Existential crisis for Obama, too

As President Barack Obama looks at the Ukraine crisis, he sees an asymmetry of interests: Simply put, the future of Ukraine means more to Vladimir Putin's Russia than it does to the U.S. or Europe. For Putin, this is an existential crisis; for the West, so far, it. . .

Chicken Little 'science'

The cult centered on "global warming" alarmism is getting hot under the collar. People seem to have stopped paying attention and polls show "climate change" barely registers on a list of voters' concerns. This can only mean, as losing politicians like to say, that. . .

Obamacare shutters Mena's free medical clinic

When the Mena Star reported that Ninth Street Ministries would close its free medical clinic for the uninsured this month because nearly everyone in the mountains and glens around the town had gotten insurance through Obamacare, the story went viral on the. . .

Women's care shouldn't be lost in investigation

The relationship and trust between a patient and his or her doctor are two of the fundamental requirements for obtaining quality health care. Needless to say, some of these visits, communications and exams can be quite stressful. To receive appropriate and. . .

Erasing the race card needs to happen soon

One approaches the race fray with trepidation, but here we go, tippy-toe. The race cards have been flying so fast and furious lately, one can hardly tell the kings from the queens. Leading the weird lately has been Democratic Alabama state Rep. Alvin Holmes, who. . .

From Manhattan to Washington, Indians get snookered

Twenty-four dollars. That, supposedly, was the price Gov. Peter Minuit paid American Indians for the island of Manhattan in 1625. It's a tale historians find suspect. In the first place, whatever Minuit paid was in goods valued at 60 17th-century Dutch guilders;. . .

Nix special election on sales tax measure

Regardless of what city officials do, the city's half-cent public safety sales tax will expire Dec. 31. Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin deserves credit for recognizing early on that an extension of the tax would be dead in the water if city officials sought voter. . .

Transparency in pay would require Paycheck Fairness Act

Transparency in banking and business is vital to maintaining confidence in the system and ensuring that neither the buyer nor the seller can take advantage of one another. This transparency is increasingly evident in the actions of the Federal Reserve Bank. The. . .

The GOP's amateur hour

Not to put too fine a point on it, but what has Rand Paul ever done? Oh, sure, he's a member of the U.S. Senate, but only a freshman, and it's the only political office he has ever held. He's an ophthalmologist, a father, a husband and the son of Ron Paul, who. . .

We can't afford not to fund Alzheimer's research

Advocates for the Alzheimer's Association made a push in Congress this week for more funding for research. They based their argument on the costs of Alzheimer's. This disease, which causes so much pain for patients and their families, also threatens the nation's. . .

State Supreme Court will soon have majority of female justices

Political primaries in Arkansas have become somewhat ho-hum, now that we have a two-party system. Most of the interesting races will be in November. Nevertheless, one historic change will take place on May 20, which is also when the state's judicial elections. . .

Millennials need to create their own job opportunities

Millennials are perhaps the most academically educated generation in our nation. The media has tagged them as the most overindulged, self-aggrandizing and "plugged in" group of young adults ever. The millennial's major gripe is that there are no educationally. . .

Appeal puts new focus on social issues

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's decision to appeal a ruling striking down Arkansas' 12- week abortion ban isn't just giving hope to conservative activists who want to preserve one of the strictest abortion laws in the country. It also could inject a new focus. . .

Teaching has changed; students not so much

God blessed me by not making me a school teacher. I'm sure the students, school administrators and parents are grateful as well. That's not to disparage school teachers or the schools they teach in. How they manage to enlighten young minds in the times of No. . .

Liberal thought police on patrol to silence debate

Two months ago, a petition bearing more than 110,000 signatures was delivered to The Washington Post demanding a ban on any article questioning global warming. The petition arrived the day before publication of my column, which consisted of precisely that. . .