Archive By Section - Columnists
Judging the judges
As a private investigator, I witness firsthand a competent but timid judiciary at work on a daily basis. Although I am quite proud of our judicial process, many of even the most deserving civil plaintiffs, the most noble and caring parents, and the most innocent victims of criminal misconduct experience frustrations with our court system.
Annual Sacramento road trip offers many opportunities
What a great way to start the week. Shortly after 7 a.m. Monday, April 14, some 50 residents of the Santa
Six years of change since David March's murder
"I will always be painfully honest, work as hard as I can, learn as much as I can, and hopefully make a difference in people's lives."
Last chance to attend Cowboy Fest
Today's your last chance to saddle up and mosey on over to Melody Ranch for the annual Cowboy Festival - the best part of living in the great SCV! Have some Cowboy Cobbler from the Cowboy Cultural Committee (cooked on coals in a Dutch oven) and listen to some of the finest entertainment west of the Rio Grande!
Enterprising pols shelve Californians' best interests
I never cease to be amazed by the great lengths traveled by pols in trampling underfoot the shiny promises made on needy campaign stumps.
Education funding should be a top priority
California faces some very difficult times, given the state's budget deficit. In January, the governor announced a $14.5 billion shortfall.
New enterprise zone already boosting economy
After nine full months of operation, the city of Santa Clarita's Enterprise Zone has proven to be an amazing new tool in the economic development toolbox, benefiting the local business community. All types of city-based businesses have taken advantage of the hiring tax credit including car dealers, restaurants, retail, and industrial and manufacturing companies.
Big steps toward stomping out arthritis
The prevalence of arthritis and chronic joint symptoms is surging, affecting more than 45,000 in Santa Clarita alone and approximately 46 million (one in five) Americans.
The lies of the Clintons
Hillary's latest effort at "embellishing" (actually, it's called "inventing" or "fabricating") on her visit to our troops in Bosnia while a war was going on there comes as no surprise. She was merely trying to inform
Earth Week in Santa Clarita
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, was conceived by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as a means of
A legislative solution to a nonexistent problem
One thing everyone can agree upon: Water served to the public should be clean, safe, potable and free of
Endless Iraq Whack-a-Mole
"I want to cut off the finger I voted with." Ayad Hassan heaps scorn on the Iraqi government that he cast a ballot for two years ago. Hassan finally got out of Sadr City three weeks ago after being pinned down in his house for days while renewed open warfare again devastated his neighborhood.
A checklist for buying a new home
Home ownership and housing are essential to the strength and vitality of a region. It is the cornerstone of family security and stability; it strengthens our communities; it is crucial to the national and regional economy; and it enhances overall quality of life.
Some legislative relief for schools
The most distinguishing factor between national, state and local government is the ability of local politicos to shed the mantle of partisan politics in an effort to work together to achieve the common good. The city of Santa Clarita is a prime example of that very fact. With that in mind, I offer hearty congratulations to Mayor Bob Kellar and Laurie Ender, the clear winners in Santa Clarita's City Council election. Bob Spierer, Diane Trautman, ...
The best medicine Medicare can allow
My mother used to say, "Whoever called old age the 'Golden Years' must have been color-blind." Having recently spent time visiting elderly relatives in some rather sad and sterile skilled nursing facilities, I've been giving serious thought to how I'll be living out my Golden Years, should I make it that far.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Jason Stanford: The revised legacy of George W. Bush
New polls show that George W. Bush is not as unpopular now as when he left office. That bodes well for a public examination of his legacy, but it's difficult to look back on his presidency as something other than a preventable catastrophe.
The Village Idiot: Tv or no TV?
Remember when TV used to sign off for the night? No infomercials, no reruns, no experimental public-access foolishness - nothing at all but snow. Or, if you were lucky, a test pattern.
Tina Dupuy: The Theory of Relative Laziness
My working theory - you could call it a philosophy, or a freestanding reason of how the world works - is what I call the Theory of Relative Laziness.
Charlie Vignola: America worried about the wrong things
America has always had a propensity to whip itself into a frenzy about the wrong things, but seldom has it been so clear as it has been the last few weeks, particularly in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombings.
Danny Tyree: R.I.P. George Jones
Editor's note: The following column ran in 2006 marking the 75th birthday of George Jones. The longtime country singer died Friday at age 81 and will be remembered at a public memorial Thursday at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
David Hegg: The need for adversity
We're all familiar with the old saying "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." It is often used to remind us that most really important things in life come with adversity built in.
Donna Brazile: Accountability needed
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, lawmakers are demanding answers from the FBI. They want answers not only about the Tsarnaev brothers - Did they act alone? Why did the do it? - but also about our security and intelligence operations.
Timothy Myers: Gearing up for a chloride war
One of my favorite tales of Santa Clarita political lore involves former Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, and I happen to know that it actually occurred.
Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall
With more than 1,100 businesses small and large, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce represents tens of thousands of local jobs and employees and is Santa Clarita's premier business membership organization.
Phil Kerpen: Obama’s FAA harm offensive
If sequestration happens and nobody feels it, does it have a political impact?
Kathryn Lopez: Real questions in evil's wake
Martin Richard's life ended as he waited at the Boston Marathon finish line on a local holiday. He was there to celebrate his dad's victory with his family.
Tom Purcell: Fighting for the America we want it to be
I listened to a Frank Sinatra tune this week - "The House I Live In" - and enjoyed a renewed desire to fight on.
Joe Gandelman: Was Twitter for the birds?
When James French became the last person to be executed in 1966 under Oklahoma's death penalty law, he uttered these famous last words (no joke) that quickly belong to the ages: "Hey fellas," he shouted to reporters there to witness his electrocution. "How about this for a headline for tomorrow's paper? 'French Fries!'"
Dick Polman: Bombing is lame excuse to halt immigration reform
Conservatives have been desperately trying to halt the bipartisan momentum for path-to-citizenship immigration reform, and, thanks to the Boston bombing, they think they've finally found the perfect (phony) argument: Fear of foreign terrorism.
Gary Horton: Lobbyists are at the root of our violent culture
After the Brothers Tsarnaev blew their lids and went on their Boston pressure-cooker bombing spree, it wasn't surprising that sooner or later unregistered, illegally obtained guns and rifles would show up in the bloody mix.
