Opinion

A little noise

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

The men who have been making the terrible noise are still at it.

The construction on our building began in the early spring, before my husband, Peter, and I returned from Mexico. When we arrived, scaffolding had been set up all around the building and blue plastic had been taped over our windows to protect them from flying debris. Our balcony was unusable, and the driveway was blocked off, filled with piles of bricks.

Nebraska’s high Electoral road not reciprocated across the nation

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Nebraska’s Second Congressional District will surely join the rest of the state after the next legislative session in 2025, but for this year, the Second District will most likely be voting for Kamala Harris while the rest of the state will overwhelmingly vote for Donald Trump.

What’s wrong with that?

On the surface, nothing.

World values survey

GUEST COLUMN, John Richard Schrock, Education Frontlines

Some Americans consider the U.S. to be a perfect democracy. But according to the “Democracy Perception Index” issued each year, when their citizens are asked about having the right amount of democracy, Taiwan, South Korea, China and Vietnam top the list. The Alliance of Democracies commissions this annual worldwide survey and found that 42 percent of American survey respondents indicated that the U.S. had too little democracy. In addition, 44 percent of people worldwide remain concerned that the U.S. threatens democracy in their country.

Sharice Davids skips Ottawa forum after organizers acquiesce to her demands

GUEST COLUMN, Dane Hicks, kaninfo.com

A spokesman for 3rd District Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids’ campaign refused to say Thursday why the embattled congresswoman skipped out of an Ottawa political forum Wednesday night after demanding and winning specific conditions from the organizers – including that she not have to share the stage with her Republican opponent Prasanth Reddy or take questions from the live audience.

The hidden costs of Tax Increment Financing: Subsidies that drain prosperity

GUEST COLUMN, Vance Ginn, Kansas Policy Institute

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts have long been used as a development tool by local governments, including in Kansas, where the Legislature first authorized their use in 1976. TIFs allow cities to designate areas for development, freezing property tax levels in those districts and using the increased tax revenue generated by new development to fund the project. In theory, TIFs are designed to encourage growth in otherwise stagnant areas. While this concept sounds beneficial, a recent audit in Kansas reveals the substantial flaws and opportunity costs of these subsidies.