Eighty years on, Smokey Bear has aged like a fine oak
On a muggy mid-morning in early August, I arrived at the Berks County (Pennsylvania) Heritage Center to celebrate the birthday…
Is there a solution to chronic absenteeism in schools?
I hated going to school so much as a kid that to this day, the sight of Back to School!…
Secret Service director resigns after admitting agency ‘fell short’ during Trump assassination attempt
US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, the person charged with ensuring Donald Trump’s safety and that of everyone at the…
What’s behind all the buzz about non-alcoholic beer?
There’s nothing quite like the third swig of a gin and tonic at the end of a long summer’s day.…
What I saw at the Trump shooting
Butler, Pennsylvania The crowd had waited for hours in the heat for Trump to show up. When he did arrive,…
Adopting the Great Loop mindset
When I asked Malinda and Keith Martin when a good time for an interview would be, Malinda wrote back, “We…
Pennsylvania at the polls
It’s nicknamed “the Keystone State” because, if my memory of junior-year Pennsylvania history class serves me, in America’s early founding…
How serious is the feral pig problem?
Let’s play a guessing game: I’m a dangerous force threatening Americans’ health, safety and way of life. We largely rely…
Why ‘dirty’ coal is vital to a ‘clean’ green future
The Central and Western regions of Pennsylvania are known for their majestic, untamed landscapes. Seen from on high, you’d think…
RFK goes it alone in Philadelphia
Had you blindfolded me yesterday morning, led me to the front lawn of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, removed…
A storm is brewing in the Senate, too
After the US House stole the spotlight last week, sources on the Hill say a similar, yet more “behind-closed-doors” brouhaha…
College-town blues
College towns are “decimating the GOP,” reported Politico in July, the reason being, in part, that “more college students and more faculty…
Why public schools never have enough money
The new school year is just a few weeks away, and that can only mean one thing: right on cue,…
How preserving old houses helps defeat wokeness
To thwart the woke objective, the non-woke need to muster every asset we can. If you’re planning to relocate to…
Jason Aldean’s critics have clearly never been to a small town
Country music superstar Jason Aldean has come under fire for a song that condemns violent crime and promotes the Second…
When vegans are worthy of our disdain
Celebrity chef John Mountain made headlines last week for banning vegans from his restaurant, Fyre, citing “mental health reasons,” reportedly…
To back Trump or to steer clear?
Republican politicians face a conundrum in Donald Trump’s indictment that reminds me of a scene from Pride and Prejudice. Confronted…
Are electric vehicles really the future?
It’s a cloudless spring day, made for a country drive. Chartreuse trees explode with pollen and glow to near neon.…
Horse racing has a drug problem
Tomorrow is one of the best days of the year, Kentucky Derby Day. It means spring is really, finally, officially…
Men: it’s time to bring back sideburns
Our nation’s collective Man Card is on the verge of being rescinded. The number of “lonely, single men” is rising…
J.D. Vance makes a big, bipartisan first impression
J.D. Vance gained prominence in 2016 for appealing to two camps. His critique of the roots of rural poverty, relayed…
East Palestine and the roots of rural mistrust
The East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment has thrust rural America into the national spotlight. Town mayor Trent Conaway, a hefty,…
Seed catalogs and their rejuvenating power
Winter’s bleakest days have set in. “The holidays” are a distant memory. Rose-colored resolutions to wake up earlier, eat healthier…
Why after Covid does everyone drive like maniacs?
I’m cruising on an uncongested stretch of Interstate 80 when I see an eighteen-wheeler plodding up the hill ahead. I…
A pilot explains why air travel has become so stressful
Add your tropical dream vacation/work trip/family wedding to the list of lingering Covid consequences. If you’re like me, every time…