prevent borough employees from assisting ICE without a judicial warrant. In doing so, State College would join Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown,…
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Letters: Community’s Care Depends on Ensuring Workers Can Afford to Live Here; PSU’s ‘Depressing Performance Metrics’
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Many people assume that because State College is not Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, it must be an affordable place to live. Those of us who live and work here know that is no longer the reality. State College doesn’t have Pittsburgh wages with rural Pennsylvania costs. It’s increasingly becoming big-city housing costs without big-city pay. The…
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Letters: ‘Informed Awareness’ About Gambling; Casino’s Compelled Test Day Donations; GT vs. Planned Parenthood
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As State College prepares for the opening of the Happy Valley Casino, it’s worth understanding a simple but powerful truth about modern slot machines: they are not designed primarily to create winners. They are designed to keep people playing. Much of this comes down to how the human brain works. We tend to think gambling…
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Letters: Penn State Women’s Hockey Made Us Proud; Who Does Thompson Serve?; ‘Reshaping the Media’
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The narrative that Penn State women’s hockey lost in a “heartbreaker” in the Frozen Four semifinals misses the point and does our women athletes a disservice. Penn State women’s hockey didn’t lose. They went the distance. In their first-ever Frozen Four appearance, they fought the returning champions to a draw and took them into overtime. They proved…
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Letters: WPSU a Lifeline; Casino Success No Sure Bet; Thompson Doesn’t Deliver
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Right now, the world feels unsettled. Wars abroad. Political division at home. Misinformation spreading faster than facts. In moments like these, I turn to one place I’ve trusted for decades: WPSU. For years, WPSU has been part of my daily life — in my car, in my home, in my family’s conversations. It has guided…
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Letters: No Accountability for PFAS Contamination; SAVE Act Will Impact All Voters; Exacerbating Gambling Losses
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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…
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Letters: Casino Concerns; When Silence Is Complicity; Cold as ICE; the Moral Cause of Universal Health Care
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Sen. Dave McCormick’s response to the killings in Minneapolis is not just inadequate—it is indefensible. Two innocent people were killed by federal agents in broad daylight. They were not suspects, not aggressors, not threats. Video footage, viewed by millions, shows no imminent danger and no justification for lethal force. Yet instead of demanding accountability, Sen.…
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Letter: Local Faith Leaders Speak Against Conversion Therapy
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As the U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to rule against the ability for states to ban LGBTQ+ conversion therapy, we felt called as leaders and members of our local faith communities to speak out against this harmful practice. Conversion “therapy” is a misnomer. It is not therapy. It is widely discredited and has no basis…
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Letters: No to Casino Dealer School; Support Public Media; Abuse of Presidential Pardons
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To future applicants considering Happy Valley Casino jobs: If you’re thinking of signing up for the Dealer School or for roles as slot attendants, security or food and beverage staff at the proposed Happy Valley Casino, you may want to think again. Working at a casino may look like steady work on paper, but the…