Could a Lawrence native be headed to U.S. Supreme Court?
Jeffrey Toobin, a legal affairs journalist and author of two books about the U.S. Supreme Court, thinks a Lawrence native has a shot at a future Supreme Court seat.
He’s eying Sri Srinivasan, candidate for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Srinivasan, 46, is currently deputy … Read More »
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Hedrick Smith urges struggling middle class to speak out
Who sparked the rise of business clout in Washington, D.C., beginning in the 1970s?
According to Hedrick Smith, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, the blame/honor belongs to Lewis Powell, who wrote a little-known memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1971, shortly before he was nominated to the … Read More »
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Rockhurst Coach Tony Severino to area mayors: Listen humbly
Veteran Rockhurst High School football coach Tony Severino reminded area mayors to keep some perspective — and humility — in their top jobs. Severino learned this lesson from his own encounters.
The 30-year Catholic high school coach, who coached in Shawnee Mission schools earlier, runs into people who ask … Read More »
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Whole Foods CEO complains businesses don’t get respect, freedom they deserve
John Mackey, Whole Foods co-CEO and co-author of the new book, “Conscious Capitalism,” thrilled a friendly audience at Unity Temple on the Plaza Thursday night by damning the negative business narrative he thinks pervades the nation.
But his narrative: “business is good, government is the problem,” sounds as hackneyed as … Read More »
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KC Fed President Esther George warns of unknown risks with long-term low interest rates
Steady slow growth of 2 percent is on the horizon economically this year, according to Esther George, president and CEO of the Kansas City Federal Reserve.
George offered her economic outlook today at The Central Exchange, an organization that promotes women in business and philanthropy in the Kansas City … Read More »
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Albert Riederer leaves lasting legacy of serving justice
Albert Riederer, 67, former Jackson County prosecutor and former Missouri Court of Appeals judge, died today, just a month after hundreds of friends and colleagues gathered to toast and warmly tease a man known for advocating justice, fighting crime and nurturing a cadre of talented lawyers.
During his 12-year … Read More »
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Rate the rhetoric tonight
Tonight’s State of the Union address is a stage-setter for the President’s re-election campaign. It is one of those unusual moments when many Americans take time to listen to a real speech, rather than get a recap of sound bites.
Given the national and international audience, and the significance … Read More »
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Kauffman Foundation dreams big
There’s an enviable bigness to all of Carl Schramm’s dreams for the Kauffman Foundation.
With the launch of the Kauffman Charter School for fifth graders, he hopes for a future in Kansas City of all charter schools. And with a new mayor, he finally has a leader who wants Kansas … Read More »
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President reminds nation of heroes walking among us
At a memorial service in Missouri on Sunday, President Barack Obama promised Joplin residents exactly what they hoped to hear: A firm federal commitment to help “until Joplin is restored and this community back on its feet. We’re not going anywhere.”
It’s a promise he made in Tuscaloosa a … Read More »
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Attack on justice in America
“The rule of law is actually in jeopardy in this country.”
That’s the assessment from the president of the American Bar Association, Stephen N. Zack, who spoke in Kansas City today before the International Relations Council.
Why so dire an outlook? He cites a lack of access to justice … Read More »
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KC can celebrate a new mayor soon
The top two finishers in the KC mayoral primary - Sly James and Mike Burke - are clearly friends and hard campaigners, fine circumstances for voters tired of nasty politics. The two lawyers showed the most optimism on the campaign trail and both pursued the city’s top post with passion … Read More »
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Kansas driver’s license renewal stuck in horse-and-buggy ways
Need to renew a Kansas driver’s license? Learn from my mistakes.
Don’t go at the beginning of the week, especially if the beginning of the week is a day after a holiday. Don’t go at the end of the week. Don’t go late in the day, with late beginning at … Read More »
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Kansas City Fed leader endorses push to increase women in executive suites
Kansas City Fed chief Thomas Hoenig, known nationally for eight “no” votes on fed policies, opened his annual economic overview speech to the Central Exchange today with a resounding “yes” to the organization’s “Win-Win” campaign.
The “Win-Win” campaign goal is to make sure local corporate boards and top executive … Read More »
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Stand down, Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi is not doing the Democrats any favors by tweeting her way into the race for minority leader of the U.S. House next January. And it isn’t the tweet that is the problem.
It’s Pelosi. She was captain of the House ship as it ran aground. The turnover … Read More »
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Pump it up, Mr. President
A day after Americans tossed out a lot of experienced lawmakers and expressed anger with the state of the economy, President Barack Obama held his tongue, blamed himself and generally pontificated his way through a staged press conference that lacked one iota of zip.
This will not work for … Read More »