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By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

If Saudi Arabia pumps more oil, will that drive down gasoline prices for beleaguered U.S. motorists? No, the Saudis and other OPEC countries will just make more money.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill made headlines last week when she criticized colleague Elizabeth Dole, a North Carolina Republican, for very rarely asking "tough questions" about Iraq. Now Dole has fired back at Missouri's McCaskill.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

I keep hoping sanity will prevail on KC's light-rail plan. And what would be the sane, simple approach? Place the ATA's proposed starter line on November's ballot, with a small tax increase. But that goal will be tough to reach thanks to continued missteps by Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

A new study says KC's population has shot past 500,000. In fact, because of Census undercounting, the city supposedly has about 70,000 more people than the Census Bureau and city officials have long thought. Frankly, it's hard to believe.

By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

At first, the reception was light and cheerful. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks were served. Journalists from Pakistan, visiting the United States in a program administered by the U.S. State Department, were making a stop in Kansas City.

Sen. Barack Obama has put a welcome spotlight on the payroll tax that funds Social Security.

Although this is the largest tax that most Americans pay, it seldom receives the attention it deserves.

Current and past Jackson County legislators should fess up: Did they obey an order from the county’s Ethics Commission?

In 2006 the citizens’ panel told eight county lawmakers that the elected officials — not taxpayers — should pay for a retaliatory lawsuit they filed against Bob Stringfield, a former colleague.