Editorials
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Why Congress needs to support your local news sources in this crisis
During this coronavirus pandemic, access to accurate and trustworthy information in your community is as critical to life under quarantine and as sought after as hand sanitizer and face masks. Your local newspaper provides the news and information unique to your community. Where are the testing sites and who’s eligible,…
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With the USMCA, free trade finally goes digital
In the coming weeks, Congress will vote on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a monumental deal that modernizes North American trade for the 21st century. The new pact contains a host of critical provisions that protect and stimulate digital commerce. USMCA will help American tech businesses drive economic growth and…
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The case for continuing the International Space Station
Since the dawn of creation, mankind has been driven by the urge to explore the world around him. The quest for knowledge consumes us. We have to know if we are alone in the universe or if life exists someone beyond the big blue marble we call home. We’ve looked…
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Justices right to be skeptical of hasty searches
In a rare occurrence, the United States Supreme Court put some teeth back into the Fourth Amendment this week. All but one of the justices agreed Tuesday that police in Virginia went too far when they walked up a driveway, lifted a tarp and took photos of a motorcycle they…
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The changing face of deafness
Less than 1 percent of babies in the United States are born with some level of hearing loss. That may not seem like much. But it means that up to 12,000 American children enter the world each year struggling to hear — or completely deaf. Fortunately, the medical community is…
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Don’t shortchange consumers: Co-pays count
A new insurance policy could prove harmful to HIV patients and others living with chronic disease, who need to access and adhere to daily medications. Several insurers and employers are no longer allowing co-pay cards from drug manufacturers, which many patients use to lower their out-of-pocket costs, to count towards…
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When local businesses thrive, so does the community
If you’ve got shopping to do, the national “big-box” and ecommerce retailers can seem like an appealing option. They’re often located close to the Interstate. With huge advertising budgets, they bombard us with tantalizing deals and “doorbuster specials.” And in the Internet era it’s easier than ever to make purchases…
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Small newspapers make a big difference
Of the many factors that contribute to a community’s quality of life, one that’s often underappreciated, is the local newspaper. Small, weekly (or non-daily) publications are a form of public service. They bring us “good news” and recognize the efforts of hometown people who make a difference. On their pages…
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In 2018, candidates should commit to civil, issue-based campaigns
Tolerance for opposing views has been in decline in recent years, and markedly so in the 14 months since the 2016 presidential election. Today, the atmosphere surrounding public debate is a toxic one. Contrary opinions are shouted down, and vitriol and endless recrimination are the new norm. In the race…
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Energy lessons from the recent hurricanes
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma killed dozens of Americans and caused tens of billions of dollars in property damage. But there’s one silver lining. The storms taught us three invaluable lessons about the U.S. energy market. We need more refineries scattered around the country. Harvey decimated the Gulf Coast, which accounts…
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Some New Year’s resolutions for public officials
For many of us, the arrival of January 1st means more than a new calendar year. It’s an opportunity for a new chapter… a chance to get things right, to commit to bettering ourselves in some way. We resolve to eat healthier and exercise, save more, spend more time with…
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Keeping track of government travel costs
Travel spending is one of those areas of government that can be difficult to size up. Obviously, public officials often need to travel to discharge their duties, such as attending important meetings or recruiting economic development prospects. Even then, however, the return on travel costs sometimes can be hard to…
