Commentary
What the criminal referral of Trump means
After 18 months investigating, the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol held its final public meeting on Dec. 19, 2022. The panel recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. […]
Libraries serve communities, not aggrieved parents.
Libraries hold a conflicted place our collective imagination. To many of us — to me personally — they’re magical. We were first exposed to worlds of imagination and ideas on the shelves of our local libraries. To others, these buildings serve as indispensable community gathering spots, places to learn and meet and share. But to […]
The Fed hiked interest rates for the 7th time this year, so why are mortgage rates coming down?
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point on Dec. 14, 2022, to a range of 4.25 to 4.5%, the seventh increase this year. So far in 2022, the Fed has lifted its benchmark short-term rate, which influences most other borrowing costs in the economy, by 4.25 percentage points from a low […]
When the World Cup comes to Kansas City, tough questions will follow
Last weekend, the team representing the United States at the World Cup in Qatar crashed out of the tournament following a 3-1 loss against the Netherlands. As a fan, I have tracked this team from qualifying in CONCACAF to pre-tournament friendlies, from the group stage into the knockout round, monitoring the pre-match lineups and coaching […]
Our new governor must invest in education
Arkansas just made history with the election of Sarah Huckabee Sanders as our first female governor. Her success in her role as governor will depend heavily upon her investment in education. K-12 education issues were a top concern for voters, and her actions on these will be pivotal for our students, families, communities, and the […]
Arkansas wildlife will benefit from legislation pending in lame-duck Congress
From the Ozarks to the Delta, Arkansas is home to some of our nation’s most cherished wildlife. But right now, more than 375 species across the state are facing significant challenges, due to increasing habitat loss, new invasive species, and extreme flooding. It’s part of a larger national trend where more than one-third of America’s wildlife are at […]
Will Hutchinson’s Reagan-like stance persuade GOP voters?
As Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s term nears its end, he’s taking nearly every advantage to polish his presidential bona fides. Just last week, former President Donald Trump gave Hutchinson an excellent opportunity to remind his party, and the nation, that true leaders don’t take meetings with public racists or antisemites. In an appearance on CNN’s […]
Twitter’s decision to stop enforcing COVID-19 misinformation policy is irresponsible, dangerous
Twitter recently made the irresponsible decision to stop enforcing its policy against COVID-19 misinformation. This decision is especially disappointing in light of Twitter’s formerly laudable efforts to protect its users from health misinformation. In a 2021 report, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy cited Twitter as an example of a social media platform that had made […]
The link between politicians and anti-LGBTQ+ violence
It’s an age-old, chicken-and-egg discussion: Is it extant societal forces of exclusion, hatred and reaction that give rise to authoritarian politicians who in turn foment division, prejudice, and violence? Or does it work the other way around? A global survey reveals compelling examples of both scenarios in action. It’s hard to imagine the repressive religious […]
Senate same-sex marriage vote still a step on long road toward full justice | John L. Micek
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of this week’s U.S. Senate vote codifying protections for same-sex and interracial marriage as both a triumph of bipartisanship and fundamental decency. It’s also difficult to overstate, sadly, how much further we have to go to ensure full equality for LGBTQ Americans. First, the good news. On Tuesday, 61 […]
Wilma Mankiller, first female principal chief of Cherokee Nation, continues to inspire
If you fish in your pocket or purse for a U.S. quarter today, there’s a chance you’ll see Wilma Mankiller’s face. She was the Cherokee Nation’s first female principal chief, and she inspired generations of Cherokees and young Native people like me. In 2022, Mankiller was one of the first women honored by appearing on […]
Another mind-numbing mass murder brings reflection
Shocked? No. Resigned? Maybe. Numb? I hope not. The slaughter continues. On the heels of two multiple murders on or near college campuses in Virginia and Idaho the week of Nov. 12 comes news of a mass shooting at a Colorado Springs nightclub catering to the LGBTQ+ community on Nov. 19. A gunman entered Club […]