Dear Editor: more

Sedalia’s first Broadway School building was begun in 1867, following a directive from the state that public schools be built for both Black and white children. The bond election to fund the schools was very contentious, caused by individuals who believed education was a privilege reserved for well-to-do white children at private schools. more

It is such a joyful time each year when the farmers bring their first strawberry harvests to the Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market. more

Sleep is beautiful. But the physical act of sleeping isn’t. That’s why I roll my eyes during rom-com movies when the man wakes up early (yeah, right) to gaze adoringly at the woman he loves while she sleeps. more

Editor's note: This monthly column was inadvertently left out of Friday's edition, the day it is typically published. more

By our vote — or failure to vote — six months from today, we will have selected the next president of the United States. Will we have selected the person who could represent the best of America? more

This weekend, in between the brunches, flowers and gifts, please pause and say a prayer for Echo Michelle Lloyd, age 51, of Benton County. She has now been missing for four years. more

You might remember I reported a few weeks ago that the “lege” (I’m stealing that nickname from the fabulous now-deceased Molly Ivins, who wrote about the Texas legislature) was trying to change the rules regarding citizen initiatives to amend Missouri’s constitution. more

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, "half empty or half full?" She fooled them all: ”How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 ounces to 20 ounces. more

I would like to focus on some wine pairings for this summer. This is not a comprehensive list but will give readers some ideas for the patio, grill and backyard. This will be in two parts. more

In my column on Oct. 25, following the massacre of some 1,400 Israelis by Hamas terrorists, I wrote that America was Israel’s only friend. more

In 1906, the Sedalia Democrat merged with the Sedalia Sentinel, whose editor, George Scrutton, was a notorious racist, as previous columns have documented. more

Welcome to the year of the bug. We’re just in time to witness two giant broods of cicadas rising from the ground like a horde of zombie bugs. How many zombie bugs? Definitely billions. But most likely trillions. There’s no official tree-to-tree cicada census, so it’s hard to be sure. more

The other day, I was on Facebook, and someone had posted a picture of an item they described as an antique with the caption “Do you know what this is?” They have these quite often, and I can usually name the item, which I do not think of as an antique. more

It’s time again for every parent, teacher and student’s least favorite school year tradition: standardized testing. more

As the resurrected Lord came back from the grave, he made a select group of appearances. The stories about his appearances are incredible! more

Flames erupt. All is chaos. Campus in an uproar. Spring finals canceled. Protests abound. more

April showers bring May flowers, and by the way, poison ivy. If you’re cleaning out flower beds or landscaping, just know, there could be danger hiding in those beautiful rose bushes. Wear long sleeves, long pants, boots and gloves. Look, identify and even if you don’t see any, when you get in the house, wash your clothes and scrub yourself good with soap and water. more

It should be common sense: Criminal justice laws ought to make us safer. more

Those yellow-bellied dusty devils are at it again. They've launched their annual full-scale attack, and no amount of antihistamines can stop them. more