By Juanell Garrett, Midwest Voices Panelist 2008
It’s been nearly twenty-four hours since I first heard the news from Fort Hood. A shooter opened fire there, killing thirteen and wounding 30 more. So far there have been no outraged epithets against the killer by the editorial board here on Midwest Voices. What a contrast to May 31st!
U2 singer BonoBy Arturo Mora, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
Before the concert started, with all the hassles of lines and traffic, I was thinking, “I’m getting too old for this.” Once U2 started playing, and after two hours of dancing and screaming and singing right along with the kids, I was joyfully reminded that, if it’s still in your heart, you’re never too old to rock n’ roll.
George Harris Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel 2008
The Conservapedia Bible Project has a plan to remove liberal bias from the Bible. This is an interesting idea, and I went to the project’s web site to learn more.
The web site click here states:
By Maggie Jackson, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
Our family opted out of cable, and for the most part television in its entirety, about four years ago. Sure there are a few shows I miss, but not enough to reinstate the box. One aspect of television I do not regret is the hoopla over celebrities having affairs, or dying or even stuffing live bugs into their mouths.
By Danette Gamble, Kansas City Star, Reader Advisory Panel
The story of the day on the net is of a poor cat that was duct-taped, mummy-style, by a young man in Philadelphia.
This act of cruelty should not be taken lightly.
Throughout history there has been a connection between animal abusers and murderers.
By Maggie Jackson, Kansas City Reader Advisory Panel
Follow the Shawnee Mission Park debate and a person could begin to think deer hunters are blood thirsty fiends.
George Harris Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel 2008
Famed film director Roman Polanski now faces extradition from Switzerland for the rape of a 13 year old girl in Los Angeles in 1977. He lives in France but was visiting Switzerland to receive an award when he was arrested.
George Harris Kansas City Star Reader Adivsory Panel 2008
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we have a winner: Into the Woods at the Kansas City Repertory Theater (or is it Theatre? I can never remember.)
By Maggie Jackson, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
Kansas City’s Union Station is projecting another deficit year.
By Maggie Jackson, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
The local Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri council appears to be in full reactionary mode, and is currently in the process of selling two treasured camps.
By Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Board Columnist
Every parent of children age 12 and under should be outraged that Mattel Inc. is being allowed to skirt a new law requiring independent laboratory safety tests.
By Maggie Jackson, Kansas City Reader Advisory Panel
There’s a new video sweeping across social networking sites showing the effects of texting while driving. The video is advised as too graphic for viewers under the age of 18, but I challenge that it is perfect for teen drivers as well as drivers of all ages.
By Tom Eblen
News consultant for the Kansas Press Association
That lovely old Gershwin ballad, "Our Love Is Here to Stay," has an uncannily accurate line that goes like this: “The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know may just be passing fancies, and in time may go.”
Gershwin must have known something.
edit to add, at the time when this was written, I couldn't find public evidence of her illness, but The Times of London is now reporting that she had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. this, of course, changes the point of this piece. i've modified the piece based on new facts coming to light
Matt Schofield
By Tina Morrison, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist, 2009
On Monday night’s much-anticipated episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8, the self-absorbed Gosselins announced their separation and that they are seeking a divorce. Raise your hand if this news shocked you and I’ll send you photos of the bridge I have for sale in Brooklyn.
By Lewis W. Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Page Columnist
So a faint heartbeat of a conscience does still exist in Nadya Suleman.
Suleman, the octuplets mom, admitted this week that she "screwed up" by having so many children. To quote Homer Simpson, "D'uh!"
George Harris KC Star Reader Advisory Panel 2008
We couldn’t have known how the notice on the bulletin board would change our lives.
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Suddenly, the number of swine flu cases is rising in Japan, prompting a number of decisions.
First up: Kansas City's Sister City of Kurashiki will not send its usual delegation of 10 or so children for two weeks this summer to the United States.
By Arturo Mora, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
I'm a pretty harsh critic of movies, so it's pretty rare for me to give a movie my own personal "4 stars", but the new Star Trek movie is one of those. It's definitely worth seeing!
By Grant Martin, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices panelist 2009
Is the purpose of Midwest Voices to enable "cranks" to yell at each other from ideological bunkers while the rest of us try to find some quality posts? Or is the KC Star still experimenting with this thing called "the Web"?
By Julie Rehm, Star Letters Editor
Because of a technical error, letters submitted by e-mail over the weekend (from Friday evening to early Monday morning) were inadvertently and irretrievably deleted from the system. If you submitted a letter during that period, please resend it to
By Arturo Mora, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
I was flipping through the channels when some local newscaster, smiling her big TV smile, mouthed the above blurb. “More on the 10 o’clock news!” What a point of civic pride!
Sunshine Week — an annual journalism-led effort to shine a light on shortcomings in access to public information — ends today, but the importance of open meetings and records still needs more attention in Kansas and Missouri.
The two states do a decent — but not great — job posting public documents online.
By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star Columnist
So now, with people’s 401(k) retirement accounts vanishing along with their puffed-up middle class pride, perhaps there is space for a little truth telling.
Missouri officials have been trying for years to pass a primary seat belt law. The measure has won approval in the Senate three times but always meets resistance in the House.
That’s a tragedy, given that such a law would save an estimated 90 lives a year in Missouri.
Kerry Hubbard, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist, 2009
As the parent of both college and high school sophomores, I read with great sadness the story of Jason Wren, KU student found dead in his fraternity house of an apparent alcohol overdose.
By Tina Morrison, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
At last month’s Academy Awards, Dustin Lance Black won the original screenplay Oscar for the movie “Milk.”
In his acceptance speech, he said Harvey Milk gave him hope that he “could even fall in love and one day get married.” That’s a dream that many people share. The catch is that Black is gay. And if conservatives have their way, his dream will never be realized.
Presidential elections in Afghanistan were initially scheduled for August, when security in the country is expected to be improved. But an August election would have come after President Hamid Karzai’s term expires on May 21.
By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star columnist
Pssst … President Obama, lookin’ for a quick diplomatic success? A little something to ease the Atlas strains of trying to set the economy right? Sip a mojito. Take the edge off with a few puffs on a Cohiba.
In short, Mr. President, make good on some of your own campaign rhetoric regarding Cuba.
The nation’s tire-identification system was created in 1970 to help prevent injuries to motorists. But the whole process has major flaws.
When each tire is sold, the store is supposed to register an identification number, found on the sidewall. Manufacturers then can contact consumers in case a batch of poorly made tires needs to be recalled.
