Figure guilt or innocence, not if ‘victims’ is the right word to use

The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the man accused of killing protesters in Kenosha in the wake of Jacob Blake’s fateful police encounter in August 2020, is underway, but it seems the verdict on political correctness has already come down. Judge Bruce Schroeder ruled on Oct. 25 that prosecutors cannot call the people shot by Rittenhouse…

Petito in spotlight while other women vanish

Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old Florida woman who disappeared while traveling across the country with her boyfriend, has dominated the airwaves and internet in recent days as the entire nation has tried to figure out whodunit. Her story has captivated us as we have wrung our hands in pity and thought how horrible a tragedy it…

Babies need a loving home, not just a predesigned family

Normally, the announcement of new children is a source of great joy. When folks proclaim they have added to their family, their friends, neighbors and sometimes random strangers ooh and ah as they celebrate the miracle of life. Except if you’re gay, especially if you’re a gay man in a high profile position. Then the…

Tragedy brings U.S. together, but time pulls it apart

Twenty years ago, the vision of America changed. Before that time, we thought we were safe. We thought that nothing bad could happen on a massive scale in the United States. That fantasy image of our country shattered abruptly on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center…

Nuptials in paradise come with financial strings attached

Just when I think that modern civilization has hit the bottom, I have to dodge an airborne shovel. I awoke and opened up my laptop this morning to the news that a couple, Doug and Dedra Simmons who had set up a destination wedding in Jamaica, but they had a number of guests who did…

Why isn’t there a Christmas city in Wisconsin?

The other day, I was reading the news back home and came across an item about a $160,000 earmark for Arizona’s Christmas City, Prescott. The coronavirus pandemic put a lot of things in limbo last year, including funding for community events. The Christmas city program was no exception, and if you’ve ever been there, Prescott…

If you’re on my list, it’s a good thing, as I may need some help

Cell phones have become an integral part of most of our lives, providing an easy way to contact friends, family and co-workers from almost anywhere we choose. Can’t find the location of my latest newspaper assignment? I call my boss. Can’t figure out which bread crumbs would be best for the baked macaroni and cheese?…

Cleveland’s goodbye to its ‘Indian’ name a good thing

I found myself thinking about the late Richie Plass recently as I was browsing for news. He’s fairly well known among locals, but for those who aren’t aware, he was a Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee who found out the painful way decades ago that being an Indian mascot isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, as…

Sweet dreams are made of cheese, just not colby

When it comes to cheese, it’s safe to say that it’s loved by most folks. Everyone has their favorite, whether it’s a header full of cheddar or taking a knee for brie. You love it on pizza or as a dip for your chips, but most cheese aficionados. So why would Wisconsin want to go…

Fight for Independence Day like you do for Christmas

We always hear about the so-called War on Christmas, where people feel that they can’t say “Merry Christmas” for fear that you might be considered insensitive to those who celebrate other holidays, such as Hanukkah. If retail workers or others dare to say the all-encompassing “Happy holidays,” it’s seen as an affront to Christians. However,…