Archive By Section - Viewpoint
Sharks vs. Jets it's not
On July 1, it will no longer be illegal to possess a switchblade knife in Kansas. Daggers, straight-edged razors and stilettos, once banned, will also be legal.
Attorney General requests additional funding for lawsuits
Kansas Attorney General, Derek Schmidt, has requested an additional $1.2 million dollars from the state legislature to cover potential lawsuits over laws passed this year, according to the Associated Press and the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Speedweek
The week usually starts on Sunday, or some would say Monday, but in Great Bend a new week starts tomorrow (Saturday, April 27).
Time for internet sales tax
Finally, Congress is considering an internet sales tax for items purchased online called the Marketplace Fairness Act. Traditional brick and mortar businesses must be breathing a sigh of relief.
They're all right
Next week, hundreds of our local students plan to donate some time to their home town. On Wednesday, April 24, Great Bend High School students will be taking part in Community Service Day. According to Community Coordinator Christina Hayes, who is working with GBHS teachers to organize this, there are some ambitious projects planned. Many will be doing cleanup and trash pickup, at the city entrances, the Expo grounds, the parks and ball fields and ...
Life is a dangerous prospect
As a nation, we have watched the incident in Boston and been saddened by the loss of life and cruelty exhibited by some unselfish, uncaring individual or individuals.
Blank verse
Poetry and news aren't a good combination, in most cases. The classic example is a verse composed by fictional reporter Roy Bensinger of The Tribune in Ben Hect's play "The Front Page," which became a movie that was later remade as "His Girl Friday":
Grand Slam
The boys and girls of summer may now be found year-round at the Great Bend Sports Complex, where a metal sculpture was unveiled Thursday.
A hand-up; drug testing for welfare recipients
A hand-up Kansas House approves drug testing for welfare recipients The Kansas House has approved a bill that could require those receiving unemployment, welfare recipients and members of the legislature to undergo drug testing if drug use is suspected. The state Senate is expected to approve the measure. This is a good idea and is motivation for recipients to stay drug-free. Those who fail the test would still be eligible for food stamps. If someone ...
Op Ed Day
Sometimes the Great Bend Tribune gets requests to run something on the Op Ed page. Usually, we tell people we don't have an Op Ed page, but letters are welcome.
No news; Bell Calif. council scandal happens without media
The city of Bell, Calif. has become infamous for the misappropriation of public funds over the last decade.
One hard lesson
There are lines that no one may cross, apparently. You can't draw a satirical cartoon of the prophet Mohammed without risking a death threat. You can't say the Holocaust never happened. And, as a 20-year-old Greek soccer player learned, you can't celebrate a goal by flashing a Nazi salute. Giorgos Katidis made the gesture – although he swears he was just pointing to a friend in the stands – and it earned him a lifetime ...
Abortion bill victimizes victims
Twelve-year-old girls are generally greatly interested in their hair, who's popular and who's not, and are embarrassed to be seen in public with their parents.
Take the money
Gov. Sam Brownback needs to follow the example of at least eight other Republican governors – so far – and accept the offer of a federal Medicaid extension.
Good Politics: Two sides come together
The oil industry and environmentalists – two groups seen as political opposites – managed to sit down together in recent months and form regulations that may become a model for the rest of the nation, the Associated Press reports. The issue is the drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." In Illinois, members of the oil and gas industry wanted to use the method with a minimum of red tape, while some environmentalists wanted ...
Articles by Section - Viewpoint
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is a founding principle of our country. Freedom of speech also comes with responsibility.
Cool/Not Cool
The Imagination Playground is coming to Great Bend and will make its public debut during June Jaunt. The portable playground is a set of oversized blocks, lightweight but sturdy enough to build with. They were designed by award-winning architect David Rockwell, who was inspired by watching his own children play.
Time to grow up
Challenges. All of us have them. And, it is easy to sit around and point fingers and blame others for our failures. It is easy to throw out exaggerated or incorrect information and hope people will listen and take up our cause because of the passion behind our words. It is easy to become caught up in distracting and destructive banter. It is easy to become a fool.
Trash talk
The senior class president of Heights High School in Wichita was suspended for the rest of the school year after posting a bit of trash talk about the school football team on Twitter.
Logical flood insurance rules finally passed
At long last, Congress, yes that gridlocked legislative body in D.C., has made changes to the National Flood Insurance Program. Astoundingly, the new rules actually make sense.
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