Columns

I write this laughing at myself, but I do issue a serious challenge at the end. I realized a week ago, "Oh, my goodness! Christmas in two weeks away from today!" The revelation nearly knocked me over. How did that happen? While I had picked up a few items, not only was I not done shopping; I wasn't even done figuring what to shop for. The "most wonderful time of the year" can be so ... not-wonderful...

There's something special about a warm meal at Christmas shared with friends and family. It's one of the things I cherish about the season as we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Sitting at the table with family and remembering childhood traditions with loved ones. It's meaningful. It's also probably something too many of us take for granted...

Several years ago, I sat down with former House Speaker Ron Richards to discuss right to work legislation for Missouri. Richards knew I had been a longtime supporter of right to work having seen surrounding states attract industry away from our region based solely on right to work...

One thing you can count on from Jackson Chamber of Commerce executive director Brian Gerau -- besides the fact he will be sharply dressed -- is that somewhere along the line at a chamber event, he's going to make a funny quip. Few ever seem planned. ...

Former President George H.W. Bush was laid to rest last week. The nation mourned his loss, particularly those closest to him: his family and friends, who regarded him as more than the 41st President of the United States; they saw him as a model husband, father, and grandfather. However, the rest of us were privileged to see him on Wednesday as a unifier...

On Dec. 3, the Jackson Board of Aldermen received a recommendation from the design-build selection committee to enter into a contractual agreement with Penzel Construction Company, Inc. to design and build a new Jackson Police Station Building. The artist rendering was provided to and recently published in the newspaper...

Jay Knudtson has been a park board member, mayor, Southeast Missouri State regent, professional hockey referee and successful businessman. Next weekend he'll add college graduate to the list. The man, who has many political and professionall accomplishments, dropped out of college during his sophomore year...

America lost a hero Friday night when former President George H.W. Bush died at the age of 94. His son and former President George W. Bush wrote a touching book several years ago titled "41: A Portrait of My Father," and I'm listening to the audio book Bush Sr. ...

In the spirit of Christmas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the gift that keeps on giving for the Republican party. The never-shy, soon-to-be youngest female Congresswoman, is the new darling of the Socialist left. The 29-year-old New Yorker caught national headlines with her primary election victory over a 10-term Democratic incumbent and, in a flash, became the new face of the Democratic party's emerging left wing...

Somebody cue former President Barack Obama and Sen. Elizabeth Warren: The words we speak and the words we embrace have huge implications, and being responsible with both is essential. Hiding behind freedom of speech doesn't change that, either. Former President Barack Obama used his First Amendment last week at Rice University in Houston, Texas, to suggest that a shift has occurred in which "you start getting politics that's based on, 'That person's not like me, and it must be their fault,' and you start getting a politics based on a nationalism that's not pride in country, but hatred for somebody on the other side of the border.". ...

I have vivid memories of Christmastime from my childhood. There was church and plenty of Christmas music. Live Nativity scenes. Going to West Park Mall to see Santa and the enormous mechanical bear that would talk to you. And there was the ringing of Salvation Army bells...

Climate change is real. Most of the negative impact on our climate is manmade. And mankind can and should make changes to reduce the potential harm that climate change brings. We can all agree on these points. The Fourth National Climate Assessment was released last week and indeed painted a dismal forecast for the doomsday prediction if something is not done to address this critical issue...

The jubilation at Houck Stadium on Saturday after the 20th-ranked Redhawks upended the 15th-ranked Stony Brook Seawolves was pure delight. Eight years since their last winning season -- and eight years since their only other trip to the Football Championship Series playoffs -- the Redhawks overcame their largest deficit of the year to score a historic win, 28-14: Southeast Missouri State's first-ever playoff victory. ...

Most find it easy to be thankful on Thanksgiving, and I hope you found that to be so last Thursday. Surrounded by family, friends, and food, we feel the warmth of the day, the kindness of strangers, the joy of the fast-approaching Christmas season. Something about the day puts a smile on our faces and makes it effortless when it's our turn at the table to cite reasons for being thankful...

By now you've had your fill of Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and pie and moved on to Christmas preparations. Truth be told, I've been listening to Christmas music for a few weeks already. Too often we fly through the fourth Thursday in November without pausing much to truly reflect on being thankful...

Most of us have probably not even thought about the Mayflower Compact since elementary school. The Compact was the document drawn up by the passengers on the ship "Mayflower" after it reached what was to become the colony of Plymouth. The voyage of the "Mayflower" was supposed to transport the religious separatists we call the Pilgrims to the British settlement of Virginia. Virginia was defined as the area of North America along the east coast from the Hudson River in New York and to the south...

If someone calls you clumsy, you can illustrate your agility to prove them wrong. If someone calls you dumb, you can illustrate your intellect to prove them wrong. But what if someone calls you a racist? Recently, more than one pundit and politician has opined that all Trump voters are by definition racist...

I hope your Thanksgiving Day is warm and full of family and friends. Enjoy tomorrow. And, if you don't have some place to go or others to spend part of the day with, know the Salvation Army welcomes you to help. Or simply: to enjoy the meal. Doors at 701 Good Hope Street are open 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for those seeking to break bread and connect with others...

President Trump has been calling out the media for most of his presidency, but things escalated last week when he and CNN reporter Jim Acosta had a heated exchange that resulted in the revocation of Acosta's White House press pass. Since then, a judge ordered Acosta's credentials returned, but let me ask a question that really is the foundation of this whole thing: Is the president of the United States owed respect simply because of the office he holds?...

A wise politician once said something to the effect: Sometimes you win, sometimes you get experience. The implication being even a loss can have its benefits in the form of experience. The same maxim applies to business. “Fail fast, fail cheaply.” It’s practical advice and something the winners of the Southeast Innovation Challenge learned with their winning entry into this year’s competition...

I was trying to pick a subject for this week's column while sitting in front of the television when a news item was covered with video. The shocking pictures of brave men and women standing firm as they protected civilians were amazing, and the pictures made me proud to know that we are being protected by men and women who are willing to place themselves "in harm's way" in order to defeat the threats to our citizens...

Something is terribly wrong when the fate of our national political direction boils down to recounts. Ballot recounts underway in Florida clearly don't pass the smell test. The American public is tiring of "mystery" ballots surfacing long after the polls have closed...

The Southeast Missourian will be participating in a pilot program with Jigsaw, a division of Google's parent corporation, to test whether technology can help elevate online community discussion. Your participation and perspective will be vital. Together, we have an opportunity to shape future online commentary not only locally but across the country (and world)...

"God, help us!" I want to scream this at the top of my lungs off of every rooftop. The unhinged reactions -- nay, the hatred -- people are displaying over political disagreements is, at the very least, concerning, but, more than that, it's downright frightening...

It’s been a patriotic whirlwind this week with a presidential visit to Cape Girardeau, the midterm elections Tuesday, and, this weekend, special events in honor of Veterans Day. The line of people at the Show Me Center on Monday to see President Donald Trump was not unexpected, but still incredible. ...

All federal employees swear an oath of office when they assume a position with the federal government. This includes elected employees, members of the military, hired career, and appointed employees of the federal government. While there are slight differences in the oaths for various positions there is also one constant in all of the oaths. ...

I have tremendous respect for my father. And in his columns over the years, he would frequently sprinkle in jokes and other diversions. For the morning after the midterms, I thought a bit of humor would be welcomed. So, with a hat tip to my dad, here are excerpts from his column originally published April 17, 2004...

It’s that time of year again — time for people to shop for Christmas presents, make their own list of wants and lose weight so they can gain it back in the next two months during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. There’s much I do not care for at this time of year — the pushing, shoving, rushing around, the commercialism. But one thing I do love is the opportunity to give to those who are less fortunate, ...

I strongly support Proposition D for safer roads and safer streets in today’s election, and I am writing to explain my support from three different perspectives. Perspective One: I served for 33 years with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I retired as director of the Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, but I spent the first 20 years of my career as a trooper enforcing our road laws. ...

If you've ever heard 8th District Congressman Jason Smith talk about President Donald Trump, you know there's much affection and admiration there. Smith stopped by the Southeast Missourian's offices to talk to the editorial board Friday after the Cape Chamber's First Friday Coffee. ...

I was not quite 3 years old when President Ronald Reagan, one of my favorite Presidents in American history, visited Cape Girardeau on Sept. 14, 1988. I don't remember specifics, but I've heard the stories from my parents about sitting along the motorcade route waiting for Reagan to arrive. ...

Fruitcake Daylight Saving Time Marauding deer Missy Kitty Roundabouts Downtown golf Free tomatoes Goofy politics That's enough. There are other topics that could go on the list, but this is a good enough sample. And we haven't even made a dent in important issues like ashtrays (see buggy whips), Bermuda shorts (sensible summer wear for men) or a monorail aerial tram to lighten the traffic load on Kingshighway...

Anyone who has paid any attention to the news over the last three weeks knows about the attempted assassination of two ex-presidents, plus numerous Democrats and supporters as well as CNN with letter bombs. We also watched the reports of the massacre of 11 Jews in their Pittsburgh synagogue in the largest anti-Semitic violent act in U.S. ...

Have you heard about the woman, delayed at the airport, who slipped into a Starbucks for coffee and a package of cookies? Sitting down in a row of seats outside her gate to enjoy her drink and sweets, she pulled a book from her purse and began reading. After a while, a man sitting next to her opened the package of cookies next to her purse and ate one. The woman was astounded. "How dare he?" she thought. She took her own cookie and went back to her book and latte...

In just a week, the critical midterm election will be over and, unfortunately, the campaign will begin anew. If you naively thought that somehow we would get a reprieve from the non-stop political campaigning, think again. Regardless of the election outcome, political turmoil will remain in full swing as hopefuls officially launch their bid for the Presidency...

I start with an admission: This particular column is hard to write. It's much easier to pour out pieces that only touch the surface, external words that are like rain hitting the dirt but not penetrating. It's more difficult to be personally vulnerable and transparent. ...

The planned reconstruction of the interchange between Jackson and Cape Girardeau on Highway 61/E. Jackson Blvd./N. Kingshighway and Interstate 55 will be a tremendous improvement. Presently, the interchange known as Center Junction or Exit 99 can be confusing and dangerous. ...

President Dwight D. Eisenhower is arguably one of the top five presidents of all time. A military man with no political experience before the office, Eisenhower came to the office with a unique position and during a pivotal time in history. Dr. Pam Parry, chair of the Department of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University and media history scholar, told me in an interview this week he was a transformational president on many levels...

It's official, and I have proof. This is NOT fake news. Not that I had any doubt, but it's awfully good to see it in black and white. I am, according to supporting documents delivered by the United Sates Postal Service, an official friend of Donald J. Trump, president of the United States of America...

As this column is being written, national security advisor John Bolton is in Moscow discussing with Russian officials the statement by President Trump that the United States will be withdrawing from the nuclear treaties limiting medium range nuclear weapons. When President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty it became the sign the Cold War was over...

United States senate race Josh Hawley, Claire McCaskill. Missouri vote to help decide senate majority. Abortion issues. New York Times. Project Veritas. Nicole Galloway for state auditor. Josh Hawley for senate. Claire McCaskill for senate.

It's hard to get an exact number, but Josh Hawley and Claire McCaskill - along with ample "dark money" - will spend upwards of $90 million to entice your vote come Nov. 6. Out of that massive war chest, the 232 newspapers in Missouri will get zip. Politicians - actually their handlers -- have decided that newspapers are media relics...

When was the last time you intentionally participated in something that would add joy to your life? When did you shun negativity in favor of the positive? Or do you see such conscious decisions as weird things weird people do? I invite you to take the challenges that were issued to me last week...

Since I was a child, watching my mother make the traditional meals of Sicily, I knew I wanted to build a life around cooking. But after years of working in hotels and restaurants around the world, I wanted greater opportunity. I wanted my own restaurant, a place that -- like my mother's kitchen -- would not only showcase Italian cooking but embody the warmth and inclusiveness of the hospitality I grew up with...

Missouri Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley may be the strongest defender of conservatism to appear on the statewide ballot. The 38-year-old Constitutional lawyer represented Hobby Lobby at the Supreme Court when the Christian, family owned company objected to Obamacare's mandate that health insurance plans cover abortifacients...