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Today's Opinions

  • Judge seeks balance in Occupy ruling

    By GENE POLICINSKI
    First Amendment Center
    A federal judge in Minnesota has provided an interesting, common-sense decision that appears to balance fairly the First Amendment rights of the Occupy movement demonstrators, the responsibilities of public officials, and the larger interests of the public.

    Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle ruled Nov. 23 that protesters can post signs in a Hennepin County government plaza and that they can assemble there “during any hour of the day.” But he also said county officials may ban tents and forbid anyone from sleeping overnight in the area.

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  • Nuts & Bolts Terri Likens Editor: Photojournalist’s job is the cat’s meow

    Photojournalist Katie Hogin finally has succumbed to one of the hazards of her job — having a tender heart.

    After months of going to the county animal shelter to take pictures of adoptable dogs and cats, she finally gave in and took one home herself.

    Katie fell for an unusally marked kitten she has given the name of Oliver.

    The moniker suits the scrawny little fellow, although we’re sure Ollie will soon fill out and be the strong, happy feline that cats with good forever homes generally grow up to be.

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  • Our Opinion: A salute to the bravery of sex assault victims

    As the child molestation accusations continue to unfold at Penn State and Syracuse University, it seems that there’s only one group involved that can be viewed with pride.

    That’s the victims who were brave enough to come forward.

    Many of us can only imagine the lasting pain these people may feel — even those who never report the abuse they were dealt by someone they knew and trusted.

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  • LOOSELEAF LAUREATE: Joe goes – to shores of mighty Mississippi

    My friend Joe was on the road for Thanksgiving.

    His mother died this spring, and his father died some years back, so he wasn’t spending the holiday with family.

    Instead, he headed to Memphis. Next month, he will be starting a new life as a fundraiser for a downtown hospital that sorely needs his skills.

    I have mixed feelings about this.

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  • A VIEW from LICK SKILLET by Gerald Largen: Let’s pass one for the Gipper – tax plan that is

    It has been our observation over the years that the readership of this column contains a rare combination of brain power covering numerous fields of intellectual endeavour.

    Thus, we have no hesitancy in posing a problem which has occurred to us in recent years and to which we have not heretofore found the answer.

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  • 45 words from 1791 are ultimate power

    By GENE POLICINSKI
    First Amendment Center
    The comparisons have already started — police in Egypt attacking demonstrators with clubs and tear gas, and police in a number of U.S. cities breaking up “Occupy” camps with clubs and tear gas.

    If you’re a demonstrator in Cairo or Oakland, any difference between foreign and domestic nightsticks and pepper spray probably doesn’t matter a whit.

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  • Looseleaf laureate by Terri Likens: It’s time to list the things I’m thankful for

    With several gloomy days behind us and the calendar’s darkest month looming ahead, it’s easy to feel a little bummed about winter.

    I work to avoid the winter blues, usually with activity and sometimes with mind games.

    For instance, I remind myself that by the time Christmas gets here, the days will already be growing longer again.
    This December has a slightly gloomier edge to it.

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  • Feel the glow from Kingston Christmas lights

    Christmas should be a little brighter on Kingston’s main streets this season — thanks to a set of new holiday decor lights.

    The city council bit the bullet earlier this year and purchased energy-saving LED lights in the form of twinkly snowflakes and sparkly, candy-cane-stuffed stockings.

    The cost of Christmas lighting had the city thinking of turning off the old lights for a big part of the Christmas season. That seemed to make everyone involved sad.

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