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Opinion
The parched truth about American jobs
At last, some excellent economic news for folks long-mired in the stagnant labor market. “Jobs Spring Back,” exclaimed a typical headline on recent reports that 165,000 private-sector jobs were added in April. Wow — the thunderous, three-year boom of prosperity that has rained riches on Wall Street is finally beginning to shower on our streets, right? Well, as dry-land farmers can tell you: Thunder ain’t rain. Read beneath the joyful head...
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A plan for more hope in Eastern Kentucky
“The leadership problem is that an increasing number of people in the world are miserable, hopeless, suffering and becoming dangerously unhappy because they don’t have an almighty good job – and in most cases, no hope of getting one.” Jim Clifton, The Coming Jobs Wars (2011) and CEO for Gallup Hope is the catalyst for success in life. Hope is an essential element for a person to believe that they can achieve and that they will be rewarded...
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End result of Ky. Power’s plan unclear
An application for a plan currently on file with the Public Service Commission will likely result in a lesser demand for Kentucky coal and certainly higher rates for customers. But the big question is, when all is said and done, how much higher will the rates go? The PSC hosted a public hearing last week to gather public input on Kentucky Power’s plan to scuttle its largest generating unit at the Big Sandy plant in Louisa and purchase about...
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All have a stake in healthier community
An event held recently in Colorado should be of particular interest here in the heart of Central Appalachia. Last week, the National Press Foundation hosted 16 journalists from around the country, including a representative of The Floyd County Times, for a four-day conference about obesity, including its causes, problems and potential solutions. The conference included presentations from some of the nation’s foremost experts on the conditio...
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Medicaid expansion will be good for Kentuckians
On May 9, I announced what I believe is the most important single decision for the health of Kentuckians in our lifetimes; the expansion of Medicaid coverage to the approximately 308,000 uninsured Kentuckians. This expansion, coupled with the creation of the Health Benefit Exchange under the Affordable Care Act, means that for the first time in Kentucky’s history, every Kentuckian will have access to affordable health care. Who will be cove...
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LETTERS: Can it happen to you?
In a recent edition of the Herald, you announced grand jury indictment charges against me, Freddie Messer, specifically second-degree assault and DUI pursuant to a car crash that occurred on March 31, 2012. The following week you reported dismissal of those charges at the request of Commonwealth’s Attorney John Hansen, whose stated reason was, unbeknownst to him, civil litigation had already been filed by me. Hansen did not reveal to you that...
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Flying over an act of monumental stupidity
I knew that Congress would come to its senses eventually, that it would realize that the ham-handed budget cuts ordered by the so-called “sequester” weren’t going to work, that some government functions were too important to be cut. And I was right, kind of. Last week it restored funds to the Federal Aviation Administration. There had been big lines and flight delays at airports around the country, you see, and we can’t have that. Congr...
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Everyone needs a good drink of water
Anyone who read last week’s edition will know the people of Fort Branch are behind. It isn’t through any fault of their own, mind you, that water pumped from their underground wells is chock full of sediment, rendering their only source of water undrinkable, and without a filter, completely unusable. There is no direct evidence of which we are aware that points to any one culprit for such poor water quality, though some folks on Fort Branch...
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Pushing back against EPA’s ‘war on coal’
Wherever I go in Kentucky, I see President Obama’s policies have raised energy rates, decreased domestic energy production, and cost jobs. A barrage of regulations from the EPA is strangling one of our state’s most important industries—the coal industry—and Kentucky miners and the thousands whose jobs rely on mining are feeling it. After more than four years, it is clear this administration has declared a war on coal. Kentucky’s coal indu...
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GUEST VIEW: Placing a priority on safe teen driving
Prom and graduation season, the Fourth of July, and summer vacation give pause to parents of teenagers everywhere. Why? Because celebration paired with newfound freedom can trigger tragedy on our roads and highways. Indeed, young people themselves report that these times of year are the most dangerous when it comes to driving. And alcohol and other drugs are primary reasons. According to new research from SADD (Students Against Destructiv...
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Medicaid expansion should go forward
There are approximately 694,000 people living in Kentucky without health insurance. According to a study by the United Health Foundation, Kentucky’s health index ranked our commonwealth 44th out of 50 states in 2012, and we were at or near the bottom in key health indicators such as smoking (50), diabetes (41), and obesity (40). Kentucky has an opportunity, however, to expand Medicaid eligibility to nearly 300,000 additional low-income adul...
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