We’re not political activists. We’re not wealthy. We’re just parents from Salem, Missouri, who did what anyone would do when their child needed help. Without Medicaid, we would have lost far more than our family farm.
I recently returned from Washington, D.C., where I joined Bread for the World’s 50th anniversary celebration and Lobby Day. Bread for the World is a faith-based organization that urges us to move beyond direct service to hungry people. In addition to essential food pantries, soup kitchens an…
For nearly twenty years, I lived in pain. I was stuck in an endless cycle of ER visits and prescriptions, treated like a problem instead of a patient. Then I found something that worked: 7-OH, a pain-relieving compound found in the kratom plant. It didn’t just ease the pain. It gave me back …
There’s good news from the frontlines of Missouri’s — and the nation’s — hard-fought efforts to reign in the opioid crisis: deaths from overdose deaths are on the decline.
Access to essential health care services is a fundamental right, yet tens of thousands of ӣƵ residents are facing a growing crisis that undermines this notion: the rise of pharmacy deserts.
After a short and successful war with Iraq, President George H.W. Bush claimed in 1991 that "the ghosts of Vietnam have been laid to rest beneath the sands of the Arabian desert." Bush was referring to what was commonly called the "Vietnam syndrome." The idea was that the Vietnam war had so …
How does President Donald Trump embarrass America on the world’s stage? Let us count the ways.
Not uncommonly, videos of gender-reveal events gain viral status online because of an unexpectedly negative parental reaction to hues of pink or blue. In one TikTok, the baby’s father walks off dejectedly after pink smoke explodes from cannons, a look of disappointment transparently painted …
During my years serving in the Missouri General Assembly, I have always prioritized the values of law and order, personal responsibility and limited government. I also believe in common sense policy. That’s why I support the rescheduling of cannabis at the federal level from a Schedule I to …
Navigating life’s turning points requires wisdom, not fear. From aging bodies to changing passions, learning when to pivot can open doors to deeper meaning and growth.
This spring, the Jewish Federation of ӣƵ released its first community study in a decade. What it revealed was sobering. Across our region, Jews are deeply unsettled by the sharp rise in antisemitism. Most respondents reported changing their behavior out of fear — 28% said they avoid w…
The worst European massacre since WW II has special relevance to ӣƵ.
Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, resigned from their positions on the Democratic National Committee. This could be great news.
Missourians of all races, places, and backgrounds believe in pitching in to make our communities thrive. In the wake of the recent tornado devastation across greater ӣƵ, so many of us have donated money or our time to give food, clothing, and supplies to our neighbors. We know that we…
Opinion Features
Universities across the country have been under attack in recent months, especially those that are research-intensive. Federal funding sources have been slashed, dramatic increases have been proposed in the endowment tax, and significant restrictions on international students enrolling in Am…
On this Father’s Day, I’m remembering the profound legacy left by my dad — a legacy that reminds us how the right support at the right moment can change not only one life, but many.
With all the discussion concerning Medicaid coverage and President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” of spending cuts, I suspect that there are many of us who have no idea of some of the benefits Medicaid offers. The impression is that it is free health insurance for the poor.
One of my core beliefs, one I trust I share with most Republicans, is that high tax rates discourage economic growth. I firmly believe that reducing the tax burden should be a priority for lawmakers, and that is why I am thankful that the Missouri General Assembly was able to make progress o…
When I tell people abroad that I’m from ӣƵ, the first thing they often mention isn’t baseball or the Gateway Arch. It’s plants.
Last November, Missouri voters did exactly what politicians constantly preach: They voted. They showed up in strong numbers on Election Day and passed Amendment 3, a citizen-led ballot measure to restore abortion rights after Missouri lawmakers made their state one of the first to ban aborti…
As the Senate debates President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (yes, that’s the official title), lawmakers are torn between demands for spending cuts and conflicting demands that they protect Medicaid.
Right now, our U.S. senators are debating President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed by the House of Representatives late last month. In its current form, the bill would slash hundreds of billions of dollars from programs that the most vulnerable American families rely on,…
Since its founding in 1949, Quaker Windows & Doors, headquartered in Freeburg, Missouri, has had a long history of providing high-quality products and supporting the local community as a major employer and provider of quality jobs in the region. As a leading manufacturer of energy-effici…
The “Palace of Electricity,” once located in Forest Park across from the Grand Basin, was one of the main attractions of the 1904 World’s Fair. At its time, only one in 10 farming households had electricity. But the need to industrialize the country and raise the standard of living inspired …
I recently went on a walk with my 3-year-old granddaughter. She stopped to bend down to inspect flowers and pebbles in the road. I began to think about who her first teachers might be and who prepares them for the classroom.
One more time, so that the fans sitting all the way back in section 369, row 14, at Busch Stadium can hear: Please ӣƵ Cardinals’ management, keep relief pitcher Ryan Helsley a Cardinal. For the sake of faithful Cardinals fans, please offer Helsley an extended contract that is attracti…
Every day, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in ӣƵ serve hundreds of community members who rely on Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or both. These are families — often earning $40,000 a year or less — who turn to FQHCs because they know they’ll recei…
The first drawing of the revamped Mega Millions was held on April 8, promising bigger jackpots and secondary prizes. The multistate lottery, which includes Missouri and Illinois, also raised the price of a ticket from $2 to $5. Through May 30, there had been one jackpot winner (on April 18).…
On May 22, the U.S. House voted to pass a budget bill that drastically cuts America’s clean energy tax credits. I’m disappointed to see that the House advanced this legislation.