×

Local columns

Political parties on perilous ground

As Donald Trump's Republicans look askance as he launches what looks to some like another long-term war in the Middle East, and as the anti-Trump Democrats hold up Homeland Security funding in what looks to some like prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens, one is tempted to ask, ...

Zelenskyy criticizes waiver on Russian oil sanctions

PARIS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the U.S. 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions amid the Iran war is "not the right decision" and won't help bring a stop to Russia's more than 4-year-old invasion of Ukraine. "This easing alone by the United States could ...

Almanac for March 14, 2026

Today is Saturday, March 14, the 73rd day of 2026. There are 292 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1879, Albert Einstein, who would revolutionize physics and the human understanding of the universe, was born in Ulm, Germany. Also on this date: In 1794, Eli Whitney received a ...

The Reading Wars in America

"My child can't read!" That's become a common complaint from parents. Why? It might be because kids are distracted by social media and video games. But I think it's also because reading instruction became lazy and political. "Progressives" at teachers' colleges pushed a reading technique ...

Under pressure from Trump, GOP plans talkathon on voting bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure from President Donald Trump, Senate Republicans plan to launch a "full and robust debate" next week on legislation to impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements, an effort to show Trump that they are serious about the bill even though it doesn't have ...

Almanac for March 13, 2026

Today is Friday, March 13, the 72nd day of 2026. There are 293 days left in the year. Today in history: In 2013, Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope, choosing the papal name Francis. He was the first pontiff from the Americas, and the first from outside Europe since Pope Gregory ...