Breaking News

Local Columns

Follow the road to success

The late Charlie Tremendous Jones said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things, the people you meet and the books you read.” Sunday, in Phoenix at Influence, the National Speakers Association’s annual conference, my wife Lynnda, got randomly selected by presenter Robert Fogarty of Dear World from 900 attendees in the general session, to read her short story. “Dear World” is a collective of innovators, change-makers, development leaders and storytellers dedicated to amplifying voices and fostering connection. Lynnda was interviewed, ...

Schools in early times

Leaders wanted the new Northwest Territory to be a civilized place where residents could live and prosper in peace. There was concern that this vast tract, larger even than the land of the original 13 states, could be overrun by lawless clans, traders, and speculators. The solution was the ...

Climate change and children’s health

“I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.” — Greta Thunberg, Swedish activist Children are uniquely vulnerable to climate change. In many parts of the world, people are facing multiple climate-related events such as severe drought, flooding, air pollution and water shortages … leaving children especially vulnerable to malnutrition and disease. Almost every child on earth is exposed to at least one of these climate and environmental hazards. Without action, the impacts will continue to grow. Children are often more vulnerable than the general population ...

9th and 19th Amendments: Conclusions to the Bill of Rights

The 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution both make clearer the rights of individuals. They are both part of the Bill of Rights and play a crucial role in defining individual rights and the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The 9th Amendment addresses rights that may not be specifically identified in other parts of the Constitution, and the 10th Amendment clarifies the division of rights by the federal and state governments. The framers of the Constitution recognized that it was impossible to list every single fundamental right a person should have. ...

Facts tell, passion sells

A few years ago, at an industry conference, my closing story was about running my first half-marathon with our daughter, Dannielle. The audience needed to know they have the ability to do great things if they believe and do the work. I’ve told the story over a hundred times. This audience was hearing it for the first time. To keep it fresh, I relive the events, telling it with the same passion as if it happened yesterday. This week, Lynnda and I are in Phoenix at Influence, the National Speakers Association’s Annual Conference. Professional speakers know, No. 1, it’s all about ...

The Ordinance of 1787, “They builded better than they knew”

It was a pleasant July day. Our two Old English Sheepdogs Sophie and Tasha ambled down our wooded trail with me. We stepped into total shade at the waterfall under towering maple, oak and sycamore trees. It was quiet. Only the waterfall and a wood thrush were audible. The trees and the ...