Local Columnists

The arguments that the maintaining of military spending protects the jobs, direct and indirect, of millions of Americans is proper. However, the same argument can be said about Supplemental Security Income (SSI), federal health care and other “welfare” programs.

Many Americans remain pessimistic on a day that is supposed to celebrate how the Wampanoag nation showed the Pilgrims altruism, humanity and optimism in 1621.

In editing, there's no reason to give berth to misused and misspelled words. But help is available for folks who don't know the difference between troop and troupe.

The news of Gen. David Petraeus' affair and Gary Pinkel's divorce have grabbed media's attention. The stories of rich and famous might not be the most newsworthy content, but we know we still want them.

No wonder everything seems to happen in the last two weeks of session when you are forced to stay well past midnight and work weekends to complete your job. Just like the procrastinating teenager putting off his homework until the morning it is due.

This is not a time to complain nor to seek a scapegoat  — instead, it is time to move on and make it work.

As Election Day approached, Missourian staff planned for potential outcomes in preparation for an inevitably late night. Despite the unknown, excitement escalated in the newsroom, reflecting optimism surrounding democracy.

With the general election finished, it's time to shift our attention to the upcoming Columbia City Council elections.

The hype around "Superstorm" Sandy is digging up climate change claims once again.

I take voter fraud seriously. Although it appears that the GOP may be the guilty party, we need to see how many voters file complaints because there is no evidence of registration.

We put so much effort into building fences when bridges could just as easily be built and would generate mutual benefits and better enable us to address catastrophes if and when they occur.

MU's enrollment is up this year, but at a meeting of university faculty, budget officer Tim Rooney was quick to temper the optimism, pointing out ways the school is behind its peers in the Association of American Universities.

National defense is indeed costly, but it serves as our insurance policy for freedom.

This is no time for levity, especially from me, with so many people I know and love in the path of the superstorm, Sandy.

The Missourian's campaign coverage has been outstanding this year with hardworking reporters and editors.

Climate change is an important issue, but it's not one that concerns much of the public — and both presidential candidates have been mostly silent about it, George Kennedy writes.

Both President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney have traded charges that the other has not provided a plan for the future. However, the president's four-year, less-than-successful record augurs little optimism for the future.

There was no deviating from the course thanks to Bob Schieffer’s unwillingness to take any grief from Mr. Romney who strove to get in the last word.

This election season I’m getting the opportunity to observe how much our lives have changed over the past few years. It’s been a long time since the country has been split on the basis of political parties.

There just seem to be some words that people continually misuse or leave out all together. It's, their and this are most often the victim of this grammar offense.