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Thinking Out Loud: Ghosts of McCarthyism

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“Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the... Catholic Church?” That seemed to be what the Senators from California and Hawaii were asking as they grilled Nebraska U.S. District Court nominee Brian Buescher during his recent confirmation hearings. But rather than reveal their anti-Catholic bigotry overtly, Senators Kamala Harris and Mazie Hirono made the feeble attempt at going after a softer target, one of Judge Buescher’s affiliations, the Knights of Columbus. The KOC, according to them, holds “extreme” views. And who is this “extremist” group?

TribTalk: Vaccines and the Price of Opting Out

Imagine your child in the intensive care unit, sedated and on life support. You brought them to the emergency room with a fever and watched as their lungs faltered, the war being waged inside their little body. They are now attached to a ventilator that breathes for them, and a machine is delivering oxygen to their blood outside of their body. Your child is alive thanks to the unbelievable power of modern medicine, but fighting for their life. Your child has the flu.

Wright's Words:Already Dreading 2019

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The change of the calendar year for many marks a fresh start. A chance to right the w–rongs of the previous year. A chance to start off with a clean slate.

And, looking back at 2018 in general, we need a clean slate.

But, it already appears the slate is full at the moment, and more is about to be piled on.

Musings by Marilou:Eager for a New Year

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The 2019 calendar begins my third year in Seminole and my second with the Sentinel. If the next 12 months are anything like 2018, I know I am in for an incredible ride.

Two Views: Texas Runs a Short Change Con on Schools, Local Governments

The following is not satire, however much we might wish it were. We are going to visit the ruinous state policies on property taxes that have left our schools struggling and now threaten local police and fire protection and other services.  The story could reach its end during the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature, which convenes in January. How it ends is up to us. Follow along, if you dare. In Texas, property taxes are used to fund schools, police and fire protection, local hospitals, roads, bridges, et cetera.

Thinking Out Loud:

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When President Trump endorsed the First Step Act, a bipartisan effort to reduce the federal prison population and improve the lives of those already incarcerated, his goal was simple, if not entirely clear, as he spoke to a rally in Mississippi: "criminal justice, Texas style." "You think of Texas as a tough, law-and-order state," he said. "Well, they've done it. ‘We want people to have better opportunities and a better life. Tough on crime, but also smart on crime.’” Trump was not alone in his assessment.

Musings by Marilou:I Can Hardly Wait

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Ilove everything about the Christmas holidays but today, December 26, is my day. My two oldest grandkids, a comedic preteen and a full-fledged opinionated and moody teenager, are flying in

You Can’t Fix School Finance Until You Agree on the Meaning of ‘Fix’

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other lawmakers have promised they will tackle “school finance” in the 2019 legislative session, but it’s already clear that not everyone is talking about the

Thinking Out Loud: Heroes, Villains and Mavericks

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I don’t watch much TV. The idea of catching my favorite weekly serial is a notion that is long passed. That’s primarily because publishing deadlines that began, for me, way back

Woman in the Mirror: Battling the Blues

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Elvis hit the nail on the head when he sang, “Blue Christmas.” Many people, me included, find themselves battling the blues during the holidays. Mine comes from the misbelief that