Opinion

Is the Legislature ready for a $1.5 billion at-risk program?

GUEST COLUMN, David Dorsey, Kansas Policy Institute

KPI has proposed a new model for the state’s woeful at-risk program. There are numerous reasons that a new approach to improving the achievement of the at-risk population is imperative: low achievement, with accompanying high achievement gaps; little or no accountability; and spending that is not targeted to those students, among others.

Add to that list a financing mechanism that has created a bloated amount of funding. Currently, at-risk funding has blown past the $500,000,000 annual mark. Not only is that an unacceptable amount, given the return on that expense, but there exists the possibility of that amount nearly tripling to a mind-boggling $1.5 BILLION each year. How could that be? Read on for the details.

Rhetoric for Radicals: How the left created the political climate for homicidal fury

GUEST COLUMN, Michael Ryan, The Heartlander

When the name of a prominent conservative politician came up in conversation a few years ago, a newspaper colleague of mine immediately spouted, “Oh, I hate her!”

When asked why, she thought for more than a moment. “I don’t know,” was the embarrassed reply.

Such mindless malice is precisely what hateful rhetoric is intended to create, especially when spewed by cynically devious political opportunists whose bile reverberates through a liberal echo chamber.

Willow Tree a shining example of what is good in Liberal

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Tyler, Jeni and Kevin Prater, Liberal

I am writing to shine a positive light on our city golf course, Willow Tree Golf Course. I was raised in Liberal and played on Willow Tree since I was a 13-year-old boy.

I have made many great memories at this course, and I continue to do so today. It’s the one place, more than any other outside of my church and home, where I enjoy special time with my wife and son, other family members, and many friends.

Life of Jesus: Introduction to the Gospels

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

Over the next several weeks we'll be looking at the life and messages of Jesus. History verifies that he was born in Bethlehem of Judea in approximately 4 BCE, grew up in Nazareth of Galilee, and was crucified in Jerusalem in 30 CE. A Jewish prophet, teacher and healer, Jesus was regarded by his followers as the Messiah expected to come and restore Israel. The word "anointed" in Hebrew is meshiah and in Greek it is christos, hence the words Messiah, Christ, and Christianity.

A fine job

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

It is construction season.

The building we live in is 40 years old, and it was recently discovered that water was finding its way behind the brick. This requires some very loud repairs that are not expected to be finished until fall.