Franks: America needs guidance from former presidents

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Franks: America needs guidance from former presidents I am asking the living and healthy past presidents of the United States, except for Donald Trump (a presidential candidate) to step up, help, and contribute to America again as advisors or as prominent and experienced Americans who can influence others. Unconventional times warrant unconventional solutions.Long after leaving office former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger continued to advise our nation’s leaders until his death last year at the age of 100. He did so privately, at times publicly, and always respectfully.Some of the lyrics to Simon and Garfinkel’s hit song Mrs. Robinson go like this, “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.” Well, where have you gone former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama?Admittedly, each of you have had your detractors, but the following two things are undeniable about you:1. You kept us from being on the verge of World War III. We did not have two areas of the world with conflicts that co...

Friday’s high school roundup/scores: Marshfield coach nets 688th career victory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Friday’s high school roundup/scores: Marshfield coach nets 688th career victory Ever since he first began coaching as an assistant in the 1960s, Bob Fisher has preached defense.That’s precisely what his group relied on Friday. James Molloy paced things with an 18-point outburst, while Jake Brilliant tacked on 16 points as Fisher inched ever closer to eclipsing 700 career wins (688 overall) by virtue of a 71-43 boys basketball victory for Marshfield over Patriot League rival Silver Lake.“It just shows you that I’ve had great kids,” said Fisher. “I’ve had great kids. Played 16 kids tonight. 16. Played 16 the other night too. May have cost me, but we did it. So, I’m proud of the accomplishments of the kids. Proud to be still doing what I love. Proud to have the energy that I have. I still think I have it, and the enthusiasm, and the passion.”In other Patriot League action, Zach Falls (21 points, strong defense), Trevor Jones (14 points) and Liam Burns (13 points) sparked Duxbury (4-1) in a 60-46 win over Plymouth North. … ...

Stigler: Would Reagan abandon Ukraine to Russia?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Stigler: Would Reagan abandon Ukraine to Russia? As the fighting in Ukraine continues, some representatives in Congress, primarily Republicans, oppose additional financial and military support for Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s ongoing invasion.U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he has reservations about continued support for Ukraine because he believes that there is inadequate oversight on how the aid is spent and sees no strategy to win. Johnson also argued that America’s border problems should take priority. Congress will take up the issue again this year, but the future of American aid to Ukraine is in serious doubt.Four decades ago, a Republican president supported a different victim of Russian aggression, in a situation similar to the one that the United States faces today. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, President Jimmy Carter offered limited aid to the Afghani resistance. But it was a Republican who championed and dramatically expanded funding for the Afghan mujahedeen during most of the nine-year eff...

Editorial: Going after Oct. 7 terrorists & abettors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Editorial: Going after Oct. 7 terrorists & abettors For eight years, the U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information on the whereabouts of Saleh Arouri, a Hamas terrorist whose hands were dripping red.This week, Israel found him.Arouri was killed on Tuesday with two other Hamas military leaders in an explosion outside of Beirut in Lebanon. Israeli officials wouldn’t comment on the development, but The New York Times reported that U.S. and other sources “ascribed the attack” to the Jewish state.“No one is safe if they had any hand in planning, raising money for or carrying out” the Oct. 7 attacks, an unnamed U.S. official told the Times. “This is just the beginning, and it’ll go on for years.”It’s important to note that Arouri had a bloody resume. The State Department said that he had been “linked to several terrorist attacks, hijackings and kidnappings.” One such crime was the 2014 abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, including one who was also an American citizen.Arouri...

Dear Abby: Had it with sulky hubby’s silent treatment

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Dear Abby: Had it with sulky hubby’s silent treatment Dear Abby: My husband and I have been married for two years. We rushed into marriage, unfortunately, before getting to know each other very well. Whenever we have a disagreement, he gives me the silent treatment for days. Sometimes, it lasts weeks.He won’t eat anything I cook or help around the house. If I’m in one room, he will lock himself up in another one. He sleeps on the couch or on a pull-out mattress. Eventually, he will end it by returning to our bed and trying to initiate intimacy. I usually accept, but the issue never gets resolved or discussed — we just carry on. When I’ve tried discussing the issues, he says, “Don’t start!”I’m fed up with his childish behavior. We have a 7-month-old baby and children from my previous marriage, so it has become increasingly difficult for me to leave him. He’s not the type to go to therapy. He will admit we have communication issues, but that’s the extent of it. I’ve reache...

One person wounded in shooting outside City Heights smoke shop

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

One person wounded in shooting outside City Heights smoke shop SAN DIEGO -- One person was taken to the hospital Friday after a shooting in the Teralta West neighborhood, authorities said.The shooting occurred around 8:13 p.m. outside the Blue Stone Smoke Shop at 4278 University Ave., the San Diego Police Department confirmed to FOX 5. Woman sentenced to prison for friend’s death in DUI crash The victim's condition is unknown at this time.Police are looking for the shooter.Check back for updates on this developing story.

A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brand

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brand TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is more aggressive and openly political in pushing to expand Medicaid in Kansas as the Republican-controlled Legislature prepares to open its annual session Monday following five years of failed efforts to provide state health coverage to another 150,000 people.Kelly faces leaders of GOP supermajorities whose priorities are to cut income taxes and rein in local property taxes, not to expand Medicaid. But Kelly’s new plan includes hitting expansion-opposing Republicans hard later this year during races for legislative seats, an approach that cuts against years of self-branding as a bipartisan problem-solver who doesn’t care about politics.“My previous approach, which has always been to try to bring people together and work collaboratively and come up with consensus and then get good policy on the books — that hasn’t worked,” Kelly said during a recent interview.“Taking a more aggressive approach and — to be direct, a more po...

Western Japan earthquakes have claimed 100 lives; rain and snow imperil already shaky ground

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Western Japan earthquakes have claimed 100 lives; rain and snow imperil already shaky ground WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — Aftershocks threatened to bury more homes and block roads crucial for relief shipments, as the death toll from the earthquakes that rattled Japan’s western coastline last week reached 100 on Saturday.Among the dead was a 5-year-old boy who had been recovering from injuries after boiling water spilled on him during Monday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake. His condition suddenly worsened and he died Friday, according to Ishikawa prefecture, the hardest-hit region.Officials warned that roads, already cracked from the dozens of earthquakes that continue to shake the area, could collapse completely. That risk was growing with rain and snow expected overnight and Sunday.Reported deaths had reached 98 earlier Saturday, and two more deaths were reported in Anamizu city as officials were holding their daily meeting to discuss strategy and damages.Wajima city has recorded the highest number of deaths with 59, followed by Suzu with 23. More than 500 people were injured, at least...

To plead or not to plead? That is the question for hundreds of Capitol riot defendants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

To plead or not to plead? That is the question for hundreds of Capitol riot defendants Hundreds of Donald Trump supporters charged with storming the U.S. Capitol have faced the same choice in the three years since the attack: either admit their guilt and accept the consequences or take their chances on a trial in hopes of securing a rare acquittal.Those who have who gambled — and lost — on a trial have received significantly longer prison sentences than those who took responsibility for joining the Jan. 6, 2021 attack, an Associated Press review of court records shows. The AP’s analysis of Capitol riot sentencing data reinforces a firmly established tenet of the U.S. criminal justice system: Pleading guilty and cooperating with authorities carries a substantial benefit when it comes time for sentencing.″On one hand, the Constitution guarantees the accused a right to a jury trial. It’s a fundamental constitutional right. But the reality is that if you exercise that right … you’re likely to be punished more severely than you would have been had you pled guil...

Pedro Pascal, Melanie Lynskey, the Obamas among nominees at creative arts Emmy Awards

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:51:45 GMT

Pedro Pascal, Melanie Lynskey, the Obamas among nominees at creative arts Emmy Awards LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pedro Pascal and Melanie Lynskey are up for two of the most coveted Emmy Awards on Jan. 15, but both are also among this weekend’s nominees at the creative arts Emmys. Pascal, nominated for best actor in a drama for “ The Last of Us,” is up for best guest actor in a comedy series for hosting “Saturday Night Live” and for his narration of a CNN documentary on Patagonia. Lynskey, nominated for best actress in a drama for “ Yellowjackets,” is up for best guest actress in a drama for her one-episode appearance on Pascal’s “The Last of Us.” That series and “Succession” are the two top overall Emmy nominees. In fact, all of the dozen nominees in Lynskey’s category and best guest actor in a drama come from the two HBO shows. The Saturday and Sunday ceremonies are a precursor to the main Emmy ceremony that will air at 8 p.m. EST Jan. 15 on Fox, with “black-ish” star Anthony Anderson as host. Just like the main telecast, the creative arts ceremonies arriv...