by design | Feb 1, 2026 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Ray Hill There were several Congressional districts across the country largely populated by immigrants. There were districts in New York City with a heavy Italian population, while similar districts in Illinois and Michigan were inhabited by Polish citizens. ...
by design | Feb 1, 2026 | Columnist, Steely, Stories In This Week's Focus:
A Day Away By Mike Steely Just north of Knoxville, up Interstate 75, is a road that you might want to take a day to explore. If you’re not from East Tennessee, or even if you are, you may not be familiar with the Senator Howard Baker Highway, or State Route 63....
by design | Jan 26, 2026 | Columnist, Ferguson
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Anonymous By Dr. Jim Ferguson A friend selected this week’s topic when he asked my opinion of President Trump’s focus on Greenland. Despite the ongoing insurrection and fraud in Minnesota, the world has moved on from...
by design | Jan 26, 2026 | Columnist, Duncan
By John J. Duncan Jr. Democrats all over the country are gleeful because of one word – affordability. They seem to believe that if they shout this word enough, it will stop the downward slide their party has suffered over the last several years. However, they should...
by design | Jan 26, 2026 | Columnist, Rector
By Joe Rector Before I begin, I’d like to offer an apology to my editor for any and all errors that might be contained in the draft I send her. A couple of weeks ago, I had cataract surgery on my left eye. Next Wednesday, I’ll have the other eye fixed. Right now, it’s...
by design | Jan 26, 2026 | Columnist, Pratt
By Justin Pratt, Clear Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor In 2026, most of us would never begin a long drive to an unfamiliar destination by simply pulling out of the driveway and hoping we figure it out as we go. The days of Rand-McNally grid maps are over, and...
