Opinion

US-Saudi nuclear agreement further erodes safeguards

Even as he threatened to escalate an unlawful war sold in part as preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon, Donald Trump opened the door to proliferation in the region when the U.S. announced it had signed a deal with Saudi Arabia that would potentially allow the kingdom to enrich uranium in future and to avoid the fullest inspection rights for the international watchdog. Experts have long warned that a civilian nuclear programme could create a path towards a nuclear-armed Riyadh. Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and de facto leader, has said that if Tehran gets a ...

Almanac for Aug. 1, 2026

Today is Saturday, Aug. 1, the 213th day of 2026. There are 152 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1981, MTV began its American broadcast; the first music video aired on the new cable TV network was “Video Killed the Radio Star,” by The Buggles. Also on this date: In 1876, Colorado was admitted as the 38th state in the Union, less than a month after the U.S. Centennial (earning it the nickname “the Centennial State”). In 1907, a week-long boys’ camping event began on Brownsea Island in southern England, organized by Robert Baden-Powell; the event is now marked as ...

Editorial cartoon for Aug. 1, 2026

Trump says IRS anti-weaponization fund ‘dead’ even as he defends it

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that his $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund is “dead” while also continuing to defend it, further complicating his administration’s negotiations with two Republican senators who are blocking his attorney general nominee in ...

Who’s to blame when parents don’t get children vaccinated?

What is the death count under Donald Trump? We’re not talking about loss of life in his war with Iran. We’re not talking about natural deaths by aging or unpreventable diseases. We mean Americans who die because they refuse safe vaccines that Trump or his health secretary, Robert F. ...

A Fair Tradition Worth Celebrating

The United States has many celebrations and occasions that reaffirm our love of family and country. Those days center around birthdays, weddings, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and other similar holidays. My personal favorite day of the year is the Fourth of July because it symbolizes everything good about America and allows us to enjoy all those other days. I want to introduce you to my second favorite day of the year, the 4-H auction at the U.P. State Fair. Every year on Saturday of fair week the 4-H auction is conducted in the show arena next to the beef barn. Kids from all over ...