Opinion

It's obscene. A few days ago, the Department of Energy awarded contracts worth $560 million dollars to utilities that have partnered with Silver Springs Networks, a "green" company that specializes in making electrical grids more efficient. [Full Story »] 

This past week, another scientific study on running raised the issue of athletes with lower-leg amputations who use high-tech prosthetics having a bionic advantage in contests against ordinary competitors. [Full Story »] 

Happy 40th birthday Sesame Street!

It's hard to believe, but today marks the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street! [Full Story »] 

The engineer accused of fatally shooting one employee and wounding five others at the firm where he once worked is "very mentally ill" and crumbled under the stress of his divorce, bankruptcy and unemployment, his attorney said Saturday.

Fort Hood shooter was psychologically disturbed by his own job citing stress-related thoughts after hearing his own patients post-war stories.

[Full Story »] 

The votes are in. They’ve been tallied. And there’s a new winner. According to the latest Gallup Poll, more Americans now consider themselves conservative (40%) than moderate (36%), or liberal (20%). Two recent Rasmussen Polls demonstrate important trends as well: 59% of Americans are angrier now than during the Bush presidency and 58% of Americans believe politics had an influence on the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. These polls suggest that, finally, America is beginning to come to its senses. Thank God.

However, these polls suggest something more subtle though nevertheless vital with regard to America’s future – the power of party affiliation. [Full Story »] 

The high school football matchup in Zebulon Friday night featuring the Pike County Pirates hosting the Lamar County Trojans was a gem.
[Full Story »] 

In two days the state-of-the-art amphibious landing craft USS New York will be commissioned at Pier 88 on Manhattan's west side -- 12th Ave. at W. 48th St.

From flight deck to crew quarters, the L(anding) P(latform) D(ock)s are the most advanced sea-faring machines in terms of design and technology, effectively replacing four older classes of amphibious landing craft.

This modern-day behemoth is 111 feet longer than her battleship namesake. She will carry sea-based platforms, including:

* The V-22 tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft
* Three types of helicopters
* 14 expeditionary fighting vehicles (EFVs) and/or several air-cushioned landing craft (LCACs) for across-the-beach deployments of U.S. Marine Corps and Special Forces personnel.

[Full Story »] 

With our own city council vote taking place and the Atlanta mayoral race just up the interstate, many Lamar County residents were not paying attention to the heated gubernatorial races across the country. To recap, there were some heavy hitting elections at hand.

Republican Chris Christie beat incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in New Jersey while Republican Bob McDonnell trounced Democrat Creigh Deeds in Virginia. Democrats also prevented a shut-out by winning an upstate New York congressional seat. [Full Story »] 

By State Senator Ronnie Chance

Georgia is open for business and will remain that way as long as we don’t raise taxes. During times of economic downturns and declining revenues, you will hear a variety of suggestions on how to turn around the economy. These suggestions can be as reasonable as tax incentives for job growth or as outlandish as raising taxes on struggling businesses and families. Raising taxes in Georgia is not an option. Georgia is poised for an economic turn-around utilizing free-market principles.

Companies want to locate where taxes are low. Georgia has one of the lowest corporate income tax rates, ranking 42nd in the nation according to Georgia State University’s Fiscal Research Center. Georgia also ranks 35th in the nation on total per person tax burden, making jobs more attractive. By maintaining these low taxes, Georgia is attracting companies, growing jobs and turning around our economy. Over the next five years, our state should see growth of more than 22,000 jobs and investments over $560 million from companies relocating to Georgia. For example, NCR Corporation announced earlier this summer that is has selected Duluth, GA for its worldwide headquarters campus and Columbus, GA for a new North American manufacturing plant, bringing 2,000 additional jobs. Last year, NCR expanded services in Peachtree City investing over $15 million and creating 560 new jobs. Others companies locating in Georgia include: [Full Story »] 

The following letter read on Glenn Beck's show, is rapidly circulating around the country via Internet and email. Americans everywhere are identifying with this 53-year-old woman and finding a personal voice in her words. (letter after the jump) [Full Story »] 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is expected to unveil a house bill this morning that will require nearly all Americans sign up by 2013 for health insurance through their employer, a government program or a new kind of purchasing pool called an exchange.

Pelosi, D-Calif., wants to have the legislation on the floor next week, with a final vote before Veterans Day, Nov. 11, that would give President Obama a bill to sign by year's end. [Full Story »] 

The Northwest Pilots who overshot a Minnesota runway by 150 miles last week told investigators they were using their personal laptops in the cockpit, a violation of company policy, according to a National Transportation Safety Board advisory.

For clarification, let's restate that. The Northwest Pilots who OVERSHOT a Minnesota runway by 150 MILES last week told investigators they were using their personal laptops in the cockpit, a VIOLATION OF COMPANY POLICY, according to a National Transportation Safety Board advisory. [Full Story »]