Opinion

Back in 1980, I spent a couple hours with an American icon, a man whose music struck chords across a wide swath of the nation and at times insinuated itself into the political discussion. He came from a small, rural part of Arkansas, born...

I began this column at 4 a.m. last Thursday and expect to finish sometime in the next 84 hours or so, at which time my goal is to give a brief recitation of this past weekend. But first I want to talk about asphalt....

Hello! Have you seen any good movies lately? I ask that because I have been busy watching some films made a couple of years ago. They weren’t made by some fancy Hollywood director, but rather a few hidden cameras and a couple of shaky...

I have given myself over to the theory that the Feds have in the interest of brevity or clarity or something meddled in our affairs regarding the city’s street names. This theory is based upon both the musings of a knowledgeable citizen and a...

How was your week? Mine was pretty great. Shoot, it should have been. After all, I was turning 80, and if you can’t have a good time on your 80th birthday, when are you going to have fun? Like most good things that happen to...

In response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, California enacted stringent seismic safety standards for hospitals under the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. While crucial for ensuring the safety and functionality of hospitals during and after seismic events, this mandate has presented...

Did I ever tell you about my pickup? Oh, no need to reply. If I go one day without speaking about the “Green Machine,” I start to get the shakes and Lorraine runs out of the room. Don’t get me wrong, she knew that...

I had always been pretty proud of us. From the moment we were able, it was off to the pharmacy we went. Another shot? Yes please. With all the horror stories and truths from 2020 still fresh in everyone’s minds, we did not want...

Did you find something different in your mailbox this past weekend? By different I mean something that wasn’t there. By something that wasn’t there, I mean my weekly scribbling. I have to tell you that it was all my fault.  You see, like all newspapers,...

Access to healthcare services is critical to good health. Across the United States, rural healthcare providers play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of rural communities. They provide timely access to essential emergency and medical services, support preventative care, provide education, and address...