Winter 2023-24 won’t be remembered as having been a harsh one, from Blair County’s perspective. True, it did have its challenging moments but, all considered, Blair can count itself lucky, in terms of snowfall amount, icy temperatures and winter misery in general. Overall, it wasn’t ...

It’s not just a United States thing; there are smokers around the world who wish they never had taken “that first puff” of a cigarette — for health or other reasons, including the cost of continuing what many call a habit. Regardless, smokers throughout this planet who have access to ...

The April 12 Mirror article “Five Blair prison inmates overdose” should have done more than raise the eyebrows of those reading it. The article should have been an incentive for those readers to ponder what more can be done to deter smuggling into the prison items that are forbidden — ...

It should not have taken the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration two years to make the common-sense ruling against one-person crews for America’s major freight railroads. However, the ruling, having been finalized April 2, is better late than never. The ...

Altoona City Council is correct in its reluctance to rush into naming a permanent city manager, but a question hovers over the hiring issue. That question is: Is there anything about Altoona that is a turn-off to candidates with the experience and mettle to address this community’s ...

Last weekend’s front-page Mirror article “No gray area for mandated reporters” should have been a must-read for everyone, since virtually everyone has indirect or direct contact with children. The article in question should have “opened a lot of eyes” regarding safeguards already in ...