Hinesight looks at city reparation request

It's put-up or shut-up time for teachers

OK, teachers. It is put-up or shut-up time.

Ethics obviously no priority

When news of former House Speaker Glenn Richardson's alleged affair with a lobbyist broke late last year, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle beat the drum for tougher ethics laws. In fact, you could hardly turn around without hearing a candidate for governor talking about ethics.

Guns and crime in Georgia

States with weak gun laws supply guns to criminals in other states at a rate five times higher than dealers in states with stronger gun laws, according to a Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence analysis of newly released crime gun trace data.

Hinesight discusses tuition for illegal immigrants

Closing the 'doughnut hole' in Medicaid

Next week, Georgia's seniors will receive a $250 rebate check from the federal government to pay for some lifesaving medications if they fall within the Medicare Part D coverage gap known as the "donut hole." That $250 check is the beginning of the end for the donut hole – and was made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

Let's end expansion of nuclear power

According to current nuclear industry proposals, over two dozen new nuclear reactors would be constructed in the United States, the vast majority in the Southeast and Texas. President Obama recently offered $8.3 billion worth of taxpayer-backed loan guarantees to two of them in Georgia, which could be the first to be built in the U.S. in nearly four decades.

Tommy the swami...

OK, class. Our word this week is Kakistocracy.

It was a productive session

During the six years that I have served in the Georgia state legislature, this past session may have been the most productive yet.

BP disaster teaching Obama lessons in power

President Barack Obama said at his BP press conference that when he was shaving the other day, his daughter Malia asked him, "Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?"

Hinesight questions appointment information

Yapping dogs 2: What a Paine

What a Paine!

A blown call

It was the mistake heard round the world.

Race to the Top is opportunity for Georgia schools

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce was heartened to see our state's significant achievements in education reform recognized earlier this year with a strong finish in the initial round of Race to the Top (RT3) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education. We believe RT3 represents an excellent opportunity to build on Georgia's success, and we commend the state on its submission of a second-round application.

Sheriff succession law is obsolete

Many in Liberty County were surprised last week when Liberty County Probate Court Judge Nancy Aspinwall appointed Polly Martin to succeed her late husband, J. Don Martin, as sheriff of Liberty County. The public outcry generally questioned whether Martin's wife was the most qualified person to manage and lead Liberty County's law enforcement.

Lawmaker wants to legalize medical marijuana

Allen Peake is a man on a mission. The five-term Republican state representative from Macon is the driving force behind proposed legislation to legalize medical marijuana in Georgia. He may succeed this year after suffering a setback in 2014 when the House and Senate got into a bit of political brinksmanship at the last minute and failed to pass his bill, which had sailed through the House with only four negative votes.

Recycle phone books, save some trees

I know, most resolutions are already ditched by Jan. 8, but if recycling more or being more environmentally minded was one of your resolutions (and it should have been), then I have an opportunity for you.

Don't apologize for not being 'cool'

My parents, according to the world's definition of "cool," were not. Neither drank, nor did either ever possess a credit card. Groceries and clothing were paid for in cash, utilities paid by check, and the only monthly payments they ever allowed themselves were a mortgage for a house, a short-term loan for another farm, and a couple of cars bought, over time, and paid for quickly.

NAACP aims to boost involvement

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in 1909. It is the nation's oldest and largest civil-rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the pre-eminent advocates for civil and human rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal-opportunity enforcement in the public and private sectors.

It shouldn't take years for city to act

"What I am saying is, we spend too much time, we waste time, the city's time that the people have us up here to do. We waste that time. We looked at it the first of October and November and December, we're still going over the same stuff. Why don't we go on and do what we're supposed to do? Get it approved and move on to the next issue that this council is supposed to be doing".

Congress' spending bill seems anti-conservative

When thinking about the $1.1 trillion spending bill passed by Congress last month, one might ask, "What does Congress have against conservation?"

Elder passes advice to great-grandson

Dear Cameron Charles Yarbrough: For the past 15 years, I have taken the opportunity at the beginning of the New Year to share some advice - first with your dad and his cousins and now with you, my great-grandson. I hope you don't mind and will bear with me. You probably would rather be playing with your Legos and I understand that but maybe something in this letter might make a difference in your life in years to come. I pray that will be so.

Wounded Warrior Project is like a scam

Editor, I've been seeing a lot more commercials for the Wounded Warrior Project on television recently, requesting that I send in my $19 per month.