Columnists

I love social media. They keep me in touch with dozens of friends, whom I might otherwise have contact with just every few years, or every few decades. They let me share articles that I think bring greater understanding of a subject, usually with a comment of my own, and enjoy similar sharing by others.…

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?” – Satchel Paige (1906-1982) As you read this I have just turned one year older. One whole year. OLDER. I have never liked the word old. It conjures up images of wrinkles, canes, gray hair, old folks’ homes. Scary stuff. Stuff I…

Lawmakers are moving into another week of the extra legislative session. The First Extra Session of the Second Regular Session of the 101st General Assembly started on Sept. 14. The governor called this session to address two issues he believes went unsolved during the regular legislative session, which ran from January through the middle of…

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. At Social Security, we recognize and appreciate the roles people with disabilities play in the workforce. That’s why we’re celebrating and sharing Matt’s story. As a job seeker who is deaf and needs accommodations, Matt was reluctant to tell prospective employers about his disability. He worried that employers…

Ham or Turkey. Gluten-Free options available. I attended a conference of teachers just the other day, and we did the usual dance: we listened to an engaging guest lecturer, walked across the NWMSU campus from the performing arts center to the student union, scampered (walked, crawled) to the third floor and crowded an enormous lunch…

Missouri’s legislative special session dealing with tax cuts is a reminder of how often in past decades tax-cut bills have become food fights for getting tax burdens reduced for a variety of special interests. The governor’s original proposal was to cut state income tax rates and extend the expiration of existing tax breaks for various…

Since 2005 I have attended the annual Convocation on Critical Issues held at Missouri Western State University. I have learned much from Newt Gingrich, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Chris Wallace among others. As the title implies, critical issues are lectured before a large audience of students, faculty and interested citizens. This season’s guest speaker was…

Social Security strives to deliver great customer service and helpful information to everyone, including people who are more comfortable reading and speaking Spanish. Our Spanish-language website, www.segurosocial.gov, provides information about our programs and services. You can learn how to get a Social Security card, plan for retirement, apply for and manage benefits, and much more.…

Lawmakers returned to the State Capitol building this week to give their support to legislation that will support and promote key areas of Missouri’s agriculture industry. House members approved HB 3 as part of the special legislative session called by Gov. Mike Parson. Parson called the special session after vetoing HB 1720, which created and…

Nothing like a couple of days in the mid-90s to usher summer out the door and to welcome in the fall, am I right? Oh, but nobody wants to read a column about weather. We could talk about so many more things, like how the combines are starting to run and how the ball teams…