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Receiving criticism an essential part of government jobs

Whether you work for the federal, state or local government, you best just accept that blame and criticism go with the job and move ahead. Decatur County Attorney Alan Wilson learned that lesson a few years ago. So, too, did Michael Hansen, the Newton mayor at the time. It is a lesson top officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will have to learn for themselves. These learning opportunities are grounded in an important principle — that all people in the United States are free to criticize government officials without fear ...

If you don’t love the World Cup, you haven’t heard the right story

At this point, my family members are accustomed to my weird European sporting interests. Short of watching "Heated Rivalry," you can't get me into hockey, but I can give you a 15-year history of the F1 race team that was Force India. And when it comes to football, the only team I've watched ...

The return of Socialism and the GOP’s golden opportunity

The Democratic Party has come a long way since Bill Clinton was president -- and not in a good way. In 1993, the first year of the Clinton presidency, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to end automatic birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens; today, Democrats ...

The future of gorillas depends on zoos working together

Two Western lowland gorillas just arrived at Louisville Zoo's Gorilla Forest from Zoo Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee. Obi and Andi are half-sisters and will hopefully create Louisville's next family group with 29-year-old male gorilla, Kicho. Their arrival piqued my curiosity about how zoos ...

Editorial Roundup: The New York Times on the next 50 years of the United States

On this Fourth of July, the United States turns 250. A quarter of a millennium is long enough to make a nation feel permanent, as though it had always been here and always will be. But the founders who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence knew that they were making a wager, not a guarantee. They pledged their lives, fortunes and honor precisely because the outcome was in doubt. Two and a half centuries later, the wager is still being placed by every generation that inherits it. That is the truth worth celebrating this summer — America is still being made. None of this ...

FUTURES FILES

Mixed Cattle News Herd Live cattle futures faced downward pressure this week. A trend toward market liquidation seems to be continuing with active trading contracts trending lower toward August. Following the July holiday, demand looks to drop. However, fundamental supply constraints remain with the US beef cow supply at its lowest since 1951, favoring producers. Relaxed Tensions Ease Oil Flow By Friday afternoon, oil prices fell by more than 3% as Middle East supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz eased. Cooling geopolitical tension and ample global supplies eased fears ...