Opinion

Still early but flu shots should not be forgotten

We know it’s still early but we want to remind readers that experts say staying up to date on all vaccinations including the annual flu vaccine continues to be important. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu, a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different and flu can affect people differently, but during typical flu seasons, millions of people get flu, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens ...

When stinging insects become a painful problem

It’s the time of years when stinging insects that normally keep their distance can become a problem. Late summer is peak season for bee, wasp and hornet activity – and the time of year when stinging insects can be at their most aggressive, Emplify Health by Bellin warns. Stinging insect colonies have grown to their largest size and are at their most active as they transition toward nest defense ahead of winter. This transition triggers a more aggressive and defensive behavior toward anything they perceive as a threat, Emplify Health advised in a news release. At the same ...

Almanac for Sept. 14, 2026

Today is Monday, Sept. 14, the 257th day of 2026. There are 108 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1901, President William McKinley died in Buffalo, New York, of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin eight days earlier; Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him, becoming the youngest-ever U.S. president at age 42. Also on this date: In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces under Gen. Winfield Scott took control of Mexico City. In 1861, the first naval engagement since the start of the Civil War took place as the USS Colorado attacked and sank the ...

House Speaker says Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ needs congressional OK

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s proposal to send $5,000 to every American adult if his Republican Party maintains control of the House and Senate in the November election needs congressional approval, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday, while pledging to try to make it ...

Editorial cartoon for Sept. 14, 2026

When war comes home: A Constitutional warning

A failed war does not end when the drones stop flying. It creates a new danger: A government that refuses to admit defeat and a president who, having failed abroad, seeks muscular victories elsewhere. The war against Iran is a case study in the limits of military power, the dangers of ...