Predictably the Left rushed to judgment in the Arizona shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords that killed a federal judge and five others. They immediately accused the Tea Party and even Sarah Palin of inspiring the gunman to kill. Even the investigating sheriff, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, added fuel to the fire speculating that conservatives had, in essence, inspired the gunman. ... more

Higher academic standards help make sure students are ready for a career or college. That means mastering the basics like reading and math, and developing skills that colleges and employers value - like communication, problem solving and teamwork. Higher standards also mean more challenging tests - and we may see lower test scores and grades, in the near term... more

Just because you know something doesn't mean you have to tell. An editor buddy of mine likes to repeat that advice from her editor who mentored her toward her position as a successor at the county newspaper. It doesn't mean you hold back on repeating something interesting, even if it's just an old story that has gained relevance again, such as the following tale told by this county's veterans service officer on Wednesday afternoon... more

I was going to ask Santa Claus for a gift that's probably impossible to deliver; prevent any mistakes I'd make in life, this newspaper, and to be able to spot other boo-boos before the press rolls. That all-inclusive request is more like asking the genie appearing in smoke after flowing from a bottle that's been rubbed just right. Like most wishes genies grant, something would backfire and the genie would return to the bottle... more

Virginia O'Hanlon wrote to the editor of The Sun and a quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897 by a veteran newsman. It's now the most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps... more

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. Still, here in Marshall County there were eight traffic fatalities during 2009 and that places us in the upper third - based on fatality rates by population- of counties in Tennessee. The men and women of the Lewisburg Police Department ask that you do not put us in the position of having to deliver tragic news to the family of someone who dies needlessly in a crash because they didn't use their seat belt or because of drinking and driving... more

Discussion among Lewisburg's councilmen recalls an old story about nuclear energy. A college freshman, excited about bountiful energy from reactors, explained it to one of his friends who'd been working on a farm for decades. The student raved about how protons and neutrons made heat and the friction boiled water for a steam turbine to generate electricity... more

Lewisburg Mayor Barbara Woods pointed out the other night that she's driving a rental. Apparently, she hit and killed what she called a reindeer, although it was probably just a scared deer. It's hunting season. A lot of deer are in town. Councilman Robin Minor says he's seen deer running across the road in town... more

The WikiLeaks scandal that has grabbed the headlines recently is much more than a simple espionage case. In fact, it raises more questions than it answers. For starters, how does a simple private in the Army have access to over 250,000 classified cables for over 8 months? And what would motivate him to commit such a breach of security?... more

You might have noticed that a state panel has approved development of a clinic in Spring Hill. That's important for folks in Marshall County who drive there or north and south on Interstate 65. If we're hurt in a wreck, it would be nice to have a hospital closer to the crash, but what's been approved isn't a full-fledged hospital. It's going to be an emergency room with some other related services... more

Today, we're a fly on the wall in a small town home in South Central Tennessee. Someone is watching a TV show produced for this Halloween. "Leave it to the cleaver when butchering goats and other meaty animals," says a disembodied voice over a show for foodies... more

A funny thing happened during the Senate debate between Debbie Matthews and Bill Ketron. I was the moderator - neutral, calm, cool and collected. Then my cell phone rang. Mom called for help with her absentee ballot. I didn't know it was Mom. I turned the phone off - immediately. It should have been off already. When I called back, I didn't give much help. She's 88, but she's got all her marbles. I did say her candidate was one in a newspaper ad... more

The Obama Administration's Environmental Protection Agency is currently on an 'Environmental Justice' tour. I know, I rolled my eyes, too, when I first heard about it. This is apparently a burning passion with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The message: Eco-issues aren't just for rich people... more

"I was born in a log cabin that I made with my own hands." That was Naomi Judd's answer to my question when she spoke at Middle Tennessee State University. It reflects the personal initiative and humble origins - such as being born in a log cabin like Abe Lincoln - plus the sense of humor that we like in our leaders... more

I was reading another Associated Press story where they're fretting over the so-called "income gap." It so troubles them that the rich keep getting richer while the poor, they claim, are getting poorer. But are they really? In the early 1900s forty percent of the population was below the poverty level. ... more

It's me! It's me! It's Danny T! Sorry, I couldn't resist writing that while preparing for Oct. 3, the 50th anniversary of the premiere of "The Andy Griffith Show." I'm not the only person getting into the mood; fans have been bandying about terms such as "iconic," "wholesome," "homespun," and "down to earth" -- as well as references to "dancing with Big Maude," "bud nipping," "fun girls from Mount Pilot," and "citizen's arrest!"... more

Miss Ann was the mayor of the county seat where I worked during three years at a five-day-a-week newspaper in what's seen as the northeast, but where there's a statue of Johnny Reb on the Courthouse Lawn. Some people thought she was, or was going blind and/or deaf, but most working closely with her knew that she had selective hearing and spoke of what she wanted to see. ... more

Sam Chambliss asked if I'd ever felt weightless. America's space program had caught up with the Russians - passed them actually at that time - so I thought I knew what he was asking. I was wrong. Sam was an adult helping my church youth group. He was also the tow pilot for a soaring club of glider pilots at the county airport in the late '60s. And he was a commercial artist producing magazine and newspaper advertisements... more

County residents are enjoying a popular guessing game. Who's gonna win? The sheriff's race with five candidates is more popular. Some folks start by naming those who can be discounted to narrow the field. Experience, demeanor, health, territory and other factors are mentioned. Few want to be quoted on their favorite. That's like why the five declined to participate in a sheriff's debate offered by the Marshall County Tribune... more

During the course of its investigation into the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill, The Associated Press was given information from the then-office of Mineral Management Services that was not making a lot of sense. As millions of gallons of crude spewed into the gulf waters and the oversight by MMS officials on BP's well was being called into question, an anonymous source in that office told reporters far different stories than what they had been initially told. ... more