Fatcow Icon
Opinion
Uncle Sam: Please tax the titans
I’ve already told you the story of Mrs. Campbell, my well-meaning high school guidance counselor. In case you missed it, I’ll tell you again. High school seniors in Detroit, where I grew up, had career counseling before they were turned loose on society. You took “aptitude” tests (“Would you prefer arranging flowers or building a bridge?”) and read boring brochures in the name of finding out what you wanted to be when you grew up. I took th...
full story
Let’s not sacrifice our privacy on the altar of cyber security
In the name of protecting us from hackers, computer viruses and cyber-terrorists, the House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make it easier for sites like Facebook and Twitter and Internet service providers like Comcast and Time-Warner to share users’ private messages and files with government agencies. The House on April 25 passed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or CISPA. The act aims to make it easier for...
full story
Medicaid expansion will put Kentucky, Floyd County on path to good health
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...
full story
A legislative perspective
Kentucky has gotten a lot of attention over the years when it comes to finding innovative ways to govern. Our education reforms of the 1990s were hailed as national models, for example, and we are the only state to permanently dedicate half of our annual tobacco settlement payments to agriculture, a move that has played a key role in the industry’s record sales in recent years. Two other programs took a step into the national spotlight earl...
full story
House week in review
There are five of them, each with a rich history, each separate but unified in preparedness “both in war and in peace,” to quote President Harry Truman’s proclamation of the first Armed Forces Day on May 20, 1950. What are they? The service branches of the United States Armed Forces, which are comprised of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard. And this Saturday, May 18—the second Saturday of Arme...
full story
Act a counterstrike in the 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 ...
full story
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...
full story
Like Lake Cumberland, tourism moving upward
It’s May and Kentuckians everywhere are celebrating the return of spring and beautiful weather in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has much to be proud of, especially when it comes to natural beauty and the outdoors. When travelers from other parts of the United States and other countries visit, they often tell us how lucky we are to live here. We are also celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week May 4-12 and I want to use this occasion ...
full story
A legislative perspective
No matter when spring falls on a calendar, it doesn’t feel like it truly hits its stride until the first Saturday of May, when the greatest two minutes in sports sends another Kentucky Derby winner into the history books. While all eyes were on the commonwealth earlier this week, the truth is that our single most-recognized tourism draw is only the start for those wanting something to do that is fun, relaxing or educational – or a mixture o...
full story
House week in review
It’s no secret that Kentucky is not the healthiest state in the Union. We have high rates of smoking, stroke, most cancers, and diabetes. With 10.1 percent of Kentucky adults carrying a diabetes diagnosis, the Commonwealth ranked sixth nationally and was tied only with Oklahoma for the percentage of adults with the disease in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diabetes Report Card for 2012. For Kentucky, 10.1 ...
full story
Stopping the senseless carnage
It was a confusing week, dominated by the Boston Marathon bombing, the evil act of two young men who had been welcomed into this country and had repaid the kindness with unspeakable cruelty. Then, for grim comic relief, letters believed to contain the deadly poison ricin were sent to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator, and a local judge. The FBI immediately arrested a serial letter-writer in Mississippi who is an Elvis Presley impersona...
full story
Show your heroes some appreciation
There have been many times that we have heard the complaint, “You just don’t put enough good news in the newspaper. Everything is always so negative.” Well, part of the blame for that can be found in the nature of news. When something bad happens, it is human nature to want to know about it, so that something can be done to fix it, if possible. On the other hand, when everything is humming along just fine, that’s not really news. That’s jus...
full story
Earth Day lessons
If you have any sense of wonder or faith in humanity, you would have to agree that Earth Day is an extraordinary event. It combines the functions of educator, movement builder and the largest public service project in the world. More than 1 billion people from almost every single country on earth will take an action in service to our planet. Hands down, Earth Day is the largest secular event in the world — and more people join in every year...
full story
A legislative perspective
When it comes to energy, less really is more if it gets the same job done. As our country works to maximize every watt, amp and BTU, it’s worth noting that Kentucky is playing a major role in leading the way. Consider our schools, which have long been a pioneer in reducing energy costs. In 1992, for example, the National Society of Professional Engineers recognized one of Kentucky’s elementary schools for incorporating geothermal heating an...
full story
How to send less trash to the landfill
My new neighbor knocked on my door and introduced herself as the vice president of the local homeowner’s association. “How friendly!” I thought. “She’s welcoming me to the neighborhood.” Then she wrinkled her nose and motioned toward an enclosed bin on my porch, saying, “Your — what is it? Came-post? That’s not allowed here. You’ll need to get rid of it.” My compost bin, designed to allow air and water in while keeping rodents out, was no...
full story
Weather
Sponsored By:

Lottery
Sponsored By:

Stocks
Sponsored By:

Gas Prices
Sponsored By:

Featured Businesses
Recipes
Sponsored By: