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Brenda J. Linert

China’s growing power brings challenge

Nearly every day we hear or read of increasing concerns over communist China’s economic and military growth. Recent data published in the Washington Post indicates China logged 2.3 percent growth for 2020, making it the only major economy to grow last year, despite the crippling effects of the global pandemic. In a sign of how quickly China managed a turnaround, the National Statistics Bureau said its gross domestic product rose 6.5 percent during 2020’s fourth quarter, even exceeding its pace before the pandemic. China’s GDP surpassed a milestone in 2020, topping about $15 ...

How quickly things change — and stay

Didn’t we just do this? Things circle around increasingly fast these days, but this year’s Easter celebration should be quite a bit different than the one we experienced last year. That was when most of us probably either watched our priests or ministers deliver their messages via Facebook Live or even celebrated Christ’s resurrection in our cars facing a drive-up pulpit. If you’re like my family, you probably ate your ham and scalloped potatoes in a small family gathering, away from the usual hub-bub of big springtime get-togethers. I recall the utter shock when we found ...

Democracy suffers when information is blocked

News coverage of recent arrests, detention or threats of charges, sadly, appear to be just the latest attempts to silence media and the free flow of information that journalists provide around the world. Here are a few of the latest frightening examples — including one in America that seems suspiciously like an attempt to send a message to journalists. The LA Times reported this month that when the Dodgers won the World Series last October, celebrations in that city devolved into vandalism, theft and tense standoffs between revelers and police. Los Angeles police ordered fans to ...

Johnstown Flood Museum well worth the trip

If you have never visited the Johnstown, Pa., Flood Museum, it’s well worth the one-tank trip. Housed in the former public library building in downtown Johnstown, the museum tells the story of the devastating loss of life and property in the 1889 flood, known as one of the greatest natural disasters in American history. On May 31, 1889, a neglected earthen dam located on the mountain several miles upstream from Johnstown burst during a phenomenal storm, sending 20 million gallons in a wall of water roaring into the Conemaugh Valley below. It killed 2,209 people. The library ...

Leaders need passion to unite, words to calm

Today, as Americans remain partisan and divided, it’s hard to envision the possibility that words from a leader could actually unite us. Sadly, these days, even inspirational words can serve to divide Americans. Undoubtedly, many might have been inspired by the words spoken Feb. 28 by former President Donald Trump before the Conservative Political Action Conference. Others may have been moved by the words spoken Thursday evening by President Joe Biden when he addressed America on national TV. Yep, I can already sense eyes rolling and teeth grinding with the mention of each of ...

Journalists take role as ‘witnesses’ seriously

“Fake news!” are the cries journalists hear these days more than most prefer to admit. It’s unfortunate and disheartening because in my more than 25 years in this business, I can think of not one journalist I knew personally who ever intentionally attempted to steer a story in any specific direction. Ironically, it sometimes ends up being the opposite. Undoubtedly, we’re all trained to report in a fair and balanced manner. But we also know well our own opinions, and in all cases, journalists must fight for nothing less than accuracy, fairness and balance. We must never ...