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Protection against ‘regular’ flu available

Mention vaccines these days, and chances are the talk will be about when some protection against COVID-19 can be expected. Another killer is about to take the stage, however. “Regular” influenza — actually multiple viruses that vary in threat level, depending on the year — strikes annually. Fortunately, vaccines against it are available already. Influenza kills tens of thousands of Americans every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu claimed as many as 62,000 lives in this country during the 2019-20 season. It is important to note that ...

Candidate quits race, leaving voters adrift

Our liberties rest only on the willingness of good men and women to charge into the fray of politics when they think change is needed in government. But merely getting into the battle is not enough. One must be willing to remain engaged. In that light, what happened recently in Georgia should be viewed by all Americans — Republicans, Democrats and independents alike — as a political tragedy. National attention has focused on the race for one of Georgia’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. That is because the Republican candidate, Marjorie Taylor Greene, has said she ...

Et Cetera …

Bad news for schools All high schools in Martin County are switching to hybrid learning Monday, given rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the county. Elementary schools will continue with in-person learning. The COVID-19 cases are not centered in the high schools, so it is a bit odd that they have to switch learning methods. School leaders are rightly frustrated with the community spread of the virus among adults, a reality that (unfairly) impacts the schools. We know educators will move forward regardless of the circumstances. We hope it’s back to in-person learning ...

Lesson from Kenosha: It can happen anywhere

The fire chief of Kenosha, Wisconsin, reported this week that damage from riots in that city now totals $11 million. The unrest broke out in the wake of the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. To put the damage in perspective, the chief said it amounts to three years of fire loss in a single week. Blake’s shooting is controversial. He was wanted by police and reportedly scuffled with them. He also may have had a knife or been trying to reach for one. The facts of the altercation are in dispute. What is known is that a white police officer fired seven shots at Blake’s back, ...

Newspaper for troops saved after facing threat

Some in the military brass may have applauded news a few weeks ago that Stars and Stripes, the newspaper circulated worldwide to members of the U.S. armed forces, was being closed. Stars and Stripes, which actually began publication during the Civil War, did not hit its stride until the 20th century. Part of its popularity was because many in the ranks saw it as their newspaper, which occasionally took shots at “the brass.” Last month, word began spreading that Stars and Stripes would be shut down. Though the publication operates semi-independently of the Pentagon, it relies ...

In age of division, don’t fall for internet nonsense

No informed high official in our government disputes that Russia is doing its best to influence the 2020 election, not by hacking into computers and altering vote totals but by sowing dissension among us. In case you hadn’t noticed, that strategy worked well in 2016 and has since. Don’t give Moscow all the credit, however — we Americans are quite good at going for each other’s throats without any encouragement from abroad. But Vladimir Putin’s regime — and other foreign foes — leave nothing to chance. They continue to use social media to spread lies against both ...