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A Place We Should Not Be, Measles Again In The News
The confirmation of Wisconsin’s first measles case of the year is more than a local health update — it’s a warning flare signaling how fragile our public health victories become when science is sidelined, and national leadership fails to prioritize our collective well‑being. I want to assert at the start of this column that the… Continue reading
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Children Pay No Fee To Enter Classroom, Why Pay A Fee For Lunch?
Above the fold in the Sunday edition of the Wisconsin State Journal, readers were again discovering the latest about a topic that our public schools simply need to address head-on. The Madison School District total meal debt stood at $488,533.94 as of early January, although spokesperson Ian Folger said that’s unlikely to be the amount… Continue reading
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Local Citizen Writes Cogent Letter For Impeaching Donald Trump To Senator Ron Johnson And Congressman Scott Fitzgerald
Our friend and realtor, Robin Guernsey, wrote a powerfully cogent and timely letter to her federal officials this morning, following the murder on Saturday of an American on the streets of Minneapolis. Before I get to the heart of this column, first, I need to explain the character of the woman who wrote the letter.… Continue reading
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Letter From Home: Heartstopper And Hancock 1/23/26
Last fall, at Barnes & Noble, thanks to a large display near an entrance to the bookstore, I first became aware of Alice Oseman, and the Heartstopper series. Several books of her work were prominently displayed, and I spent a few minutes reading a bit and exploring the overall tone and mission of them. Heartstopper… Continue reading
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DeForest Village Board: Example Of Democracy Working
In the midst of so much awful news and absurd happenings, there was a news story that lifted the sails this week. The DeForest Village Board voted 5–2 to begin reintroducing fluoride into the water system. If you are asking yourself why ‘reintroduce’ this scientifically evaluated mineral to the water supply, you would be correct… Continue reading
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What Must Be Done To Face Our Current Crisis In America?
While reading the newspapers today, I thought about a book I had read decades ago by Arthur Schlesinger. I read it in my 20s while in Door County, a decade after it was published. The Imperial Presidency was written following the twin debacles of Vietnam and Watergate, with an emphasis on what should be the… Continue reading
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The Presidency Is Bigger Than The President
This weekend, another of those embarrassing incidents occurred featuring Donald Trump. He wrote a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Every lesson of global maturity, of basic common decency, and the most basic of niceties taught in childhood was upended. If you think it is a bad joke, let me make it clear… Continue reading
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Wisconsin Police and Sheriff Departments Take Steps For Gun Safety
I was pleased to see above the fold on the front page of my home county’s newspaper a story (albeit not written by staff but copied directly from the Wautoma Police Department, which is something I do not like to see) about a gun safety measure that merits attention. That police department is one of… Continue reading
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Remembering Big Jim Sykes And The Enduring Power Of Elvis
This morning on WGN radio (Bob Sirott’s show), I learned of the death on January 9th of Big Jim Sykes. His unmistakable voice marks the loss of someone who used his radio professionalism to keep the spirit of Elvis Presley alive for millions of listeners. Through his work on the Elvis Channel on SiriusXM, Sykes didn’t… Continue reading
