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Consider the risks of family gatherings this Christmas

We urge area residents thinking of going over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house this Christmas to bear one thing in mind: We are not out of the woods yet. In many ways, COVID-19 is more dangerous than ever in most states. Public health officials cautioned us all about large family gatherings for Thanksgiving. The surge of COVID-19 cases since then is evidence many people paid no heed to the warnings. They went ahead with festivities of the type enjoyed for years — and the deadly virus was communicated to many members of their families. More than 50,000 Americans ...

Exiting president extends flexibility to successor

It has been written and said many times that no one understands the challenges of the presidency as well as an ex-president. It also has been noted by the American people that occupants of the Oval Office frequently are able count on their predecessors for advice and sometimes even more substantial aid. During the weekend there was a little-noticed yet important development in that regard. Sit down for this: President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden seem to agree on something. Earlier this month, a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress proposed a $908 billion package ...

Don’t hamstring cops when trimming the fat

Reforming law enforcement agencies where the stain of bigotry remains a threat to the public is important. We have no doubt the vast majority of men and women in the profession agree with that. But hamstringing them is not the answer. It not only discriminates against good cops, it also has dangerous to the public. Yet some public officials remain committed to “defunding” law enforcement simply to placate a few unthinking constituents. An example of the phenomenon is playing out in Minneapolis. There, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a few police officers, there ...

Americans treasure freedom of speech but not to harm others

We Americans treasure our freedom of speech. We defend it staunchly. As the old saying goes, we may not agree with what some people say, but we defend their right to say it. Unless it is intended to incite violence to harm people otherwise. There, we draw the line. In August 2019, a federal judge in Missoula, Montana, ruled that the publisher of a neo-Nazi website had stepped across that line. Andrew Anglin, founder and operator of The Daily Stormer website, had orchestrated a campaign intended to harass a Jewish family, Judge Dana Christensen decided in a lawsuit filed by a member ...

COVID-19 relief bill would help families, boost economy

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators and representatives is pushing for enactment of a new COVID-19 relief bill, priced at about $900 billion. Both Democrats and Republicans involved in the effort say that in the spirit of compromise, some provisions they wanted were left out of the measure. One needs to be inserted, as two members of the House of Representatives — one Democrat and one Republican — recognize. It is another round of direct cash help to American families. U.S. Reps. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., have introduced legislation to ...

Don’t make hasty decision to adopt a pet into your family

Each Christmas season, children (and a few adults) across the country include in their requests to Santa a dog, cat, rabbit or other living creature. They want a lovable, cuddly pet. They promise they will feed it, walk it, clean up after it, take it to the vet and love it. They have no idea how much that will cost, or how much time and attention that will mean ... they just want a pet. Some gift-givers fall for it. Then, a few weeks later, when the novelty has worn off, the first bag of pet food is empty and/or it is time for that trip to the vet ... a decision is made. ...