Editorial Columns

GUEST COLUMN: Racial disparities must be confronted

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 04/22/2022 - 8:55pm

Wisconsin’s racial disparities in assessment data are egregious, not to mention unconscionable. In disparities by race, we are the worst state in the nation. Let me confront a common assumption upfront — these disparities cannot be explained away by poverty. After controlling for economic disadvantage, the gap persists. In fact, on average, Black students who are not economically disadvantaged score lower than white students who are.

Sleeper butchers right to free speech

Published by LPulaski on Tue, 04/19/2022 - 9:48am

We’ve all seen a television show or movie where someone has been kidnapped or taken hostage, and that person tries to fight back. In some cases, they’re tied up and gagged so the villains don’t have to listen to the protestations. In other cases, they’re smacked around to elicit submission.

GUEST COLUMN: Dairy farmers need real solutions to pricing woes

Published by LPulaski on Tue, 04/12/2022 - 2:55pm

In the game of Monopoly, there is only one winner. If current dairy “market forces” prevail, we are steadily moving in that direction.

Losing one to two dairy herds per day, as we have in recent years, is not progress. It is a sign that our antiquated dairy policy and ongoing price volatility need to be addressed.

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW: Pull the plug on shadowy business courts

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 04/01/2022 - 2:05pm

Anyone who doubts that secrecy in government breeds poor public policy should take a look at the Business Court Pilot Project launched by our Wisconsin Supreme Court.

GUEST COLUMN: We see them, they’re welcome, they belong

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 04/01/2022 - 1:55pm

All of us — no matter our gender, race, or zip code — deserve equal opportunity under the law. Transgender Day of Visibility is an embodiment of that American value.

‘The Hawk Way’ has strayed off course

Published by LPulaski on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 6:44pm

Years ago, the Shawano School District adopted a new philosophy and dubbed it “The Hawk Way.” Students and staff were encouraged to go the extra mile and strive for excellence through learning, living and leading.

GUEST COLUMN: Best days lie ahead for the rural economy

Published by admin on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 11:25am

I grew up on my family’s small dairy farm in central Wisconsin. It is there I learned the value of hard work and the importance of neighbors helping neighbors. These values led me to public service on the local town board and state legislature where I represented central Wisconsin residents. Under the leadership of President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, I am honored to continue working on ways to help rural residents and strengthen communities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tell the Brits they can have their land back

Published by LPulaski on Tue, 03/15/2022 - 8:11pm

In order to form a new country in the 1770s, a country free from the tyranny of the king of England, good people were willing to fight for their freedom and to keep that country.

GUEST COLUMN: War in Ukraine is a teachable moment

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 4:07pm

I discuss the topic of leadership a lot in our home. It is not much of a surprise, as my wife and I have multiple combat tours between us.

GUEST COLUMN: Mental health gets attention at state, federal levels

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 4:00pm

No matter our zip code or the size of our family, most of us can agree that the last two years have taken a toll on our kids’ mental health — and progressive leaders like Gov. Tony Evers and President Joe Biden agree with that, too.