Columnists

Ultra-processed foods. It’s not a term many of us heard 10, or even five, years ago. But that’s starting to change. We now see it in news stories and posts on social media. And there’s good reason for that. Even as more ultra-processed foods fill grocery store shelves, we’re also learning more about their possible…

During the archery season in September, a hunter killed a young buck just west of U.S. Highway 63 between Houston and Licking, Missouri. It looked healthy but testing showed it to be infected with TSE, (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy). That is the disease where disfigured proteins riddle the brain. Thousands of humans have died from those…

From my observations, it appears that the most annoying time of every four years is not while the elections are happening, but in the time after we elect a president, but before that individual is inaugurated. Now, I’m a fan of optimism, and I get weary of pessimism—I suspect many of you would give the…

Do you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? If so, you should know that we are required by law to review your case to verify that you still have a disabling condition that prevents you from doing substantial work. We call this process a Continuing Disability Review. We will send…

Donald Trump will be president in a few days. He will replace arguably the worst president in modern times. One only has to look closely at Biden’s behavior in recent days for confirmation of how bad the left has been for this country. Trump will enter office a different man. He has learned a lot…

It began to rain, lightly at first. But from the dark clouds building to the northwest I knew what was coming. I pulled my johnboat up on a shallow gravel bar due to that promise of coming bad weather, just minutes away. The temperature was in the low thirties, cold and wet. I picked up…

There are many online resources about Social Security, but it is important that you visit our official website – SSA.gov – for the most accurate and up-to-date answers. You can find lots of information about our programs and services on our Frequently Asked Questions page at faq.ssa.gov. We feature the most asked questions at the…

I have written many times about the notion of change, both of its inevitability and its effects on our lives. The change from 2024 to 2025 was in many ways a psychological one: when the ball drops at Times Square, nothing was really different from the moments before the start of the new year. The…

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu Throughout my life I have been an extremely goal-oriented person. From creating a detailed plan for my life to training, running and finishing two marathons — goals have kept me motivated to live my life to the fullest. With the new…

Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a brain condition that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Since the onset of Alzheimer’s can occur in younger people before they retire, it may affect their ability to work as the disease progresses. Our benefits and services are especially vital…