Columnists

Did you know, you can do much of your business online with Social Security? This means no need to call or visit a local Social Security office. You can take your time completing our online applications and even save your progress to return to later. You can apply online for: • Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits…

We are still learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. In life, part of learning includes how not to do things. Sometimes, learning from one’s mistakes can be the best way to learn how to move forward. House Bill 2116 was signed into law on June 30. This legislation is better-known as the “No Patient Left…

Let me tell you how it feels for me to be a teacher. I will not spend time boring you with my complaining. I truly have very little about which to complain. I walk into school and see elementary students first, most generally. I don’t teach anyone younger than a freshman, so there are mornings…

Currently, more than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Since the onset of Alzheimer’s can occur in people before they retire, it may strike during an individual’s working years, preventing gainful employment as the disease progresses. As a result, people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers must figure out how they’ll pay for care.…

The left learned long ago the best way to gain politically is to control the narrative, but sometimes adjustments are necessary to accommodate setbacks. For instance when interest in “global warming” began to fade, it was seamlessly replaced with “climate change” which is broader and more collective. Now all things we commonly associate with bad…

It’s been a difficult week for folks in parts of North Missouri. As most have seen or heard by now, the Amtrak Southwest Chief train was in the middle of its regular cross-country route on Monday, that typically stops in Kansas City and La Plata before heading on to Chicago, when it tragically struck a…

A reader complimented me this past week on my positive perspective on the things I write. I cannot imagine hearing any praise that could please me more. I have to write about some of the things that are broken, ideas that are misunderstood, and people who are causing society’s problems. My purpose is not to…

Your Social Security Statement (Statement) tells you how much you or your family can expect to receive in disability, survivors, and retirement benefits. It also provides a record of your most recent earnings history and other valuable information. We also give you fact sheets with your online Statement. The fact sheets provide clear and useful…

To me, the role of state government is to help as many of our citizens who need that extra “hand up” as possible. At the same time, it is also important to make sure it is something our state can afford. Part of the state operating budget for the fiscal year that started on July…

Because of a law passed in 2019 and an opinion issued by the United States Supreme Court today, Missouri has become one of the first states in the nation to effectively end abortion. It was during the 2019 legislative session that the Missouri General Assembly passed HB 126, which supporters called one of the strongest…