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Educating for the Earth: Youth programs can build a greener future

Local Columns

Humans like to imagine ourselves at the top of the pyramid when thinking about our place in the universe. But we often forget that we are just one part of the complex biological processes that govern all life on Earth. Politics, social media, misinformation, and willful ignorance don’t change this fact—but they can confuse us about what’s really happening and mislead us about our future. Right now, the removal or destruction of decades of scientific data from public access is obscuring our understanding of the world. This is particularly dangerous when it comes to issues like ...

Ask questions, things aren’t always what you think

Local Columns

Lynnda and I were at the reception prior to the Speaker Hall of Fame Banquet at this year’s Influence, the National Speakers Association’s annual conference in Phoenix. We met Neerja from India. She is a generational diversity speaker helping companies to better understand employees from different generations so they can have a more effective workforce. Our conversation turned to marriage. Neerja had an arranged marriage. Since she was a child, both families agreed on the marriage. She accepted her role, eventually falling in love with her husband. He was a military pilot who sadly ...

Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Local Columns

The Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution deals with state sovereign immunity, in which a state cannot be sued without its consent. The amendment prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states. Further, state courts can even refuse hearing certain cases against the state, if those suits are based on federal law. The forerunner to the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, allowed Congress the power to regulate states, but gave no power to enforce these commands. Not surprisingly, states often ignored Congress’ directives. As the ...

Attract winged friends with these bird feeders

Home and Garden

Birds are beautiful creatures that can make a lawn and garden feel even more serene. Providing snacks to supplement what birds naturally find in the wild guarantees up close and personal interactions with the scores of species that call neighborhoods home. Bird feeders are particularly ...

Goldenrod — important native wildflower

Home and Garden

By J.J. BARRETT WV Extension Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners. This week I want to talk about goldenrod, (genus Solidago). Driving through the countryside in autumn, you cannot help but see the tall, flowing yellow flowers of this perennial. Due to it blooming in the fall, ...