For years, too much of the national conversation about rural America has focused on what has been lost. Factories closed. Coal jobs disappeared. Young people moved away. As two leaders from …
It was the last day of school, and all the kindergarten students were giving gifts to their teacher. The florist’s son handed her a beautifully wrapped box. The teacher felt it and said, “I …
As communities throughout Kentucky and across the nation commemorate Juneteenth and prepare for the 250th anniversary of American independence, we are presented with a chance to ask a more direct …
E arly in my classroom teaching days, my sainted mother purchased for me a large tapestry of the original US Constitution. It hung from the back of my classroom wall and from time to …
Perhaps you heard about the woman who was pulled over for doing 65 mph in a 40-mph zone? When the policeman asked for her license, she told him she didn’t have one, that it was revoked …
A s the Fourth of July approaches each year, we are reminded that Independence Day is about far more than fireworks and family gatherings. It is a time to reflect on the principles that gave …
My first lesson from deer camp is the reminder there’s a reason why it’s called “hunting” and not just “killing.” As with all my writings, I depend more upon the experiences of …
A little old lady answered a knock at the door only to be confronted by a slick-talking vacuum cleaner salesman. “Hi, madam,” the young man said as he barged into her home. “I’d …
G iven the fact many parents have been compelled over the last several years to take a closer look at schooling their own children, I thought it would be of interest to make a few observations …
A cting without first thinking is too common. It is called reacting. It leads to unintended negative consequences. Problems are needlessly created or exacerbated. In this …
A woman came home to find her retired husband waving a rolled-up newspaper round his head. “What are you doing?” she asked. “I’m swatting flies,” he said. “So far, I’ve …
With his homespun humor, the late great storyteller Jerry Clower could spin yarns that carried weighty messages. One of my favorites was about his Uncle Versie’s beloved mule, Della, that fell …
Some years ago, I was having lunch with a contact of mine, a young Burmese reporter, in a noodle shop in Yangon, the old capital of Myanmar. He chose the restaurant because it was generally safe: …
I love the old joke about the politician whose car broke down as he traveled through the countryside with his Jewish and Hindu friends. A farmer agreed to put them up for the night but told them …
As of April 2026, Kentucky county jails are holding 1,079 prisoners for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Who are these ICE detainees? What conditions are they living under in our …
Last week, the NAACP asked Black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in states that are taking steps that its said “are restricting Black voting rights.” …
A judge berated a fellow who had just pleaded guilty to killing an endangered spotted owl. “Why did you do it?” the judge asked. “Well, sir, I was just trying to feed my family,” …
Perhaps you heard about the pet duck that had stopped eating and was growing weaker by the day. The duck’s owner called the veterinarian to explain the problem. “Old ducks can have …
The headline says it all. After 40 years in the newspaper business, I had happily retired almost two years ago and relocated to this area, expecting to ride out my so-called “golden years” doing, …
A psychology professor, giving a lecture on mental illness, asked his students what they’d make of someone who paces back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits down …