Latest news with #CentreDailyTimes
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters: No such thing as an ‘off-year election'; Good Day Cafe is a community asset
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. PA's Municipal Primary Election is Tuesday, May 20. Voters will choose candidates for school board, supervisors and council, mayor, district attorney, district judge and jury commissioner. The neighbors you elect will run your schools, parks, trash, roads, police, zoning, taxes and community events. There's lots of politicking in the news these days — so whether you are thrilled or furious about what government is doing, use your voice to vote! For League of Women Voters nonpartisan information on candidates, go to Look out for the Voters Guide prepared by the LWV of Centre County in the CDT on Sunday, May 11. Refer to your candidates' websites for their priorities. Check your voter registration on the Department of State Website; you must register or submit changes by May 5 to vote in this election. Pennsylvania primaries are closed; you must be registered with the Democrat or Republican party to vote. You can apply for a mail-in ballot by May 13 and return it by 8 p.m. Election Day. If you plan to vote in person, know your polling place! You can find it on the PA Department of State website. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Why should you vote in the municipal primary? These elections have lower voter turnout, and can be won by a single voter! Your vote has much greater impact than in a presidential election! Every election counts! You count! Vote. Susan Werner, State College. The author is a member of the League of Women Voters of Centre County. Each April members of our community volunteer to review applications of funding for the 21 Centre County United Way partners. Recently several of us had the privilege of visiting with Strawberry Field's mission in the Hamilton Square Shopping Center known as Good Day Cafe. This lovely coffee, breakfast and lunch shop is staffed by our neighbors who have intellectual disabilities, and by their coaches and support team. It is heartwarming to witness these folks contributing to our area while providing them a sense of purpose, financial stability and confidence. If you're one of their regulars, they appreciate you. If you haven't stopped by, go make their day and yours, even if it's out of your way a bit. Larry Thorwart, Bellefonte. The author is a United Way volunteer. With great enthusiasm, I endorse Jen Black as a candidate for the State College Area School District Board of Directors. As a candidate for the board, she looks forward to creating a dynamic interaction among the board, the public, the staff and the students. She will encourage constructive, open dialogue among these groups to address in a timely manner topics of importance to the district and the public. As a board member fully engaged in the working of the district, she will offer in-person interaction with the district's administration, staff and students. She will offer her ability to speak forcefully and clearly. She will draw from her experiences as a community leader, a member of PSU College of Education Alumni Board, a tutor K-8 for 20 years, an elementary teacher for seven years, a WPSU Education Ambassador, a volunteer with AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), and a parent. I applaud her belief that every child matters. She will support policies and actions that value diversity, equity and inclusion. Jen Black is diligent in her research, articulate in her commentaries, and persistent in achieving her goals. Jen Black is a good listener. Jen Black is methodical in her actions and diligent in meeting the demands of her commitments. I look forward to casting my vote for Jen Black. I encourage you to vote for Jen Black in the primary election for SCASD board of directors. Harold L. McFerren, State College During these tumultuous days, I can think of no one better equipped to help us steer the course for the future of our children than Jesse Barlow. I served with Jesse during my term on the State College Borough Council and can vouch 100% for his honesty, integrity and commitment to this community. He listens carefully and can always be counted on as a voice of reason during difficult situations. Jesse would bring outstanding experience to the school board, having served two terms as a State College Borough councilman, including as president. His work with the Centre County Advisory Council for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has helped familiarize him with state and federal civil rights law. He has lived in State College since 1981 and has two SCASD educated children! As a member of the school board, Jesse promises a school district that is welcoming of all students and parents, maintains a high-quality education, and defends strong public schools. Please join me in supporting Jesse and vote for him for State College Area School District Board of Directors on primary election day on May 20. Deanna M. Behring, State College
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Under the baobab: It's time we all do our part as the resistance continues
Let me make songs for the people, Songs for the old and the young; Songs to stir like a battle cry wherever they are sung. Not for the clashing of sabers, for carnage nor for strife; But songs to thrill the hearts of men (and women) with more abundant life. …Our world, so worn and weary, needs music, pure and strong, To hush the jangle and discords of sorrow, pain, and wrong. – Frances Harper. Let me begin with a disclaimer. The ideas expressed in this column do not represent the political or social views of the Centre Daily Times, Penn State University, the Borough of State College, or Black people in general. These opinions are mine alone. First, congratulations to Gary Abdullah Jr. for being selected as this year's Lions Paw Medal Recipient. Also, the Penn State AI Hub culminated AI Week with a presentation of 68 poster projects at the Nittany Lion Inn and research awards. The resistance continues. Harvard, the oldest university in America, stepped to the front lines of the resistance. The school rejected demands from the Trump administration that they change their policies. Harvard argued that the changes demanded by the government exceed its lawful authority and infringed on both the university's independence and its constitutional rights. 'The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,' Harvard President Alan Garber wrote, 'No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.' The Trump government responded by freezing more than $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and contracts to the university. They also threaten to revoke the university's tax-exempt status. Harvard was the first major academic institution to be so attacked. They responded with courage and integrity. Other universities, including Penn State, have taken a wait and see posture. Several of the Big Ten schools are forming a collective alliance to mutually assist each other should any of them be attacked. Vice President J.D. Vance and I both attended an Ivy League Law School, not Harvard, after graduating from a state university. Some of our fellow alums went on to become Supreme Court Justices and presidents of the United States. Ultimately, they will be called upon to determine the Constitutional validity of the Trump administration actions and Harvard's response. It is time we all do our part. Following Harvard's lead, some of us will dust off our credentials. As an election official I will help to ensure that 'one person/one vote' will be the rule in at least one Centre County precinct in the local primaries. As a former legal services organization president and law professor, I will be volunteering my skills to assist those in danger of being wrongfully deported. As a citizen I will participate in future events that follow the hundreds of 'Hands Off' protests. Another hero, Maryland Sen. Van Hollen, traveled to El Salvador to check on the status of his constituent Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was unjustly deported and imprisoned after a round up by U.S. immigration authorities. Sen. Van Hollen was able to have a brief visit to reassure Mr. Garcia that he is not alone. None of us are. We walk on paths our ancestors constructed, moving toward the dreams and hopes of our children born and not yet born, nourishing ourselves with love, refreshing ourselves with community, knowing that We Are The People. Sing a song for freedom, sing it loud, sing it strong. Sing it true, don't sing it wrong. When you sing a song for freedom, don't forget to walk it too Because when you walk for freedom, I will walk with you. – Charles Dumas Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters: Repairing the damage Trump caused; Who voted for this?
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. Since he took office, Donald Trump has transformed the United States. Before Trump we were the leader of the free world; now we are rogue state that cannot be trusted. Trump attacks our long-standing allies and threatens unspecified action against virtually every nation on Earth (except Russia). Trump and his mouthpieces lie to and then insult the leaders of countries they visit. Because of Trump, no nation on Earth can negotiate in good faith with the United States. Recently, Trump launched his global trade war, sending markets into free-fall and showing the world that we are not a trustworthy trade partner. Trump sacrificed the American economy to extort concessions from everyone (except Russia). Let's not be surprised if the world turns away from America as a primary trading partner. Trump's blatant contempt for the law, the Constitution, the truth, for his word, his enemies, his followers, and, well, everything, means that we can never really trust him. Because he is the President and represents the United States of America, we, as a nation, cannot be trusted. Because of Donald Trump's recklessness, our place as a trusted world leader is now lost and it is not clear whether we will ever be able to repair the damage that he has done. But we have to try: demonstrate, contact your representatives, defend our justices, and above all vote. America became a world leader because it was a strong democracy — democracy will be our only way back. John Hruschka, Bellefonte Attacks on Social Security and Medicare; random non-strategical tariffs; chainsaw cuts to veterans' benefits, education, health and human services. Who voted for this? I sure didn't! Someone recently asked, 'but what about the USA getting screwed all the time [in trade]?' Most of us agree we are the wealthiest, most prosperous nation in the history of the world. Hard to imagine being the wealthiest nation and being ripped off all the time. We may lose a battle here or there, but we certainly had been thriving pretty good for a few centuries. Most of us would also agree and acknowledge, somewhere in the mix, even if we weren't so blessed, a moral duty to help others less fortunate would kick in. The real beauty in doing the right things in foreign affairs, it helps us in the long run by avoiding death, destruction and the economic calamities of war. Its well past time for reasonable people to come together and correct the course of our nation. Our common values of truth and justice are the American way. When we see and smell crapollo, call it out, speak out against it. Insist upon our foundational 'rule of law.' What happened to 'no person is above the law?' Do you really think that is such a good change? Are adjustments for efficiency and policies that got too far ahead of ourselves good things? Certainly, that's what I voted for. Nobody voted for the chain saw approach or oligarchs. Pay attention, stay engaged. Terry Noble, DuBois Penn State trusteeship is about keeping and protecting our promises. If elected as your trustee, I will focus on three areas which match my advocacy of the same as a student. Raise our academic rankings from 63rd to top tier. Reinvigorate our commonwealth campuses. Protect our land grant promise. First, I have a well-established track record in establishing a legacy of on-ramps to student success. Be it co-founding organizations dedicated to improving recruitment and retention. Or, through extensive Penn State board alumni board service. I will helm consensus-based solutions so we can raise our rankings and keep our students even more ready for the workforce. Second, when it comes to reinvigorating our commonwealth campuses, I am the only candidate to have matriculated through one via Greater Allegheny (formerly McKeesport campus) and remained a champion of the system's success. As a trustee, I will use diplomacy to channel stakeholder input at the table when charting our alma mater's future. Lastly there's protecting our land grant promise, which is the soul of Penn State. That promise is everything you've read up until now, plus a pledge to use my successful career as a journalist having held world leaders accountable, protecting the first amendment, upholding transparency, deploying diplomacy, implementing risk management and facilitating strategic planning. I will do so for Penn State as your next trustee. So please go to read more about how I will serve you. When the ballot arrives April 21, I ask for your vote. Jeff Ballou, Washington, D.C. The author is a candidate for alumni-elected board of trustees.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Never seen before': Centre County DA says at least 12 student visas revoked for retail theft
At least a dozen international students in Centre County have had their student visas revoked in the last two weeks, the county's district attorney said Saturday. Penn State Global's interim vice provost confirmed on April 3 that some Penn State international students have had their lawful status revoked. At the time, Penn State would not share more information, including how many students have been impacted. Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said from his office, they've seen 12 students whose visas were revoked due to retail theft. He said each of those students was placed in a diversion program and was not convicted of any crimes. A 13th person had their status revoked due to a DUI; they participated in a DUI diversion program for first offenses, Cantorna said. None of them had any prior criminal records, he said, and most have already returned to their home countries. 'This is just a small snapshot over the last two weeks, but it's something that we have never seen before,' Cantorna wrote in an email to the Centre Daily Times. 'We are tracking what comes through the legal system but it is a small percentage.' Penn State did not immediately respond to an inquiry on Saturday. The university is one of at least 170 colleges and universities across the United States that have said some international students and recent graduates have had their legal status revoked, according to Inside Higher Ed. This comes as the Donald Trump administration has made immigration one of its top priorities. State Rep. Paul Takac (D-College Township), in a statement Friday, said he is alarmed by these reports at Penn State and called the Trump administration's actions 'Un-American.' 'The sudden termination of legal status due to political expression, minor infractions, or otherwise mysterious circumstances violates our shared values of free speech, justice, and due process,' Takac said. 'The targeting of international faculty, staff, or students erodes trust in our communities and diminishes our standing in the world.' The University Park campus falls within Takac's district; he said he's been engaged with university leadership and law enforcement on the matter and is monitoring the federal actions and policies. 'I am committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that we live up to our highest ideals and adhere to strict legal standards and precedent,' Takac said. 'And while we know of no current ICE actions to date on campus or in our community, I — along with other elected officials and university leaders — remain vigilant.' Sabine Klahr, interim vice provost of Penn State Global, included some guidance and resources available to international students in an April 3 letter to the community. The International Student and Scholar Advising in Penn State Global recommends international students keep their documentation regarding their visa status up to date and to carry copies of proof of status. The letter states federal law enforcement officers can't enter private spaces — like residence halls, locked offices or other secured university spaces — without a warrant. Classrooms are not private spaces. If someone is approached by ICE or other federal officers on campus, they should call University Police 814-863-1111, the letter states.
