Mayors counteracting the ‘Trump Effect’

Will there be a “Trump Effect” on the global climate? In a “Zeit” interview recently, Professor John Schellnhuber of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impacts Research has suggested one in the form of up to 0.3 degree celsius warming that could result from the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris accord.

Lawmakers need to show how much kids count

Washington County ranks third best among Tennessee’s 95 counties in Tennessee in terms of the well-being of its children. The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth said the ranking is based on data from 11 outcome-oriented indicators, including reading test scores, graduation rates and teen pregnancy

Protecting and nurturing free speech on campus

The Campus Free Speech Protection Act prevents universities from charging students and student organizations higher fees for security based on the speaker and disinviting speakers who have been invited by a student, student organization or faculty member because people consider them “offensive, immoral, indecent, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, radical or wrong-headed.”

Speaking up for true health care reform

I’m not the least bit hopeful the majority of House and Senate Republicans will ever be willing, or able, to craft a workable plan to make health insurance affordable and accessible to everyone — as Donald Trump promised. Their guiding premise precludes that. It is they who essentially believe, and some dare to say outright, that medical care is just a product you buy if you have the money.

Is it time to hike the minimum wage?

The national minimum wage was last hiked in 2007 when President George W. Bush signed into law a compromise bill from Congress to increase pay in three steps. The federal minimum wage was finally raised to its current $7.25 an hour in 2009.

Pandemonium threatens annual event

It wasn’t unusual for Marvin Walsh to be incensed about some matter of “huge” importance, but there were few times Raymond had seen his friend this distressed as he ran into the radio station lobby.

A lifesaving drug for opioid overdoses

More than 300,000 people have died from an opioid overdose in the last 15 years, and it is estimated an equal number could die from an overdose in the next five years. In 2015, drug overdoses claimed the lives of 1,451 Tennesseans. Many of those lives might have been saved had the victim been administered naloxone.

Letters: Trump is right to leave Paris Climate Accord

Some people may disagree with President Trump’s pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, but he has every right to do so by using Obama’s own rules.

What If Hillary Clinton had been elected president?

“Longer than you think,” I said. And then I asked him to close his eyes and picture what this country might be like at this very point in time had Clinton won the presidential race. I suggest things wouldn’t be much different.

The Republicans would still control both chambers of Congress, and the House and Senate would still be struggling to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Credibility, responsibility and the printed page

It’s been said that no morning is complete without that second cup of coffee and your local newspaper. That is, provided your newspaper doesn’t change drastically over the course of time and go the way of the Times-Picayune (New Orleans), or resort to some new-fangled gimmick while claiming, “The whole world is going mobile.” Don’t spoil that second cup of coffee because there’s nothing more American than the printed page.

Keep your eyes and ears open during wildfire season

While our part of Tennessee has enjoyed above-normal rainfall in the spring, this summer promises to bring much hotter and drier conditions. Officials say caution should always be exercised with all outdoor burning in Tennessee.

Smoky Mountain Bakers: Pizza as art

Smoky Mountain Bakers gets a “Recommended” rating from the Mystery Diner and the dine-around bunch. If you have not experienced food as art yet, why not take a day trip to Tim and Crystal Decker’s bakery in the clouds to see, and taste for yourself?

Roll up your sleeves and give blood

To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in general good health.

Finding common ground on public schools

I believe that free public education is one of the greatest services a democracy can provide its citizens. Like Horvath, I believe that “pulling money from low-performing public schools and allowing those students to choose another [for-profit (my words)] school does not solve any problems and can actually make those schools worse.”

Students need their pencils, bookbags and vaccinations

School officials know there are still parents in this country who refuse to have their children vaccinated against these communicable diseases. Given what we know from proven medical science, it’s hard to understand why parents would want to place their school-age children at such a risk.