It's inspiring to listen to John "J.P." Schuchardt and Jonathan "J.T." Meinke talk about their future plans. The two Cape Girardeau County students were nominated by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith to attend the Navy and Army service academies. Just a few minutes talking with each one, you come to understand why...

The military justice system is a set of laws and procedures regarding the conduct of all members of the United States military as specified in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, commonly known as the UCMJ. For example, while the U.S. Constitution states the right to a trial, the UCMJ defines what type of trial and the procedures for it. As George Washington said of the military, "When we assumed the soldier we did not give up the citizen."...

This opinion is a response to the new pieces of art that will be on Broadway. I think the committee would do the people of our city a favor if they would choose pieces in the future that anyone viewing the art will know what the piece is without guesswork on our part...

I just wanted to thank your newspaper for the wonderful pictures of those Budweiser Clydesdales last week. Your photographer did a fantastic job, and the accompanying story was great as well. Since there are only three such hitches in the nation, having them in Cape Girardeau for a week was quite an honor, and we have Drury Hotels and River Eagle Distributing to thank for this...

Mike Jensen recently denounced the lack of civility and inflammatory rhetoric in our public discourse and then proceeded to vilify "crazy" Joe Biden and "race baiting" Al Sharpton. I appreciate Mike Jensen's ongoing effort to bring back civility to the public domain...

The 13th annual Cape Comic Con starts this afternoon and continues through Sunday at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau. Comic Con has developed a strong following in Cape Girardeau with more than 100 vendors particpating. There are also games and the popular costume contest, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Kinder Hall inside Cape Girardeau Central High School...

We have always had an issue with people speeding on Gordonville Road, but since the roundabout was put in at the Gordonville/Independence intersection, it has gotten even worse! I had hopes that with the new police station opening so close by, there would be more oversight and control of this problem. So far that has not been the case. Apparently most drivers don't understand a 30 mph speed limit sign!...

The student production of "A Raisin In The Sun" started Wednesday at the River Campus and continues through Sunday. A Tony Award-winning production, the show focuses on the Younger family on the South Side of Chicago. According to the show description on the River Campus website, "the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family. ...

There's no sugar-coating the topic. Addiction is real. It affects nearly every person in some capacity -- through personal experience or knowing a friend or relative who has struggled with a substance. From illegal drugs to alcohol and prescription drugs, billions are spent each year in the United States on drug and alcohol treatment...

We talk often about the polarization in this country but increasingly it's not polarization, it's downright hatred. It's beyond dispute that we have reached a cultural and political crossroad where civil discourse and compromise have been abandoned...

Are we phonies -- you know, charlatans? It's a horrible thing to even suggest, as "phony" cannot be contorted into anything positive, not even by the most masterful wordsmiths. But is it true? Last week, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was the center of attention, spending Tuesday in a hearing before the Senate's Commerce and Judiciary Committees and Wednesday taking questions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. ...

The Missouri House of Representatives passed an important pro-life bill recently, authored by state Rep. Donna Lichtenegger. Mark Bliss reported for the Southeast Missourian this would ban most abortions after a fetus is 20 weeks old. The goal behind the bill is to prevent abortions at the earliest time medical experts believe a child can feel pain...

Years of inadequate and severe underfunding of nursing home services by our state could leave tens of thousands of older Missourians without adequate support at the most vulnerable point in their lives. While Medicaid is best known for insuring our low-income citizens, it also provides a vital safety net to seniors and people with disabilities who struggle with debilitating physical impairments and chronic medical conditions that require highly specialized 24-hour care in a skilled nursing home...

As you may expect, I was very pleased with the results of the April 3rd election. For me, this ballot question of adding the half-cent sales tax for the public safety departments of the city of Jackson was about showing support for the police and fire departments and the work they do to keep us safe...

If you visit the Cape IRS office, the first thing you must do is submit to an interrogation by a security guard. Even if you only want to pick up some forms by the front door, you must first listen to the guard and answer his questions. If you have so much as a pen knife, you must leave without taking any forms, and you can’t return until you get rid of the knife. If the guard is not present, the office is closed to the public...

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an observance founded and sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) in 1987. This year’s theme is “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage.’” No other substance is more widely used and abused by America’s youth than alcohol, making alcoholism and alcohol-related problems a critical public health issue in the United States. ...

John Jordan has had a long, successful run as sheriff. He has served 23 years, longer than anyone else who has held that office. Last week, it was announced Jordan has been nominated to fill the role of U.S. marshal for the federal Eastern District of Missouri...

In today's politically correct environment I should not be surprised, but when I read a story about the "Christian privilege" seminar at George Washington University, it was a level of ridiculousness that stood out. The seminar was titled "Christian Privilege: But Our Founding Fathers Were All Christian, Right?!"...

I've still got some counting to do, but I think Adrienne Ross' most recent rant set a record for the number of times an opinion columnist has used the word I. Someone said that the new stormwater drainage ditch voters passed this month may not solve all the problems but that "it sure has to help." Really? We have Cape officials overseeing this, so judging by how they handle our roads and the drainage ditches already in place, not only does what they do not "have" to help, there's a great chance it will do more harm than good and cost more money than what is currently in place. ...

On behalf of the Yes April 3rd Committee, I want to thank the voters of Cape Girardeau for their overwhelming support of the Parks, Recreation and Storm Water initiative in last week's municipal election. The projects that will be funded by this tax extension will benefit a wide cross-section of the community, from children to young adults to active seniors. I am proud to live in a community that promotes quality of life and supports economic growth...

We were amused by a recent KFVS story, which cited a Business Insider list saying Cape Girardeau was the most boring city in Missouri. It's all about perspective. Business Insider only looked at Metropolitan Statistical Areas recognized by the federal government. ...

There have been quite a few winters come and go during my lifetime. I don't ever remember one quite so miserable as the one just passing. Sure, I know it is officially spring now. But tell that to the weather imps that keep sending wintry blasts our way...

Today is the day to "be alert" when you are out at a restaurant. What happened to the time allowed for each course? One waiter brought a large bowl of salad and bread and in a flash, there was the entre. Then in about 5 to 10 minutes, he wanted to know if we wanted a to-go box. At another well-known restaurant, shortly after we received our food, he brought the check and then in a few minutes came to see if there was money in it. Who said we had to just eat, pay and run?...

The Public Art Committee of Cape Girardeau will officially unveil new sculptures around downtown today at a 5:30 p.m. reception at the Vasterling Suites Courtyard at Broadway and Fountain Street. The sculptures were introduced in 2014, at about the same time the Broadway renovation project was completed...

I try to stay current on changes in weapons, equipment, transportation and tactics that all affect the way the U.S. wages war. The difficulty presented in staying current becomes difficult as technology speeds the changes and new developments overpower defenses. When defenses are overpowered and made ineffective, new technology must be rushed to the military before a potential enemy can use the advantages they have developed...

David Limbaugh always blames the "evil" left for anything his people get caught doing. Those horrible Democrats forced Pruitt to accept bribes and lie to his own president. Those terrible reporters "lied" about the millions of dollars wasted on trips and self-indulgences. Right...

Let's talk about the Department of Housing and Urban Development. With the national headlines focused elsewhere, new HUD administrator Dr. Ben Carson is quietly transforming the massive bureaucracy in a way that has liberals in a tizzy. HUD was one of a number of Johnson-era federal programs designed to provide taxpayer-funding housing for the poor. Every county in Missouri has a HUD-funded program...

On Friday afternoon new Cape Girardeau mayor Bob Fox read a proclamation identifying a long list of city achievements during the mayoral tenure of Harry Rediger, followed by a standing ovation from those packed into City Hall chambers. Rediger was humble in his response, citing staff and council but ultimately the voters: "Our citizens are our greatest partner. Without their support, their yes votes, these accomplishments would not have happened."...

Someone attempted to school me last week about my column on March Madness. Paraphrased, it was a "We should be concerned about morality and faith rather than sports" comment. While I have respect for people's opinions, mindsets like that really set me off...

Trump keeps saying the wall is our problem, but he is the problem. From his incompetent appointees, to his tweeting, his lies, etc., etc. The list is long and verifiable. The problems begin and end with the fact that he is not qualified for the job. Who/what will he blame if he does get his expensive wall?...

Now that Dr. David Shulkin is no longer Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the issue of whether its health service for veterans will be moved in the direction of privatization becomes an issue. As a veteran who following retirement has received his care from the Cape Girardeau VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, I hope VA health care will not be privatized...

Last week 13 immigrants gathered at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau for a very important occasion. All 13 were sworn in as citizens of the United States. Their stories varied widely, but all claimed a love for our country. The immigrants who took the oath of citizenship Friday included three each from Canada and Vietnam, two from Mexico, and one each from China, Jordan, Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh...

Since I think she has done more than any other member of Cape’s city council to lead the community in a positive direction, my hat is off to city Councilwoman Shelley Moore. ...

Harry Rediger didn’t necessarily have a burning desire to become Cape Girardeau’s mayor eight years ago, but upon the urging of other leaders in the community he decided he would put his hat in the ring for the city he loved. And it’s been a great eight years. As Rediger rides off into the sunset (Bob Fox was sworn in as the new mayor Friday), we’re going to offer you what we think were Rediger’s five biggest accomplishments in his two terms as the city’s mayor...

In 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and Nazism threatened civilization as we know it. What would become known as America's greatest generation courageously stepped forward, rallied behind their government, and vanquished a monstrous enemy. In 2016, America was attacked again. ...