Iraq-Afghanistan vets are saying no to NATO in Chicago

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Veterans of the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are now challenging the occupation of Chicago. This week, NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is holding the largest meeting in its 63-year history there.

Getting included on bin Laden’s ‘list’ is a signal honor

I wanted you to be the first to know. It has just been revealed by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point Military Academy in the United States that I am on a very short list of journalists (eight in Western countries and seven others in India, Pakistan and Arab countries) to whom Osama bin Laden wanted to send "special media material" on the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. To what do I owe this honor?

Coal, foreclosures, banks

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Shareholder meetings can be routine, unless you are Bank of America, in which case it may be declared an "extraordinary event." That is what the city of Charlotte, N.C., called th

The real mad men: Follow money behind TV political ads

Breaking the Sound Barrier

May Day, Murdoch and the murder of Milly Dowler. What do they have to do with the 2012 U.S. general election? This year's election will undoubtedly be the most expensive in U.S. history, with some projections topping $5 billion.

The National Security Agency is watching you

Three targeted Americans: A career government intelligence official, a filmmaker and a hacker. None of these U.S. citizens was charged with a crime, but they have been tracked, surveilled, detained — sometimes at gunpoint — and interrogated, with no access to a lawyer. Each remains resolute in standing up to the increasing government crackdown on dissent.

Obama’s policies: The real scandal in Cartagena, Colombia

Breaking the Sound Barrier

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign launched its first Spanish-language ads this week, just after returning from the Summit of the Americas. He spent three days in Colombia, longer than any president in U.S. history.

The sooner we admit Afghan war can’t be won, the better

In the midst of the Taliban attacks in central Kabul on Sunday, a journalist called the British embassy for a comment. "I really don't know why they are doing this," said the exasperated diplomat who answered the phone. "We'll be out of here in two years' time. All they have to do is wait."

The long, hot march of self-evident climate change

Breaking the Sound Barrier

The Pentagon knows it. The world's largest insurers know it. Now, governments may be overthrown because of it. It is climate change, and it is real. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, last month was the hottest March on record for the United States since 1895, when records were first kept, with average temperatures of 8.6 degrees F above average.

Black in White Plains: The killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

Breaking the Sound Barrier

"My name is Kenneth Chamberlain. This is my sworn testimony. White Plains police are going to come in here and kill me." And that's just what they did.

It pays to keep track of global nuclear disarmament

After Mohamed Merah died in a hail of French police bullets last Thursday, people who had known him talked about "a polite and courteous boy" who liked "cars, bikes, sports and girls."

The Athens NEWS recaps our endorsement round-up for the 2012 primary

The Athens NEWS supports Charlie Adkins for the Democratic Party nomination to face Republican incumbent Larry Payne in the November general election. Adkins is facing businessman Gary Edwards in the March 6 Democratic Primary.

Give Pat Lang a shot at taking on Stivers in 15th District

In a primary race with two promising candidates, we recommend the nomination of Pat Lang to run as the Democratic candidate in the newly drawn 15^th Congressional District.

Judge Rucker has edge in Democratic high court justice race

In the only contested race on the Ohio Supreme Court on the March 6 primary ballot, The Athens NEWS endorses Democrat Fanon A. Rucker.

Chmiel the best choice for commissioner in Dem primary

In the Democratic Primary for the Athens County Commission seat held by Mark Sullivan, we recommend the nomination of local farmer and festival organizer Chris Chmiel.

Archie Stanley needs to step aside; Dems should cast a vote for Maiden

Change is long overdue in the Athens County Engineer's office. Archie Stanley, in his 32^nd year in office, has allowed the Engineer's Office to gain a well-deserved reputation for favoritism, arrogance, cronyism and mismanagement.

We support Adkins in Dem county commissioner primary

The Athens NEWS supports Charlie Adkins for the Democratic Party nomination to face Republican incumbent Larry Payne in the November general election. Adkins is facing businessman Gary Edwards in the March 6 Democratic Primary.

Athens NEWS General Election endorsement recap

This is a recap of The Athens NEWS' endorsements for the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Michele Papai has an edge in Third Ward council race

In a race with two solid candidates, The Athens NEWS endorses Michele Papai for Third Ward Athens City Council member. As a citizen, she has been active in numerous community and neighborhood groups, and has done a good job on the city's zoning appeals board.

Vote yes on mental health and seniors levies

We strongly recommend a yes vote for two countywide levies on the Nov. 8 ballot — one is Issue 16 for mental-health services, and the other is Issue 15 for senior citizen programs.

Issue 3 will disrupt, complicate health care in Ohio

If citizens had the ability to exert extra emphasis when voting no on wrongheaded and dangerous ballot measures – for instance, lighting the ballot on fire or ripping it to shreds — Ohio Issue 3 would deserve such treatment.

Forest Service apparently on verge of allowing oil-gas leases

To the Editor:

It is urgently important for this newspaper's readers and other members of the communities of southeastern Ohio to know about the fact (announced by several Ohio non-profit organizations) that the current managers of the Wayne National Forest (WNF) apparently intend to release land to the federal Bureau of Land Management, thus ceasing to protect the land from oil and gas drilling that would likely poison our drinking water and dangerously pollute our air.

What good does Ohio University provide to Athens community?

To the Editor:

City just encourages drunk-fests by closing traffic, recognizing events

To the Editor:

In response to the May 3 "Wearing Thin" column by Editor Terry Smith, "More Ruminations on the City's Festering Problem," while the impression may be that the city operates "with admirable restraint," in reality Athens has gone beyond restraint; by the city's preemptive preparations for these fests such as closing off streets, officials are instead condoning these parties, which is anything but admirable.

Let’s hope that climate change denial evaporates into stupidity

To the Editor:

A recent speaker at Ohio University, Dr. Robert M. Wagner, made the claim that the global warming debate is largely founded on disinformation, and that there is a widespread conspiracy to disseminate that disinformation. I am a complete convert to this point of view.

For decency’s sake, Time Warner, bring back Columbus CBS!

To the Editor:

I sent the following letter to Time-Warner in Monday's mail.

To Whom It May Concern:

In the name of decency, bring back the CBS station from Columbus to the people in the Athens area.

Mitt Romney and Palmer Fest celebrants have much in common

To the Editor:

"Palmer Fest meets Mitt Romney."

It's not that far-fetched.

W. Mitt Romney — a child of privilege — and a small group of peers physically assault another student during his prep school heyday, and the incident disappears into the woodwork.

Why is city discriminating against people who want to rent out homes?

To the Editor:

So, apparently City Council has passed a law that bans signs on lawns that say "for rent," but allows signs that say "for sale" or "yard sale" or anything else but "for rent." 

Health commissioner is ignoring a lot of hard data that questions fluoride

To the Editor:

In his letter to the editor (Athens NEWS, May 14) Athens City/County Health Commissioner James Gaskell, M.D., called claims that fluoride additives are poisoning city water "untrue."

If you’re disgusted by banking folly, you can express yourself locally

To the Editor:

Short of pitching a tent with Occupy Wall Street, I would like to suggest that those of us who have accounts with the latest bank involved in the massive loss of investments, withdraw our money.

City Council right to challenge state law on fracking regulation

To the Editor:

In just one day, professor sees highs and lows of Ohio University

Today I experienced the best and the worst of Ohio University. First the best: being inducted as an emerita associate professor – then listening to William Beale, founder of Sunpower and former teacher of Engineering at OU.

Wayne forest has good reasons not to allow oil-gas leasing

Community members in contact with Wayne National Forest officials regarding their review process of deep-shale high-volume horizontal drilling and fracturing (HVHF) have been alarmed to hear them defending plans to resubmit parcels to the BLM. This would be unconscionable.

Forest Service should deny oil and gas leasing in Wayne

As a resident of Athens County and a frequent visitor to the Wayne National Forest, I am very concerned about the prospect of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) in the Wayne National Forest.

We're fracking our way to a warmer and less stable world

Oil and gas corporations, their trade associations, mass media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine, and numerous pundits continue to report there is a new day unfolding in the energy future of the U.S.

Town Hall meeting to focus on housing for needy

In the past year, issues regarding housing for those in need have made headlines in our community. On Thursday, April 12, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Athens Community Center, there will be an Athens Town Hall Meeting to discuss these complex and emotional issues.

OU must protect its most valuable resources from fracking effects

I am a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. I am compelled to write to remind the leadership of OU, including the Board of Trustees, of one of the primary missions of the university as it prepares its response to the state regarding fracking on lands owned by the university.

One idea on how to achieve a happier, safer community

For 15 years I have fostered children, some convicted as criminals, many mentally ill after years of abuse, neglect or exposure to depravity. And through this decade and a half, I knew that if any of the kids in my care were becoming more whole, I could attribute it to the healing power of the animals on my farm more than any other factor (that and turning them into food snobs).

Anti-fracking position is the more neighborly outlook

I tend to be a private person, not a person prone to writing letters to the editor or otherwise making public pronouncements, but a letter to the editor in The Athens NEWS on Thursday, March 8 for some reason struck me as a personal attack.

Who owns the bodies and lives of women in America?

As the Talibangelists in the Ohio General Assembly rush to restrict the right of women to determine their own reproductive destiny, I've spent fascinating hours reading testimony for and against HB 125, the "Heartbeat Bill." Its purpose is to criminalize abortion after a heartbeat is detected, even in embryos barely larger than a pencil eraser, when women may not yet know they are pregnant.

Welcome to the brave new computer surveillance world of OU

The IT department of Ohio University (OIT) is introducing a new practice, the so called "network registration requirement," which can only be called a step toward total user surveillance. Th

Festering fests; down, down deep; and the Golden Rule

It's one of those days when I'm champing at the bit to pop off about a variety of topics, but they have nothing to do with one another. So that means it's time for a three-way…

Pills defeated relative when no other drugs could do it

Who'd have thought that a simple prescription for Vicodin to treat my relative's carpal tunnel syndrome would light a fuse that would ultimately ruin his life and hurt his family members as well?

More ruminations on the city and OU's festering problem

The raw video footage that we posted on our website Saturday night, showing masses of drunken Palmer Fest celebrants shouting and chanting at police and firefighters responding to a house fire, rubbed a raw nerve among many alumni.

State’s not willing to stop oil & gas over-reaching

Can anyone name for me another type of industry besides oil and gas that gets so many special deals and privileges from the state of Ohio?

OU tuition 96th costliest of 663 public 4-year colleges

Placing in top 15 percent most expensive institutions puts latest tuition hike in perspective

As expected, the Ohio University Board of Trustees approved a 3.5 percent tuition and general fee increase in its spring meeting on Friday. This raises full-time undergraduate tuition at OU from $9,870 to $10,215 per year. Room and board is also going up, to make the full annual cost of attending the university for a non-commuting undergraduate something on the order of $20,200 (not counting books and other various peripheral costs).

Vicious McCarthyism now part of GOP mainstream

Each time I think that right-wing America has arrived at the extreme edges of stupidity and malice, something happens and I have to redraw the lines further to the right.

Editor Smith is beside himself on Athens fracking ban

Athens City Council's vote last week to introduce a fracking ban in the city's wellhead protection area had me arguing with myself all week.

Drunk Homecoming brings out the worst in some folks

Aw, Homecoming, the annual fall campus celebration when wholesome, earnest college students mingle with thousands of successful alumni who return for the pageantry and fun.

While oil & gas boom doubtful here, it could still happen

So what's the upshot of our story last week that a state geology report does NOT place Athens County inside the "core productive area" for Utica shale development in Ohio?

Yes, I’m sure oil-gas industry will shun Ohio if taxes raised

I heard a really funny joke the other day. First let me set it up for you. On Wednesday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich unveiled a new bundle of policy proposals, with perhaps the most newsworthy one being a plan to fund a state income tax cut with higher taxes on shale drilling (aka, fracking).