Columnists

The other day, my wife and I were discussing something that has become a yearly phenomenon, thanks to the ‘doom-and-gloom’ culture that we have unfortunately adopted over the past few years. When we scroll social media – which maybe we should just quit doing – we see multiple posts and reposts about what a terrible…

For those who do not know me, my name is Rusty Black, and it is an honor to serve as the new state senator for the 12th Senatorial District. Since 2016, I served in the Missouri House of Representatives and I am looking forward to this new journey of serving some of the best people…

“New beginnings are in order, and you are bound to feel some level of excitement as new chances come your way.” —Oscar Auliq-Ice, author I love the start of anything new. Heck, Mondays are one of my favorite days simply because it means I can start fresh. Give me a new planner, exciting, brand new…

The fall of 2023 will be the 50th anniversary of the legislative birth of Missouri’s Sunshine Law that provides the public with sweeping rights to documents, voting records and meetings of state and local governments. The Sunshine Law’s foundation has a long history. The 1972 Watergate scandal of President Richard Nixon contributed to election of…

Doing the right thing can be difficult. Knowing which thing is right can be even tougher. You get to a certain age and realize that making decisions isn’t really that hard: what’s tough is differentiating between the choices – what am I really picking? What are the consequences of the different options? If I know…

Scams to steal your personal information are at an all-time high. The need to safeguard important personal documents such as your Social Security card continues to be very important. A Social Security card is not an identification document. In many situations, you only need to know your Social Security number (SSN). Your physical card is…

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program helps support many American families. As we celebrate 50 years of SSI, it is a great time to briefly share the history of SSI and information on how to apply. On October 30, 1972, President Nixon signed SSI into law. In January 1974, we began paying SSI to people…

The end of the year offers us the opportunity to reflect on the events of the past 12 months and how they have affected our lives. At the same time, we can look forward to a new year full of new hopes and ambitions. As we make our New Year’s resolutions, we affirm our belief…

Several weeks ago, I attended the Nodaway Chorale’s Holiday Tapestry concert. The chorale is a mixed voice community choir and they have two concerts throughout the year, in December and in May. As I listened to their beautiful voices singing holiday songs, I noticed some familiar faces that I have worked with throughout my years…

Social Security programs touch the lives of more than 70 million people. We work hard to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible to you. Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with Social Security online. This begins with creating your free and secure personal my Social…