Gary Stout

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 state budget released in February features $53.3 billion in spending, reflecting an estimated 5.4% increase. The proposal seeks to raise additional funds not through higher personal income or sales taxes, but by legalizing new revenue streams and utilizing state reserves to balance the budget.

In January 2019, my spouse and I were privileged to join a Washington County Bar Association cultural exchange. It was a unique continuing legal education program that transported 24 local travelers to Havana, Cuba. Over five days we were treated to a full lineup of lectures on Cuban history, economics, and the socialist political system. We also enjoyed diverse eating experiences, museums, an art colony, and music/dance ensembles.

For those who want to start their day on a positive note, I have a suggestion. As you rise out of bed, do not turn on the news to catch the latest 8 a.m. press conference from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Do not go to a financial channel to learn how the stock market […]

When you write these commentaries long enough, issues from the past will often resurface. In March 2021, I received a phone call from now-deceased district attorney Eugene Vittone who told me about his efforts to save the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC) from the county’s plans to dissolve it. Vittone sent a letter opposing […]

When it comes to racism and civil rights in America, hard-fought victories have often taken a turn for the worse. This backsliding has produced policies that hamper the equal rights of African Americans. In 2026, the pattern has been repeated, this time initiated by the Supreme Court.

Bituminous (soft) coal was first mined in Pennsylvania at “Coal Hill” (Mount Washington), across the Monongahela River from the city of Pittsburgh. By 1830, Pittsburgh consumed more than 400 tons of bituminous coal per day for domestic and light-industrial use. As the industrial revolution gained momentum, the anthracite coalfields, or “hard coal” of eastern Pennsylvania, captured new markets.

I would much rather pen a travelogue or an essay on an everyday, personal event than research and write a political commentary. Journalism is overburdened with too many of the latter and too few of the former. The truth is, personal essays are more fun to write.

What better way to capture the spirit of 2026 than to attempt to define and to discuss patriotism? In this 250th year of our nation’s existence, what did the concept mean to our founding fathers? Today, with our antagonistic tribal politics, who can lay claim to being a patriot? How can we shape an inclusive, […]

Pennsylvania is divided into 67 counties and features a remarkably high number of local governments. Each parcel of land within the commonwealth falls into a specific city (57), borough (956), incorporated town (1), or township (1,546). The large number of municipalities resulted from early settlement patterns that were fragmented by challenging mountain terrain and rivers. […]

The “American Dream” is a timely topic to consider in this year of national celebration and reflection. On the surface, the dream promises upward mobility and contentment for America's citizens. However, as our history has unfolded, it is fair to ask whether the dream is a national creed worth celebrating or a disappointing mirage for millions of Americans.