Columnists

Did you know that certain life changes can affect your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments? Sometimes your circumstances may change after you apply for or begin to receive SSI. When that happens, it’s important for you to tell us about these changes. This will ensure that you receive the benefits to which you’re eligible. Here…

“Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to enjoy your life.” – Joyce Meyer It was an overcast day … typical of Memorial Day weekend. Dave and I had driven to Fort Madison to see my parents and spend a long weekend with them. Dad’s Leukemia had gotten worse and we all…

We live in a world where higher education has been more of a necessity than a luxury for nearly a century. In fact, when the Founders were putting together what became the U.S. Constitution, Thomas Jefferson often spoke of the need to properly fund higher education. In 1789, he wrote of the necessity for an…

It’s never been easier to do business with us online. Often there is no need to call or visit an office. Here are three webpages that can make your life easier: • Create Your Personal my Social Security Account. Did you know you already have access to much of your Social Security information? All you…

WOTUS. It stands for “waters of the United States.” The acronym is five letters, but if you live and farm in North Missouri, it might as well be a four-letter word. No matter how many times we try to bury that horrible policy, it seems to keep rising from the ashes to infect nearly every…

I typically wear a beard – probably 10-11 months of the year, my face is hairy. I had the notion a few mornings ago to shave it off, and it was gone before you could say, That blade wasn’t as sharp as I thought. So when cooler weather decides to make its way through the…

An interesting contradiction in American politics is voters tend to be unhappy with Congress as a whole but supportive of the representative for their particular district. That’s why turnover is fairly light per election and why incumbents are in an enviable position. In a couple of months I will vote again for Sam Graves to…

After months of haggling with his political advisors, President Biden finally pulled the trigger on his disastrous plan to “forgive” student loan debt. The President issued an executive order to unilaterally strike $10,000 from every student loan that has been borrowed by someone making up to $125,000 or couples making up to $250,000. Let’s be…

In honor of the beginning of school, I wanted to share a story with you from this past week. I saw posted a lost of books that had supposedly been banned from Florida schools and libraries. On further digging, I found the list to be false, but the reality of book banning exists, and it’s…

Missouri has a unique opportunity. For years, lawmakers have looked at ways at streamlining taxes in our state. In recent years, the Legislature has made modest cuts, most of which are based on how the economy is doing at the start of a new year. Not only have we seen our economy do well during…