Opinion

Back to "cash is king"

I believe in supporting local businesses in my community, whether it's the small mom-and-pop gas station on the corner or a large national chain. To me, "support local" isn't just about who owns the business—it's about supporting the people who live and work here, our neighbors, friends, and families. Lately, though, I've noticed more and more businesses adding a 3.5% surcharge for using a debit/credit card. That makes me wonder: why? A debit/credit card is a direct payment from a customer's bank account. Yet many of these same businesses will gladly accept an old-fashioned paper ...

Editorial cartoon for Aug. 11, 2026

Almanac for Aug. 11, 2026

Today in History: August 11, Alcatraz takes first federal prisoners By The Associated Press undefined Today is Tuesday, Aug. 11, the 223rd day of 2026. There are 142 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 11, 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island, a former military prison, in San Francisco Bay; the island would be home to more than 1,500 prisoners over the next three decades, including gangsters Al Capone and James "Whitey" Bulger, before closing in 1963. Also on this date: In 1919, Germany's Weimar Constitution was signed by President ...

Almanac for Aug. 10, 2026

Today in History: August 10, derecho rakes the US Midwest By The Associated Press undefined Today is Monday, Aug. 10, the 222nd day of 2026. There are 143 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 10, 2020, a powerful derecho struck several Midwest U.S. states, causing four fatalities and an estimated $11 billion in damage, making it the costliest thunderstorm in modern U.S. history. Also on this date: In 1792, during the French Revolution, mobs in Paris attacked the Tuileries (TWEE'-luh-reez) Palace, where King Louis XVI resided. (The king was later arrested, put on ...

Editorial cartoon for Aug. 10, 2026

The Normalcy of American Wars

The war in Iran is unlawful and unconstitutional, but in post-World War II America, it is normal. Here is the backstory. When President Donald Trump decided to begin bombing Iran last June, he did not state a coherent or lawful reason for doing so. His director of national intelligence and ...