http://www.dailyindependent.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:13:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_324131100.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_324131100.html One needs to cite only one statistic as evidence of just how far short the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has come from reaching its original lofty aspirations: When it opened in 1994, its supporters were boldly predicting the center would attract more than a million visitors a year, but in its first five years, the center drew fewer than 900,000 total visitors. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:17:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_323171917.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_323171917.html In the firm belief that what is good for Ashland is good for all of Boyd County, the Boyd County Smoke-Free Initiative has used the occasion of the annual Great American Smokeout to launch a campaign that they hope will lead to the Boyd County Fiscal Court and the Catlettsburg City Council to follow the Ashland Board of City Commissioner’s lead by enacting ordinances to ban smoking in restaurants and most other public places. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_322151951.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_322151951.html Potentially, students, faculty and alumni of the 16 schools that make up the Kentucky Community and Technical College System hold tremendous clout with the elected leaders of this state. After all, more than half the students — 53 percent — currently enrolled in higher education in Kentucky are attending a community and technical college. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:03:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_320170454.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_320170454.html In the midst of a region-wide epidemic of prescription drug abuse, it is absolutely unbelievable that any governing body, community organizations or individuals would oppose a church-sponsored program designed to help individuals kick their addictions to prescription drugs. Incredible, but sadly true. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:20:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_317172232.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_317172232.html For the first time in almost 15 years, the rate of smoking among American adults has increased. That’s a number that we find both surprising and distressing. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:03:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_317170642.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_317170642.html There is little that is new in the “Cost of Incarcerating Adult Felons” written by the Kentucky General Assembly’s staff for the Program Review and Investigations Committee. The only question is whether legislators will use this report to continue to bemoan the soaring costs of the state’s prisons while actually doing little or nothing at attack the problem. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:05:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_316150708.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_316150708.html James Garfield is one of eight U.S. presidents born in Ohio, but like most of the Buckeye State’s other presidents, Garfield is not well known. In fact, even residents of Ohio are more likely to think of the comic strip feline than the president when they hear the name Garfield. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_316150340.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_316150340.html Bedbugs — the tiny bloodsucking insects that were once thought to be nearly eradicated in this country — have now become so widespread that neighboring Ohio has petitioned the federal government to allow an industrial insecticide to be used in homes to fight the bedbugs. While apparently not yet as widespread in Kentucky as they are in Ohio, one can expect that tiny insect to soon become a problem on this side of the Ohio River. That’s why we support Ohio’s efforts to halt the spread of bedbugs. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:26:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_315152825.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_315152825.html The more than one out of 10 Kentuckians who continue to be unemployed are not alone in feeling the impact of a nationwide recession that economists and Washington politicians assure us has ended. State revenue continues to fall, which virtually assures that the two-year budget the 2010 General Assembly will approve will be an extremely lean one that will call for less spending than the biennial budget legislators approved in 2008. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:57:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_314155908.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_314155908.html A few years ago an “In Your View” letter published on this page sharply criticized area school districts for having classes on Veterans Day. But schools throughout Kentucky have found a much better way of observing this holiday than dismissing classes. Instead, they use the day for special programs honoring those who have served our country in the military. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:07:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_313200906.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_313200906.html The battle Lawrence County farmers currently are having with a huge flock of birds — mostly starlings, blackbirds and grackles — is not a new one, but its source can be traced to 1890. That’s when the first European starlings were imported across the Atlantic Ocean to the U.S. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_310164440.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_310164440.html More than two years after enacting a law requiring more coal mine inspections, the state finally is getting the additional inspectors needed to enforce that law. Previously, the state’s continuing revenue woes had made it impossible for the state to hire the additional inspectors.On Tuesday, Gov. Steve Beshear approved an additional 15 new mine inspectors plus 19 new mine permit reviewers, with 16 being permanent positions and three being temporary. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:29:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_309173135.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_309173135.html By making his biggest investment to date in a traditional American industry, Warren Buffett unequivocally expressed his faith in the future of the U.S. economy. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:26:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_309172823.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_309172823.html While Kentuckians watched from the sidelines while voters in Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey and other states went to the polls to vote Tuesday, Kentucky’s once-every-four-years break from constant campaigns ended just hours after the votes had been counted in other states. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:17:00 +0000 http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_308161953.html http://www.dailyindependent.com/editorials/local_story_308161953.html Invariably, every election produces some results that are, to say the least, a bit surprising. Here is one from Tuesday’s vote in neighboring Ohio: