Advertisement
June 24, 2009
Editorial: State BOE should review chancellor’s salary
Mary Jane Caylor has a point. The state school board member from Huntsville suggested that the salary for the incoming two-year college chancellor be reviewed rather than remain the status quo.
June 19, 2009
Editorial: Teachers’ ethics code should have real meaning
Why the Alabama State School Board would endorse higher ethical standards for educators but not officially include them as part of its administrative code is puzzling. That’s like saying they agree with a policy, but aren’t willing to enforce it.
June 17, 2009
Editorial: High standards should be rule, not exception
Considering the roller-coaster ride Alabama’s two-year college system has endured in the last five years — the lawsuits, the firings, the felony charges, the scandals and the eventual cleansing process — one would think the State Board of Education would want the highest standard from its next two-year college chancellor.
June 16, 2009
Editorial: Public institutions have responsibility to inform public
A handful of Florida media outlets, including the Associated Press, have chosen to sue Florida State University and the NCAA, claiming both are violating open government laws as the entities have chosen not to reveal sanctions against the school’s athletic department.
June 09, 2009
Editorial: Fired teachers convicted of crimes should draw no pay
It’s bad enough that a teacher lured a 14-year-old student for sex. It’s even worse that the teacher continues to draw a paycheck from her school system while serving a 10-year jail sentence.
June 04, 2009
Editorial: Applauding murder of abortion doctor misguided
It boggles the mind that anyone who considers himself to be pro-life would actually condone the murder of abortion doctor Dr. George Tiller.
June 03, 2009
Editorial: Take advantage of Michelin’s parting gift to area
Michelin North America didn’t have to do it. But it did. Monday night and just weeks after the announcement it will close doors to its Opelika plant on Oct. 31 — leaving 1,035 dedicated employees without a job — the company announced plans for a job development program in the area. Through its tenure as Uniroyal, as many people still call it, and Michelin, this plant has been a great corporate citizen.
June 02, 2009
Editorial: Storm or not, it’s time to prepare for hurricane season
Do you remember the night east-central Alabama shook? Trees crackled and crashed to the ground. Winds howled like a hungry lion. Heavy rain pelted the ground, sometimes falling horizontally. Electricity flickered, then died, and in some cases, stayed that way for a week.
June 01, 2009
Editorial: People should use Tuesday’s public forum to discuss cable TV in Opelika
Ever wanted to vent about your local cable television service? Tuesday you get your wish.
May 27, 2009
Editorial: Lawmakers should follow Riley’s transparent lead
Gov. Bob Riley has set a precedent we hope other elected officials will follow.
May 26, 2009
Editorial: Finger-pointing and arguments make bad week for local politics
There are charges of police mistreatment. There were dismissals. There are racial charges. There are charges of corruption.
May 21, 2009
Editorial: Dowdell should explain how blacks are underserved
Before Auburn Ward 1 Councilman Rev. Arthur L. Dowdell argues the case for more black representation on the council, he should first explain how blacks are underserved by the city.
“We got taxation without representation,” Dowdell said Tuesday night at the council meeting.
May 20, 2009
Editorial: New sex offender law does little more to protect
Gov. Bob Riley signed a bill Monday that keeps convicted sex offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of a college or university, and from loitering near school bus stops and within 500 yards of colleges and universities. This does not disallow sex offenders from attending college.
May 19, 2009
Editorial: Choice of new two-year college chancellor worth watching
Bradley Byrne’s tenure as chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system will be remembered for purging corruption from campuses and re-establishing trust with state taxpayers and students.
May 18, 2009
Editorial: Worthy legislation left on table
The Alabama Legislature’s 2009 general session can’t be viewed as a disaster as in some years.
May 14, 2009
Editorial: Let’s hope state House flooded with good ideas
The Alabama State House flooded last Thursday. Not with filibusters or passage of bills that make our state a better place to work and live. Not with calls for Constitutional reform or banning PAC-to-PAC transfers.
May 11, 2009
Editorial: It’s time to fold flag issue and move on
The Auburn City Council condemned Rev. Arthur Dowdell’s actions and urged the Ward 1 representative on the council to apologize at its regular meeting last Tuesday night.
May 04, 2009
Editorial: Congress’ priorities out of whack as it debates BCS
Like the idea of a playoff or dislike the idea of a playoff in major college football, the actions Friday in Congress were enough to make any reasonable American citizen shake his head and wonder what is going on with the people we call our government.
May 01, 2009
Editorial: State ethics law deserves complete overhaul
Like the state constitution, Alabama’s ethics law needs an overhaul. But unlike the state constitution, Alabama’s ethics law actually has a chance for overhaul in the current session.
April 30, 2009
Editorial: Statewide judges should forego party affiliation
Republican legislators were right to block a vote in the Alabama House that would have allowed Marshall County residents to elect circuit and district judges in nonpartisan elections.
April 29, 2009
Editorial: Supreme Court’s (expletive) vote too (expletive) close
National broadcasters should be threatened with fines if foul language is broadcast on live television. One would think that would be a no-brainer.
April 28, 2009
Editorial: Steps should already be taken to help prevent disease
By now you’ve heard about the fear of a pandemic stemming from the swine influenza virus.
April 25, 2009
Editorial: Debate warranted, councilman’s actions are not
The St. Andrew’s Cross, best known for adorning the Confederate Battle Flag, stirs many emotions. Depending upon which side of history you’re standing and often the color of your skin, the emotions can be quite different. For some, it represents regional pride, honor, bravery and sacrifice. For many others, it represents hatred, bigotry, failure and terror.
April 24, 2009
Editorial: Commissioners should have right to deny quarries
The time when county commissioners reserved the right to grant land or deny land to companies is long overdue. Fortunately, that might be about to change.
April 23, 2009
Editorial: Beauty pageant wrong place for gay marriage debate
Carrie Prejean was asked a question in front of a national television audience and gave an honest answer.
April 22, 2009
Editorial: No bones about it, catfish labeling bill must pass
People deserve the right to know the origin of their food. To keep this information hidden from consumers is a shame.
April 21, 2009
Editorial: Senate needs to get on ball and ban PAC to PACs
Time and again Alabama legislators announce they would support a bill to ban PAC-to-PAC transfers. After all, keeping who is funneling money to whom a secret stinks of possible corruption.
April 15, 2009
Editorial: Plant closing a punch in community’s gut
It was nothing short of a punch in the gut. News Monday that the BFGoodrich plant in Opelika would close its doors after 46 years of tire manufacturing is a major blow to the Opelika-Auburn community, and obviously to the more than 1,000 employees who depended upon the plant’s survival to feed their families.
April 14, 2009
Editorial: Don’t conceal who’s carrying concealed handguns
You know that guy down the street that is always so unfriendly and doesn’t talk to anyone? Yeah, the one who laughs for no apparent reason and screams at all the kids when they ride their bikes. How about that co-worker who always talks about how everyone is going to pay one day soon? We hope you don’t know anyone like that. But, if you do, wouldn’t you like to know if they are packing a concealed handgun?
April 13, 2009
Editorial: Death penalty moratorium is positive step, but not enough
Alabama’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-1 Wednesday for a bill that places a three-year moratorium on executions. What this does is ensure that the punishment is administered “fairly and impartially.”
