Opinion

When I see or hear people trying to bully others into silence on the political issues at hand, I think that people have forgotten what freedom means. Our country’s founders often expressed their beliefs with passion and intensity. It’s no secret that our nation is dangerously divided with many Americans wanting nothing to do with people with differing viewpoints. It’s easy to talk to people who share your thoughts or beliefs, but it’s necessary and very important that we converse with those with different perspectives. No matter our political views, if we only listen to certain news outlets on repeat, converse only with those who share our opinions or engage in confirmation bias, we will live in a vacuum. Open-mindedness has its benefits in a democracy.

The John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days (SACAD) at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) showcased the remarkable convergence of traditional research and cutting-edge technology. The annual SACAD event is a testament to academic rigor and the boundless potential of students who embrace innovation and collaboration. Among them this year were Cally Anderson, Marisol Banda, and Katie Hale, whose work on using artificial intelligence (AI) in tourism marketing captivated attendees and earned them the coveted People’s Choice Award for Scholarly Activities.

Dear Eric: Should I go to Tanzania for two weeks with people I don't know and one person I only kind of know?

Dear Readers: The following Q&A first ran in 2020.

Dear Readers,

Ask Amy: Advice for the Real World

If you were in Hays on June 8th, 2024, you may have noticed a car event that drew a lot of folks to Hays on South Main Street for the Thunder on the Plains Car show.

The following Lowe Down column was published a little over a year ago on Friday, June 9, 2023 in the Clay County Courier and in various CherryRoad Media newspapers within that week. Here it is again with minimal editing.

Dear Readers: Before I leave at the end of the month, I’m going through my files and choosing some of my favorite “vintage” columns from over the years. The following Q&A are both from 2020.

Dear Eric: When I share good news with my father, his reaction is always to predict the worst outcome. “My son got his first job in DC!” “The traffic is going to be terrible for him.”