Retailers are the backbone of any community. Most people got their first jobs at a retail establishment, whether that was within the food industry or some other retail outlet. Retailers are the first ones we look to when garnering support for local charities or community events. Retailers make our communities vibrant and attractive for not only residents but also for visitors. In Nebraska, retailers account for 14 percent of our gross domestic product...

Earlier this year, we wrote about a trend in England that no doubt raises alarm among certain American parents, who we’ll discuss later. While our school playgrounds all contain UL-approved soft plastic equipment atop ground-rubber flooring, some British school have replaced that with stacks of two-by-fours, crates and loose bricks, mud pits, tire swing, log stumps and workbenches with hammers and saws...

There are reporters who dream about receiving this kind of assignment. The assignment in question was one performed by Omaha World-Herald reporters this summer, after one of them noticed State Auditor Charlie Janssen leaving Brewsky’s, a popular Lincoln sports bar, about 3:15 p.m. Monday, June 4...

If you’ve jumped onboard the fitness tracker fad, you probably know all about the 10,000-step rule. Your Fitbit, Apple Watch or another wearable device probably comes pre-set to cajole you into taking 10,000 steps — a number endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Heart Foundation, and Health and Human Services as a good goal for better health...

Nebraska, being number-one in Sports, and Fan Support. We want to now be known as number-one in the percentage of eligible residents (in all parties) voting in national elections. In elections starting with the 2018 national elections, we will show our percentage of voters showing up to the polls, will be the highest for our state, and will challenge other states and territories to try to beat us...

A friend likes to joke that he and his wife are going out to look at their phones while they have lunch together. Wait in line for more than a minute, and you’ll probably find your self and queuemates pulling out your smartphone to check Twitter or Facebook, check the news or your bank balance...

We’ve editorialized repeatedly about the importance of our local community college and the opportunity it offers for personal growth. With Andy Long making a lateral move to the McCook Economic Development Corp. — and already leaving his mark in positive growth — his successor as MCC Vice President, Kelly Rippen, is looking forward to hearing ideas from the public...

The McCook Chamber of Commerce’s goal of making McCook a good place to live, work and play is a worthy one, and the state’s conditions give it a good head start, according to the latest study by a personal finance website. WalletHub ranks Nebraska as the 10th “Happiest State” in the U.S., using 31 key indicators of happiness, ranging from emotional health to income level to sports participation...

If you’re worried relaxing marijuana laws will lead to more use among youth, there’s probably good reason. Exposure to mind-altering drugs of any kind at a young age can have lifelong consequences. Some of the biggest changes in recent years, however, have occurred at the other end of the spectrum, according to a New York University study...

Economics 101 courses usually include a discussion of “guns vs. butter,” i.e., whatever is spent on national defense can’t be spent on consumer goods. The formula is ignored on the national level — guns AND butter, thanks to deficit spending — but Nebraska can’t have its cake and eat it, too, thanks to the requirement for a balanced budget...

Nike pushed the “any news is good news” mantra to the limit with its decision to hire Colin Kaepernick for its latest “Just Do It” campaign. Some publicity-savvy public figures were known for telling reporters “just spell my name right” when questioned about stories that cast them in a less-than-favorable light...

“In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register.” (Acts 2:1,3) Not every census has become part of a story repeated annually for 2,000 years, but that doesn’t mean every census isn’t important...

The United States isn’t a pure democracy, but is instead a republic or representative democracy, depending on whom you ask. Most laws are created through debate and compromise by leaders elected to do just that. In other cases, the decision is made directly by the people — such as the recent execution of Carey Dean Moore, which was conducted after Nebraska voters overturned a decision by the Unicameral to eliminate capital punishment in the state...

Fighting poverty is a complex process, involving family structure, economic development, education, support systems and many other factors. As home to a community college, McCook has a chance to play a part in this important cause, according to a new report...

If you take a low-dose aspirin and a little red wine every day in hopes of avoiding a heart attack, you may be in for a disappointment. Check with your doctor before changing your habits, of course, but you may want to check out a couple of new studies...

Anyone who thinks there’s nothing to do in a small town has probably never lived in one. Small-town folk know how to make their own fun. At the slightest hint that you’d be willing to volunteer for a community activity, you’re likely to find yourself busy every night of the week...

Former State Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial joined in a lawsuit to block a statewide vote on expanding Medicaid to an additional 90,000 residents in Nebraska. Along with State Sen. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft, Christensen technically argues that the proposal violates the Nebraska Constitution by including more than one subject, and violates other rules...

We’ve noticed several social media postings decrying the lack of emphasis on hands-on skills like woodworking and mechanics in modern schools. While it’s true vocational classes have suffered cuts in some schools, hands-on creativity is thriving more than ever, thanks in part to opportunities offered by that same social media...

We’ve noticed several social media postings decrying the lack of emphasis on hands-on skills like woodworking and mechanics in modern schools. While it’s true vocational classes have suffered cuts in some schools, hands-on creativity is thriving more than ever, thanks in part to opportunities offered by that same social media...

Carey Dean Moore was 21 when he shot an Omaha cab driver while he and his 14-year-old brother were robbing him to buy drugs and pornography. Five days later, he shot another, he said, just to prove he was capable of taking a man’s life on his own. Arrested after a week, he was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and his younger brother of second-degree murder...

The Gazette has covered its share of crime over the years, but concentrating on the crimes ignores the factor that makes them newsworthy — serious crime is rare in Southwest Nebraska. Yes, our history has its share of murders — several unsolved and recent enough that we’re still hoping to find more information to share with our readers...

The early, carefree sharing of cat pictures and jokes have given way to learning that our old cold war enemies haven’t given up on Nikita Khruschev’s vow, “we will bury you.” Instead of nuclear weapons, however, they’ve resorted to tactics used by Caesar — divide ut regnes — “divide and conquer.”...

If you’ve ever moved, you know drill. “Where did my (fill in the blank) go?” New Nebraska football coach Scott Frost had that question when he checked the garage in his new home, undergoing renovation in Lincoln. Missing was an estimated $172,600 worth of football memorabilia, including two Nebraska championship rings, 10 Oregon championship rings, two Central Florida championship rings, five pairs of Air Jordan shoes, football helmets and a gaming console...

There’s a general consensus that texting while driving is dangerous, but how about learning? Kids might not be in the physical danger caused by distracted driving, but their education may be in danger. Teachers face a dilemma; their students need “screens” to function in the modern world, but those cell phones and even school-issued computers can be a big distraction to young people already prone to daydreaming...

We’ve all heard the jokes about guys with jacked-up trucks and oversized tires are making up for inadequacies in other areas. If you haven’t, never mind. There may be a similar overcompensation at work when it comes time to walk down the aisle. According to a study of 3,000 married people, the more you spend on a wedding, the less likely it is to last...

Say “money” and an image of that silver coin rattling in your pocket or that green bill folded in your wallet comes to mind. When it comes down to it, however, money is anything two people, the buyer and seller, agree it is. The Pacific islanders who use huge, round stones with holes drilled in the middle come to mind...

“Unarmed man shot and killed in front of five-year-old son” “47-year-old man forced to shoot younger man who attacked him” Both could have been headlines for a recent Florida incident and either one shows a valid point of view. The sheriff in charge of the investigation says he won’t seek charges against the older man because of his state’s Stand Your Ground law, but will forward the information in the case to prosecutors for further review...

Italy had an interesting fashion trend a number of years ago. The most popular men’s shirts all seemed to have something in common, a broad black stripe extending from the left shoulder to the right hip. It really wasn’t a fashion statement; purchasing the shirt was an act of civil defiance, striking a blow against interference with personal freedom...

Nebraskans are hesitant to complain about rainfall, but like anything good, too much is a bad thing. Sudden rainfall made rural travel hazardous in parts of the county, and flash-flood warnings have been common of late. If you were out Wednesday evening, you may have noticed a City of McCook truck cruising the streets, dispensing pesticides to keep the mosquito population at bay...

You have probably seen the insurance company that has you plug a device into your car, then charges you according to your driving habits. That may be a good deal for you, then again, maybe not. If you’re a good driver, you’re trading your privacy for a break on premiums. If you’re a bad driver ... well, you’ll pay the price...

Papa John’s founder John Schnatter probably thought he was in a “safe space” last May when he decried today’s political correctness. He turned out to be wrong. Schnatter was on a conference call to a marketing firm in a role-playing exercise to try to prevent further public relations fumbles like the ones he committed earlier while talking about National Football League national anthem protests...

By one count, 23 kids have died from being left in hot cars so far this year. Sadly, since July is the most dangerous time for hot-car deaths, that number may have climbed between the time it was written and the time it was read. One of the latest was a 3-year-old boy who died after only 35 minutes in a locked car in Texas on an 86-degree day...

Nebraska is coming from behind when it comes to renewable energy, despite recent progress like a solar farm at Kearney and wind farms in northeast Nebraska and elsewhere. Drive through northeast Kansas and western Iowa, and you’ll be greeted with great, white whirling wind turbines. Those, plus solar arrays and hydroelectric plants can be spotted almost anywhere you drive on your summer vacation...

If you’ve been mowing the lawn or outdoors enjoying another summer evening — thanks for spraying for mosquitos, City of McCook, and please keep it up — you may just be getting around to reading today’s Gazette. If so, you may already know who President Donald Trump has nominated to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy...

McCook’s Work Ethic Camp was created with the goal of helping ex-cons transition back to being productive members of society. That role has eroded with the overcrowding of Nebraska’s prison system, but a new trend may make it easier for convicts who have paid their debt to society to get back into the legal workforce...

If you’re one of the 47 million Americans who expects to drive more than 50 miles away from home on even this mid-week Independence Day, there’s one more thing to worry about. Besides drunk drivers and other travel hazards, you might want to take extra precautions when it comes time to fill up your tank...

The Republican Party’s traditional image as a friend of business took a hit today as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce rolled out a major campaign against the party leader’s trade policies. The same day, his long-time lawyer, who recently said he would do anything to protect the president, had a change of heart...

We hope you’re making sure your pets have plenty of water and shade these days when the temperatures are in the triple digits. The same goes for you if you have to spend any length of time outdoors. A lot of construction workers and others know that it’s smart to get started in the cool of the morning to allow a break in the heat of the day...

Nebraska is doing a good job taking care of its kids, according to the 2018 Kids Count Data Book just released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Based on health, education, economic security, family and community, Nebraska is second in the nation. The report — http://bit.ly/2MuMkJR — shows improvements in the number of Nebraska children in poverty, children whose parents lack secure employment, living in a household with a high housing cost burden, and in the number of teens not in school and not working.. ...

If you’ve ever been or lived with a small-town volunteer firefighter, you know how it goes. You’re about to take the burgers off the grill, and the pager goes off. Just before the second bite of your hot dog, the town siren sounds. Yep, that’s the Fourth of July in rural Middle America...

Taking factors such as property taxes, homeowners’ insurance fees, mortgage payments and income into account, a financial technology company has rated Red Willow County one of the most affordable places to own a home in Nebraska. SmartAsset’s study rated McCook No. 4 in the state, behind Alliance, Lexington and Schuyler, and ahead of Chalco, South Sioux City, York, Papillion and Gering...

This was the first year we heard TV weather people refer to “meteorological” summer as June 1, but today’s the official first day of summer. We’re having 15 days of sunlight in McCook today — maybe a skosh more since we’re a few miles north of the 40th parallel, which forms the Kansas-Nebraska border...

When it rains, it pours. You can say that again. Believe it or not, McCook is officially still slightly behind normal precipitation for the year —9.51 inches since Jan. 1 compared to a normal 10.10 — but Mother Nature did her best to help us catch up...

Some people swear by cannabidiol, a compound derived from marijuana that doesn’t get users high, but can help control seizures. A British company should have a decision by the end of the month on whether its version will be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

The movie the Incredibles was a favorite for many, and many of us are looking forward to the sequel, Incredibles 2, now, 14 years later. Hollywood loves it when a movie generates “buzz,” but Disney wasn’t really looking for this type of publicity. It turns out, a sequence involving bright flashing lights associated with the villain Screenslaver can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy, migraines or chronic illnesses...

You’ve probably seen the meme floating around your social media feed: “Five things nobody keeps in their house anymore” The list: DVDs, CDs, file cabinets, wall calendars and take-out menus. Probably true for a lot of us, in the days of smartphones, iPads and streaming media...

Nebraska is a great place to raise a family, but we’ve got a long way to go when it comes to keeping our teen drivers safe. According to a WalletHub study (http://bit.ly/28LjlRb), Nebraska ranks near the bottom judging by 23 key metrics such as the number of teen driver fatalities, average cost of car repairs and impaired-driving laws...

Attendance was up at nearly all events for the 22nd annual Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival, according to organizers. The Fox Theatre was full for Saturday night’s finale, and headliners joined with regular performers in singing praises of the nourishing, welcoming atmosphere that permeates the spring event, named in defiance of those who would depopulate our corner of the nation...

They say things happen in threes, but there’s no reason the superstition has to prove true in this case. We remember reading an interview with celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who said his job, traveling the world in search of culinary adventure, was actually a lonely one...

Swimming in the lake or pool is one of the enjoyable activities of summer, but not if it results in spending several precious weeks out of commission. Between 2000 and 2014, about 500 outbreaks of cryptosporidium infections were linked to pools, spas and water parks, and more than 27,000 people were made sick and eight people died as a result of the parasite...

Remember the Camel News Caravan? Probably not, but it aired on NBC News from early 1949 to late 1956 and was named after a brand of cigarettes when they could be advertised on television. The show was only 15 minutes long. Chet Huntley in New York and David Brinkley in Washington, D.C., took over the show from John Cameron Swayze in 1956, renamed it the Huntley-Brinkley Report and expanded it to a half hour in 1963 a week after CBS stretched Walter Cronkite’s show to the same length. ...

You can get in a lot of trouble on social media; just ask Roseanne Barr or hundreds of other public figures or private citizens who have lost their jobs or suffered other consequences of careless online statements. You’ve probably seen private family disputes played out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, and if you’re like most of us, you don’t want to see any more...

Christians who feel their beliefs are not being given weight equal to those of other religions may find some small comfort in today’s Supreme Court ruling regarding a Colorado baker’s refusal to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Baker Jack Phillips was found guilty of violating Colorado’s law against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation after he refused to bake a wedding cake for Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins in 2012...

A 2010 article by conservative commentator Dennis Prager is again making the rounds, set as a speech “every American High School Principal should give.” The ideas in the piece, targeting today’s emphasis on political correctness and diversity, have about as much chance of becoming part of official policy as a mandatory Klingon language curriculum, but it does make some points...

We’ve always preached that anyone who lacks education beyond high school is missing a great opportunity if they don’t take advantage of McCook Community College and other resources available in our area. That remains true, with summer classes beginning June 4 and Mid Plains Community College announced that students as young as 16 can get a jump-start on the healthcare field through the Nursing Assistant course...

A controversial video game that allows users to act as a school shooter has been pulled from the market, but not for the reason you may think. Valve Inc. said Tuesday it would pull “Active Shooter” from its online gaming platform, but only because the controversy uncovered reasons other than the simple school violence portrayed...

This Memorial Day weekend will be special in Danbury, where special services Sunday will honor one of the sons of Southwest Nebraska who gave their lives in the war in Southeast Asia. Danbury native Capt. Daniel Wayne “Danny” Thomas took off on an orientation flight in a small, OV-10A aircraft in January 1971, and didn’t return. In 2014, the crash site was discovered in Vietnam’s central highlands, and his body was returned last November...

It’s hard to fault any action that will potentially reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world, but North Korea’s destruction of a test site was likely more symbolic than anything else. The hermit kingdom first hedged its bets by calling Vice President Mike Pence a “political dummy,” then invited journalists in to watch it set off a series of explosions over several hours at the Punggye-Ri site in North Korea...

Fingernails scraping a blackboard sends a chill down the spine for most of us, but what about a sound that has the opposite effect? That’s what millions of people are claiming with a new online activity called ASMR, which some wags have dubbed “whisper porn.”...

The Gazette and other newspapers have known for a long time their basic medium — “paper” is in their name, after all — would be costing more because of political action beyond their control. A temporary delivery problem has forced the Gazette to drastically limit production and delivery until the crisis passes, but long-term prospects are just as troubling...

Cellular phones used to be a safe haven for those who didn’t want to receive telemarketing calls. Those days are long over, to the point that many of us won’t answer a call from a number that’s not already in the contacts list on our smartphone. “If it’s important, they’ll leave a message” seems to be the mantra. Texting or SMS or Facebook messaging is more and more the connection of choice, and not just for millennials or younger...

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the first idea for an editorial that popped up the day after an election was the fact that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We joke about being “Coocoo for Cocoa Puffs” and sell leftover merchandise during “Crazy Days” but mental illness is “funny like a heart attack” as the saying goes...

At times it seems Old Glory is permanently at half-staff. The older — make that “more experienced” among us remember when seeing the flag anywhere other than the top of the pole was unusual. When it was, we usually didn’t have to ask — President Kennedy had been assassinated, or a space shuttle had exploded...

The earliest European explorers arrived in what is now Nebraska by following the rivers, natural pathways to the mountains where they hoped to find their fortune in furs or gold. Later travelers were linked to Utah via the Mormon Trail, or Oregon via wagon train...

If you’ve signed up for anything online, you may have been amused by the final box you’re asked to check. It’s the one that’s labeled “I am not a robot.” Soon, we may all be hoping for a similar, more effective system for our telephones. If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably noticed an uptick in nuisance calls trying to sign you up for insurance, “free” vacations or credit cards...

You may know how to drive a tractor, but do you know how to balance a drink and plate of hors d'oeuvres while exchanging small talk at a cocktail party? Maybe you’ve shown your calf at the State Fair, but how about visiting Asia to find out about the beef market?...

There’s so much news coming out of Washington and elsewhere that it’s tempting, even wise, to shut off the electronics and spend time in the garden or reading a good book. That said, you might want to keep an eye on President Trump’s actions this afternoon when he announces his plans concerning the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by former Secretary of State John F. Kerry under President Obama...

It’s easy for modern, 24-hour news outlets to apply superlatives like “hero” to a wide range of characters, deserving or not. We’re more inclined to go along when the person involved is on the front line of any conflict — soldiers, police, first responders — jobs that require training and dedication far above standards most of us have to meet for our occupations...

This won’t be a piece about the pro-choice, anti-choice, pro-abortion, anti-abortion issue, although perhaps it should be. Instead, it’s about different types of mammals, and humankind’s relationship with them. Like many issues, it seems straightforward enough...

Making our community “a better place to live, work and play” is an important objective, as voiced by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission statement — but what does it take to do that? We’ve been grappling with that question for decades, and although we have much of which to be proud, there’s definitely room for improvement...

Shop at home is a common and worthy mantra, but covers only so much of the local economy. Whether bought at the corner mom-and-pop store, or by clicking “buy it now” an e-tailer’s site, your purchases likely have something in common. At some point, they’ve both been hauled into town in the back of a truck...

“I’m bored!” It won’t be long until parents throughout Southwest Nebraska will hear those words, emanating from the mouth of a child who only a week or two before was happy to be free of an environment designed to give his brain a full-throttle workout...

Arriving home after a long day at work, there’s nothing like being greeted by someone who’s delighted to see you, accepts you unconditionally and would like nothing better than spending time with you. A dog can do all of the above, as well as prodding you to get the exercise you know you really need, with, ahem, unpleasant consequences if you don’t take him for a walk...

If you have Google maps installed on your smartphone, you may or may not have noticed the “Your timeline” feature. If it’s enabled, you can check back on any particular day to see where you were at any particular time, how long you were there and where you went next...

Can money buy happiness? It depends on whom you ask and what criteria you use. The United States, for example, has some of the richest people in the world, but is only the 18th happiest, according to a GOBankingRates here. Americans make an average annual wage of $46,467, have an unemployment rate of 4.1 percent...

Stories are emerging now about the many chances authorities had to prevent a deranged young man from going on a killing spree at a Waffle House in Tennessee. Reportedly convinced Taylor Swift was stalking him, he was arrested last July for allegedly attempting to jump the fence at the White House...

From what little most of us can see cruising down the main highways through Southwest Nebraska, it seems like oilfield activities are picking up. If you think so, you’re right. That’s because crude oil is approaching $70 a barrel, up nearly $20 a barrel fom a year ago...

With Colorado, California and Washington legalizing recreational marijuana and medical marijuana legal in many other states, an important issue is rarely raised. Impaired driving. Alcohol is the traditional problem when it comes to driving, but drug-caused motor vehicle accidents will climb as marijuana is more widely used...

The United States will always be vulnerable to manipulation as long as we’re a free and open society, governed, at the most basic level, by public opinion. That’s not lost on Russia, which uses every tool available to meddle in foreign affairs to its own advantage...

Barbara Bush has always been known to speak her mind, a breath of fresh air in the years before the current administration when every utterance was vetted and scripted. From her doubts about President Clinton failing to remember encounters with a certain intern to expressing her doubts about another member of the Bush family in the White House, she was always good for an honest perspective on current events...

We wish McCook Economic Development Corp. director Andrew Ambriz all the best as he moves on to a similar position in Broken Bow. He and his wife recently welcomed a new baby, and we completely understand a desire to share a growing family with grandparents and other family members...

U.S. senators get mixed marks when it comes to their knowledge of social media, displayed during this week’s grilling of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Sen. Orrin Hatch: “If (a version of Facebook) will always be free, how do you sustain a business model in which users don’t pay for your service?”...

“Here men from the Planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon. July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.” So reads the plaque affixed to the Apollo 11 lander that still rests on the Sea of Tranquility. Peace still reigns on the moon, but perhaps the last sentence should have been amended to include “(for now.)”...

It’s no secret that exercise makes you feel better, and prevention is always better than a cure. Two unrelated studies — one actually a compilation of 23 existing studies — offer helpful advice for adults as well as the future generation. The University of Michigan review of other studies found that as little as 10 minutes of physical activity per week not only helped decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety but actually provided a significant boost to a person mood...

We used to allot at least half an hour to go through newsroom mail in the Gazette, but the advent of email has cut the number of letters to a couple a day. There’s little or no time savings, however, since it takes the same amount of time or more to go through email, even with much of that traffic being automatically routed into trash or junk mail folders...

We hate to break it to you, but you may have heard it before. There’s no free lunch. Or, as one commentator put it, if the service is free, you’re the product. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is busy doing damage control after it was revealed that a British firm improperly accessed data on up to 87 million Facebook users to help Donald Trump’s campaign...

Most of us live in small towns by choice, because we love the comparatively slow pace of life, short commutes and safe, friendly neighborhoods. Regardless of the size of the town where we live, the residents need basic services such as utilities, food, education and, especially in emergencies, medical care...

China has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of U.S. goods — including soybeans and beef — the former our biggest export to China, the latter only recently reinstated for import after a Mad Cow scare a dozen years ago. The threat comes in retaliation to President Trump’s threat to impose a similar amount of Chinese goods on the heels of action against washing machines and solar panels...

Is it time for an old-fashioned spring cleaning? Have you noticed you seem to come down with a cold or flu a little more often than you should? Whether you’re a germophobe or a little more casual with your relationship with household microbes, NSF International has some news that might interest you...

Who is your U.S. Representative? Name three of the original 13 states. Who is in charge of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government? How many of those questions, part of a test for immigrants who wish to be naturalized, could you answer? How many could your friends answer?...

OK, so your chance of winning the $502 million Mega Millions jackpot tonight is roughly one in a billion — 302,575,350, officially. But what if you did win? It has happened. Back in 2006, eight Nebraska workers at ConAgra’s ham processing plant shared a similar fortune when they pitched in to buy a Powerball ticket that turned out to be worth $365 million...

Donald Trump’s presidency is nothing if not exciting, and his threat to veto the omnibus spending bill over lack of funding for a border wall with Mexico was only a minor blip in the overall scheme of things. Grandstanding aside, his suggestion that the wall be built with Defense Department funds is intriguing when one looks at the numbers...

One of the ironies connected to the debate over assault-style weapons is the inverse relationship between politics and the firearm business. Things were booming for them with the election of Barack Obama and gun-control fears, and sales dropped off with the election of Donald Trump...

If you’re worried that somebody’s watching your every move, there’s more news to stoke your paranoia. If you think somebody should be paying better attention, there’s assurance that that’s happening as well. And, if you think massive social networks give away their services for free, we’re sorry to disabuse you of that notion once and for all...

To outsiders, Nebraska can be something to be endured, rolling through the flattest part of the state on Interstate 80, peering out of a window when momentarily awakened during an early-morning Amtrak stop, or pondering the purpose of all those circles on the patchwork quilt observed from 38,000 feet...

Tobacco use — mostly cigarette smoking — is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. It kills more than 480,000 Americans annually, and costs more than $300 billion a year, according to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D...

Sometimes the appearance of safety is more dangerous than no safety at all. One example is car seats — strapping a child into a car seat may meet the letter of the law, but it may not be enough if you’re in a serious accident and the seat is improperly secured...

There’s an old saying that laughter is the best medicine, and that’s more welcome than ever today, which someone has designated “National Let’s Laugh Day.” Not that we shouldn’t pay attention to bad things that are going on in the world; we need to stay informed and involved. But it’s no surprise that today’s 24-hour news cycle can leave many of us down in the dumps...

Flight attendants have a tough job, especially on today’s crowded flights, with unkempt passengers frustrated from delays and TSA indignities, attempting to bring “service animals” like peacocks aboard. And while we’re generally against overregulation, we’re sympathetic with U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who planned to file a bill today to prevent airlines from putting animals in overhead bins...

The Freedom of Information Act, signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966, generally provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, to obtain records from federal records. There are nine specific exemptions, including personnel, medical, classified, trade secrets or others, but otherwise, the law promotes open government...

Are conservative politicians ogres who don’t care about children and the needy? Is Nebraska living beyond its means when it comes to taxpayer-supported services? That’s the debate that goes on every time the state budget is set, and especially this year when revenues aren’t keeping up with expenditures...

President Trump has backed off a proposal to raise the age limit for purchasing certain types of rifles to 21, but has put forth a plan to encourage some teachers to be armed. Quite a change from recent years when students have been disciplined or expelled for biting a sandwich into the shape of a pistol, or pointing at a classmate, wiggling a thumb and saying, in a high-pitched voice, “pew-pew.”...

Humans have tried all types of means of selecting mates, from marriages arranged for social or political reasons, to romantic fantasies cultivated by Hollywood to internet couplings created by computerized compatibility algorithms. With the growth of DNA analysis for genealogical, medical and legal investigation, it was probably only a matter of time before someone attempted to combine it with matchmaking...

We’ll spare readers a semi-annual rant about the stupidity of Daylight Saving Time — it really doesn’t save anything and, in fact, creates more problems than it solves. Although “spring forward” is popular for those of us who like to use the extra hour for outdoor activities in the afternoon, we’d be tempted to endorse any candidate with a “dump DST” plank in their campaign platform...

“And I suppose if your friends were all jumping off a cliff, you’d do that too!” Maybe you heard your mother say that right after you pleaded to be allowed to (fill in the blank) because “Everybody’s doing it!” Opponents of LB 1009, advanced to general file, to allow the Department of Transportation to raise speed limits statewide say the state is using the same logic as your teenage self...

More than 1.5 million homes were out of power in the Northeast this weekend as a powerful nor’easter caused flooding and wind damage from Virginia to Maine, leaving at least five people dead from falling trees. A snowboarder was killed by an avalanche in California, and northeast Nebraska was in a blizzard warning today...

It’s that time of year when winter has ceased to be a novelty and those who don’t like complaining about the cold weather are finding it hard to stick by their convictions. There is hope, however, if one knows where to look for it. You’ll notice there are more hours of daylight after work, and if you listen closely, you’ll hear the burble of sandhill cranes heading south, following their celebrated reproductive activities in the Platte Valley...

When a city-slicker thinks of farming, images of a pitchfork and two-cylinder tractor may come to mind. Surely agriculture is something to be left in the past as today’s young people head off into the high-tech future. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Instead, that technology is transforming the way food and fiber is produced, and many of our youth are agriculture in their future...

Nebraskans aren’t prudes by any stretch of the imagination, but when it comes to attracting new businesses, we are quick to emphasize our puritanical work ethic and stability. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement — say, the size of Cherry County — but compared to other states, we rank 42, toward the bottom, when it comes to the seven deadly sins...

When driving fast is outlawed, only outlaws will drive fast. That twist on the old gun slogan seems to have some merit, according to the Insurify car insurance comparison site. Nebraskans rank high in the list of “outlaw” states, No. 5 in the top 10, but there’s more to it than simply exceeding the posted speed limit...

Nebraska has been derided as one of the “flyover states” in recent years, but its reputation as territory to be traversed goes back in time through the days of the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, Gold Rush and even the Fur Trade days. What most of those travelers had in common was the direction traveled, to the West, the West Coast or simply the Rocky Mountains...

Fellow students and teachers who know Nickolas Cruz were shocked but not particularly surprised when it turned out that he was the one behind the mass murder Wednesday in Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Recently kicked out of the school, he and his biological brother had been adopted by Lynda Cruz and her husband, but her husband died of a heart attack several years ago, and Lynda died of pneumonia Nov. 1...

We’ve always thought small towns were a tough place to be single any day, but none more so than Valentine’s Day. In fact, geography is playing less and less a part in such loneliness, thanks to social media posts showing happy couples doing happy things...

Nebraskans love to give lingerie for Valentine’s Day. Nebraskans hate to receive lingerie for Valentine’s Day. Perhaps it’s because of the genders involved, and the implied expectations, but offers.com lists the third-most unpopular gift from potential paramours – a bottle of alcohol...

Sex scandals, health care and the investigation of Russian influence in 2016 are taking the headlines of late, and now President Trump is proposing $200 billion to entice state governments and private entities to pitch in to create $1.5 trillion for infrastructure improvements...

President Trump has declared opioid abuse a national emergency, and as usual, the lawyers were quick to get involved. More than 100 states and cities have filed more than 250 federal lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and distributors of the opioid epidemic...

Wednesday, we wrote about the need for a system to warn drivers in whiteout conditions when they are approaching accidents blocking major highways. Today comes word from AAA that another hazard is much more prevalent than we are being told. The auto club studied dashboard video from 700 accidents and found that 9.5 percent of all crashes involved drowsy drivers, based on the amount of time the drivers’ eyes were closed in the minutes before a crash...

On the same day we got a view of Elon Musk’s Tesla convertible on its way to Mars, Douglas County officials gave approval to a plan to build a new drive-in movie theater west of Omaha. While some of us worry about the trustworthiness of self-driving cars, a video of the massive pile-up on Interstate 35 at Ames, Iowa, made us long for the days when every car carried a CB radio...

Cell phones will give you cancer. Cell phones won’t give you cancer. After years of suggestions that radio waves from mobile phones could cause health problems, and studies that indicated otherwise, the state of California put out a guide in December indicating it was good to give your phone some space...

The booming stock market hit a bump this week on news that disruptive retailer Amazon was joining with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan Chase to form a healthcare company designed to hold down costs for their employees. While long-term consequences of the move are unknown, we should have a good idea for the future of the stock market after Sunday...

We urged everyone to file their tax return as early as possible, so we hope you’ll indulge us with one more piece of advice: Plan your vacation early as well. National Plan for Vacation Day was actually Tuesday, but if you do it soon, you’ll be far ahead of the 46 percent of Americans who fail to set aside time to plan their vacation time each year...

Suppose you just tend to put things off. Or perhaps some of the tax documents you need to file are slow to arrive. You finally get around to submitting your return and are shocked to find out it’s already been done, and the refund went to an address that isn’t yours...

Ideally, every child would be born into a stable home, with two loving parents able to provide the emotional and material support needed to grow into a mature, successful adult. In reality, even the best of homes fall short in some ways, and in extreme cases, there is no choice but for the state to intervene...

Amber Hagerman, 9, was abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 13, 1996. Four days later, her body was found in a creek behind an apartment complex, her throat slit. Authorities believed her abductor, who has never been caught, had kept her alive at least two days...

Oh, it’s just a touch of the flu; get some rest and drink plenty of liquids. Don’t bother getting a shot, besides, don’t they contain mercury? One can spend hours arguing with strangers on social media, but the topic takes on sober urgency when it’s a life-or-death issue...

A shopper walked into a store, grabbed a few items and hurried out the door. And the store was just fine with that. The store, in Seattle, is known as Amazon Go and uses cameras and sensors to track what shoppers remove from the shelves, and what they put back...

How are you doing with your New Years resolutions? If they included saving money and getting healthier, here’s an idea for killing two birds with one stone. Personal-finance website WalletHub crunched some numbers and released a report showing just how much smokers, by state, might be able to save by giving up their habit...

Propose elimination of a school, county agency or local governmental position, and you’ll hear an uproar, with good reason. We all have friends who work in that office, teach in that school or depend on the tax dollars it brings to the community. The closing of a school sounded the death knell of many a small community or at least portended it...

We enjoyed a Saturday Night Live skit about a nonexistent “Echo Silver” geared toward older users who might have trouble remembering the Amazon device’s “wake word,” by responding to anything remotely close. If only that problem weren’t too close to the truth for many of us...

Today is a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., but if anyone is hoping for continued improvement of race relations in the 50 years since his assassination, they may be disappointed. The latest Economist/YouGov Poll (http://bit.ly/2rdRncf) indicates two of three of those surveyed say race relations are bad today, a higher number than the percentage who thought that three years ago...

Those of us who grew up in small-town Nebraska may conjure up a scene straight out of Andy Griffith when we think back to our childhoods. While much of rural Nebraska may be more like Mayberry RFD than Los Angeles, we have our share of crime and depravity, and authorities are dealing with far more than Barney’s misadventures...

The Affordable Care Act was the major accomplishment of the Obama administration, and dismantling it has been the focus of the Trump administration so far. The federal government issued a 10-page memo Thursday with guidelines to allow states to test programs to require some Medicaid enrollees to work as a condition for coverage...

Whatever happened to the “do not call” list, and who is using all those local numbers to make annoying telemarketing calls on our phones at all times of day and night? Most of us simply hang up or use some sort of call blocker to filter out junk calls...

Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System want Apple to do more about young people getting addicted to their iPhones. It’s worth noting because they own $2 billion of Apple stock, and are basically asking the company to make its product less attractive to consumers...

A decision by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to let federal prosecutors enforce marijuana laws has been the leading topic of drug discussions in recent days. That’s especially true since recreational marijuana became legal in California last week, as well as a number of other states...

My grandpa notes the world’s worn cogs And says we are going to the dogs! His grandpa in his house of logs Swore things were going to the dogs. His dad among the Flemish bogs Vowed things were going to the dogs. The cave man in his queer skin togs...

“A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.” But what happens when your house runs out of room for more stuff? Hoarders aside, there’s a big market in helping people solve that problem. Google lists seven storage facilities in McCook, and while at least one of those was incorrectly listed, we’re sure there are others that didn’t show up on the map...

Nebraska’s unique one-house Legislature is back in session today, with dealing with a projected $173 million deficit the top order of business. Budgetary issues were the major topic at last year’s session, but lawmakers did pass some bills that went into effect Monday...

Small-town media can’t cover the big national stories the way their big city counterparts can, but they’ve got the edge when it comes to news their friends and neighbors really care about. That holds true whether those stories are delivered over the airwaves, in digital form, dropped on your front porch or delivered in the mailbox...

Nebraska is as “red” a state as they come, with all five of our congressional delegates members of the Republican Party. You’ve probably seen a red/blue political map of the United States, with the vast majority of the land covered in red, blue concentrated in the heavily populated urban areas...

Those of us who live north of the Mason-Dixon Line enjoy making fun of southerners who are out of their element when winter arrives up north. “Well, winter has arrived,” one construction worker proclaimed to the amusement of his native-born companions, one fall morning when the temperature dipped below 50 degrees at a Nebraska job site...

There’s no doubt that Americans need better eating habits and more exercise. Diets of fast food and video gaming have resulted in an increase of Type 2 diabetes, a preventable disease that reduces life expectancy. While most of us can agree on that, food and agricultural groups are bristling at a contention that their industry is “broken,” adding an excessive amount of greenhouse gas, exploiting labor and adding to income inequality, charges leveled by food-system activists in a Washington Post editorial a few years ago.. ...

After years of hearing that there was no proof our cell phones caused health problems, the California Department of Public Health has issued a warning that, yes, they may be a risk. It’s more important than ever that we pay attention since it’s unusual to see more than two or three people at a time without one of them being engaged with their mobile device...

Many who were in the sandwich generation a few years ago are now finding themselves as the top slice of bread, but the filling is a little thin. Baby boomers who once supported their aging parents and growing children are finding fewer people to fill the former role for them...

If you’re a germaphobe, you might want to change your rubber gloves and turn to another page. If you work in an office and don’t want to catch a cold, the flu or something worse, there follows some information that you might find useful. The folks at Kimberly-Clark Professional pulled out their ATP meter and used it to analyze swabs from nearly 5,000 surfaces in office buildings where 3,000 workers were employed...

There are advantages to having a pre-screened customer base for large enterprises. We’ve noticed a lot of advertising for at least one insurance company that serves veterans that is apparently taking advantage of a niche market in the actuarial tables...

Today is one of those days, if you’re over a certain age, you wish you would have listened more closely when your parents or grandparents told stories about World War II. Reporters born during the last few decades were lucky if they got to interview sailors or civilians who were there on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese navy launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor...

It’s still a good idea to get a flu vaccination, but don’t count on escaping the effects of the virus this year. By some reports, the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine is only 10 percent effective, but that’s not as bad as it sounds. Flu shots are only about 40 to 60 percent effective in their best years...

Same-sex marriage was still illegal in Colorado when Charlie Craig and David Mullins walked into Jack Phillips’ Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., to order a cake for their wedding reception. They had just gotten married in Massachusetts, where it was legal, but wanted to have a reception back home...

For those of us over a certain age, say the word “fuel cell,” and we immediately think of the movie Apollo 13 and the phrase “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” In case you don’t recall, the explosion on the spacecraft was caused by a faulty oxygen tank feeding the fuel cell that provided power for American moon missions...

There is an endless supply of worthy causes out there that are worth supporting. America has more homelessness and hunger than it should, but we’re all wealthy compared to most of the world’s citizens. Sometimes it’s appropriate to marshal the resources of national and local governments to deal with truly pressing, worthy problems...

You’ll find reasonable people taking either side of the legalized marijuana question, and as a state bordering Colorado, Nebraska is on the front lines of the political debate. Federal law still outlaws marijuana, but politics, as they say, makes strange bedfellows...

Many families make a habit of asking each member to mention something they are grateful for as they sit down the Thanksgiving feast. Relatively cheap, abundant food might be first on the list. Better yet, many share that abundance with the less fortunate, supporting food pantries and helping provide meals for the less fortunate...

We usually associate being hungover with New Years celebrations, but according to NerdWallet, it’s a big problem when it comes to holiday spending. Americans are expected to spend $660 on average this Christmas season, but many are still “hung over” from last year’s shopping, having failed to pay off 2016 holiday debt...

The news from South Dakota couldn’t have come at a worse time for supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada Corp. announced Thursday that its older pipeline had sprung a leak, spilling 5,000 barrels of oil — 210,000 gallons — onto agricultural land in Marshall County. It was discovered quickly, the pipeline shut down, and officials don’t believe it has reached any bodies of water...

Always a tumultuous time, adolescence has become more dangerous with the growth of social media. After declining for nearly 20 years, the teen suicide rate rose between 2010 and 2015, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The struggle to fit in and adjust to changing bodies and changing roles has always been difficult, but even more so when one is bombarded with images of others’ adventures, acquisitions, friends and successes, not to mention outright cyberbullying...

With all its current troubles, Hollywood got one thing right with the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story.” It delivered an accurate cautionary tale about holiday presents, and no, it wasn’t the leg lamp. “You’ll shoot your eye out!” is not just a catchphrase when it comes to Christmas toys, it’s an apt warning...

Ever wonder what the “Rx” associated with medicine means? The most common explanation is that it stands for the Latin term “recipe,” meaning “to take.” In other words, when your doctor writes “Rx 2 aspirin,” he’s telling you to take your medicine (the “and call me in the morning” is implied)...

By any measurement, the Big Give concept is an unqualified success. It’s appropriate to head into the Thanksgiving season by taking stock of our blessings, thinking about those we could help, and doing something about it. Thursday’s Big Give, which brought in $110,865 from 655 donations, and counting, offered just that opportunity...

The Transportation Security Administration didn’t do well when undercover “passengers” tried to sneak disallowed items through airport screenings. The specific results are classified, but the Department of Homeland Security found that screeners, their equipment or procedures failed more than half the time, according to an ABC report...

Name a good thing, and there’s always somebody around to spoil it. The latest is service dogs. Sanctioned by the Americans With Disabilities act, highly-trained service dogs are a lifesaver — literally — for people who are visually impaired, wheelchair bound, have epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder or have one of a list of other legitimate disabilities...

Those who would portray terrorism as exclusively associated with radical Islam might have difficulty making that case today. Two of the five worst mass shootings in American history have occurred in the last 35 days, both committed by natural-born Americans with no apparent religious affiliation...

We’ve just come off a celebration of empty calories with Halloween and we’re headed for the season of gluttony called Thanksgiving. Still, in the middle of one of the most productive aras of the world, there are still people who go hungry. Volunteers at the McCook Pantry can attest to that sad fact, with people from 19 communties in Southwest Nebraska from Arapahoe to Beaver City, Stratton and Wauneta depend on the Pantry to feed their families...

President Trump has called for “Merit-Based Immigration” and abandonment of the “Diversity Visa Lottery Program” he says brought the New York City attacker to the United States from Uzbekistan. Certainly America can learn from the example of other nations which face similar threats, and our immigration system should be under continual review...

A website named a couple of Omaha neighborhoods as the best place in the state to trick-or-treat, but we bet they’ve never seen McCook’s Norris Avenue on Halloween. There’s something about a small town that makes Halloween special — the first citywide celebration was in Anoka, Minn., storyteller Garrison Keillor’s hometown, none other than the original “Lake Woebegone.”...

Hawaiians say aloha, Italians arrivaderci or ciao, Germans say auf Wiedersehen and the French au revoir or bon voyage. Get ready to leave the home of a friend or relative in Southwest Nebraska, and along with a plate of leftover dessert, you’re likely to receive the admonition “Watch out for deer!”...

Being in law enforcement is a tough job, hours of boredom punctuated by occasional, swift, life-or-death decisions that can have consequences for the rest of the officers’ lives as well as those with whom they come in contact. Thankfully, most of those decisions are the correct ones, thanks to training and experience...

With all the misinformation floating around social media, the release Thursday of thousands of files related to President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination will doubtless provide tons of clickbait fodder in the coming years. Thanks in part to Oliver Stone’s conspiracy movie “JFK,” Congress in 1992 mandated that all assassination documents be released within 25 years, but Trump could block them if they were judged to hurt intelligence or military operations, law enforcement or foreign relations.. ...

If only things could work out like they do on television. Buy an old house, preferably the worst house in the best neighborhood, gut it, overcome a few minor setbacks (“Oh, no! There’s a pipe in that wall!) and in half an hour, you’ve got a beautiful home, complete with open-concept kitchen, worth a hundred thousand dollars more than you’ve invested...

Love it or hate it, there’s one thing you can say about Halloween — it puts off the Christmas rush just that much longer. In fact, Halloween has become more and more a retailer’s dream in recent years, according to Sarah Hollenbeck of offers.com. The National Retailers Federation estimates consumers will spend a record-breaking $9.1 billion on Halloween this year, and a survey of 1,000 U.S. ...

Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse won’t gain many votes among his constituents, the majority of whom voted for President Trump, but he’s never been known to shirk his duty as a member of the legislative branch of government when he feels it’s time to question the head of the executive branch...

President Obama’s Clean Air Plan was estimated to prevent up to 3,600 premature deaths a year and 90,000 asthma attacks in children, according to the American Lung Association. Public health advocates said it would be especially beneficial to poorer populations in major cities, living near coal-fired power plants...

We live in a time of countless innovations, but sometimes it takes adversity to bring the most out of available technology. Rural areas have long used video conferencing to deliver education — we remember students in the Australian Outback receiving their schooling via shortwave radio, and they’re probably on a satellite Internet service these days...

The Post Office, banks and government buildings are closed today for Columbus Day, but not in Austin, Texas, where they are closed for Indigenous Peoples Day. The same goes for places like San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, which have done away with Columbus Day, over concerns that the explorer did not actually “discover” the New World, and helped enslave and decimate and people who were already living there...

Americans are blessed to have a right to govern themselves through their vote, but recent revelations show the wisdom of the founders in creating a republic, where voters choose representatives to make decisions, rather than a direct democracy, even if the majority choose not to take part...

Nebraskans are proud of their famous children, from Ward Bond, Henry Fonda, Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett to Larry the Cable Guy — for a small state, we seem to have more than our share of popular, talented people. Most of us weren’t aware that one of the founders of the sexual revolution of the 1960s sprang from roots right here in Southwest Nebraska...

When Nebraska was debating whether to provide prenatal care for undocumented immigrants, we saw the issue of “pay me now” or “pay me (a lot) later.” The idea was that it is cheaper to try to help such women deliver healthy babies than to take care of sick babies — who are U.S. citizens by dint of being born here — in our emergency rooms...

Low commodity prices and weak farm incomes are a drag on the rural economy, according to a survey of bankers conducted on a regular basis by a team led by Creighton University economics Ernie Goss. Some 2.1 percent more farm loans were in default over last year, more than half of the bankers said they had restructured farm loans and nearly 20 percent have increased their collateral requirements...

We shouldn’t be surprised that the PBS series Vietnam, by Ken Burns and Kim Novick has stirred up old feelings and controversies many of us have forgotten or never experienced. It would be interesting to see how Burns’ earlier landmark PBS series, on the Civil War, would be received today in light of recent controversies over the Confederate flag and removal of monuments to Confederate heroes in the South...

The president doubled down on his conflict with the NFL, tweeting today that “the issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!” President Trump makes a good point, one most red state residents probably agree with, but Nebraska Nice might have worded his Friday night statement, which kicked off the controversy, a little differently...

Our attention has been focused on hurricanes lately, first Harvey in Texas, then Irma in Florida, now Maria in Puerto Rico, with more to come. It’s a small world, and many of us have friends and relatives living in the affected areas, and, when the Internet is working, we can keep up with them minute-by-minute if not through live video...

“What’s in a name,” Juliet asked in Shakespeare’s play, but like the Capulets and Montagues, labels like Obamacare and Medicare carry meaning with critical consequences. That’s probably why Sen. Bernie Sanders is proposing “Medicare for All” instead of calling it “Canada-style Single Payer” healthcare...

There’s good news and bad news, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Child Development. The good news is fewer teens are engaging in risky behavior such as having sex and drinking alcohol. The bad news is they’re putting off other adult activities such as getting a job, a drivers license or developing skills they’ll need as independent adults...

Heritage Days is always a highlight of the year in McCook, but organizers have outdone themselves to make sure this year’s, Birthday Bash, for both the town and the state, is something special. Besides the “usual” events, which are always fun, a number of special activities deserve our attention...

Walk through the north door of the Nebraska state capitol and you’ll see a motto carved in stone over the doorway: “The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen.” A series of stories by the Associated Press to be released Sunday indicates that lawmakers nationwide are chipping away at that motto, in the name of fear, security or simple expediency...

Don’t you hate those fall colds? Coughing, sneezing, runny eyes — only it may not be a cold at all. There’s a good chance you’re really suffering allergic rhinitis or hay fever. According to www.pollen.com, Southwest Nebraska is at a medium risk for allergies, with ragweed, nettles and chenopods the top risk. Allergies are worse as one travels to eastern Nebraska, and worse still southward into Kansas...

If you’re one of the folks known as “early adopters,” you probably know all about Tuesday’s announcement of the iPhone X, including the fact it’s pronounced like a translation of the Roman numeral (“ten”) not like the letter (“X”). You’ve probably already started saving your pennies to purchase one, which will cost you a cool thousand bucks, twice the cost of the original model introduced by Steve Jobs himself 10 years ago...

Be careful not to reveal too much personal information online, we’ve been warned. Don’t respond to “phishing” scams leading you to fake websites, and that Nigerian prince who wants to send you money? — you know the routine. As it turns out, it’s all for naught...

Where were you 16 years ago today? For many of us, we were doing exactly what we are today, doing our best to fulfill the demands of our jobs, just another day at work. In the newsroom, it started with a call from a spouse at home — a plane had hit a building in New York...

You’ve probably seen the Internet quiz on the topic, but in case you haven’t, answer this question: What’s the most dangerous animal? The cape buffalo? Pufferfish? Black mamba snake? They’re all dangerous, and we don’t recommend tangling with any of them...

It’s heartening to see the response from people our region as well as all over the country to Hurricane Harvey. That ranges from donations of goods and money to volunteers who helped in the rescue and even to friends and relatives who will help rebuild ravaged communities in the affected zone...

Explosions in a chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, are an example of unexpected complications that can arise during a natural disaster such as the flooding resulting from Hurricane Harvey. It’s not that operators of the Arkema Inc. plant weren’t prepared. They knew that without refrigeration, the organic peroxides they manufactured would quickly become explosive, which they did early this morning...

The official death toll from Hurricane Harvey was officially 18 at latest count, but it’s sure to rise by dozens more as soon as officials can turn their attention from helping the living to searching for the dead. Like any human tragedy, the largest storm to hit the United States can be distilled to cold, hard numbers...

Modern painkillers can be a godsend if you’re experiencing post-surgical pain or a toothache for a few days until you can get in to see a dentist. It’s too easy to get addicted to opioids and others, however, and it’s actually considered abuse for someone other than the person for whom they were subscribed to use them...

We remember the lines of volunteers to give blood following the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, and the sad realization that their donations weren’t really needed by the few survivors of the Twin Towers collapse. Thankfully, loss of life has been limited in the Hurricane Harvey assault on southeast Texas, but the widespread desire to help is still appropriate...

We set out to write a school bus safety editorial today, concentrating on the need for other drivers to stop when they see a bus with flashing lights and extended stop sign. Bus drivers can tell many stories of careless or ignorant drivers rolling by at full speed while young children are waiting to cross the street or road...

Travelers who normally see Nebraska’s open spaces as something to be endured on their way to Colorado’s mountains came to appreciate them Monday when it came time to view a spectacular celestial event. Mother Nature obliged, for the most part, delivering clear skies in most locations and definite darkness, complete with 360-degree sunsets, everywhere there was totality...

How many of you wished you would have taken time off to experience Monday’s eclipse in totality? Yeah, us too. But it was a memorable experience in McCook, the street lights came on for a short while and there are photographs of a 360º sunset in our area, although not as dramatic in an area of totality...

Busloads of children were taking the day off from school, the county courthouse took a few hours off and lots of employees took late lunch hours or extended their regular break to take in today’s solar eclipse. The Gazette hoped to print as scheduled today, but our drivers and paper carriers were advised to take special care delivering the paper in the unusual mid-day darkness...

It’s a transition time for many families, with McCook children heading off to school today, offering new adventures and challenges for both the students and their parents. Just how much freedom should be offered to a child at any given age? How much privacy should a child be allowed, and how far should parents go when it comes to monitoring their activities?...