Opinion
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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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Myers: A Grateful Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary
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People are imperfect. This nation is imperfect. Weather forecasting is imperfect. There are few things on Earth that are perfect. But in an attempt to create a great nation, our forefathers pledged their lives, their sacred honor, and their fortunes to try to create the best republic for the people who live in this land.…
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Paterno: American Exceptionalism at 250
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If there was ever a place where one could truly understand American exceptionalism it is at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home just outside Charlottesville, Virginia. Jefferson often spent evenings in the small, square one-room brick and glass garden pavilion to contemplate the day and read. Gazing over the ridges and mountains, he reflected on his life,…
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America At 250: I’m (Still) Proud to Be an American
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I’m about to celebrate my “Mario Lemieux” birthday (my Yinzer friends will know my age immediately), and I continue to be bullish on the American Dream. Despite our flaws as a nation, I’m still proud to be an American. I also believe we can do even better in the next 250 years if we are…
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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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Hook: A Belated Spring Cleaning to Clear Out Column Ideas
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In honor of the last day of spring passing by, I’m going to do a little belated spring cleaning and clear out a few column ideas that are interesting to me, but don’t have enough “meat on the bone,” as it were, to fill out a full 1,000-word column by themselves. Here goes… * *…
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What Would Joe Paterno Have Thought of the Protect College Sports Act? History Is Instructive
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It is natural for those who’ve lost a father to think about them as Father’s Day approaches. Over the past several days, I’ve found myself thinking about my father and his life. Today would’ve been one of intense interest for him. The United States Senate Commerce Committee will be marking up the Protect College Sports…
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Battista: In Marriage, ‘Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard’
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Picture these recent conversations in our retirement community in Sun City: A softball friend: “Hey buddy, we are meeting some other couples at AL’s on Friday night for dinner. You and Heidi want to join us?” Me: “Thanks for the invite, but my wife and I are attending a marriage conference at our church.” The…
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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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Frank: AI Ain’t So Smart
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Threatened as we are by The Machine, we love it when we can say, “Hah! The Machine is dumber than we are!” Case in point: I had some transcribing to do. I always have transcribing to do, because in my professional life I am often asking people questions and recording their answers. My adventures in…