The economic development landscape is dotted with dollar bills.In today’s competitive environment communities serious about attracting business and industry had better have cash available when a company comes calling.Iola Industries has been an enormous blessing…

By its very nature, the military — designed to protect Americans’ way of life — is currently a contradiction in terms because in horrible numbers, men in uniform are sexually assaulting their female counterparts.The lax…

If hospital administrators could have a say, they would get down on their knees and beg Kansas lawmakers to approve expansion of the Medicaid program. If large employers such as Gates Corporation could have a…

It’s so obvious it hardly needs said. A blow to the head can kill.Boxers know it. Those who study the martial arts learn never to deliver blows to the head. Contact sports as a whole…

Year after year Iola High is awash with dramatic talent. This year is no exception.The Bowlus Fine Arts Center gives the kids a leg up. Environment has a very definite role in molding the young,…

Though it seems at odds, a funeral is an affirmation of life. Three generations have gathered for my dad’s funeral today. Proof that he lives on.The last big draw was brother Angelo’s wedding in September.…

Dear editor,As Bob Johnson put it, Kansas truly lost an icon with the passing of Emerson Lynn. Before the days of email and the Internet, when all state politicians got what was called a “clipping…

The U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, long has been a stain on our reputation for democracy. The 166 prisoners there have been denied their due process of law. True, the numbers are significantly down…

The American people do not have the stomach for another war — whether it’s justified or not.Yes, Syria’s President Bashar as-Assad is a despot. Yes, Syrians are being outright murdered by his regime. And yes,…

Amazon is the new Walmart when it comes to killing small retailers.For 18 years the online megastore has crowded in on sales from bookstores to large items including appliances and furniture.Its success is so huge…