Columns

In Minneapolis, ingrained hatreds rise again to violence

The first comment I heard after the attack on Catholic schoolchildren in Minneapolis last week was from the city’s mayor, Jacob Frey, who said: “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers just now. These kids were literally praying.” Initially, it didn’t strike me as particularly problematic.

Blueprint for attacking crime in Louisiana

President Trump is suggesting that the National Guard could be used in additional American cities besides the nation’s capital, and has included New Orleans on his list. I have no problem with this, but we need to do a lot more on our own here in Louisiana.

When the prairies were isolated, and scary

The southwest Louisiana prairies were sparsely settled and a bit frightening until the railroad finally crossed them in the early 1880s and settlers began to establish towns and farms. Father P. J.

Government runs on gobbledygook

I attended a meeting with the Deputy Director of Gobbledygook — and his interpreter — to learn why government rules, regulations and guidance documents are so hard to read and understand.

Men, are you reading enough fiction?

“Here’s a novel idea: read more fiction,” blared the headline of a recent Wall Street Journal article by Gerard Baker. (The less said about that other Journal headline, “Here’s a limerick idea: buy a timeshare in Nantucket,” the better.

The tiresome tale of Amanda Knox

The Amanda Knox story has always stuck in my craw. She and her narrative of persecution annoy me. Why am I writing about her now? Because Hulu has just come out with a series about the time she was convicted of murdering her roommate in 2007.

Make peace like sausage – in private

“Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” That famous — and accurate — quip is a perfect way to describe the dirty political deals that are made in secret to produce so many important pieces of legislation.

Little Sisters of the Poor win the big fight

When the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate went into effect in 2012, the Obama people wanted the vast majority of companies and private institutions to comply.

Class reunions: yea or nay?

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” “Let me check my calendar.” “Meh.” “You mean I still haven’t outlived all those #@%& low-lifes?” As you doubtless know, those are the four main responses when a class reunion invitation arrives.

Saloon keeper solved big drilling problem

One of the most novel solutions for a huge problem in tapping the oil under south Louisiana wetlands was the brainchild of a Panamanian saloon keeper who’d never set foot here.