Journalist Marie Colvin calls out Assad in her final interview
Marie Colvin spent the final hours of her life trying to tell the world about the atrocities that Syrian President Bashar Assad was committing against his nation’s people.
“It is a complete and utter lie that they are only going after terrorists,” the veteran war journalist told CNN’s Anderson Cooper …
Pioli should sign Brady to quarterback Chiefs
Just trying to help: Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli, formerly with New England, should pull some strings and work a deal to get Tom Brady to play quarterback for the Chiefs. That may be hard, so if he can’t do that, he should sign Denver free agent Brady Quinn to … Read More ⇒
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My challenge to KC’s young professionals
Earlier this month I spent almost three hours discussing Kansas City’s past and future with a dozen 20-something professionals in a downtown loft. The finance managers, architects and others in the room were well-informed and enthusiastic, two qualities you want to see in young people who absolutely must be bigger … Read More ⇒
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Black History Month Quiz Question No. 5
In 1918, Alice Parker received a patent for a heating furnace. Did it use gas, coal or wood for fuel? The Black History Month questions, which I shared with the Class of 1999 at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan., are care of Brain Quest from Workman Publishing. Find … Read More ⇒
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Immigration non-issue in Kansas
For Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, immigration is the alpha-omega issue of our times. But fortunately, it barely moved the needle in Kansas politics. Tough immigration reform measures haven’t picked up traction among key Republican legislators. That’s good for Kansas. Immigrants have been about the only reason the Sunflower … Read More ⇒
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Costs of Obama’s Keystone Pipeline screwup are mounting
President Obama’s failure to approve the Keystone Pipeline was dumb on almost every level. It cost the country in energy security and jobs, with zero gain: the oil will be sold regardless. He managed to make everyone unhappy except hard-core environmentalists. Now we see how the lack of a pipeline … Read More ⇒
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Freebies Are Not Always Good
My daughter will have her birthday next month. I remember we took her to a buffet on her birthday in 2009. I let her know that this was a treat because I was normally against eating buffet because of the potential to eat too much and the possible undesirable consequence … Read More ⇒
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Go bold, Governor Nixon
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is never short on initiatives. He’s got the Show-Me Heroes Initiative to put returning veterans to work. He recently rolled out MoHealthWINS to prepare community college students for health careers. In a meeting with The Star’s editorial board Tuesday, Nixon recounted more initiatives and characterized them … Read More ⇒
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Say goodbye to ethics in Show Me State
Let’s hope Missouri isn’t leading the way on this one. Legislation to reinstate ethics laws tossed out by the Missouri Supreme Court last week won’t happen this year. House Majority Leader Tim Jones said it will have to wait until the 2013 legislative session. Ethics? ethics? We don’t need no … Read More ⇒
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Black History Month Quiz Question No. 4
Isabella Hurley was a New York slave who became a gifted speaker on abolitionism. What name did she choose for herself? The Black History Month questions, which I shared with the Class of 1999 at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan., are care of Brain Quest from Workman Publishing. … Read More ⇒
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Kansas gamblers big losers, too
I just love all the gambling promoters who talk about how much money the casinos take in, as if this is great news. Here’s the latest story, made worse by the fact that the state of Kansas is the one ripping money from the pockets of gamblers. Lost in all … Read More ⇒
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How Nixon’s cautious approach hurts Missouri
Gov. Jay Nixon visited The Star’s Editorial Board today and he was as gregarious - and as waffling on some key matters - as usual. He was armed with quips, statistics and finally defenses for why he’s such a cautious governor. His visit reinforced with me that the most negative … Read More ⇒
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Nixon believes KC school district ‘can continue and succeed’
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon was running 10 minutes late when he arrived at The Star today to talk to the editorial board and reporters. It seems he’d left the Governor’s Mansion wearing a purple tie and then remembered the Mizzou Tigers are playing K-State tonight. Nixon arrived in Kansas City … Read More ⇒
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KC cops set special health insurance meeting
Kansas City’s Fraternal Order of Police leaders have scheduled a special meeting tonight to discuss the proposed health care insurance changes being sought by city officials. FOP President Brad Dumit told me Monday he couldn’t release much detail about what’s being discussed by the FOP and the city; he’s hoping … Read More ⇒
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Sly James wants to be a thinner mayor
Mayor Sly James took to Twitter on Monday afternoon and typed out eight words that just might change his life: “Started walking this morning. Gonna lose some weight.” Congratulations to Kansas City’s mayor for taking that step. Now comes the difficult part of actually doing all the walking and other … Read More ⇒
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The cause of Euro zone problem: one explanation
There seems to be an invisible hand trying to undermine European Union with the four PIGS (heavily indebted countries: Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain). Euro zone leaders have been forced to work hard on getting second bailout to Greece, as if there were cure for Greece problem, as if Greece … Read More ⇒
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Putin plans…
…to maintain and expand a strategic influential footprint in the so-called Middle East. Already, Russia provides extensive military logistical support to Syria via the port of Tartus, which graciously received two Iranian warships today. Putin will cautiously and carefully project Russian military power, following his certain re-election in March (4th). … Read More ⇒
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Conditions in Syria will change when Putin decides
I began to write when “Russia” decides, but we must put a name to this, just as other countries have leaders who lead and decide. Vladimir Putin has a great deal upon his political plate. Today, he’s confronting opposition parties wishing for inclusion in the coming election on March 4th. … Read More ⇒
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Give raises to KC police for joining health insurance plan
Members of Kansas City’s police force are paying extremely close attention to proposed changes in their health insurance. But they also need to do the math when it comes to the possibility of getting pay raises in 2012. Here’s what City Manager Troy Schulte’s new budget calls for: If the … Read More ⇒
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Battling bloodshed in Syria
Even sketchy reports out of Syria can be numbing: Government forces shell civilian neighborhoods, soldiers open fire on funerals, and officials and business leaders are assassinated. The government of President Bashar Assad shuts off any but a filtered version of the news and locks out international reporters, so knowing the … Read More ⇒
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Brad Pitt’s gift to KC
The renovation of Bancroft Elementary into a residential complex and community center is a big victory for supporters of the Green Impact Zone. It’s also a step forward for those who want to promote more activity on Kansas City’s economically hurting East Side. The Star’s story explains all the details … Read More ⇒
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Black History Month Quiz Question No. 3
A 1969 invention by Marie Brittan Brown promotes safety in the home. Is it a security system or a smoke detector? The Black History Month questions, which I shared with the Class of 1999 at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan., are care of Brain Quest from Workman Publishing. … Read More ⇒
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North Korea’s new saber rattling
South Korea is planning live-fire drills today, prompting North Korea to threaten “merciless” strikes in retaliation. The tough talk is part of an ongoing dialogue over war in that tense part of the globe. What’s different is North Korea has a new supreme leader, Kim Jong Un. His need to … Read More ⇒
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Gingrich’s $2.50-a-gallon gasoline farce
Will someone please wake up Newt Gingrich and explain how the world of pricing works for oil? Gingrich is trying to revive his moribund GOP presidential campaign with a Facebook petition calling on people to sign it if they are in favor of moving back to $2.50-a-gallon gasoline. It’s well-timed, … Read More ⇒
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Ann Coulter and Lady Gaga
Every time I read about Ann Coulter, for some reason, Lady Gaga rushes up in my head. I think Lady Gaga attained her celebrity through the combination of her songs and her eccentric costumes and performance. She is certainly not alone in using this unconventional approach to achieve notoriety. That’s … Read More ⇒