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Public must speak out: HB 509 is still a threat to transparency
BY JON FLEISCHAKER and MICHAEL ABATE Repeatedly in recent weeks, Gov. Andy Beshear has come out in favor of HB 509, a bill that would dramatically weaken Kentucky’s Open Records laws. The governor has tried to assure citizens the bill would result in more transparency, not less. The governor is wrong; this bill will inevitably…
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Stop the invasion of our nation
If President Biden could announce Nov. 1 that all student debt is forgiven, he would do so. That would surely be a way to get a few more votes. If you have a $100,000 student loan, then you have a heavy burden of paying back that loan. To suddenly have the debt cleared would be…
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Slang words have changed through the years
My wife Vicki and I are fans of the reality music show “The Voice.” One of the newer, younger judges on the show is Chance the Rapper, who is also a popular music producer. He has personality and knows his trade. When making comments about singers, he uses terms such as “that was fire,” which…
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High-dollar lobbyists are moving bills in Frankfort
BY JOHN SCHAAF As the last days of the Kentucky General Assembly unfold, big-dollar lobbyists in Frankfort are pushing their most controversial bills toward passage. Lobbyists recently shoved their private school voucher amendment across the finish line to set up a massive fight this fall between Kentucky taxpayers and a handful of multi-billionaires who probably…
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Gain some control over your life
Feeling like you have some control over your life is vital for happiness. Control is not always easy. It takes planning, sacrifice, work and good fortune. Lots of things can happen in life that will shake the earth beneath our feet. Illness, weather disaster, a bad accident and stupid mistakes. We are all vulnerable to…
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Legalized sports gambling could lead to problems
I’m not a gambler, except for the occasional March Madness office pool in the past, where I tried my luck at picking the college basketball brackets. We know how that can turn out for most of us. Just look at the upsets this year in the first round. Kentucky Wildcat fans can really relate to…
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Kentucky’s teacher shortage has reached critical proportions
BY RHONDA CALDWELL Every morning across the Commonwealth, children walk into our schools to engage in one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of mankind—a free public education. As children enter the classroom, their unique experiences accompany them. Yet, no matter the strength or opportunity for growth a child brings into that classroom, a…
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Many of us suffer from common phobias
Most of us have a phobia or two, whether we want to admit it or not. For me, I am somewhat claustrophobic. I have always been and even though I try to fight it, the feeling is still there. I do not like to be in small, confined places. I do not like elevators or…
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Kentucky can and should increase civic education
BY MICHAEL ADAMS KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE The test results are in, and Kentucky is barely passing when it comes to civic health. Civic education is desperately needed in our schools, and our lawmakers need to act now to ensure our children will grow into adults capable of self-government. My office recently conducted a Civic…
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What about the size of your Snickers bar?
In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden referred to an American dilemma – the shrinking Snickers bar. He pointed out that his Snickers bar purchase had less or fewer Snickers. I’m not exactly sure what a Snickers is, nuts, chocolate, sugar, the content of the bar. Size matters when you’re hungry. It’s…
Category: OPED
