TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — So now, the Supreme Court is in charge of the nation. Read More ⇒

ROME — The north country was one of first New York regions to reopen in the wake of the near-total shutdown caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, providing a glimmer of hope for communities across the state that are reeling from the economic fallout. Read More ⇒

This past week I learned that Agnes (Sweets) Jacobs of Akwesasne has been honored as the recipient of the 2020 Four Directions Humanitarian Award. Read More ⇒

Because President Donald Trump was effectively denied a first term by a small band of senior law enforcement personnel (and perhaps some in the intelligence community) who from the start wanted him hamstrung or worse, his accomplishments on the judiciary, the military’s rebuild and deregulat… Read More ⇒

Welcome to the “Never Trump” camp, John Bolton. Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — On a recent episode of “The Glenn Show,” a podcast hosted by Brown University professor Glenn Loury, academic and linguist John McWhorter asked the nagging question that should be top of mind for everyone attempting to unravel the state of race rela… Read More ⇒

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) — A glimmer of hope for bipartisan action on police reform and race relations appeared on Capitol Hill last week. We should savor it before it disappears. Read More ⇒

WATERTOWN — I read Jerry Moore’s June 10 column on the problem of suffering and God’s existence titled “The painful reality of life.” I appreciate his raising the subject since thinking on the big questions of life is necessary in times like this. Here is my response. Read More ⇒

It has been announced by news anchors and weathermen that summer will officially begin Saturday. Read More ⇒

POTSDAM/COLTON — In his columns, Jerry Moore engages intelligently with matters not usually treated in newspapers. Read More ⇒

For two weeks now, outrage has convulsed America: pundits, preachers, protesters and at least one “severely conservative” GOP senator all raising their voices to condemn police brutality. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — A noble cause led to ignoble riots, and a major consequence could be something far different from the erasure of racism that some are fervently, worthily seeking. Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — In the two weeks since a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, I have heard no one — literally not a single person — defend officer Derek Chauvin’s behavior in any way, shape or form. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — Oh come on, Democrats. Words matter. Read More ⇒

Sunday evening, I had the marvelous opportunity of listening to and visiting with our son Gregg and his friends virtually. Read More ⇒

After pandemics and economic recessions, people tend to save a little more than they did before, to better prepare for future unknowns. To make savings a little easier, a new idea is gaining popularity: Universal savings accounts. USAs would help every American save for a rainy day, save to … Read More ⇒

After George Floyd became the latest unarmed African American killed by police. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — We now know Donald Trump’s intended re-election strategy. Once again, he is going to play the race and law and order cards. Read More ⇒

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) — Nobody seems happy with Twitter these days — or Facebook or any other social media platform, for that matter. Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — When the coronavirus reached the U.S. and the cascade of lockdown and shelter-in-place orders began, the joke on social media was that America was going to have a COVID-19 baby boom around Christmas. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — All right, that’s enough. Read More ⇒

When the then Massena Observer Editor Ryne Martin suggested that I might share the news of the day and my thoughts through a column, it was the importance of visiting with friends over coffee that inspired me to use the heading “Over Coffee With Ellen.” Read More ⇒

Always before, there have been words. Always before, someone crafted them with writerly skill and gave them to the president to give to us. Always, before. Read More ⇒

GEORGETOWN, Texas (Tribune News Service) — It’s always chancy to write about somebody like Ahmaud Arbery. Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — Last week, our family gathered around the computer to watch our eldest daughter “graduate” from preschool. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — They don’t know what they are doing. Read More ⇒

It was some time ago that a Hogansburg postal clerk mentioned our rural letter carrier Keith Fletcher would be retiring the end of May. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — COVID-19 arrived; it started killing us; we had an American shutdown unprecedented in history. Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — In March, when fears about the dearth of medical grade masks for health care professionals were dominating social media discussions, I asked my friend — a physician’s assistant in a big East Coast hospital emergency department — if I should put my p… Read More ⇒

The calendar tells us that Monday has been designated as Memorial Day, a day set aside to pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service for our country — honoring those who died in service so that we might enjoy the many freedoms we have in this country. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — Four and a half months into the year of the killer virus, it is disheartening to realize we are making the same mistakes in dealing with one of history’s worst pandemics that we made in 1918, 102 years ago. Read More ⇒

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) — Shortly before 1 p.m. [May 6], all the intended performers were escorted into the Oval Office wearing their royal blue or aqua nurses’ scrubs. They were carefully and colorfully arranged in a wide telegenic semicircle behind President Donald Trump’s histor… Read More ⇒

GEORGETOWN, Texas (Tribune News Service) — The story of Ahmaud Arbery might have been overlooked except for the outrage provoked by a dramatic video that shows Arbery being killed in a Georgia residential neighborhood on Feb. 23. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — The TV was turned on to a news show and I was fooling around with something else and thought I heard the newscaster say, “Coming up next, the ‘murder hornet,’ now president in the United States for the first time.” Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — Of all the activities that help organize human life, the communal practice of religion is one of the most unifying. Read More ⇒

Letter writing has always been a beautiful way to communicate with family and friends. Read More ⇒

NEW YORK (Tribune News Service) — President Donald Trump’s decision not to renew the federal stay-at-home advisory is the perfect symbol of his approach to the COVID-19 pandemic: Once again, Trump is operating by signal and sign and suggestion, not concrete directives or orders. Read More ⇒

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — As America’s leaders struggle to survive in a world enveloped by the deadly COVID-19, I was surprised to hear a beleaguered leader who isn’t a president — but has become increasingly presidential — absolutely nail the missing leadership essential we most need today. Read More ⇒

FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — The internet has a name for her: Karen. Read More ⇒

As I am sure most of you know from our visits both literally over coffee and through this column each week, I do enjoy a cup of coffee. Read More ⇒

WATERTOWN — If there was ever a time when you needed trustworthy and timely news, this is it. Read More ⇒