Columns

This is likely to touch some nerves, but I am not averse to offering thoughts that cause people to react. Too many don't think deeply enough. Instead, we take things for granted, see the status quo as the way things must be and never question mindsets we've held all of our lives...

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."...

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. ...

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...

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?!"...

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...

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...

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...

Try this: grab your favorite TV guide and look at the listings. Now guess what year this is. What's on these days? The "X-Files," "American Idol," "Roseanne" "Will and Grace" ... revivals, reboots and remakes. It's television nostalgia at its fullest...

You can teach an old cat new tricks. Sort of. Our cat, the one you know as Missy Kitty, is about 7 years old. When we adopted her from Safe Harbor, her age was just a guess. The vet said the guess sounded reasonable. Age 7 is not ancient for a cat. It might be considered the start of middle age. But by that time in their lives, most cats are firmly fixed in their ways...

April 6, 1977, was to be the day Gianna Jessen's life ended. But for the abortion survivor, her story was only beginning. At seven-and-a-half months pregnant, Jessen's biological mother visited an abortion clinic to end her pregnancy. The saline abortion failed, and Jessen survived. Because the abortionist was running late, Jessen was given a chance to live when the nurse took her to a local hospital...

Mike Novosel is another member of our military whose records have been buried in the millions of military records stored at Corpson Page Ave. in St. Louis. Novosel's history he is noteworthy as he was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. When Novosel finally retired in 1985, he was the last World War II pilot still on active duty...

My wife and I live in an apartment across the street from a park. For years, we've allowed our girls to play in the park on their own, drawing chalk mermaids on the sidewalk, kicking soccer balls and tossing something similar to a "Frisbee." For a long time, their favorite activity was simply gathering twigs and playing school. ...

I was a junior in college 50 years ago today attending Memphis State University. It was a turbulent time in American history. I worked on a college newspaper and spent many hours covering the civil rights demonstrations on campus along with the protests against the war in Viet Nam...

I always get annoyed this time of year. Every single year. I know I shouldn't. I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. I'm talking about March Madness; how women are treated during this time makes me ... mad. As a basketball enthusiast, I have played the game against guys and girls. ...

Taxpayers across Missouri are in the middle of submitting their state and federal returns. The looming deadline in mid-April means penalties and interest for those who owe and file late. But what if it's the government that owes you money and misses its deadline to send your refund? Missouri taxpayers have been finding those delays all too common recently -- and the problem is getting worse, as my audit on the timeliness of income tax refunds by the Department of Revenue discovered...

This is Easter weekend, a time when Christians around the world pause and reflect on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's the ultimate story of love and redemption. How God sent His only Son to pay our debt on the cross. The redemption and forgiveness of our sins...

Dear Readers, As far as I know, I am not acquainted with Zachary Quinto. That could be because Zachary, or Zach, sometimes uses a fake name. When Zach went to a coffee shop the other day, he used the name Josh. Some other coffee drinkers saw him do this, and the social media network went crazy...

Marcus Capone is everything you would expect in a Navy SEAL. Physically fit, standing 6-foot, 4-inches. Mentally tough. Smart. He answers questions -- the nonclassified variety -- with clarity and focus. But for the former Southern Illinois University quarterback -- who was a teammate of Cape Girardeau banker Jeff Brune while playing for the Salukis -- it was the movie "GI Jane" that inspired him to join this elite group of the military...

The citizens of Cape Girardeau will go to the polls on April 3 to consider the renewal of our Parks, Recreation and Storm Water Initiative. This is a renewal, not a new tax. It is the renewal of the very successful PRS1 that was enthusiastically approved by our citizens in 2008 which significantly improved our quality of life with the addition of Cape Splash, Shawnee Community Center, improvements to Osage, the golf course, other park and trail additions, and several storm water projects that improved pre-existing flooding issues.. ...

Sunday is Easter, or Resurrection Day as I call it. It comes early this year, but it's right on time. Easter is an appropriate time to take a look at what matters most, and we sure need the reflection. For Christians, the resurrection is the most powerful aspect of our faith. ...

Opioid abuse and addiction impacts all corners of Missouri. Every day it seems we see news reports of another life taken by this epidemic. Nationwide, this epidemic has claimed more than 42,000 victims in 2016, which amounts to 115 lives per day. According to Missouri Health and Senior Services, 1 out of every 66 deaths in our state was due to an opioid or heroin overdose. ...

With due respect to State Rep. Donna Lichtenegger and all the dedication she has shown for us, I stand strongly opposed to HB 1554. I believe the use of marijuana to treat terminally ill patients is a bad idea for several reasons: 1. Marijuana is a societal "gateway" drug, and legitimizing it for medical reasons is the first step toward general use. It's also a step toward euthanasia...

Stormwater is a major concern in Cape Girardeau, and if citizens had not supported city leaders in the past with tax dollars, then significant areas of town would continue to flood during heavy rains. When I was growing up, several feet of floodwater was not abnormal in even the town's busiest areas -- around the Town Plaza; along Broadway; at West End and Independence -- which are no longer inundated during heavy storms. Still, flash flooding persists, and more work is necessary...

Boy, talk about hitting a nerve. Everyone -- and I mean everyone -- I've seen this past week has vented about traffic signals and intersections in Cape Girardeau where computerized, automated, camera-dependent lights actually snarl the flow on our streets (some of which are the city's responsibility and some of which are state routes)...

Most people have never heard of U.S. Army Col. Robert Lewis Howard who was the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War. He served five tours of duty in Vietnam and was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times, but a soldier can only be awarded the Medal of Honor once. ...

The Marquette Tech District Foundation receiving $400,000 in funding to grow the 1st50K start-up competition is good news for Cape Girardeau and the area. Not only will these funds connect tech startups to downtown Cape Girardeau (and thus Missouri), but they enhance momentum around attracting creative talent to our area. Attracting such talent is vital to a community's economic prosperity...

In a brief respite from the ongoing narrative of Russian collusion and anti-Trump rhetoric, we return to the debate over gun control this week with massive student walkouts scheduled across the country. This highly-staged emotional response to the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Fla. will briefly put the spotlight back on gun violence...

Is it my imagination or are children being used to promote an agenda? I don't think it's my imagination, and I don't like it. On March 14, students across the nation participated in school walkouts on the one-month anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 innocents were murdered by Nikolas Cruz. Yes, students are rising up and speaking out...

The City of Cape Girardeau has term limits for its mayor and city council members. This April, Harry Rediger will term out as mayor of Cape Girardeau after serving eight years. The City of Cape Girardeau will honor Rediger for his service and dedication. But I would like to offer a special "Thank You" for myself and the City of Jackson...

Longtime Southeast Missouri State University coach Caroll Williams has plenty of things he could do in retirement. Golf, one of the sports he coached at Southeast, is one. But at 80 years of age, Williams spends his days doing what he does best -- teaching, coaching and leading students at Cape Christian School...

Cape Girardeau officials, and others, are looking at the traffic along and across Kingshighway, arguably one of the city's most vital thoroughfares, the other being William Street, which stretches from the Mississippi River to the western boundaries and beyond...

The official U.S. Air Force description of the MQ-1B Predator drone is, "The MQ-1B Predator is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets." "The MQ-1's capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives." Although the Predator has performed well and it has changed the conduct of warfare, but the Predator has been retired and replaced with drones with increased capabilities.. ...

According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) official, Dr. Faith Birol, "The U.S. is becoming the undisputed leader of oil and gas production worldwide" and credited the "remarkable ability of producers to unlock new resources cost-effectively" for "fueling major investments in petrochemicals and other energy-intensive industries". ...

If you're reading this column in a printed newspaper, then you may already be aware of this phenomenon. But a New York Times technology writer recently went two months getting his news only from newspapers, and what he discovered was a calmer, more informed, and more fulfilling life. The experience transformed his outlook on news, especially via social media...

Joy Behar, co-host of ABC's "The View," has reportedly apologized to Vice President Mike Pence for disparaging his Christian faith, equating it with "mental illness." Behar's apology came via a personal telephone call to Pence, during which she apparently acknowledged the error of her ways. Recently, on the television talk show, Behar said, "It's one thing to talk to Jesus. It's another thing when Jesus talks to you. That's called mental illness, if I'm not correct -- hearing voices."...

It's not hyperbole when Dr. Chelsea Grigery says things like: "We're going to change two students' lives tonight." Grigery, a Sikeston native and local physician, is proof of this statement. On Wednesday, 650-plus students participated in the 62nd annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair held at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau...

For the purposes of today's discussion, let's agree on two terms. First, let's call traditional, fact-checking, multi-sourced news "mainstream news." Second, let's call the trend to pop news and trivia "la-la news." I don't have any proof to cite, but I would bet that the majority of readers of this column are over 55 and have hair -- if they still have hair -- that matches mine. These are, by and large, consumers of "mainstream news."...

It has been​ 50 years since U.S. ground forces were involved in the heaviest combat with the most casualties of the Vietnam War. For many Vietnam veterans the memories and emotions they brought home from Vietnam are still as painful as when they returned. ...

A big healthcare development is brewing in Cape Girardeau, which could lead to the two major hospitals working together in a new line of business sorely needed in the area. When interviewed about the potential project by new area business publication B Magazine, the CEOs for Saint Francis and SoutheastHealth shared details but asked for the magazine to hold off on reporting specifics until further hurdles were cleared. ...

I'm greeted with a report first thing in the morning from the Southern Poverty Law Center that says Missouri has 18 active hate groups operating in our state, which actually represents a decline from last year's 24 hate group census. The SPLC report indicates that nationally there is an increase in hate groups from last year's 917 to 954 this year...

Rev. Billy Graham was laid to rest on Friday. About 2,000 attended the funeral, and multitudes more watched it via livestream and television, many of whom had been touched by the ministry of "America's Pastor." Since his passing on Feb. 21, people have shared their stories of his imprint on their lives...

A high-school diploma is supposed to mean something. A student who earns one should be ready to attend college or a trade school, or to start working right away. But a diploma's value depends on the quality of the school that stands behind it. And down in the bootheel of Missouri, Hayti High School's class of 2019 has gone all the way from kindergarten to its junior year in high school without ever attending a good school by the standards set by the State Board of Education's (SBE)...

There are a lot of discussions taking place right now in Jefferson City about Missouri's energy future. As legislators consider the best path forward, it's critical they have all the facts. For starters, it's important to understand the electric power industry's impact on the U.S. ...

Days after returning from a trip to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia to give a speech at the business school, writer and businessman Stan Crader came to the office for an interview with B Magazine. Crader is a humble man, and though he was happy to talk about his new book "STIHL American: Exemplary People -- Extraordinary Times" the Jackson man wanted to make sure this would not be a story that gave him more credit than he deserved. ...