Data centers pose pollution risk
About one hour away from Lehigh County, residents of Clifton and Covington in Lackawanna County are fighting against the proposed construction of an artificial intelligence data center, proposed for 1,000 acres of a forested area. Opponents say the center would use the Lehigh River’s water, and generate constant noise and air pollution. These centers need huge amounts of energy to operate. AI is being integrated into every aspect of our lives, but we can still find ways to educate ourselves and adjust our online habits. We will each have to decide whether a sliver of convenience is worth it to put our land, neighbors and families at risk.
Gianna Olinger
Bethlehem
GOP using propaganda to gain power for Trump
The latest in a long-storied history of unparalleled Republican marketing, diversions and catchy phrases that stick in your head has got to be the term narco-terrorism. Narco (short for narcotics) — OK, but just for laughs, let’s look up terrorism.
Terrorism is generally defined as violent acts that cause terror, are driven by motivations (political, religious, ideological or social) and are beyond personal criminal gain. These acts are performed in an attempt to influence the policies or conduct of their terrorized targets. We have had many domestic terrorist attacks committed by Americans that would qualify; but clearly boats full of drugs “possibly” coming to the U.S, while indeed criminal, do not.
The only reason Republican propagandists are misusing this term is because when you label it terrorism, presidents are by law given wide latitude for military use; what you need to ask is why? Is it really the drugs when Trump has pardoned several drug dealers or when there are other larger much more dangerous drug-source countries? Of course not. Some political analysts believe President Trump wants regime change in Venezuela for some as yet-to-be-revealed reason. Regime change; sound familiar?
Richard Hoffman
Whitehall Township
Amend the Constitution to better define presidential powers
When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal, so stated Richard Nixon. The Supreme Court enshrined these words in Trump v. United States, a 2024 decision. This administration is the first to operate under this radical ruling, demonstrating the awful effects of unleashing the Nixon doctrine. The full brunt of this departure from constitutional norms has not yet been felt. Prior to this ruling, presidents were constrained by the threat of prosecution for acts illegal under U.S. law. The Supreme Court decision paves the way for demagogues, either from the left or the right. All citizens should be alarmed at this unprecedented development and should support an amendment to Article II of the Constitution, outlining the powers of the executive branch. The amendment should encompass fundamental reform of the office of the president and set out clear and explicit constitutional limits of presidential power. While this radical Supreme Court repeatedly rewrites the constitutional order with the stroke of a pen, it’s a rougher road for us citizens. But it can be done. Revising the Constitution now is the only way to forestall an all-out tyrannical dictatorship.
Jack W. Paul
Bethlehem
Mass transit service in Bethlehem needs improvement
Using buses benefits the roads, the environment and individuals who use them. But long service times around Bethlehem make relying on public transportation for daily usage difficult for most. Low ridership and long travel times make resisting funding public transit easy (some routes take three times as long by bus as they would by car) but it is exactly this lack of investment that has created the current situation. Funding transit-only lanes and other infrastructure would reduce travel times and increase ridership. Waiting will yield neither results nor improvements, action must be taken to create usable public transit.
Nathan Levin-Delson
Bethlehem
Recycling not the answer to pollution from plastic
Recycling is commonly recognized as a symbol for sustainability and reduced environmental impact, but the reality is that it is not doing as much for the climate crisis as you may be led to believe.
More than 90% of plastics are not recycled, including most that is actually placed in recycling bins because sorting and processing recycled materials can be difficult and costly. Many types of plastic can only be recycled once, meaning the small percentage that is recycled ends up as waste in the long run. We are encouraged to think of the plastic’s lifespan as a circular process, where material can be reused for years to come with few consequences. This is not the case. Both the production and recycling of plastic generate toxic gases and emissions from fossil fuels.
With plastic production on the rise, even if recycling methods worked as effectively as advertised, the recycling system would still be unable to handle the volume of plastic being produced. Plastic pollution needs to be addressed in the production stage for meaningful change to occur.
Sierra Perst
Stewartsville, N.J.
Senate failed in its constitutional duties
For most of 2025, the Senate did not perform its function as a counterbalance to presidential power as the Constitution’s framers intended. The only thing it did was interview the president’s Cabinet nominations before voting on their fitness for office. The Republican majority rubber stamped mostly unqualified cabinet members in a disgraceful show of kowtowing to Trump, including approving vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services. It did nothing to deter Trump from enacting possibly unconstitutional economic and immigration policies
To end the longest ever government shutdown, eight Democratic senators broke party ranks to vote with Republicans without ensuring that health benefits for needy Americans would be protected. There were no practical attempts at compromise on the budget impasse. At least the Senate met, unlike the House of Representatives.
But suddenly the senators came together to vote unanimously to release the Epstein files, which Trump tried so hard to prevent. Some senators are now questioning the legality of military attacks on Venezuelan boats. Finally the Senate has performed as the separate branch of government. A sign that the reign of error may be over? We can only hope.
Mark Anderson
Longswamp Township
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