Letters: Learn about candidates before the primary; Volunteers are the cornerstone of the Red Cross
Editor's note: The Centre Daily Times welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the May 20 primary election and will accept letters that are received by May 6. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.
Do you know your candidates? The May 20 municipal primary will feature candidates for school board, supervisors and council, mayor, district attorney, district judge and jury commissioner.
The League of Women Voters of Centre County is hosting a non-partisan Candidates' Night April 29 at the State College Municipal Building at 7 p.m. The moderated format includes six questions from constituent concerns, each candidate rotating responding first, then each candidate's closing statement. The forum is livestreamed and archived by C-NET.
Local elections have low turnout and can be won by a few votes, so every voter counts! Candidates' Night is an opportunity to meet candidates.
Candidates in contested races for SCASD school board, BASD school board, Benner and Spring Township supervisors were invited. School boards build hire teachers, build schools and set districts' school taxes. Supervisors manage trash pickup, roads and zoning. Get to know the officials in charge of your life at Candidates' Night!
LWVCC is a nonpartisan organization; we invite all candidates in contested races. SCASD school board candidates Deborah Anderson, Jesse Barlow, Jennifer Black, Rebecca Arnold Desmarais and Jackie Huff accepted; Kristen McTernan and Mihaly Sogor declined. For BASD, Nate Campbell, Jon Guizar and Joe Yech accepted; Kristin Lyons declined. Benner Township supervisors did not reply. For Spring Township, Frank Royer accepted. But Korena Defurio did not reply, so LWVCC cannot hold that race.
You may email your questions to lwvcentrecounty@gmail.com or submit questions at the event. We look forward to seeing you April 29!
Bonnie Goble, Boalsburg. The author is a member of the League of Women Voters of Centre County.
During National Volunteer Week, the American Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania celebrates the selfless volunteers whose unwavering support make it possible for us to assist people in need every day.
Volunteers are the cornerstone of the Red Cross, representing more than 90% of our national workforce and their compassion helps to ensure that people are not alone during the most challenging times of their lives.
Here in central PA, more than 700 Red Cross volunteers supported blood drives, assisted veterans and military families and provided food and shelter after disasters of all sizes.
Today, volunteers are more critical than ever as the Red Cross responds to a new major disaster about every two weeks. These massive events, like storms and wildfires, are on top of the home fires which occur multiple times every day across the country.
During Volunteer Week, join us in thanking all those who volunteer across our community, and consider putting on a red vest and joining our team. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to get started today. Free online training will be provided.
Laura Burke, Harrisburg. The author is the executive director of the American Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Chapter.
Donald Trump promised Americans a booming economy: '…the best jobs, the biggest paychecks, the brightest economic future the world has ever seen.' As egg prices reached a new high (just in time for Easter), he braced Americans for economic turmoil. His chaotic and destabilizing trade war will dramatically increase costs on a broad swath of products, including toys, clothes and electronics.
Trump's overhaul of the federal workforce has targeted scientific research and international aid. Cuts also hit central Pennsylvanians — farmers who supply food banks, and programs treating veterans with PTSD.
Some cuts are purely petty. Eliminating National History Day, a nationwide competition that engages more than a half-million students annually and prepares students for success and civic engagement — something that benefits us all.
As Americans struggle with increased prices and reduced services, Trump frivolously spends $3.4 million for each golf excursion.
Trump vindictively targets law firms and universities whose policies or employees he doesn't like. And he aggressively targets individuals who challenge his false claims.
He issued a brazenly vengeful executive order to investigate Christopher Krebs, former head of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security, for refuting claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Alarm bells should sound when the president exacts retribution against people who dare to tell the truth that the 2020 election was not stolen. He's testing American democracy.
Trump isn't using his office to improve Americans' lives. He's wielding his power like a Mafia mob-boss and Republicans in Congress are helping him do it!
Margie Swoboda, Julian. The author is the chair of the Centre County Democratic Committee.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
BBC Hits Back At Karoline Leavitt's 'Repeatedly False' Attack On Its Gaza Coverage
The BBC has hit back at White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt after she attacked its coverage of the war in Gaza. Leavitt accused the British public service broadcaster of spreading 'misinformation' over the way it covered claims that Israel had killed Palestinians near an aid distribution center on Sunday. Speaking at a White House briefing, she said: 'We don't take the word of Hamas with total truth. We like to look into it when they speak, unlike the BBC.' Holding up a piece of paper containing images of BBC reports, she went on: 'They wrote 'Israeli tank kills 26', 'Israeli tank kills 21', Israeli gunfire kills 31′, 'Red Cross says 21 were killed in an aid incident'. And then, oh wait, they had to take down their entire story, saying 'we reviewed the footage and couldn't find any evidence of anything.' But in a video posted on X, BBC News analysis editor Ros Atkins said Leavitt's diatribe 'was repeatedly false.' 'This contains a mix of misrepresentation and untruths,' he added. 'When speaking, Karoline Leavitt held up a printout which showed a post on X by a student activist. Its focus, and hers, was the BBC's coverage on Sunday. Residents had reported Israeli fire near an aid center.' On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made several claims about the BBC's coverage of events in Gaza on Sunday. They were false and misrepresented.@BBCRosAtkins with BBC Verify breaks it down: — Bianca Britton (@biancabritton) June 4, 2025 'Over the course of the day, the BBC repeatedly updated its coverage, as is standard on a breaking news story. Updated claims on fatalities were all clearly attributed to a number of sources in Gaza, including the Red Cross, which is an independent organisation. Sourcing like this is standard when a story is evolving and details are hard to confirm. It's also a necessary aspect of covering this conflict, given Israel doesn't allow international news organisations into Gaza.' Atkins also insisted the BBC had made it clear when the casualty numbers it was reporting had been provided by the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. He added: 'The BBC also reported statements it received from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which called the reports 'false' and urged the media to 'be cautious'.' Atkins said Leavitt's claim that the BBC had been forced to 'take down their entire story' was untrue. 'The BBC didn't take down any of its coverage of this story,' he said. 'The articles remain online.' Later in her press briefing, Leavitt told reporters: 'We're going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium before we take action, and I suggest that journalists who actually care about truth do the same to reduce the amount of misinformation that's going around the globe on this front.' Hitting back, Atkins said: 'In this case, either the White House didn't look into its claims about the BBC before bringing them to the podium, or had no concern that they weren't true.' 'You Wussed Out': David Mamet Reveals Trump's 20-Minute Call After He Committed A MAGA Sin Critics Gasp At Trump Official's 'The Thing That Matters' Declaration Cringe Karoline Leavitt Clip Perfectly Sums Up Trump's White House, Say Critics
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Israeli-backed aid sites in Gaza close temporarily after deadly shootings
Advertisement Also on Wednesday, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages. The resolution before the UN's most powerful body also did not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza — two other US demands. The 14 other members of the 15-nation council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'catastrophic' and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory. The pause in military operations in Gaza came after days in which dozens of Palestinians trying to reach one of the foundation's sites in the southern Gaza city of Rafah were killed after coming under fire, according to local health workers. Advertisement The circumstances of the episodes remain contested. On Tuesday, the Red Cross and Gaza health officials said that at least 27 people had been killed in the second large-scale deadly shooting in recent days. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said a number of civilians had been injured and killed in an area outside the site but did not provide a number. According to the Red Cross, 'The majority of cases suffered gunshot wounds. Again, all responsive patients said they were trying to reach an assistance distribution site.' The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire roughly a third of a mile from the distribution site after they identified 'several suspects moving toward them' and away from the Israeli-designated access route. After they failed to respond to warning shots, troops fired 'near a few individual suspects,' the military said. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the Israeli military's chief spokesperson, later suggested that the casualty numbers from the incident were inflated but did not provide an alternate toll. He said the Israeli military was investigating. On Sunday, more than 20 Palestinians were killed near an aid site, according to Gaza health officials. An Israeli military official said troops had fired 'warning shots' toward Palestinians roughly a kilometer away, although the Israeli military formally denied shooting civilians 'near or within' the site. But the deadly episodes have further ensnarled the Israeli-backed aid effort, which has come under severe international criticism. Hamish Falconer, a British Foreign Office minister responsible for the Middle East, called for an 'immediate and independent investigation' into the mass casualty events and criticized the new aid system. 'Israel's newly introduced measures for aid delivery are inhumane, foster desperation, and endanger civilians,' he said in Parliament. Advertisement Hunger has become widespread in Gaza after an 80-day Israeli blockade on food, fuel, medicine, and other supplies. The Israeli government began relaxing those restrictions last month and allowed some aid to enter the enclave, much of which has been destroyed during the war. Israel has said that the new aid distribution system, with sites in areas secured by Israeli troops and overseen mainly by US contractors, would prevent the supplies from falling into the hands of Hamas. The United Nations, however, says there is no evidence that Hamas systematically diverted international aid under the previous UN-coordinated distribution framework. The UN and other aid groups have boycotted the initiative and have warned that it could endanger Palestinian civilians by forcing them to travel on foot through a war zone and past Israeli lines. The rollout of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been chaotic. Its executive director resigned hours before the initiative was set to begin operations, and Palestinians pushed through fences at one of the sites last week, prompting Israeli troops to fire warning shots. Huge crowds of hungry Palestinians have been arriving early each morning at the aid sites, often walking for miles in the predawn darkness. Palestinian witnesses have described a violent scramble for whatever boxes of food are available. The foundation has pushed back against much of the criticism, arguing that Hamas is trying to undermine the initiative. In a statement Tuesday, the foundation said more than 100,000 boxes of food had been allocated at the sites. Advertisement
The Hill
3 days ago
- The Hill
BBC defends its Gaza coverage against White House claim
The BBC rejected White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's claims that the news outlet took 'the word of Hamas' when reporting on casualties in Gaza. During Tuesday's press briefing, Leavitt claimed the BBC retracted a story that featured statistics on deaths caused by Israeli forces in a story. 'The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism. Karoline Leavitt criticised the BBC for changing the number of casualties in the story's headline. The corporation said its coverage was updated with new figures throughout the day, which is 'totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story,'' the BBC said in a statement. The media company said the number of deaths reported was 'always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of 'at least 21' at their field hospital,' the statement added. BBC noted there were conflicting reports describing a violent attack on individuals seeking aid at a distribution center in Rafah on Sunday. 'The administration is aware of those reports and we are currently looking into the veracity of them because unfortunately unlike some of those in the media we don't take the word of Hamas with total truth, we like to look into it, unlike the BBC,' Leavitt said Tuesday. Since November, experts have warned that the population in northern Gaza is at 'imminent risk' of starvation. Israel blocked aid from entering Gaza in March with support from the White House after Hamas'srefusal to agree to a second ceasefire deal. BBC said Israel does not allow international news organizations into Gaza, making it difficult to verify what is happening in the territory. But BBC maintained that it continues to adhere to journalistic standards. The Washington Post issued a correction to its story regarding the incident in Rafah on social platforms, explaining its article did not meet the Post's fairness standards and lacked proper attribution. 'We told you we'd hold the Fake News accountable,' Leavitt wrote in response to the post.
